Authors Note: For all of you who are following this story, thank you. During this week, this story has reached 102 followers; and I cannot tell you how amazing it is to see that. I cannot express the feeling. I also wanted to apologize for how increasingly late this chapter was in updating, I know there really isn't any excuse but I wanted you guys to know that I didn't forget about this story! I had a very stressful and busy week with college. I was trying to write in between everything, and I couldn't find the time to finish. So for all of that mess, I had decided to make this a chapter that is split into two parts; a rather large game of play. I apologize again for the late update.
I hope you all had a very exceptional Halloween! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you to all of the followers, it really means a lot.
Much Love, MnJae.
Waves
Chapter 14- Part One
I could feel it. I could feel the rough pinch against my skin behind the gray cloth that had covered what little it could. I swallowed, the weight of my wrists dangling above me and I couldn't help but glance down; eyes catching the spot of red. The only problem was that it didn't hurt, I couldn't feel it penetrating farther then it did. My lips parted, breathing out lightly while I watched the red paint drip down my shirt. There was never a single moment, whether it would be a real bullet or not, you were almost always anxious. Almost always dreading that moment.
Drawing my eyes away from the red, I caught Alex's heavy glance and when she spotted the paint; I watched her lean all of her weight down to her knees. She had sighed in relief before dropping the remote, it was only then that her eyes closed and I could see the sudden change in her bodies motion when she got up, walking past the doors of the warehouse. I could only catch a glance of her shaking her head, and the anger in her eyes; I couldn't move. I was stuck in place, dangling, and watching her walk away.
"RODRICK!" I yelled, before looking up at my hands as I started to pull and tug as hard as I could. "RODRICK!"
I never stopped trying to UN-bind my hands, all I could focus on was getting out and running after Alex. Rodrick barely moved, he was still in pain on the floor; clutching his leg and coughing out the blood from his lips. I wanted him to get up, to crawl, I was desperate to be released. I was desperate to reach Alex.
"Rodrick, so help me if you do not get up!" I glared in his direction, spitting through my teeth fiercely; I was more then anxious at this time.
Aaron rolled over achingly slow, clenching his fists while rising from the mat only to limp in my direction. I was regretting that moment earlier, when I had him tie my wrists increasingly tight. I was no longer paying attention to the fact Alex had found her tough bone, that she finally found that piece of anger, I didn't seem care. While Rodrick started to UN-tie my hands, my eyes could only focus on that door; I could only focus on the strain releasing from my skin. When I felt no bind, and my arms fell to the side; throbbing, I ran towards the exit.
I walked past those doors, immediately stopping not that far out when I caught the sight of Alex before me, just a few feet away. Her back turned to me, hands on her hips, quiet as the morning breeze. The loud sound of the door closing shut is what had seemed to catch her attention, she knew who followed her without even having to turn around.
"What the fuck was that!?" Alex yelled, turning and angrily pointing at the warehouse.
"A test." I whispered poorly, I didn't know what to say at the moment in front of her gaze.
"A test! Are you fucking kidding me? You could of died! Why would you play such a game, PIPER!"
"It's not a game." I shook my head before continuing on. "When are you going to realize that this is your life now, Alex!" I outstretched my arms, ignoring the ache within them.
"I failed that test, Piper."
"No, no you didn't."
"Yes I did-"
"No! You found that bone, that anger! Now you know what it feels like to want to fight!" I swallowed, taking a few small steps before her. "You know what it feels like to come close..." I spoke my words softly as they dragged on, filling the air as my eyes suddenly shifted from Alex; while she continued on to fight against my decisions of act.
"You didn't need to go that far! You were ready to be shot just to get that point across!?" She paused. "Piper answer me!"
My mind was far away from Alex, I could no longer focus on her voice or the anger in her eyes. My vision was sketching beyond the tree's and the dirt, it was almost as if I could taste it. I could tell we were being watched, and for how long we had, we weren't safe or secluded anymore. They were here, and they had found us.
"Alex." I whispered, glancing away for only a moment to look at her. "I need you to hurry on inside and start packing."
"Are they.."
"Don't." I stopped Alex from turning, I couldn't allow them to know that we knew. "Hurry on."
When Alex walked past me, sneaking behind the doors of our no longer safe place; I stayed out a moment longer, watching beyond the far place. I wanted to know how long we had before they would sweep on in, but I knew the second I turned around and disappeared behind those doors, that we didn't have much time.
