So just pull the trigger.

38. I'll be right back.

His hands felt as though burning as the skin began to warm after being almost frozen. Joni gritted his teeth, squeezing one hand into a fist, placing the other on top, and switching back and forth in hopes he could make the pain go away faster. He was also becoming aware that the snow that had gotten into his shoes was now melting and shivered when the cold reached his skin. He looked helplessly out at the scenery they passed. The sound of the gun that killed Yeagor rang in his ears again and again, while the horrifying image played in his mind.

He wouldn't be able to get away; the painful realization sank in and the panic began to rise once more.

There was hardly any traffic passing them and when they finally turned onto a quiet sand road, the darkness of the surrounding forest felt overpowering. He had no gloves; he had no hat, his shoes, and even his college pants were wet after wrestling in the snow.

He had no idea where they were and even if he could run once they reached wherever they were going, the frost could easily kill him before he'd be able to find help.

Finally, the car parked in front of a small, cabin-like house. Chris dragged him forcefully outside and towards the building. It was difficult to breathe. Fear seemed to choke him. It was dark and cold. The house was so far away from everything!

He struggled in vain, at that point just wanting to get away from whatever waited inside. Perhaps freezing to death in the dark forest would be a more merciful way to go than the torture that waited inside. Perhaps by some miracle, he'd be able to find shelter before the cold would claim him. Yet, deep down, he knew if he'd run, he'd die.

Chris cursed and took a stronger hold of him, pushing him violently inside. Aki calmly followed them, turning the lights on. Joni looked around frantically; they entered a living room/ kitchen. There was a long dining table that split the space. A sofa bed already made ready for sleeping, a bookshelf, a radio.

Chris pushed him forward, opened a door to another room, and violently shoved him forward. Joni lost his balance and tripped onto the floor to his knees, only now paying attention to the ache that throbbed on the left, caused by the tumble on the stairs earlier.

"I'll be right back," Chris said, shutting the door. Joni was left alone in the darkness and terror spread through his body. He uselessly tried to yank his hands free. Then, finally accepting the uselessness of the attempt, he drew a shaky breath and struggled to get on his feet.

He hadn't seen the interior of the room other than it was meek and that there was some space around him. The only source of light in the room came from underneath the closed door.

"What now?" He heard Aki's voice; it had an annoyed ring to it. "Why did you leave him alone in there? It's time for some fun, time to celebrate our success!"

Joni's stomach churned, knowing what 'fun' Aki referred to.

He wanted away, desperately praying for a chance to escape, that help would arrive. God only knew what Aki could do to him!

"Success?" Chris repeated in a tense voice. "You wasted time! You killed a man! That most definitely wasn't part of the plan!"

"Oh, come on, that man was ancient! He probably would have died soon enough, anyway. I merely gave him a more exciting way to go. Besides, what else could I have done? Leave him alive with his rifle? So that he could have shot you?" Aki snorted. Joni heard the angry steps echo on the floor back and forth until pausing for a moment. Distant noises, soon followed by a clink of a glass. The sound of a drink being poured into glasses.

He felt nervous. Hope and despair battled in his mind. Chris was mad at Aki and that was good, wasn't it? On the other hand, that anger might soon be directed at him. Joni knew Chris's mindset too well by now.