A Gun Against Her Temple

Lucia lay still, her body rigid, her hands splayed out as if in surrender. "Just a few minutes, the cops will be here," she reassured herself, her heart a drumbeat in her ears. "Why me? How many more psychos will I meet today?" she wondered, a sigh escaping her lips.

In the midst of the terror, a robber behind the desk gave a bow. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your involuntary contributions to our retirement fund!" 

Lucia's eyes remained shut. "This will make one heck of a chapter in my memoirs—if I live to write it."

The atmosphere in the bank turned deadly as the robber's gaze fell upon the banker who had dared to press the silent alarm. With a swift and menacing motion, he raised his gun and fired, the shot ringing out like thunder in the confined space. Panic erupted once again as screams filled the air, drowning out all other noise.