1 week previously

'So... Explain all that to me like I'm 5.' Tango  crosses his arms where he's sat across from me in the bar. 'Why do you want Impulse to hide from Skizz?'

'Skizz and Impulse are best friends.' I begin.

'Yes.'

'Skizz is part of Big Salmon.'

'Yes.'

'Big Salmon are after Scar.'

'Why?'

I falter, trying to find a reason that doesn't reveal that Scar is HotGuy.

'Because... Well, I don't know why but Scar's my best friend. And Skizz'll do anything if he thinks Impulse is in danger. Key word - thinks. So... Skizz will stop targeting Scar if we threaten Impulse.'

'Why would Impulse do what you say?'

'He wouldn't. That's why you're doing it for me. Make up something. Tell him to go on a 3 week trip away without his phone. A detox from social media or something.'

'And why would I do what you want?'

'Because if not, Scar and I will both be dead. Due to Skizz and Big Salmon. And there will be a... monetary encouragement.' I slip a $10 note across the table. Tango's eyes light with interest.

'Why can't I just tell him to stop targeting Scar?'

'Would he listens to you?' I edge the money away. Tango sighs.

'You're right. I'll tell Impulse something. And message when he's out the way.'

'Thanks Tango.' I let him take the money. 'There'll be more when this is over.'

'I hope so. Good luck, Cub.'

(Now)

'I could've let Impulse go.'

Skizz stops.

'What?'

Scar's eyes widen. I signal for him to play along.

'You let us go. Completely let us go. You stop targeting Scar, you leave our house and pay... 10,000 for the damages? That sounds right. You keep our identities and location secret. And in exchange we'll tell you where we buried Impulse.'

'Alive.' Scar adds as fear flashes across Skizz's face. 'Oh, don't worry. It was a big hole. He can survive a few days there.'

'Yeah, but it's already been a few days. I was expecting the handover to be earlier this evening. All this chaos...'

'Where is he?' I hear Skizz's utter terror for his best friend. I almost feel guilty. But this is the exact same thing he did to Scar. Except that wasn't a bluff. My injuries still hurt. Badly. 'Tell me or I kill Scar. All I need is one of you to tell me where he is.'

'You want to make that bet, Skizz?' I bluff quickly. Skizz stops again.

'I hid Impulse,' Scar continues to follow my lies.

'And I hid the keys to the trapdoor that'll let him out.'

'Bulls***.'

'Are you willing to bet on that? Your friend's life. You're a good gambler, Skizz. What's the risk vs the reward?'

'I can tell the police you imprisoned an innocent man. How many years for that?'

'More years alive than you threatened for us before,' I reply. Skizz considers. I see the gears in his brain, weighing up the odds, how good our poker faces really are before deciding.

He lets Scar go.

And then the guards free me.

'$10,000 was it?' Skizz repeats. 'And... And you'll free Impulse? You'll show me where he is?'

'And you leave us both alone.' I remind him. 'You keep our identities and location secret. I have formal documentation here.' I pull out the piece of paper and pen I would've brought out earlier if I hadn't been kidnapped, making a few edits based on these later proceedings. Scar checks over my shoulder, accepting. I hand it to Skizz. He signs it.

'There.'

'Now, give us the money,' Scar demands taking back the paperwork.

'I'll give it to you when Impulse is safe.'

'Alright.' I smile. Skizz scowls. 'We'll get the money from insurance instead. We don't care about Impulse.'

'I don't walk around with $10,000 on me! I'm not just...' I glance at Scar as Skizz starts fumbling around in his wallet for money, shoving some random amount into my hands.

'Now show us where he is and I'll give you the rest.'

'No.'

He aims his gun at Scar.

'Enough of your f***ing games, Cub. Where's the keys to get Impulse? Where did you hide them?'

'You've already said you won't hurt me or Scar. We've got it in paper.'

He shoots.

Scar doesn't scream, but he's sure close to as he collapses, blood streaming from his previously-uninjured shoulder.

'WHERE IS HE?'

'You can't do anything, Skizz! You can't kill him! You kill him and Impulse is DEAD! And I'm not saying anything until you call an ambulance for my best friend.'

A gun clicks behind me, joined by a voice that sends ice down my back.

'I'm not dying tonight, Cub.'

Impulse.

'Sorry I wasn't here earlier. Tango was hard to kill.'

'You killed Tango?!' Skizz questions. 'Why? What happened?'

'Tango told me a whole lot of lies about Big Salmon being uncovered and needing to flee. Something that led back to this f***er here.'

'So you don't care that you killed one of your best friends? You don't care about dooming 2 innocent strangers?' I continue trying lie.

'The act's up, homey buddies.' Skizz grins. 'You've got nothing.'

'How do you know this is...' but he's right. He's absolutely right. Scar's staring at me as he slowly bleeds to death. Tears run down his face. I need to think of something... There must be some kind of lie I can make that can't be uncovered.

'You can kill us,' Scar speaks before I can, terrifyingly nonchalant.

'What?'

'You can kill us. Shoot us with your little guns. Kill us. Both of us. Torture me or Cub, do whatever you want.'

'Yeah.' I have to play along with his bluff. I have to. 'Yeah, go ahead. Do whatever you want.'

'Why are you...?'

I just smile.

'Skizz? What's the plan?' Impulse asks, still holding a gun towards the back of my head.  'Do we do what they said?'

'Go on, Skizz. Just do it. I'm dying anyway.'

'Make up your mind, Skizz. Make the right choice.'

'Why do you want us to shoot you?'

I smile.

'Scar's dying. I can't live without him. Why does it have to be any more than that?'

'You're right.' Skizz continues pointing at Scar, but looks right into my eyes, trying to find the bluff, trying to find what the right decision is. 'It's nothing more than that. So surely you wouldn't mind if I shot him?'

'Go ahead.' My heart races faster than when they were hurting me. 'Face the consequences.'

'I will.'

He shoots Scar again.

And I have to hold my poker face. I have to stay calm. I have to stay calm. I can't lose control as Scar collapses, his blood covering the floor far too quickly. But I have no bluffs left.

'Congratulations.' I say, voice hollow, tears starting to run down my cheeks. 'You killed HotGuy.'

'Impulse?'

Another gunshot.

A flash of pain.

And I'm dead.

:)