"Get back!"
The soldier shouted, keeping his gun trained on the taxi.
"Sir, there's a monster behind us!" Goff stuck his head out the window and spoke urgently.
"You saw it?" The soldier's expression darkened.
His finger flicked off the rifle's safety.
"Go!" Goff shouted, hastily ducking his head.
The driver seemed oblivious to how serious things were, looking utterly bewildered.
Until the gunfire rang out.
The windshield shattered. The driver froze for a second, prompting Goff to shout frantically:
"Go!"
The driver snapped out of it and stomped on the accelerator, whipping the car around on the spot. White smoke rose from the tires.
The taxi fled as fast as it could. Heavy gunfire followed them, the bullets striking the car like hailstones.
Only after they had passed several intersections and could no longer hear gunfire behind them did the taxi slowly come to a stop.
The tires had been shot out.
Both men inside were deathly pale, their hearts pounding so fast they felt ready to burst from their chests.
They had escaped death!
Goff looked at the driver, his gaze sharpening as it settled on the man's abdomen.
Blood poured from the wound, soaking even the seat.
During their escape, the surge of adrenaline had kept the driver from feeling any pain. Now that he was gradually calming down, he noticed where Goff was looking and lowered his head to look at his own stomach.
"I... I've been shot." Panic filled the driver's voice.
His breathing grew labored, and his vision began to blur. All he could do was murmur a plea:
"Help... help me."
"Don't fall asleep! I'll call for help!" Goff warned him loudly, then pulled open the door and ran out.
At a public telephone booth by the road, Goff dialed the emergency hotline,