Chapter 1
Vi stood tall in the dusty saloon, a glass of whiskey in hand, her eyes scanning the room with the poise of a hawk eyeing its prey. She wore a well-worn duster paired with torn chaps that billowed around her like a second skin, the leather creaking with every subtle movement. The air had tension, the kind that only comes before a storm or a showdown.
The patrons, a motley crew of cowboys, outlaws and general good for nothing scum whispered to one another, their glances focused on the corner where she and her partner Sevika had set up camp for the evening.
Sevika, seated at the card table, dirty cigar in hand, flipped over her cards with a smirk, revealing a full house. The players around her grumbled and tossed in their cards, the gold coins sliding her way with a satisfying clink.
She was as much a part of the furniture in this saloon as the wooden bar or the piano that played a mournful tune in the background. Sevika was a force of nature, a tornado that could leave destruction in her wake, yet she was also the glue that held their makeshift family together.
Silco, the ringleader of their band of misfits, leaned against the bar, his eyes hidden by the brim of his hat. He was the brain behind their operations, the puppet master orchestrating their every move. His plan was simple: strike hard and fast, hit the Union Pacific's midnight train, and vanish into the desert with enough gold and cash to last them a lifetime. It was a job that would make or break them, a heist that had been months in the making.
Jinx, the youngest of them all, sat perched on a barstool, her legs swinging to the rhythm of the live music, ensembled by a group you could hardly describe as a band. Her hands were never still, toying with a pocket watch, her thumb brushing over the intricate gears and springs. Her curiosity was as boundless as the desert that stretched beyond the town's limits, and her penchant for explosives was both terrifying and exhilarating. The gleam in her eyes when she talked about the safe on that train was like watching a kid on Christmas Eve.
The four of them were known as The Blackwater Bandits, a name that sent shivers down the spines of those who knew of their legend in Iron Sire. They were an unlikely quartet, each with a past shrouded in mystery and pain, but they had found kinship in their shared quest for freedom, fortune and hope.
The cowardly whispers grew louder as the clock chimed closer to midnight, the anticipation of their next move hanging in the air like a plume of gun smoke.
The night was as dark as the secrets they held, the moon a mere sliver in the sky. Silco along with the help of Jinx had timed the heist to perfection, the train's schedule as reliable as night and day. The bandits made their way to the deserted tracks, the only illumination provided by the flickering lights of the distant train station.
As the train chugged closer, the ground trembled beneath the hooves of their trusty animal companions, a testimony to the power of progress that was about to be hijacked.
Silco called the group together one last time, his voice low and commanding. "Remember the plan," he said, his eyes glinting with excitement and a hint of fear.
"Sevika, Vi, you're on crowd control. Take out the Shimmer Creek Posse. They're bound to be on this train, so be prepared for trouble. Jinx and I will handle the safe. It's got the gold, the bank notes - our ticket out of this godforsaken dustbowl."
Vi nodded, her jaw set firmly as she flexed her fingers around the grip of her pistol. "Understood," she said, her voice steady as a rock. Sevika, on the other hand, cracked her knuckles with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. They knew the posse, a group of notorious bandits that had been dogging their heels for weeks. It was going to be a fight, but they were ready.
The moment the train screeched to a halt at its designated station; the bandits sprang into action. Sevika and Vi boarded first, their boots echoing through the metal corridors. The train rattled through the moonlit valley, its rhythmic clatter breaking the stillness of the night.
Inside the carriages, passengers sat in weary silence, their faces illuminated by the dim glow of oil lamps swinging overhead. The tranquil scene shattered when the Blackwater Bandits onboarded.
It began with the deafening scratch—the sound of Sevika’s mechanical gun pedantically trailing along the metal bag holders above, making a horrific noise. Worse than scratches on pure sheet metal.
