THINGS TO KNOW….
Common superstition in Asian countries….squeezing is a sign that someone is thinking about you.
Richter scale is used to measure the amount of energy released during an earthquake
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Those people who don't remember their past are doomed to repeat it and those who can't forget their past are doomed to relive it.
WASHINGTON, D.C
WASHINGTON GENERAL, HOSPITAL
WEDNESDAY, 08: 30 AM
There was stillness in the air; the tranquility mixed up with numbness; like she was suspended in some kind of illusion. The muddy ground, the murky trees, the darkness of the cold bloody night, Artemis could see the forest all around her yet somehow it all seems artificial or animated like its all fake; some kind of a wonderland where she was the only odd thing breathing. An utter quietness and the taciturnity should be scaring her yet she wasn't feeling anything; absolutely nothing at all as all of her emotions are drained from her somehow. Artemis releases another breath and decides to explore the place, the trees around her were all of the same height having no difference among them; fully identical; it felt like a maze but Artemis keeps on moving in one direction. From the gaps between the trees, Artemis got a glimpse of some worn-out building barely standing in the center of nowhere which was awfully looking like her home in Gotham. Artemis carefully walked towards it, there were faint sound of someone talking coming from the house, the more she got closer; the more anxious she gets as something inside her warns her to be careful. Artemis reached to the side of the house and peeked into the window, she become stiff as she saw herself in there along with her mother.
"Come on we are going for swimming", Paula asked with a smile but her smile didn't reach her eyes. The black circles around her eyes and her shivering hands were also not helping her cause.
"But What about Dad…he will be angry if he comes back…and I don't like swimming", An eight year version of her said while clutching the teddy bear in her arms.
"We will be back before your daddy come home…", Paula declared soothingly while kissing her on the forehead, "besides after today…everything will be okay…All of our suffering will end…no one will hurt you…we are going away", Paula said with happiness lacing her voice.
"Are we going to find jade?", Artemis asked excitedly yet confused at the same time, it was a rare sight to see her mother smile and expressing affection so openly.
"No…but just know that from now on you wouldn't have to worry about anything", Paula said while hugging her with all her might, "you will be safe from him".
Artemis stared at the scene unfolding itself but got distracted as she hears footsteps from behind. She turned around and involuntary cried out in surprise; perplexed to see Paula or more like refined version of Paula there, her hair were shorter; reaching only up to her shoulders now; She was wearing the black tee under the blue open shirt with black trousers; having the kind smile on her face while standing between the trees.
"Damn...You got some lungs on you", Paula said with a smile yet complained about her cry out, "And there I was thinking I am looking pretty good in these", she said while adjusting her shirt again.
"What the hell…", Artemis said surprised unable to process what's happening. She turned towards the window again from which she could clearly see herself getting ready by a depressed version of Paula in there.
"Please …I don't want you to remember me like this…Come with me you are at wrong place", Sophisticated Paula said with remorse and guilt while gesturing towards the opposite direction. Artemis thought about it for a while and then start following her in the trees.
"Where are we?"
"It's secret"
"Ok…more important question…who are you?"
"told you… it's a secret", Paula said while inching more towards the dark forest.
"So it's like in horror movies…right"
"What?", Paula turned around surprised at her question.
"Like your soul is doomed to walk on earth till we catch your killer", Artemis asked skeptically.
Paula laughed out loud, "Really…Next thing you are gonna tell me that As a side-projects I accompany my lost daughters time to time… in shady forests", Paula sarcastically replied while moving a tree branch from her face.
"Well…you are dead right…?"
"You already know the answer to that Artemis"
"I don't...tell me… are you?", Artemis shouted at her and tried to grab her arm but Artemis hand phased right through her.
"It's secret…", Paula declared soothingly then announced with sudden enthusiasm, "we are here…there you go", Paula gestured her to move forward. In front of her was the steely building of Saint Marry Asylum. Artemis was only here twice, once one she was having a psychotic breakdown and second for her final psych evaluation ten years ago. Artemis turned around towards Paula and asked her surprised, "Why did you bring me here?"
