Disclaimer: Still don't own the characters or am making any money off this. Purely being written for fun.
Chapter Summary: A friend and old flame from Mina's past reaches out and brings news he'll be relocating to NYC. Binx makes an escape attempt that leads Mina to encountering a mysterious stranger on the roof who forces her to act quickly.
Chapter II
The morning had proven to be more tense and troublesome than it should've been for Mina and Lucy's day off. Concealing anything that might tempt a small kitten getting into any kinds of mischief and wreck havoc on their shared apartment proved to be a lot trickier than they'd assumed. Lucy's once beautiful bedroom curtains – a gift from her grandmother that she'd sewn herself, now had small scratch marks on the trail of the red drapery. The culprit, of course, hadn't a care in the world as he continued to tangle himself in the fabric after the discovery.
The only time the little kitten had remained stationary long enough for them to keep an eye one was when Mina and Lucy were hiding things they didn't want to return home to ruined. He sat idly, his trail constantly flickering from side to side as he watched his owners hide things away. The way his pupils expanded then contracted in fascination convinced Mina that he was only memorizing where all the good loot was being stored and scheming on how he was going to retrieve it.
Mina had meant to inform Lucy of the observation but she knowledge of what would result of it stopped her short. Binx would be forced into his cage and remain there until they returned from their day of pet supply shopping. So, in the end, they trapped him in the living room and supplied him with his litter box.
That had been nearly a half hour ago and still Mina couldn't get the image of how his yellow eyes intensified right before they closed their apartment door out of her head. She didn't know why she was so paranoid about one silly cat. They did a pretty well job on straitening up. The worst that could happen would be if he decided to tangle himself in the television cords. That…would be pretty terrible for a number of reasons, but she doubted he could even fit behind the wooden stand that it sat on. Or so she hoped.
"What do you think about this one?" Lucy asked and Mina tried to push down any anxieties about the troublesome cat out of her mind. She examined the flashy light blue collar that her friend was holding out for her to look at.
"I don't know," Mina said thoughtfully. "I'm not really a fan of all the sparkles,"
Lucy seemed to agree as she nodded along respectively.
"You're right – too much bling. Maybe something more lay back even though that totally contradicts his hyperactive personality."
Mina laughed. "He's still just a kitten. Aren't they all that way?" because honestly, she didn't know. She grew up with two border collies that always wanted to annoy their neighbor's lazy cats when all the cats wanted to do was sunbathe.
"Haven't you heard the expression 'no two cats are alike'? Some kittens can be super playful while others will want nothing to do with you and act all skittish. We receive all kinds in the office. Believe it or not, the skittish ones are easier to work with because they freeze up in your hands."
"And you happened to bring home the super playful slash destructive one. Good call," she joked and bumped her friend in the arm.
Lucy smiled. "Hey, you try telling the last kitten in the cage no when the rest of his brothers and sisters were adopted before him. I thought I was going to have to fight Doctor. Morris over him."
"Fine. I guess I would've caved too if I'd been there."
"Exactly."
"But isn't that quote you used 'no two cats being alike' originally said about snowflakes?"
Lucy shrugged and squatted down to peer at the bottom row. " I dunno. It might be. But it fits either way."
Another hour passed before they both agreed on a black collar with little skeleton mice – planning for the upcoming holiday and what not, and were finishing up on checking everything off the supply list that Lucy has written before they left that morning.
They were loading all the toys, bags of food and other miscellaneous items into the back of Lucy's mini copper when both their phones chimed simultaneously. Mina continued to place the bags in the car while her friend stopped to check her phone.
"No freakin' way!" she exclaimed and Mina just managed to catch herself in time from hitting her head on the roof in surprise. She climbed back out and gave her friend an exasperated look.
"What is it?" she asked as Lucy continued to smile madly behind her hand.
Her blue eyes were wide and swimming with barely suppressed excitement and disbelief.
"Jon!" she squealed then cupped her mouth as she let out a few totally teenager sounding squeaks and giggles. Mina wished she could be excited too but the name of their childhood friend brought about mixed emotions.
Jonathan had been friends with her and Lucy ever since primary school. At the time he'd been ahead of them in age and school year, but they still managed to get along and enjoy one another's company despite never having classes together or partaking the same schooling activities. Although Lucy did suddenly take an interest in soccer once they reached high school and Jonathan just happened to be on the varsity team.
"What about Jonathan?" she tried to make it sound as casual as possible for the sake of her best friends obvious excitement about hearing from their old friend again.
