Johnny and I meet each other’s gaze, a silent exchange speaking volumes between us.
He winks at me, and with that subtle gesture, I prepare myself for any possible outcome.
Our hands find each other, almost like their magnets, locking us together.
We step through the threshold, a familiar stench tickling my nostrils—the same one from when I was taken. A chemical sort of smell—a mix of bleach and the remains of whatever was produced here years ago.
It takes my eyes a second to adjust, but when they do, I spot Rosie tied to a chair in the center of the room, Franklin standing at her side, that same knife from the video call pressed to her neck.
I want to break into a sprint, rush over and free Rosie, but I can’t. Not yet. Any sudden move could cause Franklin to react more irrationally than he already is.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Franklin calls out to us. With his free hand, he motions us over.
A fresh set of goons come up behind us and shove us forward.
Still hand in hand, gripping each other tightly, we make our way closer.
I try to scan the space, count the sets of eyes on us, but it’s too much. There are too many of them, and every time I think I’ve finished tallying them up, someone else appears from the shadows.
Franklin was no fool; he came prepared.
Which if you think about it, is slightly hilarious. He’sthatdamn afraid of Johnny that he brought an army to fight his war. Fucking coward.
Johnny attempts to position himself in front of me, but I make sure to stay by his side. He’s already handled so much on his own, I refuse to let that happen anymore.
“Let her go,” Johnny tells Franklin.
Franklin tilts his head to the side. “Now, what’s the rush? We’re only just getting started.” He looks down at her and runs the flat of the blade across her cheek.
Rosie squirms under him but it’s no use. She’s tied in place with no chance of breaking free. Panic seeps out of her, which only fuels my rage.
The door we came through slams shut behind us, a row of men in black blocking the way. The room seems to shrink as a wall of men close in around us. Franklin in the center, two guys at his back, and Rosie at his mercy.
Johnny gravitates toward me, or maybe me toward him, and either way, we inch together, as if we can somehow combine our strengths to find a way out. Our plan suddenly falls flat with the sheer magnitude of the effort Franklin is putting in to keep us confined. We stop within six feet of my best friend and the man threatening her.
I stare at her, pleading with her to understand how sorry I am, and that we will do everything in our power to get her out of this alive, even if it means sacrificing ourselves for her.
A man approaches Franklin, whispering something into his ear before retiring to his spot in the line.
Franklin’s eyebrows raise and he nods his head. “Interesting.” He focuses on Johnny. “You actually listened. I have to say, I wasn’t sure you’d actually come alone.”
Johnny stiffens. “Who was I supposed to bring along? We did everything you asked. Let her go.”
“You know…” Franklin circles Rosie slowly, the knife still in his grasp. “I’ll never relate. This wholegood guyact you put on.” He stops, holding the tip toward us. “What’s the point? It makes you weak. Vulnerable. Easily predictable. I mean, how simple was it for me to find you? All I had to do was locate her.” He points at me. “And once I knew you had her, I just took this one.” Franklin nudges Rosie. “It’s like taking candy from a baby. What’s the point? You’re willing todiefor these people? What’s wrong with you?”
“You got what you wanted.” Johnny grips my hand tightly. “Take me instead. Kill me instead of her.”
Franklin strolls over to stand behind Rosie. “Oh Johnny, I don’t want to kill you, not yet. I want totortureyou. I want to make you pay for every little inconvenience you’ve caused me. I want you to beg me to stop. And when you do, I’m going to keep going.” Franklin shakes his head. “You won’t die tonight, boy. Not the way you think you will. This is only just the beginning of your end.”
A different but similar man appears at Franklin’s side, telling him something quietly.
Franklin sighs. “It appears our fun here will be cut short, as I have an urgent family matter to attend to.” He nods to someone behind us. “Let’s wrap this up and pick up where we left off later.”
I watch in horror as he grabs Rosie by the hair, tilting her head back and pressing the blade of his knife to her throat. Everything speeds up and slows down all at once, the sudden realization that none of us are going to make it out of this alive.
And if that’s the case, I am going to do everything in my power to make sure I take Franklin with us.
Franklin moves first, a twitch of his wrist.
I drop Johnny’s hand, leaping away from him as my scream ripples through the air at the sight of blood on my best friend’s neck.
Rosie’s frantic gaze meets mine, and a loud bang echoes throughout the building. Chaos erupts, and with that, the execution has turned to a war.