"I didn't… you bring us here…", Paula declared with a smile as she started disappearing into thin air, "Go on…maybe you find something you are looking for", her voice resonated from everywhere yet completely disappeared after a while leaving her alone in the complete silence yet again. Artemis sighed and waited for Paula to appear again but when nothing happened Artemis moved towards the building with teary eyes.
The walk of shame through the sketchy hallway of Asylum never gets any easier for anyone; no matter how much you try to not let its darkness effects you; it always ended up devouring a part of your soul. Subconsciously Artemis found herself standing in front of the evaluation room and like earlier she found another memory playing itself in front of her but unlike the other memory Artemis remember it perfectly.
A 14 year angry version of her was glaring at the Oliver who nervously smiled at her, "This is the last test…I swear", he said with his voice lacing with understanding and guilt Artemis opens her mouth to say something but Ollie intervened, "please don't insult me in front of my girlfriend…Please" he nearly pleaded while whispering in her ear. Dinah who was Ollie's on and off girlfriend back then, for her credit she slapped him on the back of the neck for cutting out the non-sense.
Artemis rolled her eyes and adjusted her glasses with a pissed off look on her face, "I don't know who is more horrible, you for inventing these techniques…", she pointed Oliver and then glared at Dinah, "or you for making me do these"
"Come on it's really the last one…All you have to do is to walk down the Hallway while wearing these electrodes recording your brain activity. We just want to know how you will deal with a psychotic patient around you…that's it", Dinah said while adjusting the wires and certain electrodes around her head attached to the head collar.
"I feel like a guinea pig continually being harvested for the warms to eat me again", Artemis complained truthfully while removing the wire out of her face as both Oliver and Dinah looked away in onus, "What if I fail?"
Oliver bent down to her level making her look into his eyes, "Listen…you jumbo sized idiot…You are thinking way too much…just clear your head... take a catwalk and think about something else"
"Like what?"
"Like me making out with Dinah on our movie couch…"
"Gross…Ollie"
"Or you could think about your new boyfriend…What was his name…again?..."
"Cameron"
"Yeah…think about me breaking him into half by one hand like a Samurai jack and eating him up like a cannibal"
"Can't you ever say something inspiring…like yoo Artemis you can do it, cart flip like a cheer leader and then again… go Artemis go…BTW you would look awesome in skirt"
"Ah the thought of him wearing a bra and ladies underwear…Arty…you had officially made my day", Dinah said with a smile while patting her on back.
"I can think of something better…if you will be good to my girlfriend... I will be good to yours boyfriend…and ….", Oliver waited for a while and said with a smile, "How would you like becoming a Queen after that…", Artemis stared him wide eyed with an open mouth, "Yeah…I kind of a did applied for your adoption last month…All the legal work has been done…All you have to do is to say yes and we will be like the best king and princess as in ever…though your last name will be queen…huh….Spooky much ", Oliver was cut off by Artemis hugging her with all her might, Oliver laughed and whispered in her ear, "go kiddo go…you will do it…I believe in you"
Artemis smiled as she saw herself walking down the creepy hall way with utter joy on her face but her breath caught in her throat as she saw the face of the patient in the cellar 297. She was Paula sitting in a wheel chair looking towards one of the walls of cellar in a trance like state. The smaller version of her walk right in front of her without even noticing her, but Artemis ran towards her but it was like she was caught in the middle of nowhere. The more she ran towards her, the more she moves farther away from her. In the end, Artemis was awaked with a gasp from her dream. The same dream for two nights in a row and waking up with a panic attack…not the good way to start your day…huh, Artemis thought to herself as she worked on regularizing her pumping heartbeat.
