Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

Under the Gun

"I want my drugs." the masked man demanded, his voice reverberating through the room—harsh and grating—while the cold steel of the gun pressed firmly against Sakura's temple. She dared not breathe, her hands gripping the edge of her desk so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "I-I told you, I can't write that many prescriptions," she stammered, her voice shaky, trembling under the weight of his gaze and the threat of the weapon.

A tense silence filled the space, thick and suffocating, before a low, sinister chuckle escaped his throat. "Hm. I don't recall asking if you could," he said, his tone dripping with menace. "I told you to find a way."

He inhaled sharply, his free hand tracing along the wooden surface of her desk as if searching for dust. Inspecting his fingertips, he rubbed them together before his brow furrowed, and he tilted his head slightly. "Now, you're not telling me you refuse, are you? Because we both know what happens if that's the case."

The gun traced a cold path along Sakura's face, the metal biting into her skin as it slid under her chin. With a sudden tug of her hair, he forced her to her knees, tilting her head up with the gun as he pulled back the hammer.

He looked down at her, his eyes narrowing. From her position on the floor, Sakura blinked up at him, taking in his appearance. He wore a button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up his tattoed forearms, his hair disheveled and partially obscuring his eyes. In the dim light, with her knees on the cold floor, she couldn't help but think that he looked like he was going to kill her. A dangerous thought at a time like this.

"Consider this your final warning. If I don't get a drop-off by tomorrow at 7 sharp..." He pulled the trigger without warning, the barrel clicking on empty. Sakura's heart stopped, her stomach twisted into knots as a wave of panic crashed over her. "The next time I pull the trigger, I promise you, it won't be empty."

He withdrew the gun from under her chin and tucked it back into the front of his pants. Sakura gasped, her breath coming in ragged gulps as she tried to steady herself. Her hands shook as they pressed against the floor, her gaze fixed on the chipped polish of her fingernails and the sight of his shoes.

"Tell me you understand." His voice cut through her thoughts like a knife. She didn't want to respond, fearing that her voice would betray her weakness. His hand moved toward the gun again, and she spoke hurriedly, "Y-yes."

He shifted his weight slightly, his hand still resting on the hilt of the gun. "Yes, what?"

Sakura looked up at him, peering through the strands of hair that had fallen into her face. His head tilted as his eyes bore into hers, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his eyes. He was enjoying this far too much, and she could see it in his eyes. "Yes, I u-understand," she whispered, her voice smaller than she felt, making her appear even more vulnerable.

His eyes creased with satisfaction as he began rolling down his sleeves. "Good. Then I will expect a full delivery by tomorrow evening. Have a good night, Dr. Haruno."

With that, he turned and left, the soft click of the office door closing behind him echoing in the room. Sakura remained on her knees behind her desk, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours as she tried to calm her racing heart. Slowly, she stood on shaky legs, dusting off her skirt before sinking into her office chair.

She reached into the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a bottle of bourbon, pouring herself a glass. As she swirled the amber liquid, she stared into its depths, contemplating how she would fulfill his demands. How could she supply the largest drug cartel in Konoha with a bulk of opioids without getting caught? Her life was on the line—her friends' lives too.

With a sigh, she picked up her pen, her mind already working on a plan. The order would have to go directly to the pharmacy, a bulk amount designated for the hospital itself. It was the only way she could think of to cover her tracks. Otherwise, the masked man had promises to keep.