Until the End...
Chapter 1
The sound of water lapping against the sides of the tub filled my ears, and I dunked my head, submerging myself in the water. I thought about everything that's happened in my life these past few months. My mother passing on, my sister moving to Michigan, my brother going overseas for a tour of duty. I could feel tears leaking out of my eyes, and sat up. I wrapped my arms around my legs, resting my head against them and stared at the wall. I thought about my brother, currently enlisted in the Marines. This will be going on ten years since he went away, and to have to go away so soon after our mother died, it just made me sad. My sister I really didn't have any connection with, we're basically sisters' by blood only. Me and my brother were always the closest. We were both supposed to enlist at the same time in fact, but it never happened for me. Life got in the way. I felt a sigh escape, and closed my eyes. I thought about mine and my brothers childhood. How we always were doing things together, both training for the military as we got older. Then my accident. I tried to block those thoughts out, shuddering a little. That car accident had almost killed me. I absently rubbed the scar between my breast, where a piece of metal had embedded itself all those years ago, when I was nineteen. My brother had been driving, and we had just merged onto the interstate, heading towards the testing facility for the military. I was going to take my physical and mental exam before I could even sign the papers, and my brother had just joined a week ago. We both had been so excited, the recruiter had said that we would be in the same squadron, even though I was going to be in a separate part for my boot camp. We were going to be a team, just like throughout our childhood. Then I almost died. I was told that a truck had cut off an eighteen wheeler, and it had jerked too sharply, making the bed turn over. We had been a few cars behind it, when we had rammed into the car in front of us, having stopped too suddenly for us to act. And thanks to my brother, I survived. He had thrown an arm out in front of me, actually stopping me from going through the windshield. If he hadn't, I would have been impaled on the metal in front of us, I would be dead. I winced, a shudder running through my body at the memory. A sob escaped, thinking of how dangerous the country was that my brother was sent to. Hoping and praying he made it back alive. He was a hero! In more ways than one. I swallowed with difficulty, laying back in the tub, running my hands through my hair. I rubbed my throat, massaging my voice box. Even now, ten years after the accident, my voice had never returned to normal. When my brother had thrown his arm out, when I had jerked forward on impact, my throat had connected with his arm. My vocal cords had been damaged, and now I couldn't even really scream. My voice was now gruff, some might call it smoky. I just call it a nuisance. I dunked my head once more, before pulling the plug and letting the water drain. I sat there and stared at the water, my focus inward as the tub slowly drained around me. I took a deep breath, resting my hands on either side of the tub and standing. I wrung the water out of my hair, shaking the droplets off my hands, before stepping out of the tub. I was just reaching for a towel to wrap around me, when a man appeared. Out...of...nowhere!
We both stared at each other for a few minutes, before I realized that I was still naked. I snatched the towel up, quickly wrapping it around me as I stared, wide eyed, at the man standing in my bathroom. His brows narrowed, his gaze quickly roaming the room before coming back to me. We studied each other, my mouth going dry. Oh God! How the hell did he get into my apartment!? How the HELL did he just...appear!? I took a step back from the man, swallowing with difficulty. He just studied me for another moment, before crossing his arms. My eyes finally moved, roaming quickly over him before returning to his face. The man was ripped, looking like he spent his whole life working out! He had hair that stood on end, and I studied the deepening frown on his face, vaguely wandering how much mouse and gel he used to keep it up like that! I almost laughed. I am such an idiot! Wandering about the damn man's hair when he could possibly rape me, or kill me. Or both! I thought about the .38 underneath my mattress, useless now. Especially since the man was standing in front of the door. He didn't say anything for a few minutes, his gaze going over me again before what looked like a smirk appeared on his face. I narrowed my eyes, watching him. If he planned on harming me, I wasn't going down without a fight! He finally, slowly met my eyes.
"Who are you?"
I studied the man, his deep voice filling the bathroom. My hand clenched the towel around me, pulling it closer. Is he kidding me! He's asking who I am!? When he is in my apartment!
"Who are you!?" I countered, narrowing my eyes. "How did you get in my apartment?"
The man's eyes seemed to bore into me, studying me intently. A muscle started ticking in his jaw, and his brows furrowed. I watched as confusion started creeping into his eyes.
"Where am I?" he asked softly, watching me move a little to the right.
I grabbed my hairbrush, knowing that it wasn't a very effective weapon, but I've learned plenty throughout the years, especially when me and my brother had been training for the military. I hadn't forgotten any of it!
"You're in Bradford, in the home of Sienna Waters," I spoke softly, not knowing if he was a nutcase, or honestly just out of it! I didn't want to take that chance! "Apartment 6B, 2nd floor."
He studied me for a moment before speaking.
"And are you Sienna Waters?"
I nodded, watching him warily. "And you are?"
The man eyed me, as if he was assessing me. Probably wandering what he wants to do first! Shit! I watched him grunt, the man's mouth in what seemed a permanent frown.
"The name's Vegeta," he said softly, never taking his eyes off me.
