THE TURN

“Girl, at this rate, I’ll be out of this club soon,” Rita said, inhaling a deep breath as she adjusted her dress. She was greatly endowed with big breasts, a magnet for customers who flocked to her regardless of age, eager to shower her with cash. Rita had bigger dreams—she envisioned a fresh start and a new life, and she needed every dollar she could get.

“Here, this is for you; this one’s mine,” she said, extending a handful of cash to Amy. Generosity was her forte; she always shared her earnings with Amy.

“Thanks, baby!” Amy replied, pecking Rita on the cheek as she took the money and swirling around. Amy also had plans of starting a new life and only Rita was aware of it. So they did everything they could to save money together.

Suddenly, they heard gunshots.

Bang! Bang!

Their eyes widened at the sharp sounds of gunfire. Guns weren’t supposed to be in the club. Panic surged through them as Amy dove under the counter. Rita, quick-thinking and fierce, pulled a small knife from behind the bar, her instincts kicking in as she raced into the crowd.

More gunshots rang out, sending Amy's heart racing. She curled into a ball, trembling, desperately trying to make herself invisible. When a heavy silence fell, she peeked over her legs and then slowly she stood to her f*e, dread washing over her. As she stood, a chilling realization hit her. She just made a big mistake.

Before her stood a group of men dressed in black, and immediately they noticed her, their guns aimed directly at her. A cold wave of fear washed over her as she scanned the room, gasping as she took in the horrific scene: bodies of different mobsters sprawled across the floor, blood pooling together. One can't tell whose blood belonged to whom.

Her breath quickened, panic rising within her. “P…p…please,” she stammered, but her plea hung unanswered in the tense atmosphere. The men remained still, their focus unwavering, like machines programmed for destruction.

Amidst the chaos, she noticed a figure standing still in the midst of the horrific atmosphere. He stood calmly, engrossed in his phone, seemingly oblivious to the nightmare unfolding around him.

“What kind of person plays games in a situation like this?” she thought, before a new wave of horror crashed over her.

Two men roughly shoved her uncle to the ground before the man with the phone. Her heart sank as she recognized him; dread clawed at her insides.

Then, Rita was dragged in, clutching her bleeding arm, moaning in agony. It seemed like she was injured on her arm.

“Oh, Rita!” Amy gasped, covering her mouth, tears flowing freely as she fought to conceal her cries amid the looming threat of violence.

The man finally turned his gaze from his phone, his face expressionless. He raised a hand, and one of the men on black rushed forward with a chair which he sat on like a king. Lighting a cigarette, he surveyed her uncle with a smirk. “You think I’m a fool? That’s amusing,” he said, his voice smooth, calm, and laced with authority.

Her uncle trembled, sweat pooling on his brow. “ Ohh N-no! I’ve never considered you a fool! Please, I swear!” he begged, desperation shining in his eyes.

Amy’s heart raced as she realized she was witnessing a side of her uncle she’d never seen: a man who had always been strong and confident, now crumbling in fear before this stranger. The scene left her bewildered; their connection was shrouded in mystery.

“I didn’t come here to chat. Let’s get this over with,” the man commanded, looking bored. Rising from his chair. He signaled for something with his hand, and a long knife was brought to him. The glint of steel chilling Amy to her core.

“No! Please, spare me! I’ll honor the agreement!, we can even draft a new one if you want. Please!” her uncle pleaded, desperately gripping the ground.

Amy’s breath hitched in her throat. “No, no, please don’t do this!” But her voice faltered as she saw the blade rise. The horrifying sound of the knife slicing through the air echoed through the club. Amy’s heart stopped as she envisioned her uncle's head rolling to her feet. She couldn't move for few seconds. Her brain trying to process what just happened.

“Nooooo!” she screamed—a bloodcurdling wail that shattered the silence.

And just like that, she snapped back to reality. It was all in her head. Her uncle was still on his knees, begging for mercy. Overwhelmed, she collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m done playing games. I had planned to slice you apart slowly, but that doesn’t seem appealing anymore,” the man said, flinging the knife aside as he plopped back into his chair.

He glanced dismissively at Rita, disgust evident in his gaze. He looked away after few seconds, returning his gaze back to his phone. Why is she still here? What purpose does she serve?” he asked.

“She was found hiding behind the bricks over there,” one of the men replied, moving further into the chaos. The tension in the room thickened.

“Hmmm, she wanted to play smart I see. Lets play a game then. Shall we?”. He asked with a sly smile playing on his lips.