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WASHINGTON, D.C
WASHINGTON GENERAL, HOSPITAL
WEDNESDAY, 10:30 AM
Wally winked at the nurse and did a complete 360' turn just to whistle at her before reaching Artemis room. He was not surprised to see her glaring out of the window while playing with her necklace preoccupied with one of her left arm now in the wrist brace plus sling and her leg in the knee brace lifted a bit up by the pillow. And I thought she will be resting that's why she wasn't answering her cell but I guess panic attack could do that to you too, he thought to himself. Though she looks way better than the last time he had seen but the haunted look in her eyes was enough to put him on the edge, Her nurse had already told him she had a panic attack in the morning and wasn't feeling well So, he knocks on the door and entered in the room and said with a calculated risk and a smile, "Morning… Dream weaver…Please stop daydreaming about me...I was getting squeezes all day"
Artemis become surprised but hide it quite well and replied with a smile, "Please it's not me…must be an auto-immune response of your body… fighting against your own shit you know"
Wally smiled and put up his hands in surrender, "Woman...What happened to your sense of gratitude…you totally owe for saving your life Ice queen and that includes aiming low on a sass on me", Wally declared cockily.
"Oh I am sorry… It probably get knocked out of me when I was getting the whole breaking bones therapy from some freaking psychopath…but let me know if you are dying to have a thank you card…I will write that on my list of things I didn't give a shit about….ok", Artemis said in a bitter mode but regretted it instantly as she saw his goofy smile turning into a sour expression.
"Of course…Why would you…I mean we were only searching for you tirelessly for two days…hoping to find you alive before those freaking psychopath decides to dismember you…or make you a dinner for the scavengers …right?", Wally answered sarcastically but his voice lack any anger towards her. He sat down on the chair and pretended to look into the case file while ignoring her. He kills the two birds with one stone. Artemis felt tenfold guiltier than earlier and also remembered his reaction on her joke yesterday and mentally cursed herself for saying that.
Artemis released a sigh and answered with regret clear in her voice, "Wally…I am Sorry…it was a rude thing to say…", Artemis sighed again and said with a smile, "I usually digest a week like this with a little help from Sergio but right now it's only my ninja boyfriend that is with me…So our conversation is a bit flat and one-sided", Artemis said while waving her teddy in front of his face, "See he doesn't talk much...So could you please not give me a silent treatment too and tell me what is on the menu of this day of great debauchery?"
Wally removed the file from his face and asked with a raised eyebrow, "Sergio..?", Wally asked as he gave the file to her.
"Yeah…my boyfriend….don't tell anyone...ok", Artemis said with a smile while opening the file on Jimmy and Ronald.
"You had a boyfriend?…", Wally asked surprised wide eyed.
"Yeah…. You should meet him…he is the perfect man...he listens to my trouble like a gentleman…while brushing up my bed with his fluffy tail…licks me a lot afterwards.…doesn't destroy my covers …and always poop outside in lawn… ", Artemis explained ardently.
Wally smiled whole heartedly at that, "You had a dog…"
"Geez…what was your first clue…A bull dog actually…", Artemis said with a smile but it left easily as she stared into Ronald picture for a while along with the other victims.
"Good…Artemis look…I am only here to tell you what you are going to say on the stand…you really don't need to go through all of this…I am handling the delivery of profile...you only just have to voice what you went through…Ok", Wally said while taking a seat and trying to keep a file away from her hands.
"He didn't confessed?.. Though he didn't actually laid a hand on me but still he is the knife guy I presume….", Artemis said while going through the file, "I want to do mano on mano with him...May be I get him to crack…there is still time for the interrogation…right", Wally didn't answer for a while instead stared at her for a while, "Wally…I asked you something?"
"So this is how it is gonna go…huh…you are gonna act like nothing happened…covering it up with a pretty smiles and sharp retorts….pretend to be ready to see this psychopath in eyes as it really doesn't affect you… or is not making you having those panic attacks…Am I really supposed to buy that?", he asked offended, "and yes I talk to nurse and she told me about the panic attacks"
"Wait a minute…you think my smile is pretty?", Artemis asked with a smirk.
