Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Then, I run.
I don’t bother stopping for my things.
I don’t bother doing anything except making a break for the exit.
I just reach the gate when Marek barks my name.
Turning, for just a split second, I see his eyes flash before everything changes. One moment I’m standing there, free, the next there is someone holding on to me, the cold steel of a gun pressed against my temple.
And just like that, the show is over.
15
Those moments in life where it feels as though the entire world stops, are moments you never forget. Sometimes, they’re associated with something amazing, like marrying the love of your life, or meeting your baby for the first time, and sometimes, they’re associated with the most heart-wrenching, gut turning things that will forever tarnish who you are.
That’s what this moment is, for me.
It starts off as a cold chill running up my spine, an alert for my body that something is very wrong, and it quickly turns to intense panic. The gun is cold against my temple, a stark reminder that in this very moment, I am at the hands of someone who could so easily take my life. The way he’s holding me, his grip firm, the gun pressing against my flesh, tells me he’s not messing around.
Marek is standing, and I can see in his expression that this has caught him off guard. He wasn’t expecting anyone to be here and judging by the fear that flashes in his eyes, he knows this person is dangerous. It’s his fear that fuels mine, and my legs begin to shake as a lone tear rolls down my cheek, my voice frozen in my throat, my lungs struggling to work.
“Make your men stand down, Marek, or I’ll blow her brains all over this road.”
The man’s voice is icy, scratchy, and cold.
Marek raises a hand, and the men appearing all stop what they’re doing, lowering their weapons.
“One move, even one, and I’ll kill her.”
“What do you want?” Marek growls, his voice edgy but not as cold as it usually is.
Is Marek scared?
“You killed my brother, and now I’m here to get revenge.”
“Your brother fucked me over; he knew what he was doing. You want to mess with the wrong people, you die.”
“You’re right, you do, that’s why I’m going to kill this little possession of yours.”
“Marek,” I croak, my eyes pleading, the fear washing through me unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
His eyes move to mine, and I wish I could read the expression on his face. I wish he would tell me it’s all going to be okay, but I don’t see how it is. Every man surrounding us has their gun lowered, if they so much as flinch, this man will kill me. I don’t see a way out of this, and that realization has my bottom lip trembling.
The expression on Marek’s face is one I’ve never seen before – it’s full of pain and fear.
He knows this man is going to kill me.
“Are you scared, little girl,” the man chuckles behind me, his voice low, “don’t be, it’ll be over so fast you won’t even feel it. He will, though. Won’t you, Marek?”
Marek takes a step forward and the man raises the gun, slamming it over my head. I cry out, pain shooting through my skull as my world spins. Blood trickles down my temple and if it weren’t for the man holding on to me, I would fall to the ground. My cries echo through the frosty night, but nobody can do anything to help me.
“Enough,” Marek barks. “What do you want?”
“An eye for an eye, Marek. You know how it works. I want you to watch her die, so you know how it feels.”
“Your brother made his choice. He knew what would happen. She is innocent.”
I try to focus on Marek, but blood is pouring down over my eyes, burning. I can do nothing because if I move, I’m afraid it’ll be the last time I do. The man behind me swipes the blood from my vision and then moves his hand from my waist to my jaw where he grips it tightly, pushing my head back into his chest.
The cold gun doesn’t move from my temple.
“Look at him,” he whispers in my ear. “I think he’s a little scared. Is there anything you want to say to him before I end this?”
“Please don’t,” I croak. “Please.”
“Begging won’t get you anywhere, child. Now, look at him.”
My eyes move to Marek’s and blood runs down, mixing with my tears as I make a croaky, sobbing sound. There is something in his gaze, so terrified and broken, and for just a second, I forget where I am. Just a second. It looks as though he’s telling me how sorry he is with his expression, only it’s a little too late.