Sensory Overload
My feet pounded against the sidewalk as I bolted with all my strength down the street. They were getting closer, I could feel it. I could even hear it above my heavy breathing. Boom, boom, boom, boom. My heart beat even faster, slamming itself against my chest as the cold wind whipped through my long hair. Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out my handgun and glanced behind me, aiming it at the closest chaser.
"Stop!" one of the 2 men yelled after me. He was dangerously close and it was time to take action. I pulled the trigger and a bullet shot out, piercing him straight in the chest. Bull's-eye. With a thud, he fell to the ground, leaving his lagging partner to pick up his pace. Now, it was time to take him out, too. Without giving it a second thought, I shot again and down he went. Quickly, I darted into an empty, dark alley, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. This was almost too easy.
"Perfect," I curled my lips into a devious smirk as I ripped open the envelope. It was too late for him now. My mind soaked in every bit of information on the sheet and I grinned even more. Oh boy, was Copal going to be pleased.
"Ah!" Suddenly, I shrieked as something grabbed my shoulder and lurched me forward back onto the sidewalk. Still, I gripped onto the documents as I stumbled forward.
"Give me the papers, Lyrica," a deep voice boomed as I felt a gun thrust onto my lower back. I was forced to the ground and I groaned as the pavement scraped my cheek. Warm blood trickled down the side of my face and my arms were bruised.
"Don't you know it's rude to hit a girl?" there was an edge in my voice and he dug the rifle deeper into my skin. Pain is all in the mind, I kept reminding myself.
"It's different when it comes to you. Give up now while you can." My gun was reaching distance away and I knew with one swift movement, I'd be able to grab it.
"You know I'm not afraid of you, Sean," angrily, I narrowed my eyes as he circled around my tense body.
"That's your problem. You should feel fear." I heard the click of the gun as he readied to fire.
"Why should I?" I knew my questions would help distract him, giving me enough time to keep repeating the words on the documents over and over again in my head.
"Because you have no one here to save you." His voice was sinister and he gave me an evil chuckle.
"What makes you think I can't handle myself?" I could've easily taken him off guard here by twisting around and kicking his gun off of me, but there was no point. I had all the information I needed.
"Various reasons." Then a sharp pain flooded over me as he fired a bullet into my back. I could feel the blood pouring out of me, but then my eyes fluttered open.
Now, I was where I belonged: in the back of the taxi with Sean sitting next to me. As fast as I could, I pulled the needle out of him and stuffed it, along with mine, back in the metal case. Snapping it shut, I grabbed it off the taxi floor and placed it in my lap.
"It's all yours," I threw a wad of money rolled into a rubber band at the driver and he gave me a quick nod. Just to be sure he was still asleep, I glanced at Sean one last time, then jumped out of the cab, making my way down the bustling street in Paris. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a pad of paper and pen, writing down every detail of information I had gotten from Sean's "business plan".
Several blocks down was a small building, an apartment converted into a small business meeting complex. I made my way up the steps, my high heels clicking hard against the cement, until I reached the door. Grasping the rusty handle, I opened the door and walked inside and heard the voices of my bosses drifting over from the conference room.
"Ah, Lyrica, you're back," Mr. Harwell stood up, acknowledging my presence as I walked into the kitchen. Shaking his hand, I sat down across the table with him and the vice president, Mr. Manning. The two men were almost identical with their short, black hair and tall frame. The only differences between them are Harwell's far more rotund compared to Manning and he's British.
"How did it go?" Manning questioned as he took a sip of his black coffee. After pulling my layered, onyx hair up into a ponytail, I leaned forward on my elbows.
"I got it." 3 simple words that sent him into a frenzy. He didn't believe in me, but Harwell and I did. After all, he says I'm the most powerful extractor they've ever hired.
"Impossible," gasping, Manning folded his arms across his chest. "I don't believe it."
"Read it and weep," I dug out the paper I had taken notes down on and slid it across the table to him. Manning picked it up and gawked, surprised that I had actually done it.
"Amazing."
"She's our best Extractor," Harwell gave me an approving smile and I returned one back. "She never cracks under pain or pressure."
"I can see that since Sean is the most difficult person to extract from," with his eyebrows raised, Manning stood up from the table and his chair screeched like fingernails on a blackboard against the ancient wooden floor. "Well done, Lyrica. You passed your yearly exam, so I suppose that means you get to keep your job." After a handshake, he handed me my report and left. Gosh, did it feel good to hold that perfectly scored piece of paper between my fingers. Without this, I wouldn't be able to work for Copal or get into their main headquarters in New York.
"That had to be tough," Harwell stated as soon as Manning closed the door.
"You have no idea," sighing, I ran a hand over my face. "If that was a real client's request, I probably wouldn't have made it."
"You're just being modest," he smirked at me and I winked back in return. "You had the teachings of Dom Cobb, his father, and Copal's most prestigious subconscious defense team. Howver, I am curious to know what happened," intrigued, he asked me in his thick British accent.
"I had to fight off at least 30 subconscious defense personnels just to get into the building, then another dozen to get to the room. After that, I had to break into the safe, steal the documents which set off an alarm, and dodge Sean and his 2 psychotic bodyguards," by the time my rambling had finished, I was nearly out of breath.
"That doesn't sound too bad…"
"That's just ¼ of the story. I'd rather not retell everything," sighing, I buried my face into the palms of my hands, purely exhausted.
"I'm proud of you, Lyrica." I looked up and he gave me another approving nod. I really must be his best employee considering he never says that to anyone.
"Thank you, Mr. Harwell. I appreciate your kindness, but I must be heading out now," sticking the document into my purse, I slung my bag over my shoulder and stood up. As much as I'd love getting more complements, my body was screaming it was time for me to go home. "Have a good afternoon."
Beyond tired, I made my way back to my apartment. It was definitely a relief knowing my renewing test was finally over and done with, so I could focus on finding more business. People from all over the world had been calling me before my test to go into people's minds and steal ideas for them, but for now, all I wanted was to plop down in front of the T.V., eat some lunch, and take a nap: something I rarely get to do. Maybe I'd watch a movie on TNT and heat up some pasta leftovers from dinner last night...wow, did that sound like bliss. Add a nap on top of that and it'd be like heaven! Then, I felt my purse vibrating and I knew that my relaxing afternoon would have to be put on hold…especially when the caller ID read:
Dom Cobb.
