Six Million Reasons

HIS gun was firmly placed on the space between her eyes. “Any last words?” the man in the balaclava asked.

There was no doubt that if he pulled the trigger she’d be dead. But Tandi couldn’t for the life of her think of words that felt good enough to say.

“A silent death?” He smirked.

“Six million,” she blurted out in desperation, jerking her whole body forward to plead. If her hands hadn’t been tied behind her back, Tandi probably would’ve clasped them together to beg but even without them her body sang the plea.

“What?” her confused assailant asked.

“You asked me what I think my life is worth and I didn’t answer.” Her eyes, which had been firmly planted on the ground in fear the whole night, shot up to meet his cold gaze. “I’ll pay you R6 million, which is all the money I have, to spare