“The poison will do what exactly?”
“It’ll stop my heartbeat.”
“How is that not killing you?” I demand. “No, you will not—”
“You don’t control me.”
“I know, but I think I might be more concerned about your health than you are.”
“What makes you say that? Because I’m willing to take poison that will make my heart stop?”
“Yes! Can’t we just pretend that I shoot you dead?”
"No. We need you to make the drop-off."
“You want me to give you over to John Doe.”
“That’s the whole point of all of this,” she reminds me.
“I know we have to get him, but to hand you over…”
“We can do it. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, but—”
“No buts.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms. “Did that Shakespeare guy have any plays or stories that weren’t tragedies?”
“Yes! He had some comedies! A Midsummer Night’s Dream is about fairies!”
“What are fairies?”
“They’re…”
Two hours later, I’m standing over Sophia’s body. Just moments ago, I drove up to her place.
She opened the door to her house, her hair back to its natural black, and she smiled at me real wide, rushing up to me, prepared to give me a kiss. We had to put on a show, after all, in case John Doe was watching us before and knew that we had sex. Of course, Sophia’s hoping that’s not the case considering she left with the blond wig and all of that, but we can’t be certain what all is going on with John Doe.
I pulled out the gun, and I fired.
Now, Sophia's at my feet, bleeding. It looks so very real, like I shot her dead. She took the poison before coming out, a risk, yes, since we didn't know how quickly its effects would start, but we were able to do everything without a hitch.
But, the bleeding… She told me that my gun had blanks. Why is she bleeding?
I can’t help it. I rush over to her and kneel beside her, feeling for the pulse in her neck, getting her blood on my shorts.
There’s no heartbeat.
The poison? Or did something go wrong with the blanks?
Did I really kill her?
My phone begins to ring. Earlier, when Sophia had been recounting to me the story of Hamlet—another tragedy by Shakespeare—someone else had called me, someone looking for Jerry, who was the gentleman I purchased the car and phone from.
The timing is too suspect, though, but how could John Doe know this number? If he does, his reach is incredible, and if that’s the case, he might even know about what we’re attempting here.
He couldn't have known, though, right?
But what if he did? What if I didn’t shoot her with a blank? What if he somehow got his hands on my gun and—
I’m being ridiculous, and the phone is still ringing. Before I can think better of it, I answer it.
“Tox.”
I blink a few times and straighten, glancing around.
“Didn’t I tell you that I would get in touch with you once the deed was done?” he continues.
“You did.”
“And you did your part. Congratulations. Tomorrow, you’ll be a homeowner. How does that feel?”
“It feels… ah… The body. Don’t you want to see the body? I, ah, what do you Earthlings do with dead bodies?”
The man laughs. “Ah, Tox. A mercenary with no heart at all. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous when you two became involved, but it was just a ploy for you to get close to her. You could’ve killed her in bed, though.”
"I thought I would have some fun first," I say, feeling a bit numb. This entire conversation feels surreal. This can't be happening. I mean, we got the poison from the general. How long is the poison supposed to last? When will she come to?
“I am not one to judge. Don’t you worry. I will get the keys to you tomorrow.”
“I changed my mind,” I blurt out.
There’s no response.
“I don’t want the house.”
“You don’t? Why the change in heart?”
“I’m a mercenary. I want money.”
“Why—”
“That house is too big for just me. Until I find myself a good woman and a…” I close my eyes. “And a better lay, I have no need for a house.”
“Very well. I do want to see her body up close.”
I try to swallow, but there’s a lump in my throat. “I guess I can wait here, but you’re going to deal with the body. You aren’t paying me enough for that.”
“I can add a little more to the stack. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“An hour?” My heart begins to race. No. That’s too long. The poison won’t work for that long.
Will it?
“You got somewhere else to be?” he snaps.
“I do,” I retort. “You aren’t the only one I’m working for.”
“Fine. I’ll be there when I’m there.”
And he hangs up.
For whatever reason, I call up his number.
He doesn’t answer.
I hope, I really hope, that Sophia and I didn’t make a huge mistake by trying to trick John Doe, but what choice did we have?
If something happened, if this all goes down wrong, I’m going to kill John Doe myself.
16
Sophia
It’s the strangest sensation, being dead. I don’t exactly know what I took and how it works, but my heart, it isn’t beating.
I’m dead.
But I can still hear.
Why the general has this strange kind of medicine, I’m not sure. She mentioned that it’s for coma patients, for inducing medical comas, and she said that if I took this dose, I would be out for long enough, that I wouldn’t need anything else to come back.
But she never said just how long.
Or that I would remain conscious the entire time. Lose dose thing, maybe? I don’t know, but this is weird.
I’m going out of my mind just lying here, waiting. It doesn’t feel right to be here. I have to consciously think not to move, not to flinch, but I don’t have to hold my breath.
Because I’m not breathing.
And I don’t need to.
How is this possible? I don’t understand, but it’s fine. It’s all good. I’m
