Three two one bang

He moaned in pain.

“About time you woke up, Sleeping Beauty,” said a honeyed voice. High-pitched with the slightest southern drawl. Her voice.

“Where are we?” he slurred. His tongue felt foreign in his mouth, coated with a sour aftertaste. I remember meeting for drinks, and…

Nothing. Total blackout.

Snickering rung in his ears. “Rohypnol’s a bitch, isn’t it?”

Something cool pressed against his left cheek. It was a soothing touch compared to the biting at his wrists and ankles, he noted with frantic interest. Managing to lift a heavy eyelid, he caught a flash of metal. Is that-

She dug the revolver’s muzzle hard into his skin. “Sweetheart, you’ve got three tries to convince me why I shouldn’t put this bullet through that cheating little head of yours,” she said with a smiling façade. “If you can, you'll keep it. Scout's honor.”

So that’s what this is about. “Babe,” he said carefully, eyeing the weapon, “you’re upset with the situation, I get it. But this is murder we’re talking about. You can’t just-” A snort interrupted his words.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll work out the nitty-gritty details. But what about you? Do you know where we are?” His eyes shifted to the surroundings, drinking in a scene of decayed wooden walls. A whiff of forest musk hit his nose as she cocked the gun.

It was the old, lichen-crusted cabin they had stumbled upon by chance during a hike gone wrong. Miles away from civilization. Fuck.

“Two.”

A loon cried out in the distance, and he sent up a silent prayer.

“Look, you might need help for being a complete lunatic who kidnaps people for breaking up with you-”

A few strides and his nose stared down the barrel of the gun once more. “You’re at one,” she snarled.

“-but I still love you,” he croaked in desperation. “I’m so sorry for what I did, and I beg you, please take back my worthless ass. We could make it right this time. I know that at least some small part of you feels the same.” A couple tears even rolled down his face.

Her face softened, and she lowered the weapon. She moved forward and sat on his lap, straddling his waist with her legs. A look of longing itched at her face.

“I loved you so much,” she murmured, tilting forward and firmly pressing her mouth against his. A sweet, succulent taste. She pulled back and licked her lips. “That could convince me.”

She bought it. He let loose a breathy tremble, and his muscles shouted from the release of tension. “Now, you said-”

The gun pushed against his chin and he swallowed the rest of his sentence. Her gaze was cool now, as crisp as the empty breeze that rustled through the glassless window frame across the room. Wisps of her silky hair tickled his cheek as she leaned in close.

“Well, isn’t that a shame, sugar,” whispered the velvet voice. “I guess I lied.”

Bang.