The Pizza Place

My eye glasses steamed up as I entered the Pizza Place 2 streets away from home. It’s not my usual takeaway but on this cold miserable day the thought of soft dough, gooey cheese and hot toppings was all I had thought about since lunchtime. I waited awkwardly by the door as I adjusted to the warmth of the place, wiping my glasses on the bottom of my T-shirt. I let out a sigh and walked up to the counter. The Pizza place had been here for many years and there had been no reason I hadn’t tried it yet, I just preferred Chinese or Indian as opposed to Italian. Many had told me it was the place to go for the best pizzas but for a popular takeaway though, I was the only person in there. The man behind the counter looked over at me inquiringly before approaching the counter with a smile and asking 'What can I get you?'

I looked up at the menu above his head. The reason I rarely order pizza is I have some very strange taste buds. I looked back to the man waiting patiently and said in almost a whisper 'Can I have the house special please, with extra pineapple and anchovies?' He looked at me even more confused than when I walked in, nodded and picked up a phone set beside the till. I didn’t hear the exchange and was just about to take a seat when 2 large men walked out of a side door by the counter. Now, when I say they were large, I mean they had to turn sideways and duck their heads to get out of the regular side door. I immediately felt nervous. One of the men walked and stood in front of me whilst the other made sure the door was locked. Once he had indicated that it was indeed locked everyone instantly relaxed. Everyone but me.

'We've been waiting several days for your arrival, How was your journey?' The large man in front of me asked. Before I was able to answer the second large man (the one who locked the door) interrupted. 'It must have been long, please come with us, we will have you settled in no time' and put his hand on my shoulder. They seemed to be fussing over me and not as scary as their presence makes them. So although he was leaning on me a little too heavily, I managed to relax a little and assumed this was a misunderstanding and I could clear it up and be on my merry way.

'I’m sorry' I started 'But I think...' The second man cut me off. He seemed to like the sound of his own voice. 'You must be hungry, Felix will make you your pizza, come on'. I stood up as he lifted my elbow towards him and was ushered through the door they had come through. At this point I could no longer speak out of fear. What on earth was going on? Who do they think I am? What did that man, Felix was it?, say on the phone?. As I tried to figure out what was going on we reached a small room at the back of the store. A young woman nodded over at me but spoke to the large men. 'Is it her?'

They answered 'Extra pineapple and anchovies' and knocked on another door behind her. They waited patiently for someone to open a small hatch and look out at us. I looked back at the woman who was watching me with awe. The door swung open and I was ushered inside. A further 2 men sat upon sofas and there was another woman behind a small desk. She didn’t seem too pleased to see me. A quick glance around the room allowed me to see many different styles of guns. Not being knowledgeable I cannot identify a single one. Packages of what I can only assume to be drugs and diamonds shimmering on a velvet pouch. I knew at this point trying to explain I’m not who they think I am could only land me dead somewhere. I had to be tough and play this out. Hopefully I can get out and call the police. I put on my brave face and stared at the woman until she spoke.

'We've been waiting for your arrival for several days. Was your journey okay?'

Why does everyone seem to want to know that? I tried to think of every gangster film I could think of to find a line fitting enough to speed this up and get out of here quick. I had nothing and just simply nodded.

'Here is the money' she said pulling up a briefcase from behind the desk and opening it up before me. 'Do you have the goods?'

I took a deep breath. My palms were sweating. 'No'

She glared at me with raised eyebrows.

'I ran into a few complications, the goods are nearby, I can easily retrieve them' I lied

She rose slowly from her chair and placed her hand on what I think is a pistol. 'That wasn’t the deal. You were supposed to come straight here from the airport with the goods'

It clicked. They think I’m their drug smuggler. Think fast. 'And if I had done that, the police would be all over the place and you’d be in cuffs. I did what was necessary'

She raised the gun and pointed it in my face. Both my heart and mind were racing, I was thinking this was the end and how I managed to hold my ground and just stare at her like I wasn’t even fazed by the gun was beyond me.

'You have an hour to get me what I want or this deal is off and you don’t get out of this alive'

'Go with her' she ordered the two large men and she lowered her gun.

'I'll get your drugs' I snapped back at her feeling a little cocky.

'Drugs?' she raised the gun back at me. 'You were supposed to be bringing me diamonds'

She let off a shot as I instinctively ran for the door missing me by inches. I ran into one of the large men and as adrenaline rushed through my body and in a moment of kill or be killed picked up one of the weapons lying around. I started shooting and watched as one by one they fell down. I had been grazed on my left arm and oh my god it burned. Once I had composed myself enough to breathe and got over the fact that a), I had just fired a gun and b), I have just killed 4 people.

I headed for the door. Too many cop shows taught me I needed to wipe the fingerprints of the weapon so I wiped it clean with one of the men’s bloodied t-shirts. I walked out of the door and down the small corridor back out into the shop. The woman I had saw earlier was talking to the one named Felix and they stopped to turn at me. 'Got my pizza?' I asked. He nodded and handed it me confused and I left without even paying.

I got home and showered, still feeling hollow and shaking from fear and adrenaline. I opened the pizza. People were right. It was the best pizza I’ve ever had, but I don’t think I’ll be going back for more any time soon. Would you?