An Interpretive Dance with Fate

I could hardly hear the gunshot. Too loudly is my heart thumping; the globe whirl in a cloud of doubt and uncertainty. I freeze anticipating the worst and the air smells chilly, metallic gunpowder.

Still, the shot never materializes. Rather, there is an agonizing quiet broken only by my ragged breaths as I fight so hard to hold it together.

"Evelyn, are you okay?" Although Dominic's voice is only a whisper, raw with passion, his words seem as though they come from miles away. The truth of what is happening eludes my brain. Just now?I glance at him; his eyes are wide with despair; his face is pallid. Now kneeling in front of me, he is reaching for my quivering hands.

Still, it strikes me at last. I stop to breathe. A bullet does not cause me any stinging. Though the stress is intolerable, I do not get the warm surge of blood.

Where in the picture is the shot?I turned to face the man who had aimed the pistol at me—his face still hidden in the darkness. Once more, my pulse jumps as I try to make sense of everything. He is someone? His wants?"Was... did you miss?" I mumble, the weight of my words shaking my voice.

The figure moves forward, his shadow becoming more distinct, and I see the smile developing at his lips' edge. It sends shivers right to my skeleton. He needs not to say anything; his stance speaks for itself. He is playing with us, appreciating the tension and the terror."You would think I would miss it?" Stepping into the low light, his voice is mocking, somewhat delighted. I can not even identify him for a second, but then I see it—his icy calculating in eyes. As insight strikes like lightning, I gasp.

Breathless, my words hanging in the air, you... you're him. "What from us would you like? Why are you pursuing this?He tilts his head, his face not shifting.

"The true question, Evelyn, is your desired outcome. You have no idea what you have got yourself into.There is intolerable tension in the room.

Though I cannot move, every muscle in my body is screaming for freedom. Seeing this man—the same one who has wreaked such havoc in my life, makes me angry and terrified. Though my feet are glued to the ground, my instincts scream at me to flee to guard Dominic. Everything seems to be flying out of my reach.Dominic gently draws me in, his fingers silently asking for strength caressing mine. "Evelyn, we have to move," he says hurriedly. But I'm not able to.

Not right now."Move?," said The man chuckles, his voice scornful. "Where are you likely to be heading? This time no escape is possible.My heart leaps a beat. That is correct.

Every decision I have made, the incorrect ones, the secrets I have hidden, the dangers I have taken—is weighing down the walls as they close in. This moment results from all of it.

I also doubt my strength to resist. I say, pushing the words past the knot in my throat, not terrified of you; my hands tremble with an icy wrath that defies containment.

"We're leaving this place together.

"His eyes narrow and I see a flicker of something black in them—perhaps simply scorn, or maybe wrath. In any case, it is disturbing. The pistol is still there, but it is not pointed straight at me now. But I am sure it is just a matter of time before it is.

I whirl as suddenly there is movement behind him and my heart leaps into my throat. Out of the darkness a figure shows. Black-dressed, a lady moved with deliberate speed.

With one hand she is clutching a knife; the blade glints beneath the dim light.My voice freezes in my throat. One more?

" What are you waiting for??" The guy yells from across his shoulder, his voice icy. "Close it."As the woman approaches, she smiles viciously and meets my eyes.

"I was hoping you would be more of a challenge," she adds, grinning sarcastically and sounding full of contempt. Still, I think this will work.My pulse leaps.

She is approaching somewhat too closely.I feel Dominic's hand on my arm dragging me back toward him before I can even respond. We must go—now.I nod, but the tension in the room feels as though the walls are squeezing us in. I know I have not much time before the lady hits; she is just a few steps away. But it is too late to sprint.

How did it get to be this?The woman freezes as the lights flutter and the room alternately darkens. My heart quips a beat. A riddle? Or is there anything else here?I heard it just then. A loud bang then a sequence of yells. The whole structure seems to vibrate with the force of whatever is going outdoors.

"What was that?" Dominic speaks with tight, alarmed clarity. His body stiffened, ready for action, he was staring at the door.My pulse jumps once again as I answer, "I, I don't know." Still, we have to relocate. Right now.Not even do I consider it. I quickly take Dominic's hand and drag him toward the door while I hear clearly approaching footsteps. We cannot confront both the guy and the woman—and whatever is occurring outside—on our own.At first the woman seems to ignore, her eyes still fixed on me, seeming pleased by my fruitless attempt to go. Her head then twitches toward the entrance, though, and her face changes.

"What is happening?" Her voice is low and threatening; she hisses.A huge bang sounds through the structure before I can absorb it—and the lights go out totally.I trip and my heart races. Now everywhere we surround is the sound of footsteps, getting louder by the second.What's happening, Evelyn? Dominic takes a closer hold on my arm and speaks with strained anxiety.The solution eludes me.Then, as the darkness deepens, a frigid voice breaks through the quiet.

You are not heading anyplace.The suspense in the room breaks and everything goes apart.I doubt our chances of survival through this.Tension fills the air as the darkness swallows us and leaves just our ragged breaths. I hear footsteps—heavy, deliberate—coming closer. Though I'm not sure from whence, my skin prickers with the sense of being chased. Every orientation seems like a trap.Dominic's breath is short, his grasp hard on my wrist, and his voice shows clearly terror.

Evelyn, we really have to relocate. Not now. They are on their way.I nod, suppressing my terror, but every instinct yells that we won and my legs feel like lead. In the stifling blackness, my eyes dart around in search of even the most minute view of our surroundings.

The woman's voice from the past resonates in my mind, “I was hoping you'd be more of a challenge...”and I can't get rid of the image of her knife gleaming in the darkness.I then get it. a gentle, practically undetectable click.

That is the sound of a cocked gun.My heart crashes into my chest as I stop; the blood is emptying from my face. Though this time I know it won't, the previous shot missed. The barrel practically feels like it is crushing into my flesh."Dominic, get down!!" I hiss, slamming him to the ground. 

But it's already too late.Close enough for me to feel the heat of an explosion of gunfire. My eyesight blurs, my ears ring, and for a time I am paralyzed not sure if I am dead or alive. But then—nothing.  In silence. Complete, horrible quiet.The room is still lifeless as I hurriedly go to my feet and hunt for any trace of the gunman.

Dominic's hand grips mine, dragging me behind a column with shocked wide eyes."Who the hell was that?" As he draws me in to hide us from whatever peril hides in the darkness, his voice quakes.I murmur, "I'm not sure," my voice almost heard over my heart thudding. But we are not alone. We have been followed by someone.

Like a smack across my face, the startling awareness strikes. We have been surpassed. They are always one step ahead of us. And now, in the pitch-black black, I have no idea how we will make it.I heard something fresh just then. Almost undetectable soft footfall approaching from the other side.

The walls muffle a voice calling out."Is the package secure?"Like a lethal whisper, the question hovers in the air.And I know—we are not imprisoned only. We had been deceived.