Sleight of Hand [Show 'em Who's Boss #1]

2: Didaskaleinophobia

I had been so certain the gun was going to kill me. Yet when I pull the trigger my life is spared. Jakob smirks from across the table.

     "The look on your face!" he chuckles, "You really did think you were going to hell then, didn't you?" It's more of a statement than a question; a statement I strongly disagree with. Don't snap, it's exactly what he's asking for. I need to remain calm and keep the act up.

     "Who said anything about going to hell? After the life I've lived I should be fast-tracked to heaven; no queuing at the pearly gates needed."

     I place the gun back on the table, sliding it across to the middle. It glistens in the focused ray of light, making a deadly weapon seem beautiful for a second. The sight is oddly mesmerising and dangerously tempting. It's in this moment that I get the urge to grab the gun and end this now by shooting Jakob's brains out. I shouldn't be risking my life like this. There are other ways out and I'm not the one who deserves to die. Jakob ruined everything. I should kill him. I should shoot him; watch as his blood splatters the wall and his body collapses.

     The gun contains one bullet; the one bullet that I had placed in there myself. That one bullet is destined for Jakob; not me. It was Jakob who had lied and cheated. He's the idiot who ruined everything. All my problems will be solved if I just reach for the gun and end this.

     My hand twitches, I'm going to do it. I'm going to grab the gun and kill that bastard and I am going to enjoy my act of revenge. Then, I'm going to grab the money, steal a car and drive off into the sunset. Not literally, of course, it's already dark outside. No sunset in sight.

     But I'm too late. Jakob leans over and picks up the gun.

     "You still think you're going to heaven after what you've done?" speaks Jakob. I recognise that tone in his voice; he's trying to start a fight. He's egging me on. He wants me to grab the gun and kill him. Ok, maybe not kill him but he is trying to provoke an extreme reaction out of me. He's enjoying every minute of this. He's in control here. I need to step up my game and take back the throne. Show him who's boss.

     I know what he's doing now. He's purposefully trying to wind me up but I'm not going to let him get what he wants. I have finished fighting. This game is the decider; it will choose who wins and who loses. I can't control that and neither can he.

     This battle has been going on for a weeks now. Perhaps I should explain how it all started. That will shed some light on how the deadly game began...

***

My breath caught in my throat as I tried to keep focus. A bead of sweat, or was it blood, ran down my forehead and I quickly wiped it away in disgust. My feet shuffled to and fro as I raced to avoid the forceful punches being aimed at me. I moved swiftly to dodge the attack, hoping that this little fight wouldn't leave me as injured as the last one had.

     To anybody watching us, it would look like a fight between enemies; two people who absolutely hate each other's guts. The kicks and punches were real and brutal; neither of us was holding back.

     We are a strange couple, but that's how we roll.

     "Wanna get a coffee after this?" I suggested to Jakob as I aimed a punch directly at his already bruised face. He moved and I just missed his nose, which I'd hoped to break, hitting his cheek instead. I tutted in annoyance, hopping next time I wouldn't miss.

     "Sure, the loser has to pay though," Jakob said as he spat out a little blood from a bleeding tooth onto the soft gym flooring. How gross. I made a mental note to make him clean that up later.