A/N: Okay~ here we go. Part III. Some of you will laugh. Some of you will be disappointed. I will be waiting to hear from you. Might add a bonus part if I get enough reviews. Read on...
Part III
Ivan pulled over under the overpass1 and lowered his passenger window. The boy was small, with sparkling violet eyes that somehow made the Russian uncomfortable. Nonetheless he was cute. A brand new little doll. "Where are you going?" he asked with a smile as pleasant as they come.
The boy smiled back. "Just west." His voice was whispery and soft.
"Da. Promise not to talk too much and I will take you as far as I can."
"Th-thank you." Matthew stuttered, making him look even more attractive. He took a step forward, hesitating before opening the back door and placing his violin case inside. He noticed the upholstery covering the front seats. "Umm…"
"The plastic? It is nothing. I sometimes travel with cat."
"Oh." Matthew bobbed his head. "If you don't mind, I'd like to sit in the back…"
"I am afraid that is no, since I do not have seatbelts back there, and safety is important." Ivan answered smoothly.
Matthew nodded before climbing in the front. He buckled up and they were on their way.
"So, what is your name?" Ivan began.
"M-Matthew." The blond responded.
"Matthew. In Russian that is Matvey."
"You're Russian?"
"Da."
"That's funny. I'm Canadian." Matthew whispered.
"I'm sorry, but you talk so low. Please speak up."
"It's funny because I'm Canadian." Matthew spoke a bit louder, which really had no effect.
Ivan managed to hear. "I see. How odd it is that we meet."
They drove in silence for another mile before Ivan spoke again. "So Matvey, what is that bear you have?"
"O-Oh, well, it's been with me since I was kid. I can't part with it."
"I see. How sweet."
"Um, I noticed you're low on gas. If you want to, we can stop the nearest gas station and I'll pay. Besides, I'm a little thirsty."
"Here, have some vodka." Ivan gestured to his half full bottle.
Matthew shook head, eyes widening a little. "N-no thank you, please! I'm not too big of a drinker."
A gas station appeared of off the horizon, so small and deserted that it seemed like the last one they'd see in a while. Matthew stared at Ivan, waiting for an answer.
Finally Ivan nodded his head slowly. "We will stop here then." He pulled into the station.
They drove up to a pump so old that the numbers still actually scrolled up. Ivan lumbered out and stared at the ancient piece of technology. "I do not think something this old thing takes a credit card, so you may want to pay inside."
Matthew nodded. "That's okay. I'll put in twenty. Do you want anything?" he stepped out.
"Da. If they have vodka. Any kind will do." Ivan reached into his pocket and handed Matthew a ten. As Matthew departed, Ivan opened the glove compartment and shoved something into his coat pocket. He set the parking brake and followed him into the convenience store.
..~xThisIsAPageBreakx~..
As Ivan stood outside pumping the gas into his Porsche, Matthew walked into the tiny building. An Asian man manning the counter nodded to him when he entered, then returned to jamming out to some poppy music that kept on repeating some weird phrase that sounded like "condom style"2.
Matthew looked around and found the soda machine. He put a little bit of every drink into his cup (he could never decide which one) and looked around for the vodka. He finally found a bottle in the little freezer, and, double checking to make sure the coast was clear—opened the bottle and poured a massive dose of the syringe into the alcohol. He quickly shut the bottle and went to the cashier.
"Excuse me," Matthew asked, trying to get the man's attention as he continued to listen to his music.
The man tore himself away and said, "Sorry! Such a good song! It's Korean, you know. Almost everything good comes from Korea!" He rang up Matthew. "$29.19."
Matthew stared at him. "How much of that is gas?"
"Twenty."
Matthew shook his head. "I only told him to do fifteen. Sorry." He put down the ten Ivan gave him and another filthy ten. "I'll send him in with the rest, since I don't have it on me."
The cashier shrugged his shoulders. "Just don't steal my gas."
Matthew walked briskly out of the store to where Ivan stood. "The vodka cost more than I thought. The cashier needs another ten."
Ivan nodded. "Well, lucky for you my American friend left me some money. I will be right back." He left to the store.
While Ivan was gone, Matthew dumped the old bottle of vodka and switched it out for the new one. He sat down calmly, sipping at his funny-tasting drink until Ivan came back.
