Empty Gun

“If I’m barking up the wrong tree then why do you look so fucking nervous?”

Nicholas looked up at the man that had a menacing grin and towered over him like a giant, Nicholas was on his knees but his gaze was firm as he looked at the man. He was bald, he had dark green eyes that looked like being angry was it’s natural shape, he had a small scar running down from his top to bottom lip, his fists were clenched tightly and he looked like he could explode from anger at any given moment.

“I didn’t steal anything from you, we’re business partners, I benefit from you just as much as you do from me so tell me Vlad, why in the world would I steal from you when I know the dangers that come with it?"

Vlad’s anger seemed to get worse the more Nicholas spoke.

Rain stood by the bedroom door, the empty gun clutched tightly in her fists that were beginning to shake out of fear for her brother’s life.

Nicholas’ brown curls stick to face due to the sweat he was drenched in, his red and widened in fear but yet he continued to deny…

Vlad punched Nicholas square in the jaw and Rain could’ve sworn she heard the sound of a bone breaking.

Vlad reaches for the gun in his waistband and points it at Nicholas' head, his eyes narrowed and dark, the look in his eyes scared her...She knew right there and then that if she didn’t do anything, her brother would be dead.

“Last chance, Nicky,” Vlad said in a low voice “Where is Xander’s merch?”

Vlad turns off the safety of the gun and then his lips stretches into a wide and dangerous looking grin.

Nicholas’ eyes widened even more and he moved back, still on his knees, trying to distance to himself from Vlad.

“Stop!”

Rain exhaled shakily, she wasn’t sure what came over her, but she knew what compelled her to speak and make her presence known, her stupid brother who’s life she was beginning to rethink saving.

She pointed the empty gun at the big man standing in front of her brother.

“Put down your gun or I will shoot!”

Both men turned their attention to her abruptly and both their expressions changed once they saw the gun in her hand. Vlad didn’t change his stance or move his hand though, instead he stared at her with a hint of amusement and lust at the same time.

“Didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend as pretty as this, Nicky...I would’ve acted nicer,” Vlad said with a sly smile. Rain swallowed nervously but didn’t back down either, ignoring her brother’s surprised look while trying to steady her shaking hands, she took two courageous steps forward and turned off the safety of the gun in her hand to prove her point.

“Put your gun down!” she said more firmly this time, her finger moving closer to the trigger.

“She’s feisty too!” Vlad said in an amused tone. He gives Rain one last look then he shrugs and puts down his gun on the floor...

Nicholas reaches for it immediately but Vlad is faster as he kicks away Nicholas' face like it was a random football passed to him.

Rain gasped in horror as her brother’s body landed with a thud on the ground and blood began to pour out of his nose like it was an open tap.

“I said stop!” Rain said angrily. Vlad chuckled like he didn’t just break a person’s nose with his foot.

“You said to put down my gun and I did, I can never disobey a beautiful lady such as yourself,”

Rain wanted to slap that disgusting grin off his face as much as she wanted to run away from this godforsaken scene she had just made.

“I—”

“Rain!” Nicholas' yell interrupted her, before she knew what was happening, she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck...Someone had hit her, hard, so hard that she fell to her knees and struggled to breathe from unexpected pain she felt.

“Fuck! Leave her out of this, please!”

She heard Nicholas say, his tone becoming increasingly agitated.

She moaned from the pain, she used one hand to prop herself back up and used the other to touch the back of her neck, it felt wet...blood…

She sucked in a deep breath…she felt nothing…she couldn’t breathe and she knew it was happening again.

“Too late for that Nicky,” Vlad said, then she heard heavy footsteps getting closer…no, there was another person behind her, she could feel his presence as well and then she could hear Vlad slowly approaching her as well… .

She tired to keep her breathing under control, she tried to push done those images and memories that kept flashing in her mind. Rain brought her hand down and looked at it.

Blood.

It was her blood on her fingers…

The red color, there was no mistaking it...

It was happening again, she knew what would come next...

He would grab her hair.

Vlad grabbed her hair and pulled it back till her eyes met his, she could feel strands of her hair pulling out from his tight grip and it made her eyes water.

Her teary eyes met his dark ones with a silent plea, for a split second his own eyes widened and then he looked confused...He let go of her hair abruptly and cursed under his breath.

“Rain...” Nicholas cried out, his voice was no longer loud, he seemed to be losing consciousness.

“I’m sorry…”

Rain couldn’t say a word, her lips and tongue wouldn’t budge.

“Since you have refused to tell me where you’re hiding it...I have no choice but to take you to the boss,” Vlad said to Nicholas, “I have no doubt that he would be able to make you speak...”

Then Rain felt another vicious hit at the back of her head, this time she wasn’t given time to process a thing before her vision began to blue and she felt all her strength leaving her body.

“She’s quite strong, a hit like the first one should’ve have knocked out any woman instantly…she must be a…..”

Vlad’s voice began to sound distant and fade away and along with it, her consciousness. Soon everything turned dark.