Passengers turned, their faces pale and confused, as she stepped at the end of the aisle with Vi close behind her, both women towering and imposing. Sevika’s broad shoulders filled the narrow doorway, her tattooed arm gleaming in the low light under her poncho. Vi followed with the sharp confidence of someone who knew no one here could stop her.
Her braided hair was pulled tight, her fists already wrapped in worn leather, the cracked surface of her gloves a testament to countless brawls.
“Listen up!” Sevika barked, her voice a rough growl that carried over the frightened murmurs of the passengers. She cocked her gun back, rolling the rotary cylinder of her revolver once, the sound cutting through the air like a rattlesnake's warning - sharp, cold, predatory.
The tension in the car snapped taut as passengers cowered, clutching their belongings. “Nobody gets hurt if you sit down and shut the fuck up. We’re here for the one thing. Hopefully not for you.”
Vi stepped forward, her eyes scanning the crowd steely. There was no malice in her expression, but there was no softness either—just the cold determination of someone who’d made this choice long ago. “Anyone tries to play God damn heroes, and you’ll die as one. That’s a promise.” Her voice was low, a practiced authority.
A young man near the front shifted in his seat, his hand inching toward a concealed pistol. Vi’s eyes locked onto him instantly. In two strides, she was on him, grabbing the barrel of the weapon before it even cleared his coat. With a sharp twist, she wrenched it free and tossed it out the window, the clang of metal against the tracks echoing behind them.
“Nice try, pretty boy,” she muttered before taking a punch at his face and shoving him hard back into his seat with a casual strength that sent a ripple of fear through the rest of the passengers.
“I suggest you make the right move tonight, everyone,” Sevika added, her muscular forearms flexing menacingly as she held her gun down the rows of pale faces. “Might be the smartest decision you’ll ever make…or the last.”
At the rear of the carriage, Silco and Jinx were already at work. Silco, calm and calculating, slipped into the next car with Jinx in tow, her usual manic energy replaced by a focused intensity. She moved with practiced ease, tools jangling at her side as she made her way to the cargo hold.
The passengers sat frozen, their breaths held in collective fear, as Vi and Sevika methodically moved through the carriages, collecting wallets, jewellery, and cash with a cold, practiced efficiency. Their actions were deliberate, devoid of unnecessary chaos. These minor spoils—the pocket change, trinkets, and valuables—were nothing more than a prelude, a calculated show of dominance to maintain control.
It was all part of the act, a distraction from their true objective: the real prize waiting at the heart of the train.
Still, the sheer force of their presence was enough to keep everyone rooted in their seats, too afraid to resist.
At the back of the train, Jinx let out a triumphant laugh as she cracked the safe. "Sevika! We’ve got it!" Jinx shouted, her voice high-pitched with excitement as she tossed a heavy bag of gold and crisp banknotes toward the entrance. Her hands were still covered in the remnants of the blast, the sharp tang of explosives thick in the air.
Vi turned to see the door to the safe now lying in a heap of splintered wood and twisted metal, a satisfied grin on her face. Jinx was bouncing on her toes, a manic gleam in her eye.
"Did you really have to blow it up like that?" Sevika groaned, shaking her head as she adjusted her grip on her gun slinger. She rolled her shoulders, clearly irritated but trying to hide her grin.
Jinx tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I mean, we could’ve picked the lock... but where’s the fun in that? Besides, you know I like things... explosive."
Vi chuckled, tossing the bag of money toward Sevika. "It’s not that bad. I’m just glad you didn’t blow the whole train up. That’s still a few miles down the line."
Sevika caught the bag easily, giving Jinx an exaggerated glare. "Keep playing with fire, and we won’t be riding off into the sunset, Jinx. Next time, just use a crowbar. A quiet one."
Jinx grinned widely, clearly unfazed. "But if I did that, we'd miss out on all the fun! What’s life without a little bang, huh?"
Silco’s voice cut through the banter, low and controlled as always. "Enough, we’ve got what we came for. Now let’s get the hell out of here before the Sheriff’s and her gaggle decide to join the party."