My eyes scanned every surface of the warehouse looking for Rodrick, who was no longer by the blue mat. I couldn't spot him, I couldn't find him; and it wasn't like Rodrick to be missing. The minute I turned in place, my eyes caught the overhead office door that was wide-open. I could then see Aaron moving back and forth in the room; he knew, and it wasn't long before I was heading up those stairs.
"Rodrick!" I yelled when I passed through the door, my eyes were following his fast movements; his back currently facing me as I watched his arms lean over the table repeatedly. He was throwing and thrashing things into a black duffel bag, and I couldn't spot the exact contents; but I had a rather intense feeling of what he was doing.
"I know, I know..." Rodrick hurriedly spoke before I reached the spot beside him. "I want you and Alex to take the car and go."
"What about you?" My eyes branching from his hands to his face repeatedly.
"Piper." He paused his actions and only focused on looking at me, I was quiet then; gazing into his brown eyes. "You can't think like that, because they are only after you. Not me. Not Alex. You need to focus on getting out of here." Rodrick turned away then before zipping the duffel bag and holding it out for me to take; I grabbed it not long after. "I will draw them in, and I will meet you at the rondevu spot we talked about."
When my eyes immediately caught the green and red wires, I spotted the C4's lined up along the table. "You're not thinking of..." I spoke softly.
"Yes." Aaron walked over to another table, before shortly returning and holding out an M9. "Now go, and don't look back."
Slipping the duffel bag over my right shoulder, I gently took the M9 from his fingers; and just when I turned to walk away, I glanced back over my shoulder at Rodrick. He had done the same.
"I know." Aaron nodded his head as he spoke softly, and it was enough for me to walk out of the office. I didn't have to tell him to be safe, because he already knew. We always did, but it was always that look that told more then words. You knew the possibility about never getting the chance of seeing one another again, and even with that you still hoped for tomorrow.
Reaching the bottom floor, I met Alex just before the stairs; and in those few steps my balance was shaken like a storm. Everything had hit at once, and for just a split second, you could see the building shake radically. My ears wanted to ring from the sudden explosion.
Alex and I had made our way to the front doors, we were only a couple more steps away from fully being outside when Alex opened the steal quickly only for both of us to retreat back behind it from the quick bullet's heading our way.
"Fuck!" Alex leaned her back against the wall, I was checking for wounds on her before I went on.
"The second I opened that door and begin firing, I want you to already be behind the side of the car. You got it?" When Alex nodded, I placed my hand on the handle and slowly began to turn the knob.
It was such a rush, a moment that was always going to be remembered; where you had to survive not only on the field but at home, on your own turf. As I held that M9 with both of my hands, the duffel over my shoulder, I fired one bullet after the other; and whether or not they hit, I had done the job well. Alex was already on her knees along side of the car when I was moving that way, holding the gun firmly between my fingers as the bullets never seemed to stop. After I was next to Alex, I opened the car door and slipped the bag inside along with the one she was carrying.
"Climb over the other side and stay down!" I yelled before Alex obediently applied. I followed right after, the sound of the shots scurried along in the distance when suddenly my body jolted at the sound of a few explosions. I couldn't think about Rodrick then, I pushed every thought of him a side. I needed to get out of here and make it to the rondevu point.
"STAY DOWN!" I yelled once again when I put the keys in the ignition and started the car. Before the next explosion was heard, I was already pressing my foot down on the peddle and skidding around towards the dirt path.
When I turned heavily onto the busy street, I was already accelerating further down, sweeping in between cars. I had already noticed just after pulling on to the dirt path that we were being followed, and I needed to desperately break away from them. "Piper they were gaining." Alex was looking back and forth between the front and the back, holding on to the sides while I glanced out of the rear view mirror.
"Hold on." I spoke before firmly turning the wheel to the left and crossing the traffic that headed our way, slipping in to the ally way safely. One car had followed, the other was no longer behind us.
"Great job-" Alex and I jolted down, ducking from the sudden bullets that were being fired our way, and quickly I was skidding to a turn and stopping on the break when the second car was visible; heading fast toward us. That's when I quickly switched the car into reverse and back along the ally way behind us, just missing the car from the other way and continuing on backwards while the others started to follow. "Fuck, Piper!" As they were gaining closer, they started to fire once again and I could hear the windshield being penetrated with bullets. I was turned around, looking behind us and I continued in reverse. "Faster Piper!"