It wasn't like Mina had anything against the man, he'd been nothing but kind and a complete gentlemen thanks to his parents trim upbringing, but the note they separated on hadn't been so…cool, for lack of a better word.
Lucy raised a blonde eyebrow. "Jonathan? We haven't seen him in nearly four years and you're already referring to him like you barely know the guy you practically grew up with! He'll laugh if you call him that to his face."
Mina rolled her eyes as she the trunk latch after putting the few reaming bags away. Lucy didn't seem to notice nor did she bother to close the trunk door.
"Four years is a long time, Lucy," Mina said, closing the door herself when it seemed her friend wouldn't budge.
"You're right." She sighed, then. "How much do you think he's changed? I mean, I've been keeping up with him on Facebook but pictures and the real deal are two totally different things."
"Just tell me what the text says already!" Mina couldn't help but demand to cease her friends rambling.
"You'd know if you checked your phone, Mina. It was a group message sent by him to the both of us."
Oh yeah. Her phone had chimed at the same time as hers, hadn't it? Exaggerated, Lucy gripped the shopping cart and walked it to the nearest cart station as Mina searched her pockets for her phone.
Her heart sped up a little at seeing Jonathan's name again on her screen. She didn't know whether to be relieved or hurt that he hadn't bothered to reach out to her ever since he graduated from high school before them. Speaking of graduating, he should be finished with college too by now.
To: Mirena Murray and Lucy Westenra:
Mina couldn't help but laugh because Jonathan actually had both of their full names in his contacts. She wouldn't be surprised if he also had their birthday and somehow managed to get their personal emails.
My two favorites ladies! How are you? I know its been far too long since the three of us have last hung out together like we used to a while back, but hopefully, we can change that thanks to my job which has relocated me to NYC. I could hardly believe it when I returned home to find out the two of you moved in together in the big city. I visited both of your parents and they seemed very proud of that. I, too, will be departing for New York by the end of the week and hope to see your two lovely faces once I arrive. Obviously, you girls know the city better than this out-of-towner, so I know I can depend on both picking out somewhere for us to dine. No limitations on the establishment because I will be paying. And please don't argue about that (Mina I'm talking about you) because it will be my treat. Hope to hear from you both soon. Take care.
The phone chimed again and Mina saw that Lucy had already responded to his text with details of how they've been and how excited they are to see him again. She looked up and spotted her friend rooted to the spot under the roof of the cart station, smiling stupidly to herself as her friend continued to type rapidly across her phone screen.
Jonathan was moving to New York City. That was good. Right? Mina turned the sound off on her phone because it chimed again and she knew it would be an afternoon of that annoying text tone thanks to her being stuck in a group message with an overly excited Lucy.
She stuffed her phone away and moved to the front of the car to sit in the side front seat. Again she found herself chewing nervously on her bottom lip for some reason – a stupid habit that usually gave her away when she felt uncomfortable about something. Why wasn't she excited about their old best friend moving to the same city of them? Was it because Jonathan had confessed that he had romantic feelings for her the summer before he left for college? That might be the reason, but admitting it felt petty and self-absorbed like to Mina.
Maybe the reason he hadn't reached out to her since then was because she hurt him more than she realized when she turned him down?
"Now that's just ridiculous." She muttered aloud. Jonathan was better than that. He was a handsome, wealthy young man for crying out loud. He had no trouble finding girlfriends in high school and she doubted there was a lack of willing young ladies lined up to date him at university.
"What is?'
Mina outright jumped and spun her head to find Lucy already sitting in the driver's seat. The blonde actually smiled a little seeing that she managed to sneak up on her friend.
"Jesus, Lucy. Don't do that."
Lucy shrugged but didn't wipe that pleased grin off her face. "Relax, Mina. It's not my fault you get scared way too easily." She started the car up then checked her mirrors before starting to reverse. "But seriously, what's ridiculous?"
Mina didn't know how to respond. Lucy had always had a huge crush on Jonathan since they were kids but the feelings were never returned. But that was partial because she never told him how she felt and he was oblivious to her flirtations all throughout high school. How was she supposed to tell her best friend that her childhood – and apparently now adulthood crush – once confessed his romantic feelings towards her? Lucy would be devastated, of course.
"That Jonathan is moving to the same city as us. It's weird, you know? All of us living near each other again and now suddenly we're going out to eat to catch up. Four years of silence and now he wants to see how we're doing? Honestly, I didn't think this would ever happen. When Jonathan left for college…"
"You thought he'd forget about us?" Lucy finished as she glanced at her from the road.
