TEMPEST
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Eleven fucking hours. After eleven fucking hours of Zonic talking and talking about who knows what, I’ve been trying to tune him out, but not even the loud music or the strong vibration of the speakers can fully drown him out. It’s been eleven hours since he arrived at 10 am and eleven hours of Via calling asking if he’s left.
“Can I have another cup of beer?” Some girl asked, tumbling her way over here. She burps. “Please.”
“Yeah, sure.” I turn around and pour the water from the beer bottles I cleaned out, into the cup. I hand it to her. “Here you go.”
“Cool- wait, wait, why’s it clear?” She turns to me while pointing at the cup.
“New kind of beer, stronger kind.”
She nods. “Sweet!”
"Did you know I am one the top ten heroes who have put away the most criminals?”
“No way,” I say, not paying him much attention.
“Can I have a bottle of vodka? Top shelf, please.”
I take the money and hand him his bottle.
“Thanks.”
“I also am one of the richest heroes out there.”
The phone starts ringing. I pick up. “Hello?”
"How’s everything going there?” V asked me, sounding meek.
“If you’re referring to the jackass, no, he hasn’t left.”
She sighs. “Fuck.” she licks her lips. “I was about to... You know… Fall off the wagon.” She states, her voice shakey and her tone quiet.
"Who are you on the phone with, darling?”
Zonic reaches for the phone. I smack him with a rag to get him to back off. He puts his hands up. ”Ok. Ok.”
“You said about to. I’m assuming you didn’t?”
"Nope. Instead, I went to visit my brother. I’m lucky. Today was the last day for visitors. I can’t go see him till Tuesday of next week.” She sighs and gulps as if she were trying not to cry. ”I wasn’t going to tell him about today, but he noticed something was wrong. He kept prying till I told him. You know what he told me?”
“What?”
"He told me that I’m strong. That he’s staying in there forever, and there’s nothing I can do to get him out. He told me not to avenge him because if I did, I’d get locked up too.” A pain-filled sob escapes Via’s mouth, and her voice squeaks. “I don’t want to be strong.”
I nod, listening to every word she says.
"I’ve been strong for too long.” She states before hanging up.
I freeze. What exactly did she mean by that?
I dial her number. That last thing can mean one of two things. Either she’s going to binge drink or- would she kill herself?
“Phone is out of service. Phone is out of service. Phone is-”
I hang up and go for the door. Only to see that V’s by the counter, staring at Zonic, frozen. He notices.
He flashes her a smile. “Sorry. I don’t have a pen on me right now, but I can get you a picture.”
She glares at him. “You’re still here?”
YOU ARE READING
The Gun For Hire's Bounty
Gizem / GerilimTempest has no human bone in her body. She is devoid of all emotions, making her 'job' as a guns-for-hire easy- at least, that's what the heroes call it. She doesn't see it as a job but as a lifestyle. After all, that is all she's ever been surround...
