[WORD COUNT: 2223]!

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

To say your heart was loud pounding against your chest would be an understatement, and you were sure Harley would be able to hear it if he listened hard enough. It wasn't the fact your life had been, yet again, flipped on the downside, it was the fact that what you were about to do was literally a choice between life and death.

You'd heard of the game before, and played it multiple times, however, this one was much more serious. You walked closely on Harleys tail, being careful not to make it too obvious you were nervous and the fact that behind your leggings your knees were buckling out of pure anxiety. What you and Harley had agreed on was stupid down right, but if Harry saw eye to eye with you then maybe, just maybe, there was a possible chance all of this nonsense could be subsided, maybe even for a short time.

"You even somewhat sure this might work?" you whispered, trying to keep your lips still in order to gain the least amount of attention possible from the passing guards. Harley glanced over his shoulder, him being moderately taller than yourself. In truth, Harley had no idea if this was going to work or not, but giving you some form of hope, even if it was false, was enough to satisfy his sweaty palms and cold fingers.

"I don't know, but we'll get something out of him I know that" he muttered, keeping his eyes locked forward. Taking a deep breath, you continued to focus on placing your feet correctly in a result of not embarrassing yourself completely.

Despite the nerves, reaching Harry's line of sight was somewhat a relief as you knew the quicker this plan unfolded the quicker you could get out of here. You'd lost count of days, yet you knew it had been somewhat a little less than a week. Who was looking after Tess? Was the door even locked after you left? What if... What about... So many questions.

"Sir, I have someone who wants to see you" Harley announced, gaining the attention of Harry who was standing by Jake at another mans cell door. He looked relaxed, a smile on his face which you knew if you wouldn't be punished you wouldn't think twice about swiping it right off of his lips. You were brought forward with a steady hand, acting as though you were the victim and playing your weak toned stature perfectly.

"What now?" Harry groaned, making your adrenaline rush quietly through your veins. Your blood was boiling, seeming at the edges of your fingertips ready to throw some rounds if no one were to be watching. You looked back to Harley, who gave you a nod of confirmation, before presenting Harry with a one pence piece lying in the cold palm of your hand.

Harry looked at you, before looking down again. He was confused above everything, but also intrigued to see what you were bringing to his table. "And what's this?"

"It's called a coin of choice. You've probably heard of the game," you tilted your head slightly, "I'm here to propose a single round of a coin flip. We pick a side each. If my side wins, you let me and Tom go... And if your side wins..." you took a deep breath, teeth clenching together as Harry stood on the edges of his feet, listening closely to your suggestion.

"Yes? If I win?"

"Y-you... You can shoot me"

Harry erupted into a fit of laughter, looking back to Jake who just stared aimlessly and confused at the both of you.

"And why would I want to do that? I mean, I'm perfectly comfortable with the both of you suffering in silence" he quizzed, running a hand through his lightly faded ginger curls.

"W-well, you want to hurt Tom, don't you? So I'm basically tossing you the meat here. If he cares about me like you say he does, then k... k-killing me with do no less to him, hands-free, quick pain" you struggled over your words, hoping that the game you had unfolded for Harry would come forth on your own side because dying... Despite the jokes, was something you weren't ready for yet.

"Hm," Harry stood back as if shocked that what you had proposed was actually worth his time. You were right about one thing: Harry did want to hurt Tom. As much as possible, forgetting all reasons as to why, but just knowing it was underlined with a red marker pen on his bucket list. "Alright. But how do I know it's not fixed? For all I know, you could have hijacked it"

"Harry it's a fucking coin" Harley stepped forward slightly, earning a glare from Harry making your stomach twist. He was capable of just about anything, and you and Harley would be under his barrel in seconds if either on you didn't keep your mouth shut.

"You don't bite the hand that feeds you, Harlz. I'll deal with you later, but for now," he turned to attract the attention of a nearby guard, "Go and collect Tom and have him delivered to me in my office" he smirked, looking back to you. Your hands were strung together yet again, looking back to Harry with pleading eyes as if a final goodbye. He watched you for a moment, before you disappeared behind a corner and down the hallway back to the room where your life was about to change.

Less than a minute later you were ushered into the room where Tom was already seated. He was clothed in a ragged grey t-shirt which displayed the tops of his back and jagged, prominent shoulder blades. The tops of his spine showed carefully displayed dark purple and blue marks, not the slightest bit faded like they had been tattooed onto the bone. It made your heart sink and breath hitch in your throat to see him. Yet coming to face him was ten times worse.

From the sounds of you entering the room, his head had spun quite quickly, causing a small amount of whiplash to radiate through his neck, but seeing you made the pain fade. Yet, your face showed the emotions he didn't want to see. You looked scared because of his image, and he knew the way he looked upon being forced. His cheeks were cut and torn while his eyes were no brighter than the shadows surrounding the underneath of his sockets. His lips were dry and sore while small cracks slit down the middle. He looked destroyed, and it broke you.

