Before I start this chapter, I just wanted to say that I'm so extremely sorry for not updating in like 5 years. Lately, I haven't been able to find the time to write more of the story, and I really do apologize for that, especially to the people who really look forward to new chapters.
So on that note, enjoy! :)
Her day was horrifying.
It all felt as if she was living out a movie. From the moment she escaped a sinister old man's house to when she was forced to play sexy for the owner of the Blue Lagoon night club as the only way to get something vital out of him. It was all so terrifying, but it was over now. It didn't even matter anymore.
All she cared about was the fact that Ethan was taken away by the police because of her stupidity, and she couldn't deal with it anymore. Rather than saving his son from dying, he's probably locked away in a cell, regretting every last moment he spent with her because of it. Instead of sulking or yelling at herself for it, she began walking to his room.
She felt nothing but disgrace in every step. If he happened to be in the suite, all she needed to do was apologize, even if he refused to talk or look at her. She took a few deep breaths before the door creaked open, uncovering the dim room. She finally stepped inside after closing the door behind her.
"Oh thank god." She murmured, untangling her hair with her fingers. Ethan sat on the carpeted floor with his back against the wall and head remaining down. She felt unwanted, but sat next to him anyway. She knew what had to be done.
"I'm so sorry, Ethan. I'm sorry for creating a bigger mess for you. I ju-" She stopped soon enough to notice the many tears that streamed down his face. "A-are you alright?" She questioned in a gentle tone.
"I... I killed a man. I had no choice! I had no choice!" He broke down, weeping silently.
At that moment, she felt like all she could do is sit there, watching the man in front of her reach his breaking point. Killed a man. It's beyond evil to take another man's life, but she still happened to feel incredibly sorry for Ethan. She could see how much pain he was in, physically and mentally. He didn't deserve this. No one did.
"I know you didn't." She swallowed hard, choking a little on her oncoming emotions. "I could see how much you love your son, and you were just trying to save him. You were forced to do it, against your sons will. You're a hero, Ethan, even if it doesn't feel like it." He glanced over at her for a brief moment, a look of disbelief in his stare.
"There's something I've been wanting to tell you about." She blinked her eyes a few times before clearing her throat, removing her hand from his shoulder.
"Johnny Winter, just turned 13... he was the sweetest boy I knew. He loved school... sports, especially soccer." She smiled, staring off into space. "He rarely got mixed into any trouble, except when he defended people. He would do anything for someone he cared about. I was so proud to call him my son, because he was the perfect boy to me..." the last bit of hope in her eyes faded, along with her grin, "and then he disappeared."
"It was the day after I called the cops when his father and I got this letter in the mail. It was addressed to him, so I didn't bother to touch it. The last thing I remember of him was how he violently pushed past me after he read it, taking the whole envelope with him and slamming the door on the way out." She continued.
"While my husband was gone, I went mad trying to do whatever I could to get my son back. Mainly, I tried calling my husband about 50 times a day. Every time he didn't answer, I just drove myself even more crazy. I ain't going to lie, I was on the verge of suicide. I mean, I drank and smoked more than I should have, and did other things I shouldn't have done..." She paused, purposely not going into detail.
"A few days later, I got a call from the cops. They gave me a familiar address to where they supposedly found my son. That's when I hung up the phone and ran to my car, unable to listen to the rest of the what they had to tell me. The whole ride there, I prayed that my son was okay... healthy... alive. I finally arrived at the wasteland where Johnny and his friends liked to play, also the place where he vanished. I remember pushing through crowds of detectives and policemen, and that's when I found him. He was surrounded by ambulance, just laying there, motionless, soaked with mud and dirty water with an origami figure in his hand and an orchid on his chest. That's when they told me that he was... dead." She tried so hard to stay calm, but ended up burying her face into her hands and sobbed. "I miss him... I miss him so much. I'd do anything to hold him once again in my arms." She confessed between tears. "I don't know where my husband is either, and it's been two years! Two goddamn years!" She bawled. He watched her as she cried, the ache in his chest becoming even more unbearable than before.
It was silent for the next few minutes, more tears being shed and bad thoughts being remembered by the both of them. After another lengthy moment, she straightened herself out, lifting her head from her knees.
"After I found out that you're the newest victim's father, I promised myself that I would do whatever it takes to help you save your son," She turned herself towards him, brushing her finger along his cheek and wiping away a few stray tears of his. "And I won't break that promise."
She gazed into his engaging blue eyes as they trailed to hers, the tension in the room seeming to flow out. She moved closer to him, almost as if she wasn't controlling herself. Almost as if it was the moment taking effect. Suddenly, she started to feel the moistness of his lips against hers; so gentle, yet so intense. Now on their knees, he began to unbutton and strip off her coat just as she began to take off his shirt, both lost in the heated moment. Shortly after, she felt his lips travel down her neck and a soft moan escaped her lips. His cold hands caressed her body, gradually removing her shirt before leaning into her, his body on top of hers as they fell to the ground. As time went on, they found themselves beside the bed, the moonlight peaking in from the window and rain pounding against the glass. Everything that happened, everything they did.. it just all just felt so real, like nothing she's ever really experienced before. She started to feel something for a man that she never has, which was love.