He sat down in the driver's seat with a thud.
"I am truly, really sorry about that. I thought I had more." Matthew whispered.
"That is okay. You will get next stop." Ivan spoke blandly.
Matthew nodded.
Ivan started the car and they pulled out of the ancient gas station. The Russian glanced at his center council. "Where did the other bottle go?"
"I threw it out. I thought you were finished." Matthew hoped it wouldn't anger him.
Ivan tensed up for a second, but relaxed just as quickly. "Da." He opened the bottle and took a sip from it before taking a massive gulp.
They drove in silence for a while. Matthew rolled down the window and let the fresh wind blow his hair around. The smell of the forest all around him eased him. The evening was calm and relaxing.
Ivan glanced up and the Canadian and blinked. "So, Matvey. Is a violin really in that case of yours?"
It was Matthew's turn to blink. "O-Of c-course! Why wouldn't it be?"
Ivan shrugged. "To tell you the truth, I can think of a lot of ways why it wouldn't be. I grew up in a rough family. My parents taught me through pain and suffering. And when there was pain, there was always relief."
Matthew stared at him curiously, wondering where he was going with this.
"I have tried many things over the years to hopefully make the pain go away. So many things, that I am almost immune." Ivan frowned. "So spiking my drink really has no effect on me. Actually, it might have made me a little more alert." He chuckled. "So tell me, Matvey, are going to be doing the explaining, or am I going to have to punish you for the naughty boy you've been?"
Matthew smirked. "It's Oxycontin." His voice was suddenly very clear and confident. "Have you ever tried that, Ivan?" He glanced down. "Mon dieu, and you've already drunken half of the bottle. I would stop there so you don't die of overdose. I gave you enough to knock out an elephant." Matthew giggled. "I would pull over if I were you. You'll be losing consciousness shortly."
There was silence in the car for a moment.
Ivan shook his head, gritted his teeth, and slammed on the brakes. Matthew's buckle clicked and he smashed into the unforgiving dashboard. As he sat there for a moment, dazed, Ivan grabbed the zip tie from his pocket and swiftly tied the Canadian's hands together.
"Matvey," Ivan scolded. "You have just become my source of entertainment for the night. Your pathetic drug will do nothing."
Matthew shook his head and began to squirm. His nose was bloody and his lip was already beginning to swell.
Ivan ran a clumsy hand over Matthew's leg, squeezing it, before turning his attention to the violin case. He popped open the two clasps and made a face as a sour aroma trickled into the car. The case's contents didn't seem to be the source though. Industrial rope. Vials of oxycontin. A pair of old scissors. Four pairs of handcuffs. A spray bottle. And a red biker helmet.
Suddenly Ivan got a gust of cold air as the passenger door popped open. He lunged for Matthew; but he was already gone, running into the stretch of woods with his hands tied behind his back.
Ivan chuckled. "This boy runs away like that will save him." He turned off the car, set the brake, and popped the trunk. Then he lumbered out of the car, an insane smile on his face.
When he opened the trunk the iron water pipe glistened at him with welcome.
He clenched it tightly, walking out into the woods. "Matvey, you will not escape!" He shouted into the forest before beginning his pursuit.
"Oh yes I will," Matthew panted as he ran deeper and deeper into mass of trees. He crouched behind a maple tree (they were always good luck to him) and eased himself down to a sitting position. He could hear the crunching of the foliage as the Russian gained on him.
Thinking quickly, Matthew leaned back, raised his legs in the air, and with great difficulty slid his bound wrists up the length of them. Ivan soon crashed past the tree that hid him, looking and looking but not seeing him.
"Come out, Matvey. No more games." Ivan growled.
"Eeep!" Matthew squeaked.
Ivan froze. He suddenly charged in Matthew's general direction.
Matthew scrambled up and ran hands in front of him, to the familiar glint of the black Porsche. He finally broke free of the forest, his wrists cramping from the loss of circulation. He wiped at his bleeding nose and waited.
Ivan stumbled out of the forest moments later. His pipe flashed in the darkness.
"Ivan!" Matthew cried in false fear, for he knew he had nothing to worry about. The Russian's eyes were already beginning to close.
As in on cue, Ivan stumbled forward a few paces, opened his mouth as if to say something, then collapsed not two feet in front of Matthew, a world of darkness enveloping him.