"That's what you picks on… Artemis you interviewing the psychopath who kept you hostage and tortured you…is not a good idea…you might be suffering from PTSD already…no need to take it on a breaking point", Wally asked while shaking his head in annoyance and anger.
Artemis smirk disappears and a serious expression took its place as she nearly shouted at him, "Wally…I am not suffering from PTSD and I can handle it...Besides you don't get to make these kind of decision for me…", Artemis took a calming breath and said in a low voice, "…I think you already know….that I have been through worse…So, this kind of a thing", Artemis waved her left hand with a smile, "doesn't even make it to a Richter scale…Trust me The monster from my nightmares are way scarier than him…and no offence Wally but I don't need a shrink to figure out what my problems are….All I am saying is I know Jim better than you guys…and I think I know his breaking point too… You need to give me a chance…we owe it to these people", Artemis referred towards the victim's picture.
"Well I guess you learn a lot about a person when they are beating the crap out of you…right…", Wally asked while getting up and rubbing his neck in annoyance, "and this is not about those people…it is about you"
"Wally… You can trust me…I can do that…", Artemis answered begging him to believe in her.
"I trust you…I really do…But why can't you trust me on this….Damn it…Can't you see what you are asking off me here", Wally shouted his voice filled with passion and a bit of regret, " I let you get kidnapped…you dumb…I had the chance to save you back in the train station and I messed up…"
Artemis cuts off his rant but answered with a new profound respect for him, "Wally…there is no way…you could have known what would have happened to me…You have to let it go…"
"I know that…ok…I know", Wally said in a dead serious note, "but back in the basement… I thought that we lost you…it was like the Boston again…I watched you slip away Artemis…because of that bastard and now you want me to put you back in the room with him…and the knowledge that you have been through worse…is more of the reason…I want you to stay away from him",
Artemis become surprised at his sincerity and for the first time really appreciated his concern for her, "Wally… you looking out for me is sweet…and I am sorry…i can't imagine what I put you through…I really am", Artemis said while meeting his eyes, "…but Wally it's my call …ok…I will have to face him tomorrow… right…publically… in trial if we don't get a confession… I just like our first meeting to be on my terms... beside what better way to overcome the fear than facing it"
"It's not a good call"
"It's not your call Wally….it's mine…. "
Wally didn't say anything for a while then sighed, "I will go in with you"
"Actually…despite the popular opinion…you literally can't beat the truth out of someone…So your masculinity is not needed in there", Artemis said with a smirk.
"I will"
"No… you are not",
"How you are gonna stop me?"
"Force of will… laser from my eyes…karate chop…invisible bullets…", Artemis answered enthusiastically making karate gesture and hand gun with hands.
"Good luck with that …Come on…I shot that guy and killed his brother…hello Artemis.. he would be more off his game with me in there…"
"Fine….but I will do the talking"
"Fine with me…At least I get to be your ninja boyfriend in all of this huh.."
"Please don't enrich your love life because you and me dude…only sounds good in a fantasy …"
"So you do fantasize me…huh…"
"Wally you do know you are mad ….and…. there is no medicine for that", Artemis asked with a raised eyebrow as Wally still laughs at her.
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WASHINGTON, D.C
THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, HQ
WEDNESDAY, 2:00 PM
"Well there is not much of a profile on both of them…they clearly have anti-social personality disorder…the fact that they were hitman for a gang and even the leader doesn't know a thing about them indicates that they never trust anyone with anything at any time… totally paranoid and pure psychopath... obviously abused by their own parents in the past", Wally explained while entering into the parking lot of HQ in his black Camaro, "the rap sheet on them is also quite interesting…busted at 14 for alcohol addiction…violet outbursts…Assaults…Once threw a Molotov cocktail to a person sitting in their car…"
"Ronald once scheduled a visit to an infirmary to gain an access to a boy who looked at him for too long… no fear...no remorse…quick tempered…I wonder what made him like this", Artemis said while reading his file as Wally shared a glance towards her because of her empathetic comment though didn't voice his opinion on that.
