Not By Choice

While fast-approaching sirens could be heard in the distance, both figures stood facing each another. With hands held tightly around their pistols, the guns were pointed directly at each other’s chest. The taller figure stood stiffly with a trembling hand as he spoke, “Don’t come any closer. Please… I swear I’ll shoot. How can this be happening to me? How could you do this? You of all people!” He was taken by surprise as the smaller figure took a step forward closing the gap between them to less than seven feet. The other person whose grip on the handgun was steadier let out a small sigh and answered with coldness he had never heard in the voice before. It sent a chill straight down his spine. “Did you really think we were going to let something we worked so long and hard for get exposed by someone as foolish as you? Honestly, you are such a fool.”  At that moment one of the police cars pulled up in front of the medical establishment. Standing close enough to the window of the 10th floor office, the reflection of the siren lights could be seen flashing across the very large windowpane. The shorter figure glanced nervously toward the window and back to the man who once again was a complete stranger. Before they could speak again both individuals looked over to the reception area and through the beautiful expensive glass foyer into the hallway. Still keeping a close eye on each other, they both could see that the elevator in the hallway was now in motion and the digital display showed the numbers going from one to two in bright red numbers.

Trying to stay calm and avoid panic, the larger one shakily pleaded for the other to put their gun down, “Please, it doesn’t have to end like this. We could wait for the police and Detective Johnson to arrive. I’ll explain everything... You could say that you didn’t know anything. You had no idea what was going on here…you didn’t know that your…”

“Shut up! I can’t think with all your constant babbling. I have to do this. Don’t you see?

Everything I’ve ever known has been involved with this place. Everything and anything in my life always comes back to this. And now YOU want to expose it! For God’s sake, what were you thinking? Did you really think they would let you? Are you really that stupid? That ignorant poor, poor Kilmer. And to think I almost had you fooled. Believing what I wanted you to believe.”

He had heard enough and now his blood pressure was boiling, “Stop it! Stop it! Stop playing these mind games. You fooled. No, better still you tricked me.”

“Ha, I did, didn’t I? And poor, poor Kilmer fell for it. Man of such little worth. A no good penniless reporter from a small town. And now a dead, penniless, no good reporter.”

Kilmer glanced at the elevator wondering what was taking them so long to get here. The red digit read only 7. Noticing the seriousness of the situation and the sudden harsh tone the smaller figure had taken, Kilmer surmised that his only chance would be to play their bluff.

“If that is how you want this all to end then you’re coming with me. When I count to three I’m firing my gun whether you choose to or not. Do I make myself clear?”

Sensing his sudden attitude change, the smaller figure realized that he just might not be kidding and said, “Don’t make me laugh! You don’t have the guts. Look how pathetic you are. Standing there, shaking all over. You can hardly hold your gun let alone fire it.”

Kilmer started his count, figuring either way he was indeed a goner.

“One…” he hesitated and watched as his opponent tightened their grip and aimed more

precisely at his chest.

 Fearing the worst, he continued, “ Two…” And just as he was about to say three, the action escalated. The smaller figure pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

A look of panic crossed over both their faces. The elevator came to a stop and “a-ding” could be heard from what seemed like miles away. Kilmer watched as the figure pulled the trigger again and again and just as he started to turn to face the elevators a thought crossed his mind, a very dazed, confused and unfinished thought which could make everything right for this person trying so vainly to snuff out his life. A life he wasn’t ready to give up on. As he tried to stay focused and continue his thought process, the shorter person lunged forward and threw themselves on top of him triggering his gun to go off. The shot deafened his hearing at that split second and Kilmer started to feel both faint and dizzy. His whole world was becoming disoriented. Just as both of them started to fall to the floor, Kilmer couldn’t even remember which way his gun was last pointed. A mistake that just might have cost him his life.