"Didn't he, though?" she rebuked with a little more emotion than she meant or thought she was capable of concerning the topic.
Lucy was quiet because she knew she was right to some degree. Or so Mina thought…
"Actually," Lucy started just as they slowed to stop at a red light. "Jon has been messaging me every now and then since graduation. No real conversations or anything, he'd just send me a greeting on the holidays and ask how my family is doing. That text was the first I'd heard from him in months and first by phone. Usually, he stuck to Facebook."
Mina was silent.
"I thought…." Lucy glanced at her friend again. "Was he not doing the same with you? H-How could he just ignore you and not care-"
"Lucy." She cut her off before her friend could grow more frustrated and begin to ask questions that would lead to answers that Mina really didn't want to reveal. "I didn't mean it like that. Jonathan has been sending me holiday greetings and whatnots too, it's just I expected more from him."
It was a lie. She hadn't heard a peep from the man in that whole time. And to hear that he'd reached out to Lucy every now and then hurt because he was her best friend too damnit. Mina didn't care to keep up with the happenings of others on Facebook but she still logged on to see how her extended family was doing and her mom who was living overseas with her new fiancé.
"Oh…" Lucy's fingers relaxed on the steering wheel. "The way you were acting made it seem like he's been ignoring you. That would've been…"
"Rude." Mina bit off as she turned to stare out the window so her friend wouldn't catch her glare.
"Like a total douche thing to do."
Mina couldn't help but laugh because little did Lucy know how accurate she actually was and how secretly pleased it made Mina feel that the allegation had come from her mouth.
The weight of the plastic bags that dangled from both of their arms just about cut off all blood circulation in the limbs and Mina felt her arms begin to tremble once they reached the fourth floor of their four-story apartment building. She'd been thrilled to learn that Lucy had lived on the top level but not so thrilled with the fact that there was no elevator. That made carrying furniture and groceries up a nightmare.
Lucy fumbled with the keys before she finally found the slot to shove them through then shoved the old door open with her shoulder. They both resembled ducks as they waddled inside with the awkward weight in their arms and rushed to the kitchen to set the bags down on the table.
"Door!" Lucy called out and Mina backtracked a few steps to kick the door shut behind her. She'd lock it properly later.
"Who needs a gym membership when you have four stories to climb and a heavy load of cat supplies," Mina grunted as she set the overfilled bags down that made a loud thud on the table.
Lucy snickered. "Yeah, but if anyone asks I'm telling them I go to a gym. No one needs to know how winded I get from climbing steps alone."
"And if they ask where you go?"
"I'll give them the name of that one from the Dodgeball movie."
"Yeah because that won't sound like a complete and total lie." Mina scolded with a grin. "Average Joe's or Globo Gym?"
Her friend glanced back over her shoulder from across the kitchen where she was stacking the wet cat food. "Pfft, do I look like someone who could afford the membership fee at Globo Gym?
Mina smiled as she collected and bundled up the empty plastic bags. The long receipt of all the items they purchased came sliding out of the last empty bag. The total number of everything added up made both her and Lucy dizzy when the digits flashed on the screen when they were checking out. They might've gone a little overboard with toys and different flavors of treats and food to see which Binx would like the best, but the final cost of everything had been far more than what either of them was expecting or wanting to pay.
They split the bill, of course, since the kitten was equally their responsibility, and agreed they wouldn't be eating out for a long time. Jonathan's offer to pay for their dinner when they met up became even more appealing than when he first suggested it.
When Mina walked into the main living area she was surprised and very much relieved when she found Binx sitting on the windowsill. Nothing appeared torn or scratched and her fear of Binx chewing on the cable cords seemed impractical since wires looked as though they remained undisturbed from her quick observation in that direction.
"Here kitty," she cooed and kneeled down to unlatch the gate and pull it aside. Binx leaped down with a soft thud and came trotting over. He rubbed up against her ankles and mewed relentlessly as if complaining they'd been gone too long.
"I know I'm sorry." She picked him up and tucked the little bundle of black fur under her chin. "We got you a new collar." She scratched his neck and brought him into the kitchen where Lucy was sitting at the table, using her teeth to rip the tag from the collar they purchased for him.
"I hope it won't be too big for him," Mina commented and took a seat next to the blonde.
The plastic on the tag gave way and Lucy's head snapped back.
"Finally." She spit the thin piece that was in-between her teeth off to the side. "I don't care if it's too big for him. With all the money we spent today the little bugger is just gonna have to grow into it."
"That or we get another cat," Mina suggested.
"Right!" Lucy snorted.