"They stayed off the radar later on…there is absolutely no information on them as an adult…like no driver's license, no utility bills…absolutely nothing…it's like they become a ghost", Wally said as he parked the car.
"The property who was it registered to?", Artemis asked while thinking.
"His father …Frank Perotta ... they still lived in their father's house. That is why nothing was in theirs name...he died in a fishing accident with his boys… body was never recovered…Our guess it wasn't an accident ", Wally said and got out from the car then opened her side of door and bought out the crutches, "You do know I could carry you if you want me too…I promise I wouldn't drop you on the way…often", Wally declared with a smile.
"Can you seriously not be thinking of getting all over me…for like five seconds", Artemis asked with a smirk but accept his help any way.
"Sorry...Occupational hazard", Wally whined but smiled as Artemis used his shoulder for a support while getting out of the car. Once again he got overwhelmed with her spellbinding scent as she stood closer to him while he helped her with crutches. He has officially abandoned the search for the reason for finding this sudden increase of his heartbeat when she touches him. Probably my body is manufacturing pheromones without my permission…I blame it on opposite sex species, he thought to himself as Artemis removes his hand leaving a lingering feeling in his shoulder.
"Well I had to admit…as much of a bogus person you are…you do possess an awesome car", Artemis said with an appreciating smile while giving a leg pat to the tire of the car.
"I have been told I had exquisite taste in cars….and this darling is not a car…this is my baby", Wally said with the smile as he opens the door for her
"Ahh…Cheers…to the thought of you breeding….and excuse me I had to go and puke now", Artemis said with a smirk and entered in. Wally smiled and entered behind her with a thought, We two could play this game.
CIA, HQ
INTERROGATION ROOM
"Jimmy…Welcome…Damn…you look happy to see me", Artemis announced enthusiastically as Jimmy entered the room in handcuffs. Jimmy's smirk leaves his face as he saw her sitting on the opposite chair with Wally leaning behind the wall behind her while presenting his greeting with the salute and a smirk. The other three agents that brought him in, leaves the room afterwards after handcuffing his foot, "Let's start the show…Shall we?...I am Special Agent Artemis Queen…He is Special Agent Wally West…", Artemis said with a smile but only get a glare in return.
"Oh yeah…my old friend…feeling better", Jimmy said while glaring her and leaning forward from the chair and placing his hand cuffed hands on the table.
"Were you advised of the rights?", Wally asked from behind with an equal glare.
Jimmy took a one glance towards him and then glared back at her, "Take these off and we will really talk", he said with a smile.
"Were you advised of your right?", Artemis asked sternly.
"I know my rights…", He declared bitterly.
"You wanna talk?"
"I got nothing to hide…"
"Good…Let's talk about your childhood…Shall we?", Artemis said with a smile then become serious afterwards, "You grew up in the house that looked happy and normal didn't you, Jimmy?"
"Did I?", he asked with a smirk.
"But your father beet you and Ronald at every chance he got"
"He smacked us around sometime", Jimmy said in a calculated voice; now smirk disappeared from his face, "Didn't anybody's old man?"
"No…Father's don't carve their son's eyes out with a heated knife or caged them in a steel box to teach their son's a lesson", Artemis said in a detached voice with an emotion less face.
"Well…maybe if yours had… you would have learnt to fight", Jimmy retorted.
"You had what we call a paranoid personality… they develop in childhood"
"You do know you are saving me thousands of dollars in therapy bills"
"You can't trust anyone… you learned to take the beating… the abuse…and you learned to smile with it…but at the back of your mind you probably thought…'one day… one day when I am big enough'… So…you were bullied and abused and you became an abuser and a bully…It's a logical progression…"
"Really", Jimmy asked sarcastically
"Yeah…the sons turns out to become their father…trust me we see that a lot", Artemis said with a small smile. Jimmy didn't answered in fact glared her with blood in his eyes. Artemis asked him again, "Your father beat your mother too, didn't he?"
