Lucifer of The Silent Killer

Chapter 7 : Vokter's Ambush

Heinrich stared coldly. He turned around without taking off his jacket.

“Hey, Ulv. Search him.” The man who had been banging on the car window earlier gave the order to his companion.

Ulv was about to step forward to frisk him. But Heinrich spun around in a swift motion. He knocked the rifle’s muzzle upward, then kicked the man who had aimed the gun at him straight in the solar plexus, sending him flying backward.

After that, Heinrich shifted his attack to the man named Ulv, who had been about to search him. A hard punch smashed into the man’s face as he moved in to strike.

Seeing this, Jonas, who had been sneaking out of the car, immediately grabbed the rifle from the man still lying on the ground. He slammed the rifle butt into the attacker’s stomach and head before the man could get up. Not satisfied, Jonas kicked his head several times.

After seizing the rifle, Jonas shot the attacker on the right, who had already prepared to strike Heinrich. A bullet tore through his chest. Jonas fired once more, making sure the man was truly dead.

“Aren’t you going to thank me?” Jonas smiled proudly as he leaned against the side of the car. He felt like a hero for having taken down two opponents in a relatively short time.

“Is this the shadow group you said was so terrifying?” Heinrich straightened his leather jacket and prepared to move the fallen pine trunk blocking the road. Before doing so, he scanned the surroundings, sensing suspicious movement from within the forest.

Heinrich’s instinct was not wrong. Three men emerged from the trees and immediately opened fire.

Jonas took cover behind the side of the car. Heinrich did the same, ducking low and even throwing himself down, rolling toward the edge of the ravine.

Fortunately, Heinrich did not slip all the way down. He used the dagger that extended from beneath his jacket cuff to stop himself, since there were no branches or other objects he could grab onto.

The dagger dug into the ground. Heinrich’s left hand clenched the edge of the cliff, holding on. His legs moved carefully, trying to find a foothold to support his weight and keep him from sliding into the ravine. His foot found a rock.

“Check it.” One of the three attackers gave the order in a voice loud enough to carry.

The area grew darker. They relied only on the reflected light from the car’s headlights, which were still on. As Jonas had said, the group was used to operating in the dark, allowing them to move freely. They also knew the terrain very well.

Jonas moved slowly around the car as one of the attackers walked toward him. He was still holding the long rifle, though not in a ready-to-fire position.

Meanwhile, Heinrich took advantage of the darkness near the ravine. He did not make the slightest movement when one of the attackers walked toward him and stopped right next to the hand gripping the ground. Heinrich waited for the right moment, since his position did not allow him to attack yet.

Jonas, hiding on the right side of the car, did the same. He racked his brain, thinking of a way to take down the attackers, since he held the greater advantage by having the rifle.

“Hey, Smågutt.”

Jonas jerked his head up to see the muzzle of a rifle already aimed at him.

“Stand up.” In the dim light, the man ordered Jonas with a tilt of his head.

Jonas said nothing and showed no sign of wanting to resist.

“Give me your weapon. I’m ready to shoot, and you’re not.” The attacker’s words were deeply intimidating.

Jonas, who had been sitting while holding the rifle in a position not ready to fire, finally stood up. But he would have hated himself if he surrendered just like that. The young man took a risk, fighting back by swinging the rifle butt.

Bang.

A reflexive shot shattered the silence. The attacker who had given the order immediately turned his head. So did the one standing at the edge of the ravine.

Heinrich used that moment of distraction well. He moved sideways, then rushed upward. His position now put him behind the attacker, who had begun to let his guard down.

“Runar!” the attacker’s companion shouted, trying to warn him. He immediately aimed his gun at Heinrich to protect his partner.

But Heinrich dodged swiftly. He ducked, then rolled across the ground. At the same time, he struck with his right hand, the dagger already extended.

The blade slashed the attacker’s leg, making him react instantly. He slammed the rifle butt downward toward where Heinrich was.

Heinrich moved fast, blocking the rifle butt before it could hit him. He pulled with all his strength, causing the rifle’s owner to fall and crash down on top of him.

He applied a lock. Heinrich pinned the man’s waist, preventing him from rolling away or getting up. Without wasting time, he raised his right hand, the dagger still protruding. The blade was driven straight into a vital point, the nape of the neck. There was no meaningful resistance. The man’s body jerked briefly before going completely still.

After making sure the man was dead, Heinrich shoved the body aside. He wiped his face, which had been splattered with fresh blood, then stood up. One man remained, still exchanging gunfire with Jonas.

Heinrich crept closer to the car. He took a pistol from his waistband and aimed it at the man who had retreated into the forest and taken cover behind a pine tree.

Without warning, someone appeared from behind and struck Heinrich on the back of the neck, knocking him down. The pistol fell from his hand before he could fire it.