A/N: Prelude to my newest work... Updates will arrive intermittently and sporadically... Excited to hear all your thoughts...

"Stop talking! STOP TALKING!"

I shriek with much more panic in my voice than I intend for there to be, barely staving off the mutinous tears begging to be released, glistening at the corners of my eyes.

His are deep and blue - fathomless - stormy like the ocean during a summer squall; they're speaking volumes to me.

"You don't have to do this," He whispers lowly, "We could run away together, leave all this bullshit behind. I... love you..."

His mouth parts to spill out more words and pleas, but my sharp tongue cuts right through him - demanding his silence.

"What did I just say to you about shutting up?! Fucking hell. Let me think for a fucking minute!"

I spit and hiss at him through gritted teeth, rubbing the cold barrel of my gun against my temple as I pace nervously in front of the chair he's tied to. Perspiration speckles across my brow as I digest not only his words, but the scene before me. It's a small metal chair and he's a big tall man; despite the tight ropebinds around his wrists and ankles, I can't help but think that if he wanted to get up, he could. I wonder how long it'll take before the drugs wear off and he figures out he's more than capable of helping himself. I doubt I've got more than a few minutes.

What the fuck am I gonna do?

I spin the silencer off, tossing it across the room without caring where it ends up. It clatters as it hits the cement floor and rolls under the worn and blood-stained couch. I can't help but think that sometimes decisions are made for you, not by you.

"I'm sorry," I don't know what else to say, "I wish it was that simple."

BANG!

I jerk back when it recoils, hitting myself square in the cheekbone with the butt of the gun – that'll be a bruise, but I'm sure nothing's broken; fucking great – right before the shot bursts through my eardrums deafening me, at least temporarily – and damn does that smart. I slump to the floor clutching my head in agony, wondering how the fuck everything went so wrong so quick, unabashedly crying for the first time in almost decades…