"Tom..." You whispered, barely being able to speak from the breath being stolen away from your lungs. Tom stood to embrace you and surprisingly got the chance. His arms surrounded your waist, trapping you in his heat and you'd missed it. His familiar smell met your nose as it sunk down into the crook of his neck and it was almost like you needed each other upon nature instead of force. He let a small whimper leave his lips as your grip tightened next to the wound which you were still unsure as to how it had been caused, but it was enough to make you loosen your grip.

"Alright, that's enough" A guard pulled you back firmly, Tom too, and you were seated beside each other, but even then you held the hands of each other, fingers locking as if you were each as scared as the other to let go. Fearing that if such were to happen it may be the end.

"Right let's get this over with" Harry groaned, tossing his gun onto the table followed by the pence piece making your heart jump. Your eyes remained on the barrel of the gun, knowing that if this went wrong there was no escaping the cold metal from being placed upon your heart and it scared you. Why wouldn't it?

"W-whats going on?" Tom whispered quietly as Harry adjusted his shirt, but you quickly shushed him in fear of the deal unfolding.

"Heads or tails?" he asked, picking up the small metal coin and holding it in his hand carelessly.

"Heads" you chose carefully, biting your bottom lip discreetly as he nodded with distaste.

"Well, fair game, no cheating" he smirked before placing the coin on his thumb, "may the best player win" and there it went, flying into the air. You wanted to explode with pure fear, delve into a hole with Tom and never come back out because at this moment you felt like you were drowning in the murky ponds filled with suffocating tadpoles, because everything around you was lost, and all you knew was Tom. What world would it be without him?

The coin dropped back into the hands of Harry, quickly tossing it over before staring you down, a smirk highlighted on his face. Tom's grip tightened, still unaware, but silently hoping that whatever game was being inflicted you would win.

His hand opened, eyes averting down and his smile faded.

"H-heads..." he turned his head slightly, your mouth falling slightly agape before turning to Tom with a smile. Tom's eyes widened brightly as you jumped from your seat, wrapping your arms around him, "Yes! I knew it! I knew it!" you semi yelled, "We're going home!"

"Not so fast," Harry lifted his head slightly, holding the coin back on his thumb. Tom and yourself turned your heads to face him, handing the coin to a guard who had come to his side. "Best of three"

"Are you kidding me?!" you yelled, quickly being pulled back down into your seat by another guard. "You never said that was one of the rules!"

"Oops" Harry smirked sarcastically, making your nostrils flair and hands tighten.

Yet again, the coin was flipped. Now, both yourself and Tom watched it fly into the cold air, and watched even closer as gravity brought it back down again. Tom had somewhat caught a grasp of what was happening and was hanging on the edge of his seat more than you were.

"Tails, sir" the guard confirmed after opening the palm of his hand, "you're tied"

"Well let's get another tail and get this over with then" Harry picked up the gun from his table, making Tom flinch towards you and grip your hand tightly.

"What are you doing with that?" Tom asked firmly, gaining some spark of confidence from the almost win. Harry looked over at you, before looking over at Tom.

"Oh, well this is perfect" he smirked with a devilish laugh coming at the end of it, "of course she hasn't told you her little rules"

"What are you talking about?" Tom was on the edge of his chair, getting ready to stand until Harry pulled back the Glock and readied the trigger.

"Well, you see if you win, you can go home, all free of my little games and I won't bother you again" Harry gestured between you and Tom, "but you see if I win, I get to shoot your little princess over here, and before you go all knight in shining armour on me, she made the rules" Harry pointed at you, a lump developing in your throat as you saw Tom look at you from the corner of his eye.

"Is that true?" he asked you sternly, but getting nothing in return, just a blink.

"Oh Christ, just flip the coin" Harry was getting anxious now, wanting to win and shed a little blood before the sun went down. Your head flicked up, followed by Tom's despite his hand falling out of your own making your chest tighten. This was bad...

And yet again, the coin was flipped, but this time it seemed to roll around the atmosphere in slow motion, each moment edging closer to what seemed like inevitable faith.

The coin landed harshly in the guard's hand, now the three of you hanging on by a thread as he removed his hand and looked down closely at the metal circle.

"Well?" Harry demanded forcefully, making the guard jump slightly.

"Heads, sir... It's heads"

"Yes!" You yelled.

"No!" Harry yelled, making your chest lighten, even more, Tom looking up to you as you stood with slight betrayal, yet would learn to subside it until he knew you were safe.

"We did it, Tom! We can go home!" You pulled him to his feet, Tom looking back between you and Harry before a huge smile fell onto his lips.

"Not so fast-" Harry groaned, almost unheard from your heart thundering against your chest. Then all fell silent.

As the sound of a single gunshot darted from the walls to your ears.

All you saw were Tom's eyes, widening in shock, before, for the last time, your world changed for the worst...

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

So I know that was a pretty rushed ending, but I have sorta figured out where I want this story to go and you know what, not gonna lie, your gonna hate me for the next couple chapters! 😂Also, sorry for uploading so late! Next update will come tomorrow I promise! If I let you down just shoot me lol anyways love you all and see you tomorrow! (hopefully) 💞😊💭