Cleopatra
The cave was deathly still, save for the faint rustling of leaves from the clearing outside. Harley's whisper broke the silence, her voice trembling. "Boss, what should we do? They're getting closer."
I didn't respond immediately, my focus on the faint crunch of footsteps approaching. One, two, three... Three pairs of boots crushing the dry leaves and twigs along the narrow path.
The clearing outside the cave was a mix of opportunity and peril—a rocky plateau exposed to the cliff's edge on one side and the cave's mouth on the other. From here, you could see the winding road far below, a reminder of how isolated we were. It was a perfect spot for an ambush—or a grave.
I stood, scanning the area as Harley shadowed me.
"Boss, what are you doing?" she asked nervously, gripping her weapon like it might vanish.
"Looking for an advantage." My voice was calm, but my mind worked fast. "Harley, find me a vantage point—somewhere I can see the entrance and the clearing. We need the high ground."
She hesitated, her worry plain on her face. "Will it work?"
I shooed her away with a flick of my wrist. "Just find it. We'll see if it works."
Harley nodded and disappeared deeper into the cave. I stayed behind, scanning the jagged terrain near the entrance. The seconds stretched into minutes before Harley's voice echoed back to me. "Boss, I found something! It's not perfect, but it might work!"
I followed her to a natural outcropping halfway inside the cave—a ledge jutting out like a balcony, overlooking the clearing below. It was narrow but solid, offering cover and a clear view of the plateau and cliff edge.
"Good," I said, already stepping forward. "Give me a boost."
Harley crouched, her hands cupped to help me up. I removed my heels, gripped my pistol, and braced myself. With her strength, I scrambled onto the ledge, pulling myself up until I was crouched in the small space. The air here was colder, tinged with damp stone and the faint scent of pine from the forest below.
From this position, I could see everything: the clearing, the edge of the cliff, and the road snaking through the valley far below. Perfect.
"Boss, are you okay up there?" Harley called softly from below.
I gave her a quick thumbs-up before lowering myself onto my stomach, resting the barrel of my gun against the rock. It wasn't a sniper rifle—just a standard pistol—but it would have to do. My finger hovered near the trigger as I waited, my pulse steady.
Three figures emerged from the trees, just as I'd expected. One, wearing a red shirt, stopped by the cliff's edge, casually unzipping to relieve himself. The other two walked side by side—a wiry man in a white sleeveless shirt and a bulkier one in a black leather jacket.
"Come out, Cleopatra," a deep, guttural voice called, echoing through the cave. "We know you're in there. No point hiding."
I signaled Harley to stay silent, her flashlight flickering as her grip tightened.
"We take her alive. Don't shoot unless you have to," the voice continued, carrying a faint accent I couldn't place.
I bit back a laugh. Take me alive? Bold of them to assume.
"Eh? Boss, I heard she and her right-hand woman are real lookers," one of the men said, his nasty laugh grating on my nerves.
"Yeah? I figured Cleopatra would be ugly," the red-shirted man said with a sneer. "She surrounds herself with handsome men to make herself feel better."
Their laughter grated like nails on glass, my grip tightening around the pistol. My heart was ice now, cold and calculating. They were close, just steps away from the imaginary X I'd marked in my mind.
"Ha, ha! You can do what you want with them as long as they're alive," the leader said, his grin audible in his tone.
I muttered under my breath, steadying my aim. "Just a little closer..."
The red shirt laughed again. "Boss, you're the best!"
The moment they hit the mark, I didn't hesitate. My breath stilled, and the shot rang out, sharp and deafening.
The man in the red shirt crumpled, clutching his thigh as he screamed. The others froze for a fraction of a second before chaos erupted.
The game was on.