..~xThisIsAPageBreakx~..
Ivan opened his eyes to the bitter cold of morning, his hands and feet handcuffed together. He lifted his head up to see that connected to his feet cuffs was a durable rope, which then connected to the back hitch of his porch. Another glance told him he was naked all except for his white scarf still tucked around his neck, and a new addition; a padded biker's helmet securely buckled underneath his chin. Why these were the only articles of clothing still on him he wasn't sure.
The driver-side door opened fast and out came Matthew, looking well-rested and very pleased with himself. He walked over to where Ivan lay and sat on his chest, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Moring, sleepyhead. You ready for the ride of a lifetime?" he smiled wide. His violet eyes looked almost red under the dim light of dawn.
Ivan smiled back, a chuckle escaping his lips. "How nice to wake up to someone so cute."
Matthew placed a hand over his heart and feigned bashfulness. "Merci. How sweet. So here's how it's gonna go. You have a helmet so you won't die right away. It's no fun when a head injury kills you too quickly. We'll start nice and slow and then pick up speed. My record's been five miles, but you're so big that might just change."
"I am not fat."
"Of course not. Just tall." Matthew said with a wink.
"What else is new?" Ivan smirked. "I don't suppose you are going to dump bleach on me so that it hurts even more."
"Actually I prefer alcohol. Love how it makes them squirm. But it's no use until you're all scratched up."
Ivan let loose a sinister laugh.
"What's the matter? Pre-death insanity finally gotten to you?"
Ivan shook his head like he was disappointed. "You talk too much."
Quicker than any man his size should move, Ivan sat up, slammed his helmet into Matthew's already bruised face, and grabbed his khaki jacket. While Matthew flinched in shock, Ivan twisted and rolled so that the Canadian was now underneath him. All this had happened in less than two seconds.
Ivan braced his elbows on Matthew's chest, making him gasp for breath.
"I would like the key now. Undo my wrists." Ivan demanded.
Matthew managed to choke out a response. "In…the…car…"
"How sad. So death comes for you now. That's okay. Suffocation is a fun death to watch. The struggle is quite entertaining, da?"
Matthew's eyes filled with tears, his face slowly turning purple. "P…P-Poc…ket."
"Da. I'll wait."
He clumsily reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the keys. He tried to unlock one of Ivan's wrists, but the air loss was exhausting him, and he slipped.
Ivan shifted just a bit for Matthew to choke in some air. He unlocked one of the cuffs.
Ivan smiled as he stretched his sore wrist. "Matvey, there is a key to this whole murdering business. You must always…"
His voice faltered as the rope suddenly gave a yank at his ankles, moving the Russian a few inches off of Matthew. Ivan wrapped his arms around Matthew and growled. "What did you do with car keys?"
"In the ignition."
Ivan cursed in Russian. "You have got to be doing the joking! Did you at least set the parking break?"
"No…"
"Damn you, Matvey!"
The car began to roll forward, slowly growing faster under the small incline. Ivan felt his skin begin to peel away and Matthew wriggled to get free.
"Key! Now!" Ivan's voice caught at the last syllable, his thigh on fire. He managed to grip Matthew's left wrist and clicked the empty cuff over it. Matthew screamed.
"No! No please! No!" Matthew tried to work the key into the lock but they hit a sharp rock and the keys flew from his hands. His eyes widened in despair, and with a sudden jolt Ivan was flipped off of him and they were dragged side-by-side along the asphalt.
Matthew felt the black road eat away at his jacket. Next to him Ivan groaned as his ass was slowly sawed away.
When the car reached forty Matthew's jeans were gone, along with his maple-leaf boxers, and just when it couldn't get any worse the road suddenly curved, and the car didn't.
Ivan and Matthew screamed together as they plunged down the mountain, the following thirty minutes the longest of their lives, and also their last.
A/N:
Notes:
1: I just had to point out that this sentence was phrased the oddest way in the history of all of my bad sentence phrasing.
2: If you don't know what song South Korea's listening to I will smack you. Then I will force you to look up Psy's Gangnam Style on You-tube.
Cool, so that's it. Too plot twisty for you? I hope so. Review, and a bonus chapter will come, something with maybe a certain boyfriend who was waiting for a certain American who never came home...all up to you...
Thanks for reading!