Mina held Binx steady as Lucy clasped the small collar with skeleton mice around his neck. It had to be tightened slightly so he couldn't starch it off but besides that it fit perfectly. She set him back on the ground and watched him dart across the room to pounce on one of the new rolling balls they bought for him. The tiny bell on his collar jingled and both of them agreed that the constant jingling was worth it so they'd know at all times where he'd be when scampering around the apartment.
It was sometime in the early hours of the morning when Mina suddenly woke. It wasn't a pleasant awakening either. It felt like someone had thrown a cold bucket of water right over her. She had to grasp her tank top to really check that the wetness she felt was just her sweat and not the freezing liquid she imagined it was.
Letting out a shaky breath she settled back into her sheets. It was still dark outside her window. When she blindly reached at her nightstand for her phone she saw that it was five past three in the morning. What in the blazes had woken her up at this time? It hadn't been a nightmare, or at least she didn't think so. Honestly, she couldn't remember what she'd been dreaming about.
Her right wrist itched and she reached over to scratch it automatically. She shivered almost violently when a cold shiver swept through her. Jesus, it was freezing in her room. Had Lucy turned the AC up before she went to bed? Was that what woken her?
Figuring she wouldn't fall back asleep while constantly shivering beneath her blankets, Mina freed herself from the tangled mess and climbed to her feet. Her toes curled when they meet the cold wooden floor and she practically leaped onto the rug in the middle of the room.
She grimaced when her bedroom door squeaked when she slowly tried to open it. Somewhere in the darkness, she heard the distinctive jingle of Binx's collar, which was odd because he should've been locked away with Lucy in her room for the night.
By memory she was counting her steps towards where she knew the thermostat was located in the hallway. She really needed to buy a nightlight to plug in out here. If there was every an emergency and they needed to get out quick they'd be stumbling around like a bunch of drunks before they found a light switch.
Just as Mina neared the opposing wall where the little device hung, Binx came out of nowhere and brushed against her ankle. She would've screamed if her heart hadn't lodged itself in her throat.
"Binx!" she hissed but the soft jingle of his bell on grew distant as he scampered further away. She must've been too distracted with finding the thermostat that she missed the sound of his approach.
Kina defeats the purpose of the bell, she thought annoyingly.
She turned and wandered back down the hall to the main living area where she knew Binx ventured. Probably wouldn't be smart if she left him out for the night all by himself. She'd bring him with her into her room since there was no point putting him back in Lucy's and might accidently wake her up by doing so.
Not really to her surprise, she found Binx sitting on the windowsill, his dark silhouette outlined unmistakably with the light of the almost full moon filtering in behind him. It was so bright with the blinds pulled back that she could see every obstacle in the living space without a problem.
As she crept closer Binx's head shot around and his wide yellow eyes zeroed in on her. He watched as she took a step closer then narrowed his gaze and crouched down. Something…wasn't right about that.
Mina stopped and stared questionably at him. It was like he was nervous about something. But what? She found out not a second later when the little cat actually slid under the window and leaped down onto the small fire emergency terrace.
Mina's stood there frozen with her mouth open in shock. Had he just...!? Why in the world was the window open!? She darted forward and practically smacked into the glass to peer outside. She found Binx sitting on one of the steps that led up onto the roof. His eyes flickered to hers before the little devil started to climb the steps.
"Stop!" she screeched, not caring if she woke Lucy because two people chasing a cat would be a lot more helpful than just one.
Opening the window wider so she could slide under, Mina climbed over the edge and shivered out in the open air. The wind jostled her messy curls so much that she had to grip a fistful of her hair just to keep them out of her eyes so she could see where she was going and find Binx.
She didn't bother looking down because she knew how dizzy it'd make her. She hated heights. Despite knowing that there was a sturdy rail between her and the open air it didn't help her soothe her insecurities.
"Damn that cat…" she growled when she spotted him grip the edge of the rooftop and pull himself up and over. Unknowingly he was forcing her to face her fears. Scold him later, save him first.
Taking a deep breath she wrapped a hand around the metal rail and started to climb the very steep steps. The old metal creaked from her weight and under the howl of the wind one would be able to hear her chanting the Lords holy prayer.
Scaling over the brick edge was the hardest part because there wasn't anything to reach up and grab to help pull her and if she lost balance. One wrong move she'd fall a good seven feet back onto the metal terrace – that is if the wind didn't decide to change course and blow her clean off the side and into the dark alley below.
With determined strength so pulled herself over the ledge that was about a foot wide and tumbled nearly two feet onto a bunch of rocks. She hadn't realized her eyes were closed until she blinked them open and found the stars twinkling above her. She made it. Thank God.
