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Talk is Cheap

Ronald Brunsky

    “Man this coffee’s hot — I think I burned my tongue!” Jason said, as he dashed to the water cooler.
    “Are you alright?” Mark asked.
    “I’m fine, nothing is going to get me down today. I’ve got a special weekend coming up.”
    Jason sat back down next to Mark and sipped his coffee very gingerly. It was ten minutes to seven and the break area was filling up fast. Someone had brought in doughnuts, and everyone wanted to kick start their morning with a little sugar and caffeine.
    “What you got planned dude,” Mark asked.
    “Tonight I’m taking the kids to the grandparents; Tracie and I are going to a concert, and tomorrow the whole family is going to Paradise Park.”
    “What nothing going on Sunday?”
    “Sunday too — family reunion at Bluff’s Point.”
    “Boy Jason, you really like that family stuff don’t you? Me, I’d rather stop at the corner bar and have a few, or go golfing with the guys.”
    “Yeah, that’s alright once in a while, but don’t try and be so cool Mark, I know you’d be lost without Karen.”
    “What’s up guys?” said Mike, setting his his huge three hundred pound frame across from them. “Some game last night, huh?”
    Jason was going to answer when he was nudged by Mark. “Look who’s coming down the hall — boy what a loser.”
    Jason shook his head. “Will you give Louis a break. He’s had some tough luck lately.”
    “Most of that is his own doing,” added Mike, as he turned around to look, while munching on his first of three donuts, “Where did he go?”
    “Must of stepped into the john,” Mark said.
    “Getting back to the game,” Jason said. “Could you believe that fourth and one call?”
    In unison “no way,” they answered.
    “All they needed was a field goal for Christ’s sake,” said Mark.
    “Or run Jackson up the gut — they hadn’t stopped him all night, but noooo. They had to throw deep.” Mike said, clenching his powdered sugar covered fists.
    “Another playoff opportunity lost,” added Jason. “Oh well there’s always next year.”
    “Always the optimist — you see the best in everybody and everything, don’t you?”
    “Works for me.”
    “Oh here he comes, hope he doesn’t sit by us,” Mark said, as Louis came into the break area. “What the hell ...... he’s holding ...... get down ...... he’s got a gun.”
    Several shots rang out. Mike collapsed in front of Jason and Mark as blood splattered their faces. Total pandemonium broke out as everyone was running and screaming trying to escape or find cover.
    Showing no emotion, Louis methodically picked out his victims and gunned them down at point blank range. In the close quarters, it was like shooting fish in a barrel.
    Jason, safe for the moment behind a vending machine, stuck his head out to yell for Joan the switchboard operator to get down, but she panicked and tried to run out the back. She entered the hall-way and took maybe two steps before.......
    “Bang, bang,” she fell forward landing hard on her face. Shaking violently, her white blouse turning crimson, she cried out, “Help!” and then nothing.
    Almost everyone, who hadn’t escaped the room was either wounded or dead. Jason stayed put behind the pop machine.
    Then Louis started silencing the screaming wounded one by one. He systematically marched around the room finishing their lives execution style. He was standing over Mark, when he noticed his supervisor, Hector Rias cowering behind a pole.
    A smile came to Louis’s face as his attention momentarily left the wounded Mark. Louis had been let go and today was his last day. Hector, unfortunately had had the dirty job of telling him.
    He approached him, Hector went to his knees.
    “Please, it wasn’t my decision. It came down from administration. I swear ...... please, please.”
    Louis placed the gun against Hector’s forehead.
    “I’m enjoying this — now, I’m going to fire you.”
    Louis pulled the trigger.
    “Click, click nothing happened — the gun was empty. A sigh of relieve came upon Hector’s face that was quickly erased when Louis struck him with the butt of his gun, causing him to collapse on the floor.
    Jason, seeing a chance, nervously debated what to do. He finally came out of hiding and charged Louis, but he had waited too long. Louis had time to install a new clip and fired a warning shot over Jason’s head.
     “Not so fast, I’d like to keep you alive — for a while anyway — get back.”
    Jason moved away as Louis refocused his attention on Hector, who was just regaining consciousness.
    “Now where were we — oh yeah, I remember. I was going to kill you,” as he pointed the gun at Hector.
    Mercifully, for Hector he was still woozy and was spared the knowledge of his impending doom. Louis pulled the trigger. Death was instantaneous as he was struck between the eyes. Not satisfied, Louis started kicking Hector’s lifeless body.
    Finally, he moved to where Mark was laying. He had a leg wound and had tried unsuccessfully to crawl out of harm’s way while Louis had been occupied with Hector and Jason.
    At this point, Mark and Jason were the only survivors in the room. The body count had temporarily stopped at nine.
    Police sirens could be heard in the background as Louis gestured at Jason.
    “I’m not quite through with you. I want you to get into the personnel office, and drag that no good piece of crap with you.”
    Jason helped Mark down the hall. Louis followed them into the office and closed the door.
    Louis pulled the blinds on the windows and locked the door. He then ordered Jason to sit down at the desk opposite him.
    Jason thoughts ran wild, “Is this the way it’s going to end? Shot by a mad man. Will I ever see my family again?”

