Still, a human crowd might clap for this. Even if they know how it’s done, there’s still a sense of awe in a trick pulled off. Especially one that requires so many thoughtful, controlled moves. This crowd stays silent, waiting.

Ethan turns and steps toward me. I keep my eyes on the gun twirling around his index finger as he reaches into a pocket and then extends his closed fist to me. I’m forced to leave him hanging or hold out my cupped hands to take whatever he gives me.

Six bullets drop coldly into my palm. They feel real.

He grips his gun and whips open the cylinder, turning it and holding it by the barrel.

“Please,” he says.

I fit the bullets into their home without asking for clarification like I’m sure he’s hoping I will. I may not know guns, but I’ve seen some westerns.

When I’m done, he snaps the cylinder back into place, continuing to hold the gun out to me.

He smiles slowly when I do nothing. “Tonight you’ll be firing the gun.”

Of course. Of course he needs someone to fire it at him to do this trick. I thought I would only be testing the bullets, maybe signing my name to one before lowering myself back into the crowd.

My hands sweat. This isn’t the same as being onstage with a practiced routine. It’s not even the same as that first time with Xander. He was playing with cards. Ethan’s holding out a gun toward me.

He lowers his voice. “I need someone who can aim. You do knives.”

He says it as if that’s the only reason he picked me, like he wouldn’t have asked me otherwise. He actually needs a favor. I’m not really in the business of doing favors.

But I extend my hand. The gun, heavy and cold, turns the sweat on my palm to ice.

Ethan leans close to my ear. “Don’t miss. Aim for my right hand and then my left, alternate between them until the bullets are gone.”

Six bullets. Six real bullets. I think. I can’t be entirely sure. His trick doesn’t seem as silly as it did a moment ago.

As Ethan saunters across the stage, the audience stays silent—from boredom or anticipation, I can’t tell. I find Xander leaning forward slightly. Even Aristelle next to him looks tense.

Ethan turns to face me when he reaches the other side.

He mouths something to me as he spreads his hands out, directly in front of his chest. Don’t miss.