Karen
The afternoon sun was hot, but an uncharacteristically vicious wind whipped around us, flapping my t-shirt wildly and covering my skin in grimy desert dust.
Today was the day. Today was when I would finally get my own back, get my life back. Dewey had fucked with me for the last time and now it was payback time. Payback and a fuckin’ half.
Bottle held my shoulders with a tight grip, the fingers digging in through my dirty t-shirt. “Are you sure you want to do it like this?”
I leaned forward, my hands gripping him by the hips, my eyes fierce as I looked into his. “I’ve never been surer of anything. I’m twenty-fucking-two years old. This year I should have graduated college, gotten a job, maybe settled down. Instead I fled half way across the country, chased by a demented psycho who framed me for the death of my own father. He’s kidnapped me, beaten me and tried to burn me — us — alive. He’s made my life fuckin’ hell. He ruined my life, Bottle. He ruined me.”
I felt a tear beginning to well in my eye. This wind was a real bitch.
Bottle released a hand from my shoulder and held it between us in a whoah gesture and nodded. “Just making sure.” He leaned forward and spoke into my ear, “For what it’s worth though, I don’t think you’re ruined.” He gave me a grin and I couldn’t help but return it, smiling at him as Dewey squirmed on the ground beneath us.
“Let’s do this.”
Bottle looked down at the bruised face of the man below us. “Any final words, asshole? Last chance. Say you’re sorry and we’ll let you go.”
I started for a moment. What the hell? They weren’t going to let him go, were they?
I let out a surprised laugh as I understood. I looked down at the man on the ground, his face red with indignation, completely unable to respond to Bottle. I felt the first small mite of satisfaction, though there was much more to come.