Page 29 of Double Dare

“That holds no weight to me anymore,” I hiss.

“You love me Danica just like I love you! Don’t do this!”

“No.” I shake my head, staring down at him. “I don’t love. Not anymore. It makes you weak, and I’m too strong for that now.” I admit the thought that’s been on my mind for days.

“Don’t do this,” he tries one last time.

“Pick up the gun, Dario,” I reply, settling back in my seat.

Picking himself up off his knees, he slides back in his chair and grabs the gun. “Please,” he begs.

“Let’s play.”

He looks at Adrian, holding the gun in his shaky hand as a last-ditch effort to gain mercy.

Adrian just waves him to continue.

He places the gun in his mouth, and it chatters across his teeth. “Pull the trigger.”

He squeezes his eyes. “Please.” The word is barely audible.

“If I would have known why you wanted me to come to Adrian, would you have let me decide? Would you have let me live if I asked?”

His whole body shakes, but he doesn’t even try to reply. He knows I already have the answer.

“Pull the fucking trigger.”

He finally does as I said, and nothing but a click sounds out. Throwing it back down on the table, he sobs, pulling big gulps of air into his lungs.

Grabbing it, I smile and place it between my teeth. Another click sounds out, so I place it back on the table.

When Dario doesn’t reach for it, I roll my eyes. “Pick up the gun.”

He shakes his head. “Everything is yours, Danica. Just let me go.”

Adrian starts talking before I can reply. “This isn’t up to her anymore. I told you, your debt can only be paid with a life, so pick up the gun and pull the fucking trigger.”

He shakes his head again but picks up the gun. Putting it in his mouth, he pulls the trigger for a second time.

Click.

The sound of the hammer hitting each chamber sounds out another three times before the gun is laid down and we’re both left standing.

Realizing the gun was empty, Dario’s eyes grow wide. “You fucking tricked me!”

I shake my head and cross one leg over the other. “No. I wanted you to suffer just like me. I’ve been here for over a week, and not once have you tried to reach me in some way. What the fuck have you been doing?”

His body convulses, the last bits of adrenaline leaving him. “I—I’ve been trying to find a way to fix this. I didn’t really want to see you hurt, Danica.” He cries.

Adrian laughs. “You’re a terrible liar.” Then, he pulls his own gun from behind him and fires a single shot in Dario’s head.

I jump with the bang and watch his body slip from his chair. The skin on his hand is torn and mangled as his dead weight finally pulls his hand from the table, keeping the fork in place.

My ears ring and the world starts to tilt in slow motion. I don’t feel angry or sad. I’ve been cloaked in Adrian’s darkness, and it’s blocking my light, but I’m not sure I want to go back to that place anyway. I don’t want to be the person to try and take care of everyone. I don’t want to be the one people come to when they’re in trouble.

I want to be feared and worshipped.

Standing from my chair, I peer over the table and look at his body on the ground. Unlike Bruce’s gun, Adrian’s only causes a small hole where blood seeps out, creating a puddle on the clean floors.

---