Baxter (Writers Dice Flash Fiction)

Good morning all!  This one was fun!  Same rules apply, rough draft, under 30 minutes, flash fiction.  I should have another flash fiction up later today.  Stay tuned!

Baxter

            Bullets whistled and screamed past James.  Ducking behind a fallen tree splinters rained on him as rounds plunged into the wood.  “Almost home,” James whispered to himself.  Looking around, he noticed he was missing someone.  “Let’s go!”  James shouted over the sound of automatic fire, sharp whistle forced through his lips.  In response, barking erupted as the dog traversed the forest through the hail of bullets to James.  As the dog leapt over the fallen tree, James grabbed is harness and tucked him against the tree as the fire ceased to slow down.

“Good boy Baxter, I need you to open the door.”  The man told his dog as wood chips continued to explode from the tree.  James was pointing the dog toward the building that sat 200 yards farther away from them and the aggressors.

When James first built his home he built a specific lock for his partner, Baxter.  James fitted the shielded door with an infrared scanner specific to a tag on Baxter’s harness.  Upon scanning Baxter’s harness, the door would open enough for Baxter to enter the safety of the reinforced home.

James waited for the slightest break in the wave of bullets.  Seizing the opportunity, he sent Baxter home.  The dog glided across the ground, nimbly springing over roots and rocks, dashing behind trees as his master taught him.  His erratic movement made hitting him a nightmare.  James took the opportunity to produce covering fire for his companion.  Popping up from the fallen tree, he unleashed controlled fury from his rifle.  Round after round found its mark deep within the men shooting at his dog.  After some time of carnage, James noticed that he didn’t hear the familiar groaning of the heavy door opening; Baxter should have been there by now.  Ducking behind cover, James looked for his friend.

Baxter had made it to the door, but the door wasn’t opening.  One of the bullets had torn through the scanner.  James had to move fast, rounds were peppering the metal door around Baxter as he kept circling back and forth.

“Baxter, hide!”  On command, the dog lunged behind a tree and crouched low.

Counting his full magazines and checking his gear, James prepared for a 200 yard sprint under a hail of bullets.  With his dog safe, he had one focus, get home and unlock the door.

James counted down in his head and launched to his feet.  Firing behind him, his bullets erratically hit trees and rocks; luckily he wasn’t aiming at anything specific.  Dirt kicked up around his feet as the incoming fire flirted with hitting him.  James followed a similar path as Baxter, the only problem was he was far slower than his four legged counterpart.

After what seemed like an eternity, James made it within 10 feet of the door.  Ripping open a pack on his chest, James hurriedly took a set of keys and opened his door the old fashioned way.  Taking a moment he looked over to confirm Baxter was still alive.  The dog laid prone, eagerly awaiting the security of four walls to open.  With a click, the door was unlocked as a bullet tore into James’s calf.

Limping into the house, James made way for his dog.  Baxter ran over and pawed the lights on.  James leaned hard onto the door shutting it and dropping to sit on the cold floor.

“Good thing they couldn’t aim buddy.”  James laughed as Baxter curled up next to him.

The two sat against the door enjoying each other’s company as the bullets slowly gave up outside the reinforced home.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed today’s flash fiction.

Kris Fazekas’s Baxter is published by Sympl Books.  All characters located within this story are Copyright 2019 Kristofer Fazekas.  All names, characters, and events in this publication are entirely fictional.  Any resemblance to any actual person (living or dead), events, institutions or places is purely coincidental.  No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means (digital or print) without written permission from Kris Fazekas of Sympl Books.