The four of them exchanged smirks, silently acknowledging the threat, but their focus was still sharp. Despite the chaos, the Blackwater Bandits knew what they were after—and they weren't about to let a little noise ruin their perfect heist.
“Good. Let’s move!” Sevika shouted back, but before they could make their escape, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears—a thunderous roar that grew louder with every passing second.
“The Shimmer Creek Posse,” Vi muttered, her jaw tightening.
Sevika didn’t respond, but the flicker of annoyance in her expression spoke volumes. She grabbed the bag of loot and slung it over her shoulder, her hand locking it into place. “Jinx, Silco, get to the back and cover us. We’ll deal with them.”
As the posse closed in, Vi and Sevika braced themselves. The train screeched as it hit a bump on the track, the jolt throwing them momentarily off balance before they regained their footing. The first of the posse leapt onto the carriage, his gun drawn, but Sevika was faster. Her whip cracked out like a viper, wrapping around his wrist and yanking him forward with brutal force. He hit the metal railing with a sickening thud before tumbling to the ground below.
Another man scrambled up, only to be met by Vi’s fist. Her punch landed squarely on his jaw with the weight of a sledgehammer, sending him sprawling into the side of the train. He groaned, clutching his face, but she didn’t give him the chance to recover.
Grabbing him by the collar, she slammed him against the wall, the wood splintering under the impact.
The fight was raw and unrelenting, a test of brute strength and unyielding will. The train car rocked as they fought, the rhythmic thud of punches and the sickening crack of bones punctuating the night air.
Sevika moved through the chaos with terrifying efficiency, her strength unmatched as she dispatched anyone foolish enough to cross her path. One man charged at her with a knife, but she was ready. With a swift movement, she caught his wrist, her grip like iron. He struggled, but it was useless—Sevika’s hands were like vices. She twisted his arm, forcing him to drop the blade with a cry of pain.
Without hesitation, she spun, her whip crackling through the air like a living thing. It wrapped around his neck, tightening with deadly precision. With one quick jerk, she hurled him to the side of the train, his body tumbling through the air with a desperate scream that quickly faded into the night.
Another man tried to take advantage of her distraction, but Sevika was already two steps ahead. Her gun was in her hand before he even had the chance to make a move. A single shot rang out, and he collapsed in a heap, his weapon falling uselessly to the ground.
"Don’t bother fighting back," Sevika spat to the remaining crew, her eyes cold as she scanned the train car. "You’re only gonna make it worse for yourselves."
Vi, meanwhile, was a force of nature, every movement precise and brutal. Her fists flew in a blur, each punch landing with bone-crushing force. One of the men charged at her, his knife raised, but Vi was faster. She dodged the blade, her fist meeting his jaw with a sickening crack that sent him reeling backward. He barely had time to blink before she was on him again, driving a punch into his gut that had him gasping for air.
As another man tried to sneak up behind her, she pivoted and drove her elbow into his face, sending him stumbling into a row of seats. He barely had time to recover before she whirled around and pulled her gun from her holster. A sharp bang echoed through the train as she fired, the bullet tearing into his shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor, clutching at his bleeding wound.
As the posse pushed forward, Vi moved like a well-oiled machine. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t falter. Her gun was quick to fire, but her fists were even faster, each punch a calculated strike that sent man after man to the floor.
The smell of sweat and gunpowder thickened in the air, the clang of metal against metal punctuated by the grunts of effort and the cries of men who were beginning to realize they were in over their heads.
For every man that climbed onto the train, another was sent flying back down, bruised, battered, and broken. The pair weren’t just fighting—they were making sure they would leave no one standing in their wake.
“Vi, Sevika! We’ve gotta go!” Jinx’s voice cut through the chaos, urgent and panicked.
Sevika delivered one final blow, the metal from the back of her gun slamming into the last of the men’s chest with enough force to knock him clean off the train. “We’re coming!” she growled, grabbing Vi’s arm and dragging her toward the waiting horses.