######

    The arriving police team quickly secured the break area and interviewed the lucky few who had escaped. They knew that Jason and Mike were being held hostage and by phone demanded that Louis free them.
    “My life means nothing to me. If you rush me I’ll kill them both and myself. I have nothing to lose.” Louis shouted back.
    The police had no choice but to wait it out.
    His palms were sweating. His heart was racing. Jason wondered. “What was he waiting for?”
    Louis focused his gaze on Jason. “Guess I’ve got some time to kill — excuse the pun Jason ole boy.”
    “Mark needs help. You’ve got me why don’t you let him go. He’s going to bleed to death.”
    “I’ve got plans for him — you’ll see.”
     “What do you want with us?” said Jason.
     “You know pretty boy, you have so much. A beautiful wife and family, secure job, nice home, money in the bank ......”
    “Yea, I’ve been pretty fortunate.”
    “Up until today, you mean.”
    “So why haven’t you killed us already?”
    “Because I think we should have a little talk first.”
    “What could possibly be so bad, that it would drive you to do this?” Jason said. He was hoping to buy some time, by gaining his confidence.
    “Well how about my wife leaving me, the bank foreclosing on my house, and my boss the late Mr. Rias informing me yesterday that I was fired. Turns out it was his last day too — ha ha. How’s that for irony?”
    “But, Louis all those innocent people — they never did anything to you.”
    “All good little Christians, I suppose.”
    “Probably, most of them, but what’s that got to do with anything?”
    “Well, if they’re saved Christians they ought to be thanking me, they’re in heaven as we speak ...... right? Or when it gets down to it aren’t they just big hypocrites? Preaching salvation and going to heaven for eternal happiness, yet they will hang on to that last shred of life no matter how they have to do it.”
    “You’re asking the wrong person, Louis. I’m a regular church goer, but I have my doubts. Probably, a lot of them felt that way too? All I know is it’s wrong to kill. Even if they are in heaven, it wasn’t for you to decide. Only God can make that choice.
    “Well, they shouldn’t have doubts anymore. Isn’t that what religion is all about? I mean what happens to your sorry ass after you die — isn’t that the whole ballgame?”
    “I suppose you could look at it that way.”
    “Well since you’ll soon be finding out for yourself. What do you think the afterlife is going to be like?”
    “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Torturing me like this.”
    “I guess so. I enjoy seeing the guy who has everything squirm a little bit.”
    “Louis you could still do some good. It’s never too late. Let them take Mark out of here. You don’t need him.”
    “Yes I do.” said Louis. “But getting back to my question, what’s next after death?”
    “I don’t know. I hope there’s a heaven. I hope to see my dead relatives and friends again.”
    “Jason, what about hell? Do you believe in hell?”
    “I don’t know. I believe in a God — a fair God. One who wouldn’t sentence a soul for an eternity of damnation.”
    “You think maybe I would get a few hundred years in hell, and then get to go to heaven?”
    “What does it matter what I think? Nobody’s going to find out the truth one second sooner than their last heartbeat.”
    “Jason, I’ve always been an atheist. And if I’m correct, all that I’ve done doesn’t matter. I’ll have nothing to answer for.
    “Wait a minute Louis, if the atheists are right then what’s the point of all this?”
    “All what?”
    “Mankind, the universe, why do people have a conscience —why do they feel good when doing something right and have that empty feeling in the pit of their stomachs when they have done something bad or selfish, tell me? What’s the reason this was all started?”
     “The circumstances were right and it started. It will run its course and end. There is no right or wrong, but only what happens,” said Louis.
    “I can’t accept that. The one thing about the afterlife I’m sure of is ......”
    “Yea go on.”
    “That all of our lives will be judged.”
    “Why are you so sure?”
    “Louis like I said before. If not, than what was the point?”
    Louis smiled, “You know, I’m starting to like you. You make a lot of sense. You think things out — very logically. I like that. I tell you what; I’m going to give you a chance — a chance to live.”
    “I’m listening.”

######

    The police were almost ready to rush the office. The final plans were being made. Everyone was in position.
    “Here’s what I’m offering you,” said Louis. I’m going to give you a choice. It will be up to you.
     Either I can spare Mark, kill you and then end my miserable existence, or choice number two: I waste your buddy and you walk away. You get out of this blood bath totally unscathed, but if that happens I want to stay around and hear your story. Knowing that decision would haunt you the rest of your life would make this all worthwhile.
    So, all you have to do to return to that precious family of yours, is yell shoot him when I point my gun at Mark. But if you hesitate in the slightest, I will blow your brains out. Fair enough?
    Prove to me how righteous you are Jason, or will you grovel for the chance to stay alive? How will your decision affect that final judgment you’re so sure you’re going to receive? What will it be, us or Mark? Here’s your chance to play God?”
    The police were poised to make their assault, as Louis started to train his gun on Mark.
    “Don’t make me ......” Jason said.
    “On the count of three,” the police chief instructed his men. “One ...... two ......”
    “Bang ...... ...... ...... ......”

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