Page 47 of Hard Game

I know that haunted look in her eyes; she’s been through hell, but she doesn’t want what’s coming for her. Sometimes, death is preferable to reality, and this is definitely the case.

Fat Fuck, as I’ll now refer to him, leers at her, stroking his crotch. “Are you ready to run, baby?”

My hands bunch into fists as I circle them, keeping far back in the trees. Their voices become distant, but I hear him counting.

“One.”

I move deeper into the woods, my adrenaline thumping in my ears. I need to get ahead of her, which won’t be difficult. She’s exhausted, and the bastards have tied her feet together. The trees are thick and heavy, tree trunks wide enough for me to hide behind.

“Two.”

I crouch at the base of a tree, the girl now directly in my sight. Fat Fuck is breathing heavily already; he’s so excited. I swallow and watch the girl, willing her to run. There’s every chance she won’t—she might want it to end. But they’ll make her run, one way or the other. I will her to take flight, to do something otherworldly like run on her hands or something when they drag her to her feet.

Her shoulders sag, and she sobs, but the scrawny guy shoves her between her shoulder blades, making her stumble forward.

“She’s like a baby deer.” Fat Fuck snorts, rubbing his hands together. “If you don’t run, I’ll last longer. So, three!”

I will her to run, and she does, somehow hopping with her feet tied together, falling to the floor but dragging herself up as Fat Fuck licks those disgusting slugs on his face that he calls lips.

The girl gets up, hopping madly as she tries to get away. The rats behind her laugh and call out to her, and it’s then that she lifts her head, and I see the light go from her eyes.

I beckon her to me, and she freezes, the words ‘help me’ escaping her blue-tinged lips. She’s freezing. I beckon her again, a finger on my lips.

Her eyes widen as she hops towards me, both legs moving as one.

“Look at her go!” Fat Fuck crows, nodding to the scrawny guy. “How long have I got?”

I listen as the girl makes her way to me, stumbling when she’s a few feet away.

“It’s okay.” I stare back at the men behind her, talking about her like she’s nothing.

“Unconscious is fine, but don’t kill her. The doctor can sew her up if you’re worried about that.”

I grit my teeth and stare at the girl who’s clawing the dirt between us, dragging herself to me like a wounded animal. I can’t move yet, not when Fat Fuck hasn’t moved. I can’t risk it.

“Oh, she’ll need a doctor alright,” Fat fuck sneers, dropping his pants to the floor and revealing his grotesque form. His belly hangs over his dick, and I’m grateful I can’t see it. His thighs are stuck together with sweat, and I almost gag.

“Help me,” the girl whispers, almost upon me. Her eyes are pleading and desperate, and I nod, keeping my finger to my lips.

“Ass up, face down, my favorite position,” Fat Fuck says, finally huffing his way towards us.

Panic fills the girl’s features as his feet pound on the ground, his exerted breath clouding the air. His eyes are fixed on the girl on the ground, which means I take him by complete surprise when I appear from behind the tree and smash my fist into his face. Blood spurts from his nose, and he tumbles back, screaming like the weasel that he is. I grip his throat with my left hand, slamming him against a tree trunk before I lift my right hand, aiming my Beretta at the scrawny fucker that’s scrambling for his gun, his features contorted with disbelief. One shot, straight between the eyes, and he’s down. He still looks confused, the stupid bastard. I turn back to the squealing pig and grin, baring my teeth. I want to spend time with this one, but I don’t have time.

The girl sobs behind me, and I exhale into Fat Fuck’s face, which is dripping with sweat. Fear swirls in his beady eyes as I jab my gun beneath his chin, aiming it at his useless brain. “You’re going to die,” I tell him as urine splashes over my shoes. “I’m going to shoot you through the brain, and you’re going to die.”

“No! Don’t, please! I’ve got money?—”

Bang.

The sweet silence matches his wide eyes, and I release him, watching him fall into a puddle of his piss. I turn to the trembling girl, her hands clawing at the ties around her feet.

“Hey,” I say gently, holding my hands up. I know she probably fears me, even though I saved her. She won’t trust anyone for a long time, if ever again. I crouch down and hold my arms out, beckoning her once more. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

She backs away, her fingers scraping in the dirt as she cries. “That’s what you all say!”

You all.

“I know, but I’m not one of them. Let me take you to a hospital.”

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