Flash fiction collection

In disguise

"You have two more minutes." The gun was being aimed at my temple. The man was sitting across me, and the room was as dark as perfection.

I smirked. "Not needed, really."

And in a flash, I took out the cigar and lighter from my pocket and lit the fine thread protruding from the cigar, my hands working below the table. Before the guy could realize that I was up to something, I threw it across the table, making it instantly go off.

The man fired his gun blindly in fright as my little surprise blew his face. In the meantime, I ducked under the table; when all his six shots were drained, I got out and headed for the entrance.

On seeing me, the other feds instantly rushed with their handguns, assembling in a semicircle formation around me, all guns pointed towards its center, which was me.

My eyes darted from one fed to another, my mind racing...

"Alright!" I said coolly, looking down at my button-down shirt. "I'm covered."

The guys looked at each other for a moment, and then back at me. A few glanced behind them, half-expecting for someone to shoot them.

"Not there, mister!" I said. "You can never find them even if you search. But you let one bullet escape your guns, you'll all be dead the next minute." I looked down at my shirt and raised my voice. "All dead. No one shall escape."

They all then looked at a tall man who scanned me anxiously before he sent a few of them to see if they could find someone outside. "Else," he had said, "this guy's bluffing."

The men came back. "This man's bluffing," one of them said and aimed his gun directly at me.

I looked at my shirt. "If this is going to be a suicide mission, then so be it." The fed then put his gun down, not quite sure.

Observing me keenly, the tall guy had come to a decision. "Shoot him on the count of three."

"Three."

I began walking towards them, hands in my pockets.

"Two."

I almost reached the semicircular boundary of feds and crossed them without a care. All of them spun around and faced their pistol barrels to my back, I guessed by their instant shuffling of feet. Almost there.

"One."

I turned back and faced them. No bullet came to greet my body. All of them were looking at me with their hands shaking; they didn't even have the nerve to shoot, those idiots!

I then casually walked out of the station, and when I was out of sight, I took to my heels. I was certainly not on a wire, and there were certainly none protecting me. Hell, we criminals shared a very professional relationship, and my group would most probably leave me to die, had such a situation risen.

Prisoners should know to escape; else, die in that attempt. I ran till I reached a nearby bar, where I had a friend of sorts.

Once inside the bar, my eyes fell on a young woman who instantly looked my way as I walked by. Giving me a sly smile that invited me over, she resumed sipping her margarita. I returned her smile with a lopsided one of my own and went over to her. "Hey, sexy."

She took out a slip of paper and a lipstick from her pocket. She then placed it on the counter by which she stood and scribbled a few digits on it. Then, she slid it inside my pant pocket, taking all her time to explore inside.

This was not the time.

"Um... Next time, babe?" I told her.

She nodded and took her hand out, the evil glint in her eyes evident.

Giving her a peck on her lips, I walked away and scanned the whole space for a certain someone.

Spotting the person I came to meet by the far corner of the bar, I went over to him.

"Hey bud," I said, "need some cover."

"Are the cops behind you again?" Tim asked, shaking his head. "What did you do to escape this time, man?"

"There's an amazing chick at your bar," I stated. "Say, how much do you reckon that woman in red charges for one night?"

"Are the cops not chasing you?" he inquired. "You were in jail this morning, for all I knew."

"They're probably searching for me," I said, "yes, I do need some cover. I shall hide in the underground room as usual."

"That can be arranged."

"Wanna hear today's accomplishment?" I asked him.

Tim sighed. "What is it?"

"I almost killed the main guy. The poor fellow must have at least gone blind by the bomb-in-disguise that I threw at him."

Tim laughed hard. "Did you? Oh I should have seen his face!"

I laughed along, but froze instantly when I felt something cool being pressed against the back of my head - the feeling was unmistakable: the barrel of a pistol.

Tim's laughter had ceased well before mine had. The issue seemed serious. Raising my hands in surrender, I slowly spun around.

It was her.

She was clutching two Glocks, one pointed at me and the other at Tim. She was no more smiling - her face was etched with vengefulness.

"Babe?" I tried.

She fished my pocket and removed something tiny - polished, black and shiny - and showed it to me...

Darn!

Whatever I had talked with Tim had been recorded.

She then took out a card from her pocket and swayed it before my eyes... Fuck! A cop!

"It's funny you think only bombs can be disguised." Her fingers tightened around the trigger. "Keep moving."

I walked; so did Tim.

"And about the underground room..." she began.

We were so done now.