I could feel my eyes widen, swallowing with difficulty. There's no way! Vegeta is a cartoon! How the heck...how...!? I recognized him now, almost smacking my forehead for not realizing it sooner. I blame it on shock! Or stupidity! Same thing, right!? I cleared my throat, glancing at the door before looking back at the man in my bathroom. He didn't say anything else. What was there to say!? I swallowed again, hesitating a little.
"Could you," I paused, biting my lip. "could you leave. So I could get dressed?" I kept my voice low, not really wanting to make the man mad. Just in case! He stood there for a moment, before slowly turning around. He opened the door, disappearing through the doorway into my room, closing the door behind him. I stood there for a moment, before my legs gave out beneath me. Oh My God! What the hell just happened!? I blinked a few times, a shuddered breath coming out of me. The brush fell from my hand, clattering on the floor. I didn't bother picking it up as I stared at my bathroom door. I could see his shadow underneath it, standing right on the other side. I swallowed with difficulty, slowly getting to my feet. I went over and locked the door, knowing that if the man is a strong as he looks, that really wasn't gonna keep him out if he really wanted to hurt me. I felt a sliver of fear, pulling my clothes on with shaking hands. I didn't bother brushing my hair, just pulled it into a sloppy ponytail, pausing at the door for a few minutes. If he is who he says he is, then what the hell is he doing here? How did he get here!? And why in my apartment? I glanced at myself in the mirror, noticing my face had gone white, my eyes huge with fright. I scowled at myself. I was stronger than this! I wasn't gonna let some man frighten me! Keeping me hidden in the damn bathroom! I jerked the door open, my eyes immediately meeting those of the man standing in front of me. We studied each other for what seemed like forever, before he finally moved, leaning up against the closet door. He watched me slowly walk into my room, away from him. I stopped at the head of the bed, my back to the window. Our eyes never left each other as I sat, as far away from the man as I could get. He's the one that finally broke the contact, looking around at my things. His gaze landed on some movies on top of my desk. I followed his gaze, my eyes widening when I saw what he was looking at. My Dragonball Z collection. Oh Shit! I jerked my head to him as he moved, straightening up and strolling over towards them. I jumped off the bed, intersecting his path. He looked down at me, narrowing his eyes.
"That's nothing!" I said quickly, swallowing as he glared at me. I watched him lift his head, studying the boxes, before reaching above my head. Dammit! He yanked one down, and I glanced at it. The man happened to grab the one with him on it, season seven and eight. Hell! He studied it for a moment, and I heard the plastic crack as his hand tightened on it. He lifted his eyes to me, and I took a step back, my eyes widening. He looked like he was gonna kill me! I moved, well, tried to. He grabbed my arm, the movie box still in the other hand. The man yanked me back to him, and I winced at his hold. He was freaking strong! He glanced at the front of the case again, before settling coal black eyes on me. He had a hard look in his eyes, seeming to penetrate me with just a look. He slowly sat the orange box down on my desk, never taking his eyes off me. He took a step closer, his hold still firm around my arm. I clenched my teeth, backing up a little. He stepped closer, his body almost touching mine. He still didn't say anything. I averted my gaze, looking out the window without really seeing it. I took a breath, trying to gather my courage.
"Those are just movies," I whispered, "they're nothing."
I didn't glance at him, listening to his breathing as he kept silent. It was quiet for several minutes before he moved away. I chanced a glance at him, biting my lip. Did he believe me!? He didn't let go of my arm, just narrowed his eyes on my face before pulling me towards the bed. I almost choked at the terror starting through me. Oh God! I tried to jerk my arm away, but he didn't budge, just continued to pull me until my knees hit the bed, and he forced me to sit down. He stood in front of me. I tried to keep the fear off my face, apparently not succeeding because he smirked down at me, crossing his arms.
"Why is my face on that box?" he asked softly, not blinking.
I stared at him. That was just...odd. The damn man didn't blink the whole time he watched me, and it was really unnerving. I shifted a little, balling my hands in the comforter. I moved my gaze to his chest, studying the white shirt. I struggled with what I should say, knowing he wouldn't believe me.
"It's just..." I paused, licking my lips. I still wouldn't look at him. "Um...it's a series of Anime cartoons. You...um...your world is portrayed in a series for us to watch."
I held my breath, watching his body jerk slightly. I did not look at his face! I watched as his arms tightened, being crossed in front of him. I could practically feel the rage coming off him. I briefly glanced up, only to look away, wincing. His eyes were blazing, a muscle jumping in his jaw. Praying that he didn't kill me, I looked back up at him. I leaned back a little, tensing. He looked like he wanted to blast me into oblivion, or pummel me! He didn't move, but his shoulder's seemed to tense even more. It was quiet in my room, I could hear the fridge hum to life in the kitchen. I didn't say anything else to the man, knowing that what little bit I just gave him was a little hard to process. He suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me up. Our bodies were touching, we were so close! Not really knowing what he was doing, I tried to get away from him. He narrowed his gaze at me, the look in his eyes making me struggle even harder. He jerked me closer, a grunt coming out of me as I slammed into his chest. He quickly wrapped an arm around me, letting my wrist go and putting two fingers to his forehead. My eyes widened. I knew what he was fixing to do, having seen it on the show.
"NO!"
That's all I got to say as everything disappeared around me!