ADDY
It was a surge, a powerful negative force that possessed my body, all the way to my bones the moment I looked up at him.
I wanted to shriek.
How could a man who looked like he'd been kissed by an angel, be the devil? How could he murder someone in cold blood without a second thought? The guy was a creep, surely, but he wasn't supposed to be —
"State your fucking business," his gruff tone throws me off balance, sending larva down my throat. "Or you're next."
I see Blondie give me a discouraging look from the corner of my eyes but even then, my throat rubs vigorously against each other and I'm unable to speak.
Said devil clicks his gun and points to my face without hesitation. "Speak."
My words hang in my throat, there's a pang in my chest, like my heart has detached from behind my ribs and is falling right to the pit of my stomach.
Words, words, what are words?
Well, what did he want me to say? Gosh. These words are in my head but somehow, they aren't coming out of my mouth.
"I'm not one to repeat myself," said the devil as he made sure the trigger was ready to be pulled.
"She's mute!" Blondie's voice makes both our heads snap. I can see a stretch of people as I look away, that's when I remember that there are people watching.
Blondie stares at me, nudging me.
"Selectively," Blondie adds and I gape, like a fish out of water. My lips part and close momentarily but I don't miss the click of the devil's gun. Now, he is pointing at Blondie.
No.
"Think again before playing your games with me, I won't hesitate to make you permanently unconscious."
"We have no business here," I say immediately, thankful that the words can come out now. Or maybe it just happened because I still care about others more than I care about myself.
Why couldn't I speak when my life was threatened? But here I am, speaking when a stranger's life is threatened.
I need therapy, Noah was right.
Gosh! That's true, Noah. I totally forgot with all this madness going on. I need to call her, tell her I'm alive. Tell her where I am so she could send the police or something.
But…with the way the devil is looking at me, I'm pretty sure that I might die any second now if I don't speak up to save my life and Blondie's.
"Can you…" it's a very cringe and a very low — unintended to annoy said devil — chuckle, but all he does is clench his jaw. "Can you please untie our hands? It's uncomfortable."
I see Blondie tilts his head in disbelief before closing his eyes with a sigh, no doubt wishing he was kidnapped with anyone else right now.
Said devil lowers his gun, an uncomfortable glint in his eyes. "And why would I care about that?"
I do a quick glance around, "We can't run away and we're not going to but, we've been tied up for hours. Please?"
I notice his stance fumble slightly, almost like it never happened. His jaw is super clenched and he looks around, I'm wondering if he's thinking of the crowd.
Maybe him untying our hands would show a weakness and he wouldn't want that, so I just sigh.
"No need," I say like I'm discussing the weather. Blondie whispers at me.
"What the actual fuck?!" He mouths and I just nod a little.
Said devil tilts his head and somehow, I find it amusing. "I see you're not afraid to die."
I play along, shrugging a shoulder. "I'm not."
"Liar," he says matter-of -factly before pointing his gun right at me again. The crowd gasps for my sake and I feel grateful, it's not important, but I just feel like I'm not alone.
"I'll give you one last chance, sunshine, state your business."
"I have no business here," my tone is serious, threatening in fact. Because why would he just assume I'm the stain here? "I was taken without consent."
"You were able to cross the border, how?"
"What border?"
There's no verbal response, just the way his fingers flicks against the small outline under the gun and the feel of the cold metal touching my forehead.
"I don't know anything, I swear!" My voice is frantic, I'm calling for help, from anywhere.
"I'm giving you ten seconds, and that's a fullness of mercy on my part."
"I…" the words sink in, bile rises in my throat. "I .."
"Ten, Nine, Eight —"
"I don't know!" I yell, I feel the tears sting my eyes as I blink rapidly, I'm too scared to meet his eyes, too frantic to breathe properly. I can feel my lungs caving in, holding my breath hostage.
"Five, Four —"
"Please," it's a whisper, it's all I have within me. My eyes snaps up at him, hoping he just lets me live. I haven't done so much with my life, I just came out of an abusive relationship three months ago, I haven't gone to parties and gotten drunk, I haven't gotten married or cared for a child, I haven't done so many things.
The tears fall from my eyes in a nonstop shed, like a waterfall, ever flowing. I feel it roll down my face, dropping on my chest, further soaking the neckline of my dress.
Blondie's eyes are glued to mine, widening with horror. I couldn't imagine what it's like to be in his shoes, watching people die right beside you.
"Please," I'm still murmuring, still hoping.
He presses the gun further into my skin, I'm sure it's marked already with his force. "Just what the hell are you doing here, sunshine?"
"I don't know!" My scream is deafening to my ears, the crowd is silent, watching me with dead eyes. "I don't know, I don't know!" I sniffle, drawing in sharp breaths from my mouth because it seems my nose has given up on functioning properly.
"Three more seconds, sunshine," his voice is cold but there's a crack to it, like he doesn't want to do this. Or maybe it's all me, maybe I'm just hoping there's a part of him that doesn't want to kill me. "I'm holding on to that, sunshine. Three more seconds to give me an answer."
My lips part and the words seems to run out, I bite my tongue in the process because of how fast I'm speaking, "I was taken without my consent, that's all I know. I've never been here before, I don't know what you want, please I –"
"Time's up, sunshine," he cuts me off and pulls the gun away from my face, no doubt, wanting to aim properly.
I'm going to die.
"Addison?!"
My eyes widen at the sound of my full name. Could there be someone who knows me here?
But, what if it isn't actually me?
I don't care though, because my supposed killer immediately takes his gun back into his pocket and moves a few steps away from me. This is giving me much more time.
Maybe I can untie this stupid rope and make a run for it?
"Addison?" The voice is nearer now and I'm aware of the shadow that stands right beside me. It's not mine, it's talk and brooding and definitely a man.
Though, I must have heard his voice somewhere before.
Said devil speaks up, his voice is calmer than usual. "Do you know her, Sir?"
"Yes."
Who is this person? And how does he know me?