The second the car passed out of the ally way I turned the wheel sharply and switched the car into drive, booking it down the road. I had noticed in the rear view mirror that the first car had been hit and there was only one pulling onto the street, heading after us.
The bullets never stopped, and I couldn't shake the last car, that's when I had to make a decision. I knew what the black duffel bag was filled with even before Rodrick had zipped it closed. I knew that there was at least an M4- a few grenades- and ammunition to the max inside. Rodrick never packed light, always ready for what was to come. But my decision wasn't a hard one, it shouldn't be, but it was. I had to make the choice whether or not to let Alex use the M4, to buy us what little distraction we could to escape. That would also put her in more danger leaning outside of the window, and for the rest of the world to be penetrated with bullets if she wasn't a careful shot.
I didn't know if Alex had become a good shot after our paintball time, if Rodrick had taught her a few things; but now it was more of a trust thing then anything. While my eyes glanced heavily to her, out the rear view mirror, and the road; I had already made my decision.
"Alex, I need you to grab the black duffel bag." I pulled onto another street. "Alex just grab the damn bag! Just do it!"
"Okay, okay." She turned her body, keeping her head down as she reached for the black duffel bag that was in the back seat. Carefully putting the bag between her feet, she unzipped it. "Holy shit.."
"Grab the M4 and load it, I taught you that, so you know what to do." Quickly, I was passing by many cars, I couldn't shake them. The anticipation and anxiety was growing.
"Why do you-"
"Don't ask questions, just do as I say and quickly!"
When Alex was finished loading the click, she looked at me for answers and I glanced at her only once. I didn't want to have to say it, I would only hope she would of known the entire time she was loading; but she didn't. I swallowed, biting my lip before I blinked and spoke. "Shoot."
I didn't need to say a single thing after that, because Alex had knew what she had to do when I rolled down that window. It wasn't long before she was leaning out and shooting the car trailing us. I was surprised to see their windshield being cracked with bullets. Rodrick did teach her a thing or two. She kept firing, leaning back in to change a clip and then continuing on. Alex had kept her balance from out the window very well, with every turn and quick get-a-way I would of thought her firing would cease in that moment, but it didn't. She kept pulling that trigger, and her aim was on point.
All to sudden when I drove over that white line, the car behind us slowed down and Alex swung back in to change the clip, it was in that moment everything seemed to dimmer down.
Crash
The truck slammed face first into the drivers side of the car and we were then toppling over and rolling. I could hear every crunch of the car, every piece of glass breaking, and the muffles of the vehicle hitting the concrete. I felt my head penetrated the metal to the left of me, everything and anything was returning.
The walls tore, the building shook radically and I was suddenly thrown through the window just towards the right of me. In just seconds, I hit the ground three stories below, and while the de-bre and ash washed over me; my body felt numb against the warm dirt. At that moment, my ears were already ringing and my vision wasn't doing any better; I knew then, that I was fighting to remain conscious.
"Piper.."
"Piper!"
My eyes opened and closed, every little piece of glass piercing at the palms of my hands when I tried to hold myself up. It was the adrenaline that had kept me from falling unconscious, because the whole left side of my body ached in pain from the contact of the truck. "I remember." I whispered.
"What, Piper snap out of it!"
Looking past Alex, I noticed the bridge not that far away and I couldn't help but struggle out the words to her. "The bridge."
"Run to the bridge, I will meet you there.."
"Piper, I'm not-
"Go!" I yelled and I looked away, noting the trailed car stopping and they were getting out. "GO!" I struggled out of the seat belt, falling against the broken glass after Alex left. I crawled out the other side, pulling the duffel bag with me. I could only think of the bridge and escaping, I didn't have any other choice but to open the bag and take out one of the grenades. Pulling the end with my teeth, I held the knuckle. Standing up, I tossed the grenade around the torn car to their way. And in moments, I was running as fast as I possibly could to the bridge, to Alex. In the faint distance, I could hear the explosion and I knew we weren't off the hook just then.
When I stopped in front of Alex, we stood beside the railing, and as I looked over it, my next plan was right there. "We need to jump."
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Alex looked over the edge and before she had another word, I was slipping the duffel bag over my shoulder and climbing over the side. "Fuck me."
