Selina JohnsonApartment-A p.a.w.n you say?
-Yes. But make no mistake. I am just a scant trying to survive here after all.
-Trying to survive..
-(Sighs)Look, Selina? I won"t say I am sorry. There"s no point.
-What..what are you really after?
-...I already told you. This town, the society is like a giant food chain. And people like you and me are placed at the very bottom.
-Don"t tell me you are on some holy crusade or something.
-No. You misunderstood. I don"t really care about any of these.
-Then; WHY do I have a gun pointed at you right now? Why am I here with you at all?
-Back at the health clinic, I a.s.sume that"s what you call that five star nursing home, right?
-...
-I was fortunate enough to get one or two visitors. Well, not that you gave a d.a.m.n.
-If I had visited you...would things have been any different?
-Who knows..probably. Or not.
-(A big exhale)...you had them checking out this hotel for Layla at the day of your release?
-Charming detective! Not particularly Layla I believe. I AM impressed though.
-No..there"s still...wait, you said she was like, a p.a.w.n? Then..,- My hands started to feel dull. Just when I began to get somewhere, a little smile on his face a.s.sured me that I was missing a huge number of pieces. I solved nothing.
-Yes, you were going on the right track. Her misfortune wasn"t particularly my intention. I just made a good deal with very lousy people.
-How did they even find you? Who are you guys?
-It"s a town where you trip over bullet castings while running around at the playground. I don"t think it would be too hard for higher ups to find their missing errand boys here.
-...
-For your second answer, I am afraid I cannot say anything.
-...
-Now, if you want to shoot me, then go ahead. And if that"s not it then help me out. It"s a courtesy you know, to help a disabled person.
-...Shen Anderson, you are arrested, for attempted thievery, a.s.saulting a police officer and plotting further robbery.
-Huh? I must say you are one interesting woman. No wonder he fell for you..but sorry, you"re not arresting anyone today.
-Who? What did you just say?
-Never mind that. What were YOU saying? Arresting?
-...,- I was looking at him. Underneath my act, I was still trying to connect the dots, making scenarios.
-(Chuckles)what are the charges? On who"s authority?
-...,- There was no good answer. I couldn"t have backed out too. The only thing I could do was to hide behind my badge.
-Selina,- He moved towards me with a straight face while being completely vulnerable, powerless to fight. It was almost like he had no fear.
-Stop moving or I WILL shoot. Get back!
-Selina, this badge of yours bears no value right now. You are deprived of your duties, you know it. Your charges have no witnesses nor any evidence.
-Shut up!
-You acted on your own and ended up with this situation. I am sure NYPD didn"t approve any of those solo actions of yours.
-No you just told me everything, you confessed..
-Did I?
-...,- My brain couldn"t think anymore. It was like the man in front of me was stomping all over my face and I could only endure.
-You"re good Selina. Probably with a bit more observation you might have already had me.
Even in that broken stance, his eyes were full of confidence. By the next second he had already grabbed the gun I was holding. My hands became steady in an instant. Still he was the one who channelled it at his own self.
-Now that you have steadied your gun, what are you going to do? You know everything you need to know but n.o.body else does.
.
.
.
-Can you end it? Is it the only way?
-...
-...come on Selina. This is what I am. A worthless existence on this Earth; who lives only for himself. I am a runner in the end.
-Stop talking!!
-Know that n.o.body"s going to have any say on this death. n.o.body"s going to come to you asking for their dead friend, son, husband or father.
-...
-You have already killed me when you took that envelope from me. Might as well finish the job completely.
-...no.
-You can"t hand me over to police. You can"t give me my life back. Worst of all you can not live your life now knowing how much of a sc.u.m I am. What a screw up, right?
-...yes,- For a moment I thought I saw tears coming out of his eyes. I couldn"t be sure as he lowered his face suddenly.
I was happy for meeting some wonderful people here. People who also cared for me without asking anything in return. I had Shen to thank for that.
.
.
It felt like he was someone at the point of no return. I was once that way too. By letting him win, I would just be losing what I had achieved. Things would be just like the time when I lost Frank.
-...,- It was silence on his side.
-But I am not letting you win this one just like that. You have still got a lot to say to me.
-...I ask of you to do this. It"s either you or...I just..want you to be the person who pulls the trigger.
-That"s not happening. But I am taking you out of this game.
-Funny Selina...you have exceeded...my expectations. Now I can only laugh...at my worthless pride..,- He couldn"t finish his line cause the whole body of him became lifeless out of nowhere. I grabbed him quickly. His face tumbled upon my chest. I stood there holding him like that for a few seconds.
-Shen!!
He was comparatively lightweight and slender which helped me balance myself swiftly. I felt that his breathing was slow. Almost close to nothing.