Rolling over she saw several power units that filled the city air with a soft, almost comforting buzzing sound as they continued to operate through the night. She clambered up onto her bare knees and shifted uncomfortably as the rocks dug into her exposed skin. Out the corner of her eye, she saw movement and physically she let out a sigh of relief when Binx walked out from one of the shadows of the nearest power box.
He gazed at her for a second then started to trot silently in her direction. Mina opened her arms to welcome him into them only to be sideswiped at the last second. Binx scattered right past as though she wasn't even there. That weasel!
It wasn't until she spun around to call him back when she found out why. They weren't alone. All coherent thoughts left her. The wind and chilly air nipped at her skin but she couldn't feel it. Time seemed to have frozen in that moment. She didn't even realize she stopped breathing altogether until her lungs started to constrict and ache behind her ribs. A shuddering, frightful breath escaped past her lips.
There, beautifully framed with the nearly full moon overhead, was a lone man. He had his back to her, and Mina could only watch in dumbfounding shock while his long, white strands of hair fluttered carelessly against the wind. He was dressed in all black and she was almost positive that her eyes would've slid right past him if his hair hadn't been so vivid in contrast to the night.
Oh, and the fact that he was also standing on the edge of the roof. That was pretty concerning.
Time slowly started to come back to her as panic gripped her heart and with every beat she felt like she was going to be sick. What was the man doing up there? Did he plan to jump? There was no way he'd survive the fall. Was she about to witness this stranger's suicide? Was she seeing his final moments?
Her mouth instinctively opened to yell at him to stop but she held back when she noticed how the tips of his boots were standing on nothing but open air. He didn't seem to be aware of her presence so shouting at him would most likely startle him and either send him tumbling back or propelling him forward. That was too ricky of an option to take.
She didn't know the guy, so it wasn't like she could talk him out of it. So what could she do? She looked towards Binx and saw him sitting off to the side, watching the man with curiosity. Did Binx know this man was up here? How?
She didn't have time for that. First, she was going to save this man's life before he tried to end it. He and his family would thank her for this.
Mina had a plan. It might not have been the smartest plan but she didn't have time to hang back and really ponder her options.
Trying to be as quiet as humanly possible, she softly padded her bare feet over the rocks and crept up behind the man. She was so scared she would make a sound and scare him that she actually held her breath. Binx thankfully didn't make any move to investigate or be vocal about her actions. Bless him.
Mina could hear her heart hammering in her ears. She was now about a foot behind him. Being on the ledge he was higher off the ground, unknowingly making the possibly stupidest thing she was ever about to do a whole lot easier. Her hands were shaking violently as she slowly raised them up.
He suddenly moved then. Mina caught her breath. He raised his right wrist in front of him and dipped his head down, as he appeared to be examining it. She couldn't see what it was, of course, but that small act propelled her into action.
Her heart pumped furiously as she snaked her arms firmly around his lean middle. She knew she caught him off guard because of how hard he flinched in her grasp. Digging her heels into the ground for support, she yanked him backward with her, causing his back to smack into her head with such force that she felt as though she ran face first into a brick wall.
He let out a sharp curse in an unfamiliar language but it was already too late. They were both flying backward and soon crashed hard onto the roofs rocky surface, sending pebbles scattering in hazardous directions like a wave.
Mina didn't know what hurt more, slamming her head and back into hard minced specks of stone, or the rigid man landing roughly on top of her that felt like a freaking bag of stones. It knocked the wind right out of her as black specks started to dance in her vision where stars should've been.
She gasped and found the strangers silky hair filling her mouth. She coughed and sputtered until the strands – and his weight – were suddenly lifted from her. Air reentered her body and she breathed loudly as her lungs took in all that'd been forcibly pushed from it.
Not even a full breath later the heavyweight was back on top of her and she made an uncomfortable wheezing sound. Above her, the man had repositioned himself and was now straddling her with an unreadable look in his golden eyes. The strands of his pale hair curtained around their faces, shielding out the city and the night.
"I had to…" she coughed, trying to explain herself. Her lungs still ached quite painfully in her chest.
As soon as the words left her mouth she felt a cold, sharp object press up under her chin. She froze. She didn't need to look down to know that he had a knife held up to her neck.
She was going to die. The look of pure hatred in his eyes told her that much. And she was going to be killed right in front of her cat. That thought shouldn't have even crossed her mind but it did.
The knife pressed firmer against her sensitive skin and she closed her eyes.