He could feel his left arm pounding from the lack of circulation, but the added body warmth was so comforting. He blinked his eyes a few times, strains of dark hair poking his face. Lauren.
What a night they had. It was the only thing he could think of, yet he didn't know how to think of it. I mean, they only met yesterday. How could he become so off track like that? How did all of this even manage to happen? He could have his moments with Lauren when everything is over and Shaun is safe, but for now, that can't happen again.
Carefully, he slid his hand from under her arm and across her waste. Then, with his free hand, he tenderly leaned her head forward, sliding his other arm out from underneath it. Now that he could move, he had no time to do anything else but complete the last trial. No goodbyes, no explanations, he'll just leave before she wakes up.
He paced to the door, feeling ridiculous about how he didn't even remember that he wore nothing but boxers. He rushed along the edge of the bed, bending over to pick up his wrinkled khakis and bloody shirt from the pile of clothing sprawled across the floor.
After redressing himself, he went for his jacket, which was hanging from the chair underneath Lauren's trench coat. Impatiently, he grabbed both jackets, startled by the sudden feeling of something hitting his shoe. A glowing cellphone.
It must have fell from her coat pocket, he assumed, squatting down beside the item. He scooped it up, seeing that it shined with the words, "3 new voice messages." His eyes flickered in her direction. She was asleep, not one movement or sound made. After tapping a few buttons, he pressed the phone against his ear until a hoarse male voice was heard.
"Lauren, it's Derrick. Where the hell are you? We scheduled for this morning, and you're not opening up. You satisfy me babe, and you make my mornings special. I don't give a shit where you are, just come now or the money's mine." BEEP!
He glared at her body, curled up innocently on his bed. Who the hell is Derrick, and why does he care so much about where Lauren is? What does he mean by "satisfy him", and what does money have to do with it? Out of curiosity, he snooped through the rest of her recent voice mails.
"Lauren, open your goddamn door! I forgot to take my jacket before I left! Damn, at least I remembered to put my clothes back on, right? Anyway, I'll probably be back next after I get my paycheck. You're lucky that you're good at sex. Oh, and it's Michael, but you should know my voice by now."
He winced at the message. That last part... good at sex. He didn't know what to say, what to do, especially what to think. All he knew was that all the other voice mails he listened to had something to do sex or money. He looked over at her with fire in his eyes, watching her as she sluggishly stretched her arms across the bed.
"What number am I? Huh?" He growled at her, loud enough for her to hear.
"What?" She acted so clueless, sitting up to kick her legs over the side of the bed.
"What number am I out of all the guys you slept with this week?" Narrowing his eyes, he got up from his crouching position with her phone in his hand. "Number five? Six? Eleven?"
She froze, unable to move or say anything. He found out... about everything. How could she explain without him getting even more angry at her? How will he even stand to listen to her?
"That's what I thought! I thought that I meant something to you! I thought I could trust you! Well, you're a pretty good nurse for a fucking slut!" He screamed, flinging the phone at her shoulder. She leaned forward on the bed after the impact, yet the sting in her arm was nothing compared to the sting in her heart.
"You lied to me, Lauren! All this time you fucking lied to me!" He continued to shout, bitterly gaiting around the room as she remained motionless. "I can't believe h-"
"I ain't a slut!" She gritted her teeth, whipping her head towards him with anger. "I'm a prostitute, but do you think I like it? I was just a mother who wanted to provide a good life for her son by getting enough money to move out of here, nothing else!" She cried out. "I wanted to stop so badly, but I can't survive job interviews. I get so emotional during them. All I could think about is Johnny telling me that when he becomes a professional soccer player, he'll share the money with me, just so I can stop. He knew about it all, but of course I made sure that he never met any of my clients." She stood up from the bed, eyeing Ethan as he leaned against his desk chair. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn't think that you would want a dirty slut dressing your wounds." She hissed.
The room fell silent.
"What are you really staying here for?" He mumbled.
"Well, I wasn't exactly lying about how trashy my apartment building is... but I left because I was being abused by an ex-client. He started getting violent, so I told him that I didn't want to see him anymore, but he didn't listen. He would show up in the middle of the night, and didn't leave until I gave him what he wanted. Of course that never happened, so he would beat me and then take my money." She leaned against his night stand, her eyes wandering around the room. "Hear what you want yet?"
No response...
She huffed. "All I want is for you to find your son alive," she inched towards him, calming herself down, "and for you to be safe in the process of doing so. I don't want what happened to me to ever happen to you, Ethan." She stepped alongside of him, her eyes on his face and her fingers barely along his arm. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
He wanted to forgive her, but he didn't know if he should. I mean, she's a prostitute. It didn't sound like the best idea to get involved with that kind of stuff, especially with an abusive ex-client knocking on her door every morning. He was injured enough, and he sure didn't need a black eye to go along with a pair of broken ribs.
