Accepted offer

I paced back and forth, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Anne and Eric had been quiet for a while, exchanging glances, like they were trying to decide how to approach this next part. My heart was still hammering in my chest from the threat — the cold reminder of the stakes I was facing. I couldn't just take the job. I couldn't. Me. Tyler a bodyguard? Hilarious!

But as the silence stretched, I felt the weight of their gazes, the tension building. Finally, Anne stood up from where she had been sitting by the bed, her expression softening. "Tyler, listen to me."

I stopped pacing, looking over at her. She was so calm, so sure, but I could see the worry in her eyes. "You don't understand," I said, my voice thick with frustration. "Taking that job means giving him everything. It's handing him control over my life. I'll be stuck in his world, in his game, forever."

Eric cleared his throat, crossing his arms. "We get it, man. We do. But think about it. You can't just run forever. This man — this monster — he's got too many eyes on you. If you don't take the offer, your life will be over. There's no going back."

Anne stepped closer, her voice soft but insistent. "He's giving you a way out, Tyler. A way to keep your life, to keep some control. You'll be able to stay under the radar, at least for a while. If you turn it down, that's it. The government will know exactly where you are. You'll be hunted. No more hiding."

I shook my head, pacing again. "I don't want to be controlled by him. I don't want to play his game."

Eric sighed, a look of sympathy on his face. "I know you're scared. But think of it this way: you can use this job to your advantage. It's not about letting him win; it's about buying yourself time, playing the long game. You're not just accepting defeat by taking the job. You're surviving. And sometimes, survival means taking the least bad option."

Anne nodded in agreement. "We can't let you make a choice based on fear, Tyler. If you turn this down, you'll be giving him exactly what he wants — to break you. You're smarter than that. We know you are. And you have us. We'll figure this out, even if it's hard."

I stopped, feeling the words sink in. It felt like the ground beneath me was shifting, my sense of control slipping. It wasn't about winning or losing. It was about staying alive.

"Survival," I muttered under my breath, testing the word. It felt like a betrayal, but maybe it was the only way.

"Exactly," Eric said, his voice more sure now. "It's not about surrendering. It's about holding on until we can come up with a real plan. We'll help you, but you need to take that first step. You need to take the job."

Anne reached out, her hand resting on my shoulder gently. "We'll make sure you don't have to face this alone. But we need you to trust us, Tyler. Trust that we'll figure this out."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. They were right, damn it. There was no other choice. Not if I wanted to keep my life, my freedom. The fear still twisted in my gut, but it was slowly being replaced by something else — something that felt like a small flicker of hope.

"Alright," I said finally, the words tasting heavy on my tongue. "I'll take the job."

Anne's face softened, relief flooding her expression. "Thank you," she whispered, squeezing my shoulder. "We'll make this work. I promise."

Eric gave a short nod, looking proud of me. "You made the right choice, man. We'll figure it out. One step at a time."

"Fine," I muttered, my voice rough from the tension. I turned away from Anne, who was still standing there, watching me with a mixture of relief and concern. "Go get the doctor. It's time."

She didn't hesitate. Her hand was on the door handle before I even finished speaking, rushing to do what I had asked. I could feel the weight of my decision sinking in, but at the same time, a strange sort of calm was starting to settle over me. There was no turning back now. I had made my choice, and now I had to live with it.

The door opened not long after, and in stepped the doctor, looking flustered and confused as he took in my upright position in bed. His eyes scanned the room quickly, before landing on me.

"Mr. Tyler, you should be resting," he said, a hint of irritation in his voice, as if I had somehow broken some unspoken rule by not staying in bed. "You've just been through a—"

"Shut it," I interrupted, my voice sharp enough to make him stop mid-sentence. His mouth closed with an audible snap, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But he didn't. Instead, he blinked, his eyes widening as he seemed to process what I had just said.

"Tell whoever brought me here," I continued, my words cold and final, "that I've accepted the job."

The doctor blinked again, clearly thrown off by my bluntness. "Accepted?" he echoed, his tone still confused, as if he couldn't quite make sense of the words. "But I thought—"

"I've accepted," I repeated, louder this time, cutting him off once again. "No more games. No more waiting."

The doctor stood there, his expression flickering between hesitation and disbelief. He glanced back at Anne, who was standing just outside the door, waiting for the moment I'd made my decision. She met his gaze, and after a long, silent beat, she nodded. He sighed deeply, as if bracing himself for something, then straightened up.

"Very well," he said quietly, the uncertainty in his voice not lost on me. "I'll make sure the proper arrangements are made. I'll inform them immediately."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me to sit in the aftermath of my choice. Anne stepped inside a moment later, her eyes soft but determined.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice quieter now, but the concern still there. "This is it, Tyler. No going back."

I didn't answer at first. I just stared ahead, my mind racing, but at the same time, oddly quiet. The decision had been made. I had to live with it now.

Finally, I looked at her, my expression a mixture of exhaustion and something else — something I couldn't quite name. "I'm sure," I said, my voice steady despite everything inside me that screamed otherwise. "It's the only way."

Anne didn't argue. She didn't need to. Instead, she walked over, sat beside me on the bed, and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. For a moment, we sat there in silence, the weight of what was about to happen hanging in the air.

What. I'm. I . Into?