I fired off my back foot as I started to fall over because of my over commitment to dodge away from the giant's arm. The flare fizzled brightly as it bore its way into the back of the monster's thigh. I hit the ground and flipped on over and without a backward glance took off in the direction of the trees confident that the giant was too maimed to follow us now.
Something took my right leg out from under me and I went tumbling. In the process of falling forward I hit my head off a rock and saw stars for a moment.
Blinking I tried to clear my head as some corner of my still functioning brain broadcasted the need for alertness. I glanced over my shoulder to see that the giant under sheer force of will had limped up to me and was even now lifting a hammer hard fist into the air with which to pulverize me into the ground.
I guess this was where things ended.
Shots rang out and I watched blood splatter all over the giant's face as the bullets hammered out one after the other. One bullet must've found the brain through an eye socket, because the giant went limp and started to fall forward.
In a panic I rolled off to the side to keep from being crushed by the giant's bulk. The giant hit the ground hard and I coughed on the kicked up dust.
Glancing upward I saw Mandy standing there with my boot pistol still clutched in her hands as she pulled the trigger over and over.
"Mandy?"
She seemed to shake free a little from her trance to glance at me.
"No more bullets honey." I said gently.
The pistol fell from her hands as she rushed over to help me up. It was painful, but nothing was broken. I could walk perhaps even run if it meant getting off this miserable island.
With an arm about Mandy's shoulders we started off for the nearby forest in the direction that everyone else had gone.
I squeezed Mandy's shoulder, "Thanks for saving my life back there." I said half out of breath because of the pain that I felt with each step forward.
She glanced up and gave me a quick smile, "I could say likewise, but the truth is that you've given me more than just a reprieve from being a monster's snack. You've given me freedom. Freedom is more valuable to me than life!"
I squeezed her shoulder again lightly, "We're not out of the woods and home free yet honey." I said cautioning her gently against any possible letdowns that lay ahead.