"My mother got nothing to do with this", he replied instantly nearly shouting at her as Wally quickly came right behind Artemis chair making his presence known daring him to inch forward.
"Your mother knew…She knew he beats you every day and she did nothing to help you…and you still loved her…Even though she let you get hurt you loved her...and I wondered why…why didn't you hate her…then of course I realized that he beat her as much as he beat you"
"Don't talk about my mother", He tried again to get her to stop.
"You killed all of those people…hundreds of them…but not a single woman… So don't even bother telling me that…"
"He was a bastard…Alright", Jimmy cut her off.
"Who …the father you killed?", Artemis asked innocently.
"I call him Frank. He was a mean son of a bitch and got what he deserved…is that what you want to know?"
"No, what I want to know…is that a person who ostracized his father so much to kill him…how could he do exactly what his father used to do him…and then you had the gall to apologize to your mother when you do these animosities … 'I am Sorry, Madre', that what Ronald murmured whenever he wanted to try something new with me…In Spanish, mothers are called Madre…right and that's exactly why you offered me a quick death…I thought it was to establish dominance yet it was your own sickening way of apologizing…isn't it", Jimmy didn't answered in fact looked away from her founding the floor more interesting than anything. Artemis took a while to let all this sink in and empathized with him, "you responded to what you learned, Jimmy…When you grew up in a violent household like this…it's not surprising that some people grew up to become killers…but what is surprising is to hold a remorse for your victims…You have the chance to prove that you are not your father tomorrow…prove it in court… Don't be a chicken like your father and hold other responsible for your failure…at least stand up for what you did... …you owe it to your mother", Artemis ended the argument and gestured towards window pane, "take him out"
Two agents came from the door and helped him get up from seat; he abruptly turned around surprising everyone and asked, "You said some people?"
"Excuse me", Artemis asked confused while gesturing the agents to stop.
"You said some people grow up to become killers?", he asked again.
It was Artemis turn to be surprised. She didn't reply for a while then shared a nervous glance towards Wally before giving an answer with a serious face, "Well…Some people grew up to catch them". Jimmy nodded and the agents took him away.
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ON THE JET…
"Good news…Jimmy has retracted his plea out…he is going for guilty now", Richard announced as he came to sat on the chair on the main table. Zatanna was going through the maps of the South Dakota highlighting certain spots on it and also dividing into number of parts on map. Kaldur was going through the details provided by the hacker; The White Martian.
"I have to admit…the work of this hacker is thorough…he not only send all the details about the trafficking of the bombing material but also provide us the detail record of the every soldier ever recruited from the South Dakoda…", Kaldur enlisted the work.
"So whoever he is…he not only knows about our restrictions but also knows about our resources…the fact that the only thing we don't have an access to is a military data or home security confidential operations couldn't be known outside the FBI…right", Richard presented his analysis of the situation.
"Richard…we are not going there to profile a hacker we are there to find the military culprit…", Kaldur said while reminding him as he nodded in acknowledgment.
"Sorry got overwhelmed…Are you done with playing colors or do you need me to get crayons too", Richard asked with the smile.
"As much as romantic is the thought of you jumping out of a plane just to get the crayons for me…I think I will pass", Zatanna said with a smile but become serious in the end, "ok…Dakoda can be divided into two big divisions….the region till Nava city is under the federal jurisdiction…but from the Rapid city is under the P.D…we can't step in till we are invited…there are about 800 High School in the area…I have marked the High School that have any connection with the 42 records of soldiers provided by our mystery hacker…School from where they graduated, where their children are studying…that leaves us with 89 school and I am not including the primary school yet…", Zatanna explained while referring towards the map.
