Red Oath [meenbabe]

3: Lethal Temptations

In the dimly lit confines of the bathroom, Aoom's trembling fingers hovered over the flickering flame of her trusty lighter, igniting the tip of a cigarette in a vain attempt to ward off the constant wave of memories that threatened to engulf her. The bitter smoke curled around her like a protective envelope, hiding the harsh reality of the world outside.

Ten years. A decade had passed since the once unbreakable bond between her and Meena became brittle and died, reduced to the spaces of their shared history. Ten years had passed since their last meaningful exchange, their words reduced to the voids of distant strangers passing in the night.

With a bitter twist of irony, Aoom reflected on the woman she had become in the years that followed – a cold, distant figure hidden in a mask of indifference. The fire that had once burned strongly within her had been extinguished, leaving behind only the ashes of a former self.

As she took a drag from her cigarette, the smoke drifting lazily about her, Aoom couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the lively, passionate young woman she once was. In her place stood a ghost of her former self, a mere shell of who she once was.

But as the memories threatened to overwhelm her, Aoom clenched her jaw in resistance, rejecting to succumb to the pain of the past. She had concealed her feelings in the darkest corners of her heart, resolving never to let them see the light of day again.

She decided to leave the game and head back home. After all, an important business awaited her the next day, demanding her full attention. After meticulously washing her hands, she took a paper towel to open the door, and bid a polite farewell to her adversaries at the gaming table.

Stepping outside, the brisk night air greeted her, and as she closed the door behind her, she made her way down the alley toward the exit. However, her quiet departure was unexpectedly interrupted by an encounter.

"Unbelievable," she muttered through clenched teeth as her gaze fell upon Meena, leaning casually against the alley wall, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Their eyes met, sparking an electric current of animosity that crackled in the air between them. With a sly grin, Meena extended the cigarette towards her, a silent challenge woven into the gesture.

With a heavy sigh, she accepted the offered cigarette, their quiet exchange functioning as a weak truce in their strained relationship. However, the weight of their past weighed heavily between them, casting a shadow over their moment.

Breaking the silence, Meena spoke up. "Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked, but Aoom simply shook her head, patiently waiting for her turn with the cigarette.

Meena lifted the cigarette to her lips for that final puff, but Aoom halted just inches from her face. Close enough to catch the scent of tobacco and feel the other woman's quickened pulse.

With a precise and decisive motion, Aoom snatched the cigarette from Meena's lips, claiming the final puff for herself. In that fleeting moment, their eyes locked in a silent confrontation, brimming with unspoken emotions and tangible tension.

Aoom lingered for a moment, her gaze fixed on Meena, who met her stare with a raised eyebrow, a silent challenge in her expression. As the cigarette butt dropped to the ground, their intense eye contact remained locked, each refusing to back down.

"Take care, Meena," Aoom's parting words held a note of caution as she turned away, leaving behind the swirling smoke and lingering uncertainty of their encounter.

Just as Aoom thought she had escaped the suffocating tension of the alleyway, the air was suddenly pierced by a sharp and piercing sound, like daggers slicing through the darkness. Her heart leapt into her throat, pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribcage as she whirled around to confront the sudden chaos.

There, blocking her path, were two motorcycles. But it wasn't just the bikes that caught her eye – it was the four sketchy-looking dudes with the rifles. Her mind reeled with disbelief, struggling to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before her.

Before she could even comprehend the danger that lurked within, one of the figures dismounted from his bike, with a chilling precision, he raised a rifle in her direction, but not directly pointing at her with the metal glinting ominously in the faint light.

"Get on," the man's voice was low and guttural, a menacing growl that sent a shiver down her spine.

Aoom's mind raced with fear and confusion, her thoughts a jumbled mess of panic and dread. The guy with the gun wasn't messing around, Aoom knew that she had to make a choice, and fast.

"Either you get in, or I will shoot you," his words were like a death knell, each syllable dripping with malice and intent. Aoom's heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the alley for a way out. But with danger closing in from all sides, escape seemed like a distant dream.

Before he could utter another command, the tension of the night shattered into chaos, punctuated by the deafening explosion that echoed through the alley. Aoom's heart lurched in her chest as she watched in stunned horror as the assailant who had just threatened her moments ago crumpled to the ground, a crimson pool spreading beneath him.

The sound of chaos enveloped her as the aftermath of the explosion unfolded. Three more blasts echoed through the alley, followed by the heavy thud of the motorcycles hitting the ground. Aoom's mind raced, struggling to comprehend the rapid turn of events.

Through the haze of smoke and confusion, Meena stood like a specter, her silhouette cutting a stark contrast against the chaos. Nevertheless, as Meena came into focus, Aoom couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. There was a hardness in Meena's gaze, a silent promise of trouble brewing beneath the surface of their encounter.

With the aftermath of violence still hanging heavy around them, Meena stood before Aoom, her gun held with an unsettling confidence. With a calculated step, she closed the distance between them, pinning Aoom against rough brick wall.

The barrel of the gun pressed against her forehead, a reminder of the danger they both faced. Aoom could feel the heat of Meena's presence enveloping her, drawing her into a dangerous embrace.

"Let's get one thing straight," Meena's voice was low, dripping with menace as she leaned in closer, her breath hot against Aoom's skin. "I didn't save you out of the goodness of my heart. If you meet your end, it'll be because I decided it's time."

Aoom's breath caught in her throat as Meena leaned in closer, the barrel of the gun pressing against her skin like a promise of forbidden pleasure. Despite the danger that loomed over them, there was an undeniable tension between them.

"Then do it," Aoom's voice was a breathless challenge, her eyes locked with Meena's in a battle of wills that neither was willing to concede.

A wicked smile curved Meena's lips as she traced the line of Aoom's jaw with the tip of the gun, a tantalizing caress that set Aoom's senses ablaze. "You're playing a dangerous game, darling," her voice a sultry melody that danced on the thin edge.

"Let's make another thing crystal clear," Meena whispered against Aoom's parted lips, her breath hot against Aoom's skin. Each word was a caress, sending shivers of anticipation cascading down Aoom's whole body. "I've always been the one calling the shots here." Each syllable was a tantalizing promise of power and control, drawing Aoom deeper into things she shouldn't even be thinking about.