Cathy feels the ground shake beneath her as Luigi busts the door wide open.
The glass in the middle slowly creaks, breaking the silence and poisoning it instantaneously.
Luigi walks in, holding a handgun in his hand as his face looks as menacing as ever.
Cathy's eyes widen. Her heart pounds, thudding against her chest and begging to break out.
She looks over to Selena on her infirmary bed, her tough-as-nails best friend whose experienced more pain than anyone will ever experience in five lifetimes. The warm, pink complexion on her face has vanished and all that there is, is paleness.
Luigi walks towards her, his footsteps loud as they thud against the floor. And with every thudding, ripples of shivers bolt down Cathy's spine.
She never thought she'd be scared of him anymore, not with all she's been through. All the tears cried at the sight of him. All the pounding her heart has had to endure while begging for mercy. The weakening of her limbs. The tremors that always invade her soft skin. She thought she'd run out of fear. In the beginning, things she feared the most were being sold into prostitution like the other girls or being raped by him. But she never thought she would have to face death.
Especially not at this time - When he needs her the most.
She hears his footsteps come to a halt, feeling his presence behind her.
The cold pistol is pressed against her back and she closes her eyes. Maybe with her eyes shut, she can evade the world she's in. She can evade death. With her eyes closed, the pain will numb itself off.
It's not only the pain that comes with death. It's the pain that comes with ceasing to exist.
Ceasing to exist. They call it crossing over to the other side. And there's always pain when crossing over to anything. The pain of abandoning unfulfilled desires. Like crossing a bridge and having to throw precious jewels which were clutched onto for dear life. Only for them to fall to the fate of the flames which devour them.
The desire to rescue Nathan before he falls to his death. The desire to decapitate Luigi as his blood spills onto her shirt, decorating it like a piece of art only beheld by her. The desire to return to his loving arms and enjoy the normal life of newlyweds.
"Why are you doing this?" She whispers in desperation.
"You want to work for me on the international smuggling deal," says Luigi calmly as he traces the pistol away from her spine, slithering it down her arm and into her shaking hands, "This is how you earn my trust. This is what you have to do. Make your bones!"
Cathy's eyes open slowly.
Her hand is burdened with the heaviness of the pistol.
Does he want me to kill myself? She thinks.
Slowly, she brings the gun to her head, shutting her eyelids again as the command proves to be burdening.
She traces her finger along the trigger, feeling its coldness and hard metal texture.
"Kill her, damnit!" He orders, his deep voice vibrating down the base of her neck. He grabs her hand loaded with the pistol, shoving it in Selena's direction, "Kill her."
Cathy's hand trembles as the instruction become clear. She feels her throat enclosing as it denies her of any air supply. The temperature of the room rises as she feels suffocated in the heat. Sweat cascades down her palms as a pick of two horrendous choices awaits.
Selena squirms on her infirmary bed, tears running down her face, "Cathy, don't! Don't do it please!" her eyes dart to Luigi, "Per favor signore. Non farlo!"
If it were anyone, Cathy would shoot. Deciding to kill just to have a shot in finding her and rescuing her husband is no difficult one. She would trade places with anyone in a heartbeat. But, what happens when this someone is the woman that has been her rock and source of strength for the whole month she's been here. It's no easy decision. It comes with it's own ramifications. She'll always see the splatter of blood spilling onto her shirt. The release of breath from her very own best friend, and knowing that she's the one responsible. It's a decision that's bound to haunt her.
It will turn her into someone she never thought she could be - a murderer.
It's unforeseen, and It's worse than killing herself.
"Do it!" yells Luigi.
With her hands trembling, she cocks the gun.
"My friend, please. Don't do this to me. To us."
Tears run down Cathy's cheeks.
One look at Selena squirming and crying is enough for memories to come flooding in at roof level.
It's weird, she thinks. It's weird how someone she has known for a month has had this impact on her. It's weird how someone who she initially resisted knowing has wormed her way into the depths of her heart. If only she knew it would get to this moment, she wouldn't have gotten attached.
She thinks about the times she stopped her from being bullied by one of the girls. The time she'd purposefully get caught smuggling drugs for herself just to get to spend time with her.
The inside jokes, the laughter, the conversations that kept her sane the time Nathan got kidnapped and she was helpless.
Cathy was right, Selena was like her angel in hell.
But, the ramifications of hell are being burnt. "I'm so sorry, Selena. I have to." Her voice breaks as her eyes blend into Selena's.
Starting into angelic eyes full of softness and all that is of love, it's like her heart is being ripped open by sharp wood that leaves its splinters behind. Ripped open slowly as each compartment suffers pain and the oozing of blood.
It breaks her heart and she wishes she could go back.
Back before she met Selena. Back before she got herself in this mess - The Italian criminal underworld. She wishes she was back on that beach in Sicily, enjoying her honeymoon with Nathan as they basked in the sun while clothed in their love.
She'd do anything to go back to that beach where the romance felt timeless and endless.
But, she can't.
Pistol in her hand and orders to carry out.
"Kill her! Kill her! I will not ask again!" he violently grips onto Cathy's neck.
Cathy wipes her tears as she regains perspective. Finding Nathan is what she's always wanted. Rescuing Nathan is what she has always wanted. Selena is important to her. Memories they've had together are priceless, but Nathan matters more.
With Selena gone, she will still find a way to survive while she plots the rescue and the kill.
Sacrifices have to be made.
Out with the pawn, in for the king.
She rests her finger on the pistol and a gunshot goes off.