"Good…Contact Agent Corner…inform him about this…and Zatanna… could you also do some kind of a miracle and find us a way to cover these 89 High Schools but I sure as hell can't", Kaldur asked Zatanna with a sly smile.
"Are you kidding?...Doing Miracles is the part of my description", Zatanna said with a smile and took out her phone enthusiastically.
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IN THE BLACK CAMARO
WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM
Artemis keeps on looking out of the window of her side while playing with her necklace. Wally took another glance towards her hoping that now would be her time to get out of her armored shell but to no luck. Till now five times his effort of getting her to talk about something had been refused but Wally refused to give up. An idea came to his mind as he took out his phone and texted something to someone. A devilish grin came up at his face as he instantly shouted making Artemis jump at her seat, "TTTIIIMMMEEES OUUUTTT….Sucker", he parked the car around the corner of the road and put Artemis seat belt on the place.
"What the hell….Wally", Artemis complained as Wally just pass him a devilish smile.
"Get ready for a joy ride…Baby….because you are getting kidnapped for a day", He closed off his car's window with an automatic button, On the radio at its full blast and also turned on the police lights lightening the bow\ front bumper of the car.
"Why are you acting like you suddenly got possessed by daemon?", Artemis asked surprised still not grasping what Wally is doing. The sound track of fast and furious started playing on the radio as Artemis nervously looked towards Wally and asked, "Please….don't tell me… you are about to do exactly what I think you are about to do?"
Wally smiled and answered, "Ahh…things I want to do to you…babe don't get me started on that… But Please don't scream…because you are in the hands of most awesome driver in the universe", he skid started his car going into 60 in matter of seconds.
"Wow….Wally slow down….What are you doing?", Artemis nearly shouted at him holding his arm instinctively.
"Rocking and rolling…Missie…", he only smiled; enjoying her hard grip on his arm as he rocketed through a red light at the intersection of South and Main nearly avoiding the collision while over-taking the other car.
"Wally…Stop it…this is insane", Artemis tried to convince him again but he only smiled.
"Well…it is your fault", Wally declared as he made a sharp right pulling more into her with the help of g-force with a sinister smile on his face.
"How the hell you being freaking crazy is my fault?", Artemis tightened his grip nearly digging her nails into his arm though his black leather jacket with red strips did a good job of keeping him safe from any harm.
"I am not crazy… I am just ballsy… Chicks dig ballsy…you got to have the balls of steel for what I am doing baby….treat me with a little respect … will you"
"I am gonna fucking keep mutilate your balls if we get out alive…You butthead", Artemis screeched loudly as they nearly avoided getting blindsided by a semi-truck.
"Insulting the guy who is driving a car at the speed of 180 on the busiest high way of freaking Washington, D.C seems to be good idea…How?", Wally asked with a smirk.
"Slow down ….ok… Please …What do you Want?... you idiot…just slow down..."
"Well…I want the world peace, Stop Global warming, free stalls of Hamburgers everywhere…Ohh…let's not forget about…I want to eat the pizza at the top of fucking Eiffel tower…", Wally shared a glance towards her with a smile but then become serious while staring ahead and said, "but most of all…I need you to know that I may not have fluffy tail…or my saliva all over your face might not be the best soothing therapy for you…but I am here for you…ok… and you… not talking is what driving me crazy…So please …if you don't wanna talk about it…fine but at least talk about something…Ok", Artemis just stared at him surprised unable to phantom all the sudden sincerity and blinked like a maniac at him, "You know you could say something…like you are my hero…I so wanna lick your cute ass for moving my heart in a matter of seconds…huh"
Artemis raised an eyebrow and replied with a smile, "Wow... Really what an egoistic thing to say to the lady you are trying to impress….GOD you are an egoistic idiot… just don't kill us …ok", Artemis said while patting him on the shoulder while grinning at his stupidity as Wally brought back the speed back to normal with a smirk on his face.
