*spark*
"This fucking wind", Pixie couldn't get her cigarette to light.
It was a Sunday, and the crisp fall air wasn't doing her any favors. Her friend, or the person she had closest to one, Maxie, was running 15 minutes late. Looking up and down the brick road, Pixie started to tap her foot impatiently. Suddenly a hand grasped her neck from behind, tugging her backwards as she let out a large gulp.
"How many times have we run scams down here?", Maxies voice asked.
"Enough. No need to lecture me again", Pixie replied.
The slums of the city were dangerous, and familiar faces ran a risk of their own. Pixie and Maxie always went with the same scheme, finding a lone man walking, near where the brick roads and overlake bridges intersect. One of the two would strut up to him, and brandish their gun. Even at night, this was no threat of its own. In fact, women accompanied by firearms were more often than not, a hoodlums type afterall. Upon seduction, lead the man under the bridge near the lake. Whoever stayed behind would wait in darkness in case of emergency. The drinks were always laid out beforehand, one was drugged, the other was simply water. After a few swigs, limp pockets were open for the taking.
"I'll answer for you then, 7 times. So far so good." said Maxie.
"So, who goes first then? I'd say we could knock out two in one night. Somebodies expecting a couple extra coins from me by Friday"
Pixie had a habit of holding out on promises. Even if they'd be able to get two hits in one night, it'd be spent on cigs and maskara by the next morning. Then again, who could have ever taught her to manage her money. The joke would be on them for the attempt.
"Ambition. That's why I do these with you Pixie, you go first then. Two's always been my lucky number anyway."
"Fine by me, you got the drinks?" Pixie replied.
"Ah of course! Here, as per usual, the can with the dent is laced."
Handing over the drinks, Maxie's frizzy gold locks seemed almost transparent under the night time street lights. Yet her scarlet eyes would always shine through them. Pixie grabbed the cans, nodded her head and started walking down the brick road. Her feet clicking and clacking one foot after the other. Maxie darted off the road, into the darkness.
It took only a matter of minutes until he became visible in the distance. A short man, eye level with Pixie who herself was a foot shorter than her partner in crime. Perfect. He wore a baggy black sweater, and torn jeans that loosley flopped over his shoes. At first, he seemed unphased by Pixie's presence, until it became clear she was strutting right towards him.
Standing more upright, the man hollered from down the street.
"Sugar! You able to handle any more clients tonight?!"
They were only a few blocks down from the red light district. Pixie was only around 20 feet away now, she threw her purple scarf over her shoulder, and began twisting her blue curly hair with her fingers. Her pace increased, her struts more pronounced. 10 feet away now, 5, and now side by side. Now was the time to make her move. She pulled out her pistol, and swiftly wrapped her arms around his waist. She could feel the liquor bottle tucked in his pants. Moving closer to his ear she said,
"How about something better? Why bother coming down here night after night, when you could have a reliable somebody always ready for a good time."
She put the barrel to his head and got closer to his ears.
"Somebody better than the unenthusiastic whores you're used to. Somebody that could make you feel like somebody, and always end your nights with-"
Her finger slowly tugged back on the trigger, the man began to sweat. She could feel he was shaking, fear or not it's what she needed.
*click*
"- a bang."
His shaking stopped, he turned his head to look Pixie in the eyes. He smiled, and then laughed. Pixie backed off of him, he reeked of booze and other drugs. The man then said,
"How about that huh? Usually I'm the one asking for numbers."
"I'll take that as a maybe. Let's go somewhere less open then" Pixie replied.
As they walked towards the bridges neither of them said much. This wasn't particularly unusual, but the silence was loud. She led him underneath the bridge, onto the dirt covered ground occasionally covered by incoming waves from the river. Light was scarce, the distant skyline from across the way dimly illuminated enough for her to check the cans. She tossed one over to the man.
"What's your name then?" asked Pixie.
"Maxwell."
"That's an odd name for a hoodlum"
"Well, I wasn't born one. I became one."
Pixie needed to wrap things up quickly, she wasn't born a con artist either. Similar stories and emotional ties did nothing but delay her goals. So she tossed him a can.
"This stuff's pretty strong, I think you'll like it"
"It can't be stronger than what I've already taken." Maxwell replied.
"Oh, you'd be surprised. Let me show you the 'somebody' that I am. You won't be disappointed".
