The man was carrying the bag I’d left the supplies in earlier. Turning to look at me, I noticed his ski mask and tinted goggles that obscured his identity. Catching movement at the side of my eye, I barely had time to register the second man before he punched me in the gut and brought me to my knees with an ‘Oomph’ as the wind escaped my lungs. Feeling my arm being forced behind my back, I found myself being marched into the living room as I coughed to try and regain my breath.
“Henry, what’s wron-OH MY GOD!” Mom shrieked as I entered the room.
“Ah-ah-ah,” the man who wasn’t holding me said, causing Mom and Rheta to both fall silent and still. I felt the cold steel of a gun being pressed to my head as an ominous click let me know that the hammer was just an inch away from firing a bullet into my brain. “Let’s not lose our heads now,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ve no intention of harming you, but we will if you don’t behave and do what we say.”
“We’ll give you whatever you want, just please, don’t hurt my son,” Mom said with panicked worry all over her face.
“All we want is a place to lay low for a few hours while the cops get too ahead of us to realize where we are.” Removing the gun from my head, he pointed it at Rheta. As soon as I saw that, I tried to rush him, but the guy holding me put more pressure on my arm, while the one with the gun put the barrel under my chin. “Behaving means no heroics. I will shoot you if there’s anymore funny business. Understand?” I nodded to show my compliance. “Good,” he said, as he once again pointed the gun at Rheta.
“Now, what’s your name gorgeous?” he asked. Rheta just stared at him with more loathing than I’d ever seen in her face, refusing to answer his question. The man gave a sharp, quick laugh. “I can see why your boyfriend here is so fond of you, sweet cheeks. With a fire and boldness like that, makes a man wonder where else you get huffy and puffy.”
I was surprised that neither Mom nor Rheta contradicted him on me being Rhe’s boyfriend. Both had given a raised eyebrow at the comment, but neither had done more than that. I was internally grateful for this as it wouldn’t go against the story I’d given to my contact.
“Ok, if you don’t want to tell me your name that’s fine, I’m sure that we’ll hear it later. But since I need to call you something, how’s about we go with Bitch?”
“Don’t you call her that!” I couldn’t help myself from saying that.
“Easy, Loverboy,” he said without turning to look at me, but I could hear the threat in his voice. “While I commend you on your chivalry, it’s your girl’s own fault for not giving me something to call her by. But, back to what I was doing. Now, Bitch, I find myself in need of a seat. Would you be so kind as to show me where I can get some?”
Standing tall, Rhe pointed outside and said, “The snow plow pushes all the fluffiest snow into the middle of the road; I’m sure even you and your partner would be able to find spots big and comfy enough if you just laid down.”
The man gave a genial laugh as he fought the urge to double over. “Haha! Oh, you clearly have a set on you, don’t you Bitch? Telling us to leave and that we’re fat and stupid all in one comment; I’d be jealous if I wasn’t impressed.” He seemed to finally regain control of himself as, without looking, he turned his gun away from Rheta, and pointed it right at me. “But impressed or not, I grow tired of your misbehaving. I will not explain myself again: obey what I say, or I start shooting.” He paused as he and Rhe glared at each other. “Where can I find some chairs?”
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