"FYI…I am not trying to impress you"
"Yes…you are"
"No, I am not"
"Wally you are"
"No…but is it Working"
"No…just don't crash me into the tree now …"
SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK
"Please tell me now is not the time when you throw me off the cliff without any remorse like a good kidnapper…?", Artemis asked with a smirk
"Nahh I am letting you off the hook my servant I am in good mood….It seems almost unreal…isn't it?", Wally asked while looking at Artemis. For a moment, it was all he could do is to stare at her. She was so beautiful; too beautiful. Her long, blonde hair fell across her shoulders, pinned into delicate waves that shone like diamonds. Those beautiful green eyes watching the cliff ahead, hypnotizing him; her glamorous smile, for the serenity in the air cutting in their fiber being; her evenly tanned skinned and the radiant way her skin glows; everything about her was making him loose his mind.
"Yeah…it is", Artemis said as she keeps on observing the hilly area in front of her while sitting on a hood of the car, unaware that Wally was referring to her, "I am assuming you came here often…"
"Yeah…I do", Wally answered while sitting beside her and handing her the bottle of the beer, "this is my secret place…Don't tell anybody…Ok… I came here when I am upset or feeling low…Call it my battery recharger…this place gives me a fix….", he said as he clicked his bottle with hers, he smiled while shaking his head and told her, "you know you never do what I predict you will do?"
Artemis raised an eyebrow and asked skeptically, "Now…what did I do now to offend you...I thought I have been at the very best of my behavior today…", Artemis asked while pouting.
"I deliberately dropped a hint about Boston earlier…and you haven't asked me yet… what I meant by it…?", Wally questioned.
"Well…sorry mate…getting into other's business is not my hobby…and I also expect others to do the same for me too"
"It must be lonely…huh…fighting with your ghosts alone…Don't you get scared?"
Artemis smiled shadily and answered, "No…Sometimes when you live long enough in the darkness you become accustomed to it"
"Well…I normally called Ghost busters on my ghosts…", Wally said while taking another sip of beer.
"Good for you…", Artemis declared while looking away.
"You up …for a little scary story?"
"As long as it contains your butt getting kicked…hell yeah", Artemis agreed happily for the change of topic.
Wally smiled and started, "I once had this sophisticated cool bro as my buddy…we were real close…we get posted on the same precinct in Boston…My grandfather Jay Allen…he was our squad chief back then…it was our first case…Just imagine the rush that comes with catching your first guy...huh…", Wally said with a smile but his smile turned sour afterwards, "The unsub was a Zoom; the Highway killer…we thought we are gonna take him by surprise...Just when we were about to enter the house…my friend made a call to someone by a prepaid phone…We entered the house and the unsub opened fire on us… he died in my arms…I tried everything…give him CPR…but he…died …turns out he was tipped off by some unknown caller just the moment before us entering the house… and you know what the worst thing is he got away…the person I trusted got away with the murder…"
"Wally…I am Sorry", Artemis said remorsefully while placing her uninjured hand over his hand trying to console him.
"Don't be…I am gonna get that mind wrecker someday …you know…", Wally explained with a sigh and said after a while, "Look…I don't mean to sour the mood by bringing this up…I just want you to know…that we all got our monsters…but you can't stop trusting people because of them"
"Wally…", Artemis tried to say something but wally cuts her off while completely turning towards her.
"People come in our life for a reason…Artemis….If you keep pushing everyone away,…It's the same as letting them win"
"I don't let them win…I am just being careful", Artemis replied angrily.
"You do?"
"I don't"
"So you are telling me you are perfectly okay with trusting people", Wally asked passionately while inching towards her even more.
"Of course…I do", Artemis also move closer while answering.
"So you will be okay if I do this?", He asked while taking his hands in to her.
"Of course…"
"What if I do this", Wally asked again as he crashed his lips into her.
CHAPTER END….
COMING UP NEXT...well you will find out in next chapter
PLEASE REVIEW, FAVOURITE OR LIKE THE STORY….That's what keeps me going….
Till next time