Russian Roulette

I have absolutely no idea what made me come up with this story but I've spent the last half an hour writing it for your reading pleasure. I was considering incorporating it into a longer tale.

 Russian Roulette

Russian roulette. One revolver, six chambers, one bullet and a million dollars on the table for the winner. If I win I'm loaded and if I lose I'm dead, literally. 

This billionaire knows how to entertain himself, wine in one hand, a cigar in the other with some twenty something, barely dressed, little slut sat on his lap. He's at least in his sixties, it must be lonely having all that money and no wife or children. I suppose my current situation proves that a lack of love in your life can send you crazy, but hey. I was living on the streets and someone was probably gonna shoot me sooner or later so I might as well risk it being sooner.

The night air is refreshing. I stand here in the middle of a huge courtyard, artificial lights only dimly lighting the place. "Begin boys." The old man has called for it to start. I load the bullet into the chamber and spin it. I then pass it to the guy opposite me.

"Spin it again and you go first." The guy looked like he was gonna wet himself with fear. He doesn't understand death like I do. I know that death is coming sooner or later, probably to drag my ass down into hell, and there's nothing I can do about it. It's gonna happen one day, maybe tomorrow, then I definitely would regret not doing this if I only have one day left anyway.

The guy can only be about twenty, he probably needs this for college or something. He's signed the contract now, theres nothing he can do to back out. I can see the fear on his sweat soaked face and in the shake of his arm as he raises his hand with the revolver. I look straight down the barrel and nod my head... CLICK. Empty barrel. Now it's one in five.

He passes it over to me. The thing is soaked in sweat from his hands. "Don't be scared kid." I try to reassure him. "If you go down do it like a man." I aimed, readied myself and... CLICK. I could see the urine stain traveling down his trouser leg until it dribbled out onto his feet and onto the floor. "Better?" All he can do is rapidly nod his head as I had him the gun. One in four.

"Sorry if I kill you." His high pitched voice was pitiful.

"No worries. Just do it."

I'd like to say he's shaking but that doesn't do it justice. Vigourously vibrating, that better suits his present state. He's just standing there pointing it at me.

"Just shoot me kid for God's sake!" This kid's really pushing me now. CLICK. "Finally." One in three.

I grab the gun out of his hand and don't give him chance to say or do anything... CLICK. Down to a fifty fifty.

I look at the kid. "Make it quick." He takes the revolver from me. "After three. One, two..." Click. We both freeze at the sound. One left. "It looks like I'm gonna have to kill you kid."

"I don't want to die." Tears flow from his eyes and drip from his chin, like an overfilled cup still having water poured into it. His squeaky voice in audible in this quiet courtyard.

"You know what you signed up for you scrawny little girl." That billionaire's really starting to annoy me now. Why can't he let the kid absorb that it's his last moments. Maybe he want us to pass on a last message or something, we could at least pay him that respect.

"Let him take it in." I tell the pompous idiot before I turn to the kid. Dammit, this is gonna be like shooting a puppy or something. "Anything you want to say? A message for your mother?"

"You know the deal you morons!" The old man's on one now. "The contract clearly states that one of you must die for the other to get the money and neither of you can leave this courtyard while the other is alive. I don't care how but one of you is going to die tonight whether you like it or not!"

"True." I turn to the kid. "Do me a favour and cremate me. Do what you will with the ashes. I put the revolver to my head and turn to the bastard who put us in this position, other than ourselves. "One of us will die. Me"

In notice a sly grin on the billionaires face as I close my eyes and pull the trigger...

What do we think? If I prolong it would it be into the afterlife, the lesson the kid learned or perhaps the old billionaire's joke is that the gun doesn't even work. That's why I stopped where I did. Too many options... :-D

Love or Mars

 This is for Romantic Friday Writers. The prompt this week was the most difficult yet (and I've found them all difficult) "Up, up and away". Hopefully you enjoy it.

In youth Suzie boasted that she dated a guy who worked for NASA, training to be an astronaut. She dreamed of the day she could say "My husband works up in space." 

Howard celebrated passing his Astronaut Test by proposing to Suzie, marrying her a just few months later. A year later Suzie gave birth to Jake and life was perfect, until Howard's job kicked in, forcing him to travel into space on a regular basis.

For seven years he would leave for a few months at a time, working with a team repairing satellites orbiting Earth. He was only back from a three month absence a month when it was announced; NASA wanted Howard to captain the first human expedition to Mars. This gave him the choice, his wife and child, or his career. It would last twenty years, too long to force Suzie (thirty) to wait loyally.

He met some friends at a local bar to discuss his predicament. They were equally as split as himself. The eternal glory of being the first man on Mars or raising his son into manhood with his beautiful wife. He decided it would be best to talk to Suzie and get the perspective of someone he loved and loved him in return. Suzie could choose for him as she would know what was best.

Howard returned to an empty home. On the table sat an envelope labeled with his name in Suzie's handwriting.

Howard

I love you more than I can say, so I'm leaving. Sorry I didn't stay to tell you in person but I couldn't allow myself time to change my mind. I know you want to go to Mars so I decided to wave the white flag for Jake and myself, allowing you to go. Don't think I'm happy to be rid of you. I'll weep rivers every day but I believe that if you have considered, even for an instant, to leave us and go to Mars then that says enough. You should go. Remember me and remember Jake. We're proud to have been a part of your life and you will be forever in our dreams as you live out your own.

All my love

Suzie

The letter concluded with a kiss, her lipstick printed on the page. He kissed the image of her lips and wept. She was right... but that didn't make it any easier.



Word Count: 401
I'm sure we can allow one word. I unfortunately wrote 580 first draft. 

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One man and his conscience

  "Why? Why couldn't I do it?" Edgar spoke aloud as he lay still, careful not to make a sound. He was alone now. Unprotected, alone and frightened.

  You're a coward came the reply

  "No I'm not!" Edgar screamed to the heavens before covering his own mouth.

  Why didn't you do it then? Why are you cowering ? 

  "I don't know... I just don't know." He curled into a trembling ball .

Stand up. Walk around the corner.  See what your cowardice has done and face your enemy.

  "I'll die."

  

  You don't deserve to live.

  "So I deserve to die?"

  Face your enemy. Let your actions decide for you.

  "You're right."

  Sergeant Edgar Morrison nervously found his feet and, after wiping away the sweat and tears from his face, readied his rifle and approached the nearby corner of a building.

Peering round the corner he noticed the enemy he fled, the enemy his men stood their ground against, smoking and laughing amongst themselves. Scattered around them were his men, no... his comrades. They were their own men not his to own, and they were his friends. They lived and died with respect... as soldiers. Edgar felt an overwhelming surge of pride.

Do it! The voice echoed.

Edgar charged at the men, constantly firing and constantly screaming. "AARGH! YOU BASTARDS!"

He killed many, but that was to be expected as their rifles were laid next to them,  giving them less opportunity to react as Edgar's blaze fell upon them. Twenty had turned to three before one of the trio reached his rifle and...

BANG!

Edgar ceased, as did time, as the man fell to the ground and lay still. Edgar had fallen.

The remaining three now stood silent, staring around at their friends, their comrades, dead on the ground having all fallen to the rage of one man and his conscience.