They cracked open their drinks and were about to chug them empty. Until something broke the silence after the cans cracked open. A large crash, a car crash? Something big, just behind them in the distance. It wasn't visible, as there was a steep way up from under the bridge. Both of them jolted and dropped their cans.
"Hey fuck you man! That was my car!"
"Fuck me?!?! That was your fault, jackass!"
This wasn't good, distractions weren't good. Pixie quickly picked her can back up and said to Maxwelle.
"Good thing that's not our problem right?"
"Right," he replied.
Both of them sighed, and looked onward towards the distant skyline. Finally, he took a swig from his drink, surely enough to knock him out into tomorrow morning. Pixie relaxed, and was relieved that the hard part was finally over. Parched, she took a swig from her can.
*PFFFT!*
Pixie immediately spit out her drink. It was the wrong can! Did she drink enough?! How long until she was out? Did he switch the cans around? What's happening? There wasn't enough time, she felt a punch from her left side. Looking over she saw Maxwell was standing.
"So it is you! Fuck yeah! I'm gonna get so much money from this, you're the girl that's been drugging people for all their money right!? The Swigging Serpent!"
Pixie pulled out her empty gun, and looked off into the darkness.
"CATCH!" Maxie yelled from the shadows.
A fully loaded mag came barrelling through the air towards her, this was now life or death. Freedom or jail. Pixie needed to catch this, and she did. Now standing and backing away from Maxwell, she quickly loaded the gun, and aimed it his way. That was the moment her vision became two, then three. Then she collapsed.
Oh no. She thought, I must not of spit all my drink out!
Falling to the floor and clinging to consciousness, she watched as Maxwell swiftly walked in her direction. All she could think about was the past, maybe to escape the present. Or maybe because this could be her last chance to reminisce. Only then was Maxwell shoved onto the ground by Maxie, who came barreling out of the darkness at full speed. However, the two of them still struggled on the ground.
Pixie thought to herself, heh… battle of the max's. Is this it? No, I'd be out by now. I have to get up, I need to get up!
"Fuck the reward! That was the last straw you bitch!" screamed Maxwell.
He then reached for his waist, that was no bottle.
*BANG! BANG!*
Two loud shots rang out, it was hard to tell what had just happened. Pixie looked to her right laying on the ground. The loaded gun was still there, her strength was still there, in fact… the drink just nicked her! Slowly standing up, she took aim. Maxwell and Maxie stood side by side, the past 30 seconds seemed to have lasted an eternity. Disoriented, it was hard to tell who was who at first. Until the taller of the two seemed to fall to the ground. Maxie?
"God damn it!" Pixie shouted!
Maxwell turned around in shock, believing she was down for the count. That was when numerous other shots rang from her pistol, 5 of the 7 bullets went straight into his chest. There wasn't time for last words, he was already gone.
Pixie ran over to Maxie, who was lying on the ground. It was clear that she was hit, but how bad could it be?
"Maybe… I should have gone first huh?" Maxie let out quietly.
"Where are you hit?! What can I do! Tell me!" Pixie was frantic.
"Somewhere near my heart, but it's okay. I- It doesn't hurt"
Maxie was smiling a gentle smile, one that Pixie wasn't used to. Their devious smirks were their trademarks, all those schemes and scams. Maxie was 3 years older than Pixie, who was only 19 at the time.
"No. No-no-no, we can get you to a hospital or some shit! Something! I mean fuck Maxie you're bleeding all over the place!"
Maxie coughed a few times.
"Heh, want to ask those guys for their busted rides? Maybe… if I didn't turn around to see what happened… I'd have noticed your drinks being swapped… or… maybe not…"
Pixie held up Maxie in her arms, and gripped her by her bloodied hand. Slowly, the grip fell loose and the reflection of her scarlet eyes no longer shimmered. The memories of what was once a friendship became a one sided bargain, one that Pixie needed to carry. But it just… wasn't fair, Pixie thought. None of this is fair!
Overhead, the silhouette of a few men became visible. Pixie needed to run, she knew she needed to run. But where? How could she just leave behind the only person that she had, the only person to remind her that she was somebody. The realization that her own safety and freedom needed to outweigh her feelings, shocked her back awake. Pixie thought to herself,
This is always who I was, .why stutter now.
And so, leaving behind their corpses… she ran