The scratching continued. It sounded like someone was trying to pick the lock on the back door or something. Sebastian left the lights out as he crept along the wall of the hallway that lead to the kitchen. Peeking into the kitchen, he could see the backdoor - the top half of which was glass. Only problem was that the glass had a shade in between the panels and it was closed. He couldn't see who was on the other side. If it was Henry and Claire, then they should have come in through the garage door. So whomever was at the back door was not welcome.
Sebastian saw the small flash of light cross the window. Fuckers had a flashlight. They must have climbed the wrought iron fence that surrounded the property because they couldn't just walk up the driveway - there was a gate. Sebastian heard one voice curse while another shushed the first one. Okay, so far he knew there were two, maybe more. He should call the cops. But he left his phone on the table in the living room and there was no way he was going back and letting these assholes get any further then the kitchen. Sebastian had kids to protect and he'd die before he let these scumbags get anywhere near them.
The lock clicked and the world seemed to move in slow motion. Sebastian let out the breath he was holding and waited as the door opened. He knew the laws in PA and as soon as those shit-heads entered the house he was going to shoot them. He was defending himself and the lives of two children. He would not be at fault if he managed to kill someone. Not that he really cared either, as long as Henry and Ethan were safe.
Sebastian saw two figures step into the house. Sebastian dropped into his shooting stance, aimed and pulled the trigger. There were only two of them and they were both wearing dark clothing and skull caps. Sebastian had a reputation for being one of the best shooters in the state. So he knew that he would hit whatever he was aiming at, even in the dark.
Pop, pop...Pop, pop!
The lead guy dropped like a sack of potatoes. No scream of pain or anything. Sebastian knew in that moment that he had just killed a man. The second guy got spun around, screaming in pain as he slammed into the doorframe then scrambled to get away. Sebastian let him go. No doubt the gunshots would wake one or both the kids. He watched as the man disappeared into the darkness of the backyard. Sebastian waited, his gun still trained on the backdoor just in case he decided to come back.
" Uncle Bastian, I heard a noise," came Ethan's sleepy voice from behind him a minute later.
Sebastian didn't move. " Listen closely bud, go get me my phone off the table in the living room," he said in as calm a voice as he could manage.
Sebastian heard Ethan's bare feet slap on the hardwood floors toward the living room. He came back a minute later. Sebastian just held out his hand behind him until Ethan pressed the phone into it.
" What are you doing?" Ethan asked curiously.
" Ethan, I need you to go back up to your room and shut the door. Don't come out until me or your parents come get you, do you understand?" Sebastian asked in a low serious voice.
Ethan must have understood the seriousness of the situation, because he said okay and quickly did as he was told. Sebastian called the police then moved to the control panel in the hallway that worked the gate to the driveway. Sebastian hit the button to open the gate and then went to the front door. He opened it quickly before moving back into the kitchen and turned on the light. Tucking his gun in the back of his jeans, Sebastian moved towards the man sprawled out just inside the backdoor. A pool of blood was spreading out from under his head. Holy shit. Sebastian blew half the guy's skull off. Sebastian swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. He refused to throw up.
A few cops barged in the front door, while some appeared at the back door. Sebastian was ordered to put his hands up. One of the officers moved up behind him and pushed him against the counter, ordering him to place his hands on the top of it and spread his legs. Sebastian did as he was told. The officer asked Sebastian what happened while he frisked him. The officer removed Sebastian's gun from his pants, popped the clip and removed the bullet from the chamber. The officer placed them all on the counter out of Sebastian's reach.
Sebastian told the officer what had happened in as much detail as he could remember. Sebastian could hear both kids crying and he couldn't help but glance at the ceiling repeatedly. The officer seemed to notice his distress about the kids and let him go get them and bring them into the living room.