The clanging of hooves on the metal tracks grew louder, the thunderous approach of Sheriff Grayson and her deputy. The air was electric with the promise of a confrontation they hadn't anticipated.
Vi turned her head sharply, catching the flicker of torchlight through the train window. A shadow moved, then another—riders closing in. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, tightening the grip of the bag over her shoulder. "We’ve got company."
Sevika shot a quick glance out the window, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the gleaming badge pinned to the chest of the lead rider. "Grayson," she growled. "And she's not alone. Marcus is with her."
Jinx popped her head back into the room, her face flushed with excitement. "I told you blowing the safe would draw 'em in like flies to honey! It was loud, wasn’t it? Boom! Beautiful!" She mimed an explosion with her hands, completely unfazed by the escalating danger.
"Yeah, well, now we’ve got to deal with the fallout, genius," Sevika snapped, pulling a pistol from her holster. She shot a look at Silco. "What’s the play, boss?"
Silco stood calmly, one hand gripping his cane while the other adjusted his hat. "We stick to the plan. Vi, Sevika, take the bags and get out. Jinx and I will keep them busy. Marcus is eager but sloppy; Grayson will be the one to watch." He turned his gaze to Jinx, his voice firm. "No theatrics. You follow my lead."
Jinx pouted, but her mischievous grin betrayed her excitement. "No theatrics? Where's the fun in that?"
"Jinx," Silco warned, his tone like a whip crack. She rolled her eyes but nodded, pulling out a handful of small explosives and tucking them into her satchel.
Before anyone could respond, the sound of boots landing on the roof above them echoed through the train car. Vi’s head snapped upward. "They’re on the train."
“Of course, they are,” Sevika muttered, gripping the hilt of her whip. "Nothing’s ever easy, is it?"
A sharp voice cut through the night, echoing from above. "Blackwater Bandits! This is Sheriff Grayson. Drop the loot and come out quietly, or this train becomes your grave!"
Vi’s jaw tightened as she exchanged a glance with Sevika. "She’s persistent, I’ll give her that."
Jinx let out a high-pitched laugh. "Grayson’s got guts. Shame she’s about to lose this game."
Silco’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "We don’t have time for a standoff. Get moving."
Before Vi or Sevika could argue, the train car door burst open, revealing Grayson, her revolver drawn, her expression one of steely determination. Beside her, Deputy Marcus held a shotgun, his hands gripping it tightly as though it might slip away.
“End of the line,” Grayson said, her voice steady. Her eyes scanned the room, locking onto Vi. “Drop the bag, Vi. It’s not too late to walk away.”
Vi stepped forward, her expression defiant. "Sorry, Sheriff, but walking away isn’t really my style."
Sevika smirked, raising her whip. "You’ve got guts showing up here, Grayson. Shame you didn’t bring more friends."
Grayson’s lip twitched. "I don’t need more friends. Marcus, keep your eyes on Jinx and Silco. I’ll handle these two."
“You think you can handle me?” Vi shot back, cracking her knuckles. "I’d like to see you try."
Marcus shifted nervously, his finger hovering over the trigger. "Uh, Sheriff, are you sure about this? These folks don’t exactly play nice."
“Focus, Marcus,” Grayson barked, her eyes never leaving Vi. "This isn’t a debate."
Silco’s low chuckle filled the tense silence. "Oh, Grayson. Always the hero. Tell me, how does it feel chasing shadows in the dark, knowing you’re already too late?"
Grayson’s jaw clenched, but she didn’t take the bait. "Drop the act, Silco. We’re taking you in, one way or another."
Jinx clapped her hands together, her grin widening. "This is getting good! Sheriff Grayson versus the big bad Bandits. Who’s placing bets?"
“Jinx,” Silco said sharply, silencing her with a glare.
