Free Jack in the Box by Michael Shaw

stretched a finger out and released the magazine from the pistol.
    It fell to the ground. I quickly refocused and slid it backwards with my foot. That way Brian wouldn't grab it. I kept my foot in its backswing, then brought the leg back up to knee Brian in the stomach.
    He grunted and doubled over.
    Okay, now I have this.
    Then he surprised me. He somersaulted between my legs and started going for the magazine.
    I spun around just as he picked it up, and I lifted my hand to hit him with the hilt of the gun.
    Brian grabbed my wrist again, put the magazine back in, and kicked me in the stomach.
    I stumbled back and hit the wall, eyes squinting. "Ow," I said under my breath, and proceeded to push myself off and aim the gun at Brian's face . What is he doing? Why'd he put the magazine back?
    He stood at the other side of the room, fists clenched and in front of him.
    I kept my gun on him.
    He took a deep breath, smiled, and stood up straight. Held his arms out.
    I remained still. I was breathing heavily. "Okay. . . I win now. I passed."
    "But I'm not caught," Brian said, still smiling. His lip quivered, though.
    What are you doing, Brian ? "I'm pretty sure this counts as catching you."
    "I've got a door right behind me, Jack. I could leave right now. I'm not even in arms reach. And I haven't seen you use that thing once." He nodded his head at the pistol. "You haven't caught me."
    I groaned and cocked the gun. Still breathing heavily.
    "So what is it? Pass it now, or keep trying to crack the code?"
    I didn't know what to do. He was letting me win. But only if I killed him. I held my breath. Tightened my finger on the trigger.
    Brian closed his eyes, still smiling.
    No.
    "Any day."
    I won't.
    "It's easy to do."
    "It's wrong," I said.
    "Why would you care about what's wrong?" Brian shot back at me. More quickly than I expected.
    My hand shook.
    His voice rose. "Why," he laughed, "woul d you , " he squinted, "care about what's wrong?"
    The hair on my arms stood up.
    He opened his eyes and yelled at me. "So the smarty's got no answer? No comeback? No objection?"
    I opened my mouth. But my lips only shook and stuttered.
    "Come on, Jack!" Brian yelled, angry. Furious.
    I felt my finger tighten more. I shook my head and chose my target.
    And then I did it.
    I pulled the trigger.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    eight
     
    Brian opened his eyes. Looked behind him. Inches next to his head was a bullet hole. He traced it with his finger. "Uh oh." His smile was gone.
    I let the gun fall from my hands. "I'm not going to kill you, Brian." I said.
    "You shot a door."
    "Yeah, well. . . Oh." I realized what he was saying. "I just broke a door."
    And I was against the wall again.
    This time it knocked the breath out of me. "Bri-"
    He was still watching the hole.
    I gasped for air.
    The hole started to shrink.
    "Wha-?" I tried to speak.
    It continued to grow smaller. In a matter of seconds the door had no hole.
    Brian rubbed the spot where the hole had been. It was really gone. There was just a door. Solid wood. No holes.
    "Brian," I was starting to get my breath back. "What do you call this guy?" I gestured with my head at the invisible man.
    Brian faced me. His smile had returned. "Just think of it as. . ." he stroked his chin. ". . . The referee."
    "Do not mark a door," the referee said.
    "So are you a man?" I asked. "Or as Brian said, an 'it'?"
    I heard a growl and lost consciousness.
     

→
     
    "Jack, all we want is the truth."
    I was in an office, facing a group of men across from me. I cleared my throat. "And I've told the truth. You have the security cameras. I've told you where I was." I chuckled. "And I'm not even sure I'd be tall enough to fit a bucket that big on top of the door."
    The men looked at each other suspiciously.
    The same man that had addressed me leaned forward. "Listen, Jack, you need to understand how serious this is. Mr. Silas is even considering bringing