Page 154 of Dissolving Prejudice

“I’m not a coward.”

“Oh, but you are,” I laughed, and my voice danced around us until it died, and we were left to sit in silence.

“I’m not trying to be mean, Jordan. I’m just putting reality in your face. If we’re going to die soon, the very least you could do is take accountability and admit that you’ve never stood up for anyone. Not for me, obviously not for Camilo… not even for that poor girl that killed herself back in high school.” At the time, I might have told him not to blame himself for her suicide. As it turned out, Jordan’s behavior wasn’t a onetime thing of cowardice but a fucking pattern.

“Laura,” he said.

“Huh?”

“Her name was Laura.”

“Whatever. It’s not like it actually matters right now.” I shrugged. “Maybe it did back then, but it’s already too late now,” I muttered, pissed off at him for suddenly pretending to care. Where was this care when I needed it? When I lay in that hospital bed with broken ankles and a father that watched my every move, scaring the living shit out of me?

The sounds of the door opening interrupted the silence a second before all the lights turned on, and Oro stormed in, looking pissed as fuck. In fact, it looked like someone had broken this motherfucker’s nose.

“Time is up, bitch,” he said, eyes focusing on me before he circled the chair and began untying my arms.

“What do you mean?” I asked, voice choked with nerves.

“It means you’re going to die, asshole, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.”

Oro released the knot tying me to the chair before he forced me to stand up. And while I was able to walk, my hands were still tied behind my back. The thought of making a run toward the door crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it when the fucker pulled out the gun from his pants and shoved me with it.

“You seem nervous. Is everything alright?” I tried making small talk when he grunted.

“Shut up and move your ass, bitch.”

“W-wait. I need to—” I turned to face him but choked once I faced the barrel.

“You were saying?” he asked, one brow raised.

“Yes.” I coughed. “I… I need to pee.”

That’s smart. And half true.

“Seriously?”

“Well, yeah, I’ve been tied to this chair for hours.”

Oro tsked. “Who the fuck cares about going to the bathroom before getting shot?”

“I do.”

“Why?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sorry for not wanting to be covered in piss when they find my body.”

Tapping his shoe, Oro looked down at the floor and used the moment to glance at Jordan, who, for some reason, had sat still without uttering a single word ever since Oro returned. Was I too harsh with him before? Now I felt bad about it.

“Fine,” Oro finally said, catching my attention back. “I’ll let you pee, but then that’s it, and you’re dead.”

“How are we going to do it, then?”

“What do you mean?” He frowned.

I looked down at my crotch. “How am I supposed to pull it out with my hands tied behind my back?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Oro closed his eyes and pressed the handle of the gun to his forehead. “Ain’t no way I’m touching your cock.”