A Life for A Life

*Louis’s POV*

What were they waiting for? I said I’d come to die for Cat, now why were they hesitating? I was bind to a chair, arms and legs bounded so tight my hands and feet lost circulation. I had a blindfold put on me the moment I got into the car on the way to this very chair, so I had no clue as to what my surroundings were nor where I was. I could still feel the phone in my back pocket, something they never bothered with.

Other than the bruises I knew were forming on my arms and legs, no other marks were on me. I’ve been pretty quiet and cooperative as I let them take me in. The easier I let them do their job, I figured they would be satisfied enough to let Cat go. I heard a door click then and I jerked my head toward that direction. “You’re so desperate to die, aren’t you boy?”

I knew this voice already. He was here before with a woman. I was sure this man was Caitlyn’s father. It was the only rational thing I could come to my mind. I felt myself swallow some, little of it out of fear. I heard the sounds of him opening the ammunition of a gun and pulling it back to cock it. “I wonder how I should do this. I was going to let my wife decide, but I can’t seem to find her anywhere.”

There was a brief pause as someone else came into the room. “Unbind one of his hands.” The man ordered.

I heard the sound of a knife opening. I felt the movement of the rope as someone was cutting it. My wrist was suddenly set free, it tingling and throbbing in pain as blood suddenly rushed to my fingers. I flexed them, but not moving them from where they rested on the arm of the chair. I felt the wait of a gun rest on my leg. I swallowed, not sure what he wanted.

“You say you wanted to die to set her free.” I heard him whisper in my ear. I clenched my jaw, hands grasping the end of the chair arms. “You honestly think I’ll be the one to kill you? That’s too easy. Show me. Show me how far you’re willing to go for this useless girl.”

Was he seriously telling me to take this gun and shoot myself? “There’s only one bullet in that gun.” He continued. “Sam there has a knife and I have another gun right in my pocket. You can use that gun to shoot me, but Sam there will take that knife and slowly slice your body to bleed to death. Either choice you make, you will end up dying, it’s just up to you how fast you want to die…”

I felt myself swallow again as I used my free hand to pick up the gun. The faster I die, the faster Cat would be free. That was all I ever want for her now. She deserves to be free. I rested the end of the barrel under my chin. I’ve heard all about the different suicide attempts used with a gun. Some went for the side of the head, but the most proficient way was under the chin. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling my finger ready to pull the trigger.

At that moment, the door slammed open. Two gunshots was heard, my reaction being dropping the gun in my lap and lower my head. A scream was let out beside me along with the clanging of a knife falling on the floor. “Let him go.” I heard a stern girl say, voice thick with threat and venom.

The voice was so deadly and familiar. I reached up, pulling off the blindfold. My ears weren’t failing me. It was Cat. She had a gun in hand, pointing it straight at the man I knew as her father. He had his own gun out, the barrel pointing straight at me. “My, you really are a handful. Landon and I should’ve killed you off when we had the chance.”

“Looks like it’ll only be you.” Cat said, eyes holding a new look. A look I didn’t recognize.

I saw the gun lower just a tad, the news hiding the man hard. The gun swung in her direction. “You little cunt! You killed my wife!”

Before he could pull the trigger on Cat, she kicked up, knocking the gun out of his hand. The man lashed out, engaging the both of them into an intense fight. I heard the whimpering of the Sam guy on the ground next to me. His hand was bleeding heavily and hip bleeding badly. I looked down, seeing the knife. I grabbed at it, hurrying to cut the rope at my other wrist. I could hear the grunts and some hard impacts behind me as the two fought.

I managed to finally get my wrist free and worked faster at my ankles. I grunted in annoyance as it took forever to get through the thick rope. Once both ankles were free I quickly stood, taking the gun that was in my lap. I turned around, my eyes quickly landing on the two of them.

Cat was slumped up against the wall and I saw the man walking toward her with the gun he lost earlier in hand. He squatted down, forcing her head up as he slammed her head up against the wall. I stood frozen. Not this again. Every time my eyes landed on a gun, my body would freeze like this. The man slowly brought up the gun and rested at her temple. My hands started to shake as I didn’t know what to do.

I looked down, seeing the gun there. I knew what would happen if I didn’t make my move. Cat would die, not because of her parents, but because I failed to protect her. I couldn’t have it. She spent the whole week to know what to do in rash decisions like this.

“It’s either kill or be killed. I hate that motto, but in certain situations, it’s the only thing you can live by.”

Her words ranged in my mind. I didn’t want her to die. No, not if I had something to do about it. I raised the gun. I pointed it straight at him. I was close enough for an easy shot, so I didn’t fail my aim. Pulling the trigger, I let bullet slip.

Everything seemed to go into slow motion after that. The gun he held at Cat’s head slipped from his fingers first. He stared ahead as he fell over, landing on his side. The gun slipped form my hand then, bouncing on the ground. I could see blood on the concrete wall behind Cat’s head. Her blood. I rushed over, squatting down in front of her. “Cat? Cat!” I called toward her, shaking her.

“Simmer down some.” I heard her muttered as she looked up at me. “I can hear you just fine.”

I didn’t know what to think. I was alive. Cat was alive. Somehow in this mess both parents were dead. I killed a man…

“Kill or be killed…” I murmured.

“You get it now?” She asked.

I pulled her to my chest. I hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go. I started to hear gunshots then. I jumped and Cat touched my arm. “He must be here.”

“Huh?” I asked, confused.

“Morgan.”