Mind Games [Behemoth and Millie]

[Gildarts]

"My my," his voice taunted almost immediately back, "To think you would strike down your only chance at freedom. I warn you, your choices are not your own." He reviewed the facts, possibly to distract her on-edge mind, and possibly just because he could.

"There are six bullets, one revolver, and an unsteady finger that probably isn't willing to fulfill its only function. I don't doubt you would fire that pistol, but I do however, fear for the only possible victim of your choice." Behemoth's eyes flickered, enlivened by the excitement that was life or death. He savored the moment while his fate hung by an unseeable thread.

"It was only out of curtesy for your own freewill that I didn't just force my way in. Not to mention I think the shade would have done something reckless in response, you see, he too, is holding a gun to your forehead. You just aren't aware of it. With his weapon, it is not your life he holds hostage, but your mind."

The callous monster must have figured he would wager his way out of the position. He even had mockingly raised his arms, which caused the collar and buttons of his suave suit to pucker. Behemoth had underestimated the girl's powers of observation, but he should have guessed her desperation would push her this far. It was never good to corner an enemy completely. Always leave a way out. He had learned this from the master of war himself. Desperation often posed as incentive stronger than fear and a hundred times more effective than courage. He would have to think hard, think fast, as well as put the negotiation he would use to terms she would understand. Simple, non-threatening, and well executed; it paid that he knew how to bend the most delicate of people without breaking them. He had originally guessed, with that heightened expression of terror that nearly none of his carefully placed words were getting through, so he created more.

"You would have done well to have listened to me girl," he snarled out of anger, playing the evil fiend she thought he was, "Rather than aim a loaded gun at my nose and threaten to create for me a third nostril, you could review your choices. And I will review mine."

It didn't seem like his faulty patch-job of a few sentences would dent the woman's reasoning, so he resorted to another. He hoped her conscience wouldn't be lost in his flurry of persuasion, she barely had time to breathe let alone intercept him mid-sentence.

"Easily, you could shoot me and be done with the threat my mere presence brings, or you could reconsider the truths we both know. I didn't bring you here to kill you and there is no hospital in the entire Omniverse that can help you as you are now, you must know that. Had there been, perhaps I would have even taken you there instead of revealing my current home to such a temperamental child."

A layer of thick silence blanketed the air before Behemoth spoke again, "You know, they say a person's real self comes out when held at gunpoint, will they beg for mercy? Or maybe challenge even the idea of their own death? But I don't think that's who people are, nor have I ever been convinced of this complete lie. The true test is given to the one whose finger lay on the trigger."

"Ask yourself this, girl, are you a murderer?"

Impending death stared him in the face, and Behemoth didn't think the borderline hysteric had what it took to pull the trigger, the thrall on the other hand, was welcome anytime to take his life. Little did the thrall know, more than the singular threat hung on this moment, should the creature allow her to fire, it would be the last choice it would make.

The sweat in Millie's palms beaded, making the silver trigger slippery. The thrill of power still ebbed in her mind and the serpent like man before her wasn't even quaking in his boots. It seemed he didn't quite understand the situation, or perhaps it was because he understood that he acted so freely. She grimaced while her mind reeled, he was determined to make a fool of her.