The Mind of Game
“Hey, I…” I was cut off as I was slapped across the face by the angry figure that stood before me.
“I guess I deserved that,” I said, massaging the side of my face. “But I thought we’d agreed to be friends after we broke up.”
That’s right; I now stood before the angry, silk bathrobe wearing form of my ex-girlfriend. In that instant one thing was as clear as crystal. She was not pleased by the sight of me.
“What in the hell could possess you to come over here at this time of night?” she screamed.
My girlfriend, Cynthia, and I decided the “let’s be friends” route was the best way to end the little fling we had. Our relationship since then has been…frosty, at best. We try to keep things civil but I think all of those efforts have been in vain.
“Well you know me,” I said coolly. “I wouldn’t be here unless I had a good reason.”
She leaned on the door, folding her arms and sighing heavily. She looked strangely sexy. She’d always had a good body. A body I’ve missed in the time we’ve been away.
“And why, exactly, should I let you in?” She said, her long, red hair draping over her shoulder as she looked at me. Her sky blue eyes were as cold as chips of ice as she stared a big hole right through me. Luckily, I seemed to be one of the only men she’d ever known that could break down the impenetrable wall that surrounded her heart.
“Because you know you want to.” I said with a smirk, staring directly into her eyes.
“Damn I’m good.” I thought as she stepped aside and invited me in, closing the door behind me. I sat down on the couch in her spacious living room, it was now that I had time to relax and she first noticed my bleeding left arm, which I’d been successfully hiding as I stood at her door.
“What the hell happened to you?!” Cynthia screamed as she rushed over to examine my arm. Or keep me from bleeding on the upholstery, I couldn’t tell.
“I cut myself shaving.” I said, reeking of sarcasm.
“This isn’t the time for jokes, Alex!” She yelled as she grabbed my arm and looked it over, completely taking things like personal comfort and throwing them out of the window. I winced in pain as she practically ripped my jacket off my back and rolled up my sleeve to get a better look at the wound.
“It’s just a flesh wound. Relax.” I said, wincing once more. “I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t be stupid. You need medical treatment.” Cynthia said, standing up. “I may be able to take care of it, hold on.” With those words, she rushed off to the bathroom for bandages, gauze and rubbing alcohol.
Cynthia returned in short order and began cleaning my wound.
“What happened?” she said, applying a cotton ball, damp with rubbing alcohol, to my arm. “Seriously.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I said, leaning back.
“Try me.”
“Alright, fine.” I said, taking a deep breath. “As of late, there’s this guy, he’s been blackmailing me, saying I owe him money. Money I don’t fucking owe him. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him that, he’s still convinced I’m the one who screwed him over. Problem is, I think someone is framing me for the whole thing but I haven’t had the time to get the proof together. Between dodging the enforcers sent after me, I haven’t had much time to do anything but run…”
Cynthia finished cleaning my wound and had begun wrapping my arm in bandages while listening intently to my story.
“Anyway, it came to a head tonight when a few enforcers visited me at my apartment. Without getting into too much detail, I barely escaped with my life, as you can see from my arm.” I continued. “And I guess that’s where you come in.”
“So, what made you decide to come over here?” Cynthia said.
“I don’t know. I was scared and I needed someone to talk to. You were the closest person I could think of as I was driving aimlessly down the street.” I said sullenly. “I shouldn’t have come here. No doubt, the guy who wants me dead is going to be looking everywhere for me. I don’t want to drag you into this too.”
She had finished wrapping my arm. It felt worlds better as I tried to pull away from her. I looked back. She held my hand firmly. I gazed into her eyes for a moment. I could see that she still cared for me, as I did her. This is why I knew I had to leave as quickly as possible. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to her because of me. It was tough, but I pulled away from her.
“Thanks for the bandages.” I said, putting on my jacket and turning towards the door. “I appreciate the help but I really have to go.”
I walked toward the door, leaving Cynthia sitting alone on the couch, as I had done many times before.
“Alex, wait.” I heard her say behind me.
“Cynthia, I…”
I stopped cold and my eyes widened in shock as I turned around and saw her holding a silenced pistol, aiming directly for my heart.