Fighting

I hear the shot go off.

'No, no, no!'

My senses were cut off, my body went into panic.

Then a strange sense of calm came over me and the situation became almost funny.

'Well there's another one. Gone. Dead.' I thought to myself. 'I'll be next.'

I heard them drag him away; feet trailing along the floor, like a carcass dragged back into the depths of a forest. Never to be seen again.

I feel body’s stiffen next to me, all knowing that this will never end. There is no escape for us.

I can hear mutterings; how much they love their wife and children and even one person talking about what they wish they could have done, bungee-jumping or swimming with sharks.

They get me thinking; what do I wish I could have done? Start a family? But that would mean I would be muttering about them too now, knowing that I would lose them. Choose a different job? That would probably be good, but this job saves people’s lives. That means more to me than most things.

I was startled out of my thoughts by the sound of the lock unbolting, scratching against something hard, cold as stone. Funny that, I don’t think I could even personify the people who bought us here, yet I can the door. Says something, doesn’t it?

Boots stamp their way towards us, the beat like a march to the death. I feel the warmth of someone breathing down my neck; where did he come from?

Words spoken fast in a foreign language, too fast for me too catch. Having no sleep in days wasn’t helping me. I tried to see through the sack I had over my head but all I can see were shadows framed by the one dim light-bulb hanging above us; seemed to be a light that kept us going.

As I stared up at it, I saw moments of my life flicker past. Then a figure blocked out the light and I knew my time had come.

I was grabbed roughly under the arms, and pulled up onto my numb legs; I felt myself collapse. At least I was making it difficult for them.

The sack was pulled sharply off my head. Although the light seemed dim; it burned straight into my eyes and I began blinking furiously, trying to focus. Someone pulled my head up, and I felt cold steel placed underneath my neck. I gulped; air didn’t seem to be getting to my lungs. I felt like I was dying before anyone had pulled the trigger.

My eyes manage to focus on a camera placed in front of me, and I saw three other men tied up just behind it. This is where I was going to die.

The voice began speaking fast again, and a red light began flashing. How many flashes before I was taken?

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5….

The steel pushed tighter, constricting my breathing more.

4, 3, 2, 1….