It’s just pure, dumb luck that you’re in the restaurant when the robbery happens. You don’t work there. Hell, you don’t even eat there—what’s a vegan supposed to eat at a burger joint?—but Casey asked if you could give her a ride home, and you’re a good friend. You’re a good friend—that’s why you’re there when it all goes down.

They zip tie the four of you and shove bags over your heads. You stumble as the men drag you into the parking lot and load you into the van. Casey and one of the other girls are crying. You wish you could comfort them, but you’re scared shitless, too.

Gradually, the ride becomes rougher. When they stop and pull you from the car, there’s dirt under your feet. They shove you to your knees and scream at you to stay still don’t you dare make a sound or I’ll shoot! So you obey, even as you hear the other kids begging and crying as they’re forced to kneel beside you.

The men pace, arguing in hushed tones. Maybe they’ll let you go. Maybe they’ll drive off and leave you all here, trussed up in the middle of nowhere.

The men go quiet. And then—

The bang is deafening. The girls scream and something heavy falls to the ground nearby.

Oh god. Oh god.

The other girl begs. You strain against the ties around your wrists. You’re going to die here.

Another bang, and the begging stops. You hear the man move closer. Casey cries. “Please,” she says.

Bang!

The man moves behind you. The hot barrel rests against your head.

Click.

The man curses. One of his compatriots starts screaming at him to fix it!

In the chaos, you make your move.

With a burst of adrenaline, you wrench your wrists free and shoot to your feet. The men yell in alarm, but you’re already off, tearing the bag from your head. You’re well into the woods by the time they head after you.

You don’t know where you are and it’s starting to get dark, but it doesn’t matter—you need to put as much distance between you and them as possible. Your heart pounds in your head as you fight through the brush, pushing your body to its limits. You’re so focused and the shaded woods so dark that you don’t see the tree branch.

Your nose collapses in a spout of blood and your head snaps back, your feet sliding out from under you. As the back of your head hits the ground, you feel a sickening crack! and something hard and sharp pierces your skull. You sputter and choke, but you can’t move. Warm blood seeps under your body as you stare at the night sky.

As your vision fades, you curse the universe and its pure, dumb luck.