A Thousand Nights

Chapter 11: "South of Heaven"

I could die. That hasn't really sunk in yet. The human experience is so crazy. You coud feel like you're on top of the world, one moment, and feel like everything's crumbling down all around you, the next. I was the happiest man alive earlier today... now I may not even be alive at the end of it. I should probably just do whatever this dude says, I don't think he'd be willing to let us off the hook this time. I can't hear what he's saying over the beating of my blood pumper and all I can think about is that I should've taped a gun to my back like the guy from Die Hard.
"I SAID GET ON THE FLOOR!!! BEFORE I BLOW YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF!!" He shouts, but for some reason, my body won't comply and my legs are trembling. I'm completely frozen and I hope I was some kind of Kung Fu master in a past life or something, because then I could bicycle kick the gun out of his hands and- WHAT THE FUCK am I doing?? I'M GONNA DIE IF I DON'T LISTEN TO THIS-
"FUCKING MANIAC!!" I said that out loud and I always imagined I would die this way, my intrusive thoughts becoming not so intrusive.
"What? Do you WANNA DIE, ASSHOLE??" He tilts his gun sideways and how am I the asshole?
"How many people have you killed? You don't seem like you care much about anyone besides yourself." I say and I think I'm crying
"Hey, shut your FUCKING mouth! I don't really NEED two hostages, now GET. ON. THE GROUND!" I don't think he remembers me or Aaravi from that other night, so it's best he doesn't find out we know each other.
"Maybe I oughta shoot your girlfriend first." Shit, I just remembered I've been screaming her name all over the building.
"WAIT! Listen, if you want a way out of here, I know an exit on the other side of the theatre where there isn't any law enforcement!"
"Not interested!" He fires a warning shot at the left most light on stage, "On your knees, NOW!"
I get on my knees and why did I think I could main character my way out of this? I glance at Aaravi and she won't even look at me. The Joker is about to tie my hands together before I "psst" her and she finally faces me. I boop my own nose with my pinky as he crouches down behind me and please Lord, let her understand. He grips my hands and I back my head into his face!

If there's anything I'm good at doing it's running. First time running for my actual life though. I'm running towards the main exit in the opposite direction of where Ravi is and I could die any second now. I had a feeling this guy was trigger happy and while it's true he doesn't need two hostages, he wouldn't kill Aaravi, because then I wouldn't have a reason to comply and he'd lose his leverage if I escaped and I feel like a Jojo character. They should honestly write a book about me.
"I'M GONNA MURDER YOU DEAD, YOU PUSSY!!" He shouts and he's the one with a gun. People need to start thinking about their insults before they say them. He's not far behind me when I finally reach the doors in hopes of him being apprehended by the cops, but when I make it outside, he's nowhere to be seen. He must've gone back for Aaravi! I wave my arms and shout at the top of my lungs.
"HELP! HELP US! WE GOT AWAY, BUT HE'S STILL INSIDE!!"
"WHERE'S THE GIRL?!!" a female officer shouts and I like the inclusivity.
"THERE'S NO TIME!! SHE'S HIDING SOMEWHERE, BUT HE'S GONE BACK FOR Her!!" I start losing my voice.
The police rush in after me as I start sprinting towards the stairs again. They're telling me to come back and stay out of harm's way, but I know Aaravi, so I know exactly where she ran. The hope is that a few of these cops will follow me and they can stop that douchebag. I'm running up these stairs one last time and I can still smell the love songs. Her scent, she was here and I was right. This time I'm certain I'll find her! I open the door and the cop on my left is shot.

Joker Dude has Aaravi and is holding the gun right against her right ear and he just made the list.
1. Joker Dude
2. Isabella
3. Abomination
4. Alexa
5. Saturdays
More cops come out from behind me and I've always wanted to be in a stand off, but now that I have my wish, all my wild western fantasies are gone.
"DISARM YOURSELF AND COME QUIETLY!" One of the cops says.
"YOU BETTER FUCKING BACK UP OR I'LL KILL HER, I SWEAR TO GOD!"
I don't consider myself a hero or even a good person and I don't think I'd really care if it were someone else's life being threatened. I just know that I'm sick of losing people and I'll be fucking damned if this world thinks it can take her too!! I run full speed at the guy and it's the stupidest thing I've ever done, because he shoots me, but it doesn't matter, because Aaravi falls away from him and onto the ground. The cops start closing the distance and Joker Dude tries to catch Aaravi and I tackle him. I tackle him off the edge.