Tossing the last box into the cardboard dumpster I glanced back at the back door, I figured no one would miss me for a couple minutes so I lit up a smoke. As I was standing there, sheltered behind the dumpster so no one could spot me smoking in my uniform I heard some raised voices. It sounded like some teens fighting, rolling my eyes I stubbed out the cigarette and went to investigate. They were near the back of the alley, too far for anyone to see unless they came out of the rear doors to one of the shops. I picked up my pace when I realized one of them was on the ground, before I could take in my surroundings and see what was really going on I shouted, "Lay off him, or I'll call the cops!"
Then I froze. These were men, not teens like I thought, and the ones standing had guns in their hands, half of which were now pointed on me. I could see the guy on the ground, blood dripping from his mouth staring at me in amazement. My focus didn't stay on him for long though, one of the guys closest to me motioned me forward with his gun. I could feel my heart in my throat, and my feet felt like cement bricks as I tried to lift them. Apparently I wasn't moving at a fast enough pace though so he reached out and grabbed my arm, yanking me so I was in the center of their circle.
I looked around me and counted eight men, not including the one on the ground. I was greatly outnumbered and most definitely out gunned. I wondered how long I had been gone from work, time seemed to have slowed down, surely they noticed I was missing and would come find me right? But in my heart I knew I was lying to myself, we were over staffed and I volunteered to do the boxes because I knew I could sneak in a smoke and not be missed. One of the men stepped up to me and tilted my face up using his gun under my chin. I stayed as still as possible while he looked me over, "I thought you said you were by yourself Charlie, whose this?"
His eyes never left mine, but it was clear that he was talking to the guy on the ground. Charlie spoke from somewhere to my left, "I am alone, I don't know her."
I jumped as someone from behind me started to pat me down, I stilled though as I felt the pressure from the gun still under my chin. I continued to watch the man in front of me his eyes flitting from my face to the smokes and lighter removed from my pocket. He glanced behind me for a second and nodded, I could sense the guy behind me stepping away and then, and then his eyes were back on my face. A slow grin started to spread, "Answer me this, how did you expect to call the cops with no cell phone?"
I shook my head slowly, "I was bluffing, sometimes kids come back here so they can fight without being seen on cameras. They usually take off pretty fast then."
I wanted to shrink down as he started to laugh, "No phone, no cameras, seems you overstepped this time didn't you."
He looked down at Charlie, "You have one week Charlie. After that, my patience runs out."
I let out a breath of relief when he removed his gun from its place under my chin, which quickly turned into a short high pitched noise as his hand clenched around my elbow, the other hand holding the gun suddenly pressed into my lower back. "Just in case you're lying Charlie, the girl is coming with me. You pay me back I might let her go, if not... well it's not like you know her so it doesn't matter to you what I do at that point right?"
Charlie looked at me and shook his head sadly as I was led away from him. As we neared the back door to my work I willed some one to come look for me and then call the cops. I must have twitched towards the door because the guy holding me chuckled, "Ah, so Charlie must have been telling the truth. What a bad coincidence for you, I recognize your uniform now, you work at the barber shop. For your sake you better hope that he comes through on his bargain. I must say he's pushed his luck with me as far as it'll extend, I wonder how much your life is worth to a total stranger."
I struggled to find my voice, it cracked when I did, "But, but please! If you know the truth just let me go now, I promise I won't say anything!"
His arm only gripped tighter on me, as if sensing that I might make a run for it, I only had to feel the gun against my back to know what would happen if I was stupid enough to try it. His voice held an amused edge, "You see, maybe I would have believed you if you hadn't already threatened to call the cops. I don't know you, I don't know if I can trust your word. So I think you will come with me, so I can decide if I trust you enough to let you go, or if you're a risk."