The standoff stretched; the air thick with tension. Finally, Vi broke the silence. "Alright, Sheriff, let’s settle this." She surged forward, her fist aimed straight at Grayson.
Gunfire erupted, the confined space of the train car amplifying the chaos. Marcus ducked behind a crate as Jinx hurled a smoke bomb, filling the room with a choking cloud. Silco moved like a shadow, slipping between the lawmen and vanishing into the next car.
“Vi! Sevika! Now!” he called over his shoulder.
Sevika, bags in hand, yanking Vi back as Grayson’s bullet catches her stomach but not enough to penetrate. "Come on, kid. Let’s move!"
The pair bolted for the exit, Vi hunched, clutching her stomach, the train car shuddering beneath their feet. Grayson’s voice echoed behind them, her determination undeterred. "This isn’t over!"
Vi managed a small smirk, glancing back as she hobbled from the train into the desert night. "It never is, is it."
The ground was hard and unforgiving, but the rush of adrenaline made them feel as though they could fly.
A gunshot rang out again, this time closer, its sharp report reverberating through the stillness like a violent exclamation point. Vi and Sevika froze for half a heartbeat, their gazes snapping back toward the train.
Through the swaying curtains of the last carriage, they could make out silhouettes—Sheriff Grayson and her deputy, Marcus, their figures outlined against the faint glow of the train’s interior lamps. Grayson’s rifle was raised, her sharp eyes locking onto the fleeing outlaws, while Marcus fumbled with his revolver, his nerves evident even from this distance.
"Keep moving!" Sevika barked, her voice cutting through Vi’s stunned hesitation.
The two scrambled for their horses, tethered to a nearby post in the shadow of a weathered water tower. Their boots pounded against the hard-packed earth, the metallic tang of blood and fear thick on their tongues.
Vi’s heart thundered in her chest as her hands trembled over her wound, the weight of the stolen gold and cash slung over her shoulder pressing down like a physical reminder of their crime.
With a sharp kick to her horse’s flank, Vi spurred the animal into motion, the beast rearing briefly before launching into a gallop. Sevika was right beside her, her horse’s hooves striking the earth in a pounding rhythm that matched Vi’s pulse.
They rode hard, the wind slapping against their faces and the night swallowing them up. But even as the train disappeared into the distance, its lights dimming like dying embers, neither of them could shake the oppressive feeling of eyes still watching them, chasing them through the dark.
Vi turned back, her mouth dry as she forced her focus ahead. Sevika’s face was pale, her usual smirk replaced with something grim, her hand gripping the reins so tightly her knuckles whitened. Neither spoke as they urged their horses onward, the sound of the train fading behind them until it was swallowed by the vast emptiness of the desert night.
The adrenaline that had kept them moving began to wane, replaced by a cold, creeping dread. They’d barely made it. Barely. And Grayson would never stop hunting them. The law was relentless, and now it had a face—and a rifle—to back its threat.
Finally, as the distant outline of the town began to fade completely behind the dunes, Vi slowed her horse and turned to Sevika, her breath coming in shallow gasps fighting off the pain the adrenaline momentarily had subsided. Sevika glanced at her with a concerned look but said nothing. There were no quips, no reassurances, just silence that weighed heavier than the bag of gold slung between them.
"That was too close," Vi muttered at last, her voice hoarse.
Sevika gave a curt nod, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting Grayson to appear out of the darkness. "Closer than I ever want it to be again."
The two shared a glance, their usual bravado stripped away, replaced by something raw and unspoken. They didn’t need to say it aloud; the look in their eyes was enough. Tonight, had been a victory, but it had come with a price—Jinx and Silco.
With a shared nod, they kicked their horses back into motion once again, the stars above the only witnesses to the weight of their evening.
The night was their cover, the vast expanse of the desert their ally. They had to trust that Jinx and Silco could handle themselves, that they could evade capture and regroup.
For now, their only concern was the pounding of their horses' hooves and the burning in their lungs as they raced towards an uncertain future.