DYING TO SURVIVE (Dark Erotica) by Scott Hildreth, SD Hildreth

you too. I don’t know you , either. Fuck that bitch, she can either agree to do it, or I’ll just choke her out and toss her at him when he unlocks the door tomorrow,” Elena responded as she walked around the perimeter of the room.
    The sound of Dana crying became louder.
    Elena’s remarks made Meghan uneasy. To be so willing to take the life of another human being made Elena no more sane or civil than Ryan. For a moment, Meghan pondered death, and what life meant to her. Thoughts of her daughter growing up without a mother began to trouble her. She thought of her sister, and whether or not she would volunteer to raise Amanda.
    Meghan wondered the effect not having a paternal parent would have on her daughter as an adult. What effect, if any, her mother being murdered would have on her ability to live a productive life. She wondered how many people would come to her funeral, and if the service would be pleasant. She struggled with the thought of whether or not Mark would come to the service.
    “I don’t want to die,” Shellie said.
    “I’m not going to die,” Elena said in a stern tone.
    “How are we going to do this?” Meghan asked openly to the room.
    Sitting on the bench, her elbows on her thighs and her face in her hands, Dana’s sobs grew louder.
    “I don’t have…” Dana struggled to speak.
    “I don’t have a family,” she continued to try to speak as tears ran down her cheeks.
    “I don’t have any idea of how long I may live, and both my parents are dead,” Dana began to sob uncontrollably,
    “I can’t…do”
    “I can’t…”
    “I can’t leave him alone,” Dana finished speaking and continued to cry uncontrollably.
    “I thought you said you were divorced,” Elena turned and faced Dana with a look of disgust.
    “You did, I know you did. You lying bitch you said you were divorced,” Elena shook her head as she looked at Dana.
    As tension filled the room the severity of the situation weighed heavily on Meghan’s mind. She realized if she wanted to live, she would need to convince someone else to die. Fifteen minutes prior, the thought of doing so was nothing less than murder. Now, as she stood and watched Elena glare at Dana, the thought of persuading one of the others to die seemed to be nothing more than survival.
    Preservation of her daughter’s future.
    Saving herself.
    Preservation of life.
    Meghan looked at Shellie. Emotionless, Shellie sat on the bench and bit her fingernails. Consciously, Meghan decided that she agreed with Elena, Shellie needed to volunteer to die. Meghan would need to determine a way to convince her.
    “I fucking hate liars. You lying bitch,” Elena said as she stood over Dana, who continued to sob into her hands as she sat on the bench.
    “Elena,” as Meghan whispered, Elena turned to face her. Without speaking, Meghan shook her head and motioned to the floor beside her.
    Quietly, Elena approached Meghan. As she stood beside her, Meghan whispered into Elena’s ear.
    “We have to convince one of these two to do it,” Meghan whispered.
    “What…”
    “What are…”
    “What are you two talking…”
    “About?” Dana looked up from her hands and sobbed.
    “We ain’t talking to you, you lying bitch,” Elena barked.
    “Don’t be so mean to her,” Meghan whispered, “Let’s be nice and see if we can talk one of them into it.”
    Elena nodded and took a sip from the bottle of water. Meghan tapped her on the shoulder, turned, and walked slowly and softly to the bench beside Shellie.
    “Let’s talk about this sensibly,” Meghan offered as she sat on the bench beside Shellie.
    “You live in Augusta?” Meghan asked Shellie.
    Shellie looked up from biting her fingernails and nodded.
    “What do you do? For work?” Meghan asked softly.
    “I drive a bus. A school bus,” Shellie responded as he nibbled at her nails.
    Without expressing emotion, Meghan began to consider how to approach Shellie regarding death. As Meghan thought of what to say,