“Wake up.” A raspy voice scratched Gilda’s left ear. Fluorescent lighting blinded her squinting eyes as she attempted to put together the groggy picture before her. Metal walls and cement floorings told her she was in some kind of ware house. She wasn’t alone. A presence accompanied her, looming over her like an old oak. She lifted her head, eyes coming face to face with yellow, rotting teeth.

“Hello darling.” Grimy nails clasped her shoulders as her captor let out a low chuckle that rose from the bottom of his belly.

Gilda squirmed in her chair attempting to escape his grasp, only to feel cool metal digging into her sides and wrists.

“Don’t want you to hurt yourself now pretty thing. Boss paid good money to keep you alive.” The man traced his finger over her right shoulder, across the back of her neck, and all around her left shoulder, slowly positioning himself in front of her.

“But you knew that.” His breath reeked of liquor and improper hygiene. A mere few inches from Gilda’s face, she could see the yellow tint of his drooping skin against his greying stubble.

Gilda’s lip quivered over her gag in tune with her hands, her throat cracking with every breath.

“Now Gilda, you and I both know you’re as smart as a whip, don’t play dumb with me missy-“ Jugabond emphasized his final word as he delivered a blow to the right of Gilda’s cheek, knocking her chair onto the floor.

“Or should I say, the boogieman?” Crazed laughing flooded Gilda’s senses who seemingly to Jugabond, could only make sense of the cool concrete pressed against her cheek.

“Do you know how much we spent on those chains? Boogieman?” Gilda remained silent, gasping for breathe.

“More than you’ve ever made in one of your assassination heists, most likely. We only wanted the best of the best to keep our competition nice and snug-“ Gilda kicked at Jugabond’s knee, shattering his knee cap. His howls of agony echoed through the warehouse, along with the rattling of Gilda’s chains. Gilda thrusted herself off of the floor. Throwing a rusted nail across the warehouse, she grabbed her captor and threw him onto the chair in a single motion. He laid there limp, intoxicated by the torment of his broken limb. Gilda ripped the gag from her mouth, forcing it into Jugabond’s.

“Now Jugabond, let me teach you a quick lesson.” Gilda grabbed a chunk of hair and ripped it out of his scalp, a yelp rushing out of him.

“Number one, don’t get too close to a girl with steel toed boots.” Gilda launched her fist into his jaw, teeth flying out of his mouth.

“Number two, don’t focus on the chains, it’s the lock that matters. You put that thing so damn close to my hands it’s like you wanted me to pick it.” Gilda wrapped her hands around his Adam’s apple, as he choked for breathe.

“And that leads me to my final tip, Number 3,” Gilda tightened her grip around his neck, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

“Keep your disgusting, crusty hands off of me you living piece of garbage.” Gilda threw him onto the ground by his neck. Taking sharp breathes, he couldn’t work up the energy to lift his head to her. Gilda tsk’d to herself and crouched down to his level.

“I thought you were smarter than that Jugabond. You really thought I would let you catch me? Hm? I got a contract, a good paying one at that. People really want you dead. Almost as much as me.” Gilda spit in his eye and pushed herself up, looking down on Jugabond like a rich man seeing a stray.

“I almost thought for a second you would see through my little performance. Me, scared of you? You’re more delusional than I thought.” Gilda pulled a sharp object from Jugabond’s coat without a struggle.

“Before I kill you, I just thought you should know. You don’t scare me, you were never in control, and you’re gonna die knowing that you’re precious little boss is gonna be next.” Jugabond’s eyes widened in genuine fear, before Gilda struck the object into him, thus ending him for good.