Bloody Business – Flash Fiction

The job was done. Like always, everything had gone perfect. The contract objective fulfilled, no eyewitnesses or proof left behind. But unlike always, Sam was not rejoicing with Brad. He seemed to be lost in deep thought and disturbed. Finally, Brad had to step up and break the intolerable silence.

“So where should we party tonight?”, Brad asked sending out a puff of cigarette smoke.

Sam gave him a look of disgust and said, “Party? For what? For killing the innocent and laughing at the helpless…”

“Whoa! Whoa! Sammy, chill. This is not the first time we did this. We are contract killers and this is our damn business. And remember business involves no emotions, specially ours! So cool down…and enjoy another success.”

“Success? That women was not in the contract then why her? She was pregnant damn it…”, saying this he shivered and a tear rolled down his cheek, “…and I did not even think twice before pumping that bullet in her.”

“We could not afford to leave an eyewitness back. And anyways, it was her fate man!”, Brad said coolly letting out another puff.

“Then why was her fate destined through my hands? I can’t bear the pain Brad. I want you to…”, he hesitated.

At this Brad threw away the cigarette and shouted at Sam, “Want me to do what? Bring that women back to life… or run back and check if the bullet was feeling sorry for her as u r! Tell me what should I do?”

“I want you to set me free! This job is getting on ma nerves…”, Sam pleaded, “I can’t live like this any longer.”

“Well, ya won’t have to then!”, saying this Brad pulled out the shiny black automatic pistol and placed it on the table in front of Sam, “Go ahead and set ya self free! Here’s ya freedom.”

Sam could not believe Brad, “Brad, isn’t there any other way?”

“You know it; there is no going back once you are into this business. You think over this and make ya decision. Though I would like ya to forget all this and lead life the usual way…partner!”, saying this Brad stepped outside the room and lighted another cigarette.

The businessman in Brad knew that it required a lot of courage in killing oneself compared to when killing others. And Sam according to him did not fit the bill. Brad let out another puff of smoke…when the bullet sound ripped the ever-lingering silence. Brad ran back into the room and there was Sam lying dead in a pool of deep red blood. Brad was on his knees and full of tears. He knew business had no place for emotions but the businessman in him had fled away and instead the ever lost mortal soul of his came alive. After all, it was his brother’s corpse in front of his eye and the reason for all this was he himself. Brad was surrounded by an unbearable pain and death phrased a new meaning for him – from freedom to loss! It took another bullet and a trigger-pull to put a complete end to all of this!!

– Originally Posted on walkingthroughlife.sulekha.com on 14th Jan 2007

– All rights reserved © Piyush Agarwal agarwal.piyu@gmail.com

Author’s Note

This story was a result of small challenge of writing a “Flash Fiction” which is why the so many twists. The motive behind the story was to show that Death has several meanings depending on where you stand and it has the power to transform those strong  weaker and vise-versa.

Btw, I do agree the brother angle seems pretty filmy but I guess that was just the ‘mind-flash’ at the time and a little bit of me. 😉