On the other hand, what a hell she is put through. He couldn't help but feel bad for her, but he obviously had his own problems to worry about. He had one more trial to go through to save Shaun, the lasttrial. This one, without a doubt, was going to be the worst.
He could see the plead in her eyes as he faced her, and eventually forced himself to pull her into a hug. She held him tightly during the embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. She couldn't be any more grateful.
She felt him beginning to push away, and she did so as well. Who knew such a cold man could have the warmest touch?
"You're leaving now.. aren't you?" She asked, watching him turn away.
"I'm really sorry about your son, Lauren, but I have to complete this last trial to save my own. The last origami figure. The last letters. Then I'll know where Shaun is."
"Be careful, Ethan." She walked to him, placing both hands on his shoulders. "Stay safe. I can't lose you now."
He stared blankly at the window while she picked her faded jeans off the floor. She didn't waste another minute putting the rest of her clothes back on. She wanted to be there before he left, to say goodbye. Just like everyone else, she may never see him again.
"I'll wait for you down by the lounge." Slipping into her coat, she reached for the door. "Take all the time you need." She said with a slight smile, even though he'd never see it.
The whole way down the stairs, she constantly reminded herself how stupid she is. Getting someone sent away by the police when they already want nothing to do with you is terrible enough, but right when they're at the brink of trusting you again, you destroy what's left of the patched relationship. She knew that deep inside he didn't care for her anymore, and all she was to him was a road block in the way of Shaun. Even if she was... falling in love with him, she couldn't distract him any longer, even whe-
She stopped abruptly with an uneasy gasp. "Shit!" Holding her breath, she stumbled behind a nearby stair case. "Goddamn cops."
She looked through the lounge windows to find two cops accompanying a man in a suit. She remembered his face from.. the abandoned apartment building! Why was he even here? For Ethan? No! That couldn't be right. Why would he let Ethan go and then send a raid after him again? Something was missing here, something just didn't fit correctly.
As the group of men began to leave, her weary eyes immediately hooked onto a telephone in the room's corner. With her thoughts left behind, she tried to be as nonchalant as possible on the way inside. Maybe she would've done a better job if she didn't continually keep eyeing Ethan's room in the distance.
"What's going on?" She quickly asked the pervy receptionist without really thinking about it. Hopefully the nervous quiver in her voice wasn't too obvious.
"Isn't this great? Like being in a TV show!" He snorted. "Who would a thought it? The Origami Killer renting a room here! He registered under a false name but I recognized his face."
Well fuck you, too. She snarled to herself, still struggling to stay casual. As if she had nothing to with anything.
She got closer to the little wired phone, fully aware that Ethan was about to go to prison for something he didn't do. Unless... oh fuck. She couldn't let him do this. She couldn't bare to watch him get into anymore trouble than he was already in. But.. she had to! It's the only option left. There's no other choice!
Without another hesitation, she snatched the phone off the hook and dialed the 3 numbers she will never forget. 207.
"Come on, come on. Pick up the damn phone." She felt her face get hot and her heart nearly beat out of her chest.
"Hello?"
"The cops! They're here, in the motel! If you don't get out now, they're gonna arrest you again!"
"Wh-"
"I'm so sorry.." She said softly into the receiver. "I'm so s-"
A sudden bang was heard from the other end, followed by multiple footsteps and the phone dropping to the ground. She took a moment to let everything soak in before her shaky hands put the phone back in its original spot. They found him. They found him and she still couldn't do anything about it. She didn't know what was going to happen, and frankly, she just didn't want to know.
She grimly made her way back outside, unintentionally blocking out the world around her. Where is there left to go? At this point, she didn't even care. She just wasn't leaving without a fight. She didn't care if Ethan was locked up, or if the cops stood in her way. She was going to save Shaun Mars, no matter what. She was going to catch the Origami Killer, even if it costed her life. She was not going to let another innocent child die right in front of her eyes.
She got in her car and began down the road, only one thing being said the entire time. "His name was John Sheppard..."
A/N: Alright, let me just start off by saying how much I dislike the sex scene. It's so unnecessary, and I prefer the choice of rejecting Madison, because everyone knows that you don't have sexy time when your son is dying super hard. But the thing is, if you reject Madison, she gets all offended and runs away, thus Ethan & Madison's relationship could never be. That's a problem.
What I'm trying to say is that no matter how realistic I want this story to be, I don't want to mess up the entire thing by changing the course of the game's plot. I hope that made sense.
In addition, I felt so.. "confused" while I was writing the beginning of the chapter, because I didn't know how much emphasis I should have put on the fact that "Lauren" was sexually assaulted. TWICE. Honestly, a normal person would nearly be scarred for life if they experienced all of that IN ONE DAY, but no, Madison didn't give two shits.
Anywho, sorry about the lack of author's note and the whole lot of rage. I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, because I honestly looked forward to writing it before I even started with the first one.