I surfaced before Alex, and I couldn't help but twist in turn, trying to desperately find her. "Alex!" I yelled, my eyes scanned the wavy patterns. "Alex!" When I saw her head poke up out of the water, I swam to her immediately, stopping before her. "Are you okay?" I breathed out.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." Both of us staying a float, I look around, trying to find a way up. I knew we had lost them, for now at least when I didn't notice them looking over from above the bridge. That's when I spotted a dock to the right, not that far away, with a ladder leading up to above ground.
"There." I nodded in the direction and started to swim towards it almost as fast as I could. My muscles were aching from our crash not long again, my heart was still racing, and I was beginning to think it would never stop rapidly beating against my chest.
When we made it to the dock, I pushed myself up and then turned to help Alex up. We crashed then, sitting and catching out breaths for however long it took before she asked. "Where to now?"
"We need to make it to the east side, Rodrick will be there waiting for us." I swallowed, trying to control my breathing.
"To another warehouse?"
"No, a plane. But we need a change of clothes. We need to blend in now with the crowd, hats, something." I looked up, desperately trying to think of a place. We couldn't go back to the warehouse, and we couldn't go to my apartment. But before I could open my mouth, Alex already did.
"My place. We can go to my apartment, I have clothes." A part of me wanted to refuse against it but I couldn't, it was the only reasonable place. And we needed to go now.
"Okay." I swung the duffel bag over my arm and stood up, making my way over to the ladder. "You first."
Alex and I had agreed on a taxi, even if we barely had enough money to reach her apartment. It was the only reasonable solution, we were soaking wet, and walking on the street wasn't the best idea. We would of stood out to much and caught the attention of everyone. That was the one thing we did not need, not now and probably not ever.
When we reached her apartment, I followed Alex up the steps and down the hallway. It was a nice looking apartment complex, it look affordable but also in the range of her taste. As our clothes soaked the carpet before, we stopped in front of her apartment, only there was one problem. "Fuck, I don't have my keys.." Shaking my head, I nudged Alex away from the door and in just one second I was kicking the door open. "Did I ever tell you how bad ass-"
Alex stopped midway, just a few feet from the door of her apartment. I couldn't understand why she fell silent, or why she froze, but it was there froze that made everything clear. "Alex!" I heard them say, running up and jumping into Alex's arms; hugging her as tightly as I have ever seen anyone else hug her. I felt my heart sink, my stomach aching with the sudden realization to who this person was.
When the young female dragged Alex into the living room, I only followed, desperately wanting to run away; but I couldn't. I suddenly felt the weight falling on my shoulders, one in which I haven't felt in hours, and it didn't feel right to just walk out. Even though I had the little sense that it should feel that way, although, I felt silly thinking Alex didn't move on.
You never had the right anyway, stop thinking you did.
I sighed away my thoughts, watching Alex being dragged on to the couch. "What happened to you?" The girl's hands ran over Alex's face, inspecting every cut. I wanted to kill her then, not the young girl, but Alex. For not only forgetting to tell me about her, but doing it a second time.
"Sara, hold on. Give me a moment." When Alex stood and looked at me, that's when both of there eyes noticed I had been standing there. Suddenly she was forgetting about everything.
"Who is this?" Sara asked.
"Piper." Was all Alex could say before disappearing down the hallway and returning moments later with dry clothes. She handed me a tank top and a pair of jeans, and it made me sick thinking that maybe she was giving me Sara's clothes. "Change." I watched her swallow and return to the sofa beside Sara.
For what it was worth, I felt going to the bathroom to change was unnecessary, and that undressing in front of them both seemed only right. Setting the duffel bag on the floor, I then slipped off my shoes before I slide my wet shirt over my head. I could feel her eyes on me, not Alex, but Sara. I couldn't tell you it was a good feeling, but a deserving one. "Baby.." I heard her say, and the chuckle fell from my lips when I grabbed the top.
"What's so funny?" Sara spoke.
Temper, I could easily tell. I shook my head, slipping the tank top on.
"Baby, who is this again?"
When the pants fell off and I slipped on the dry ones, the smile printed along my face. I couldn't help but look up in that moment. "Are you fucking serious?" I chuckled again, putting on my boots and grabbing the duffel bag.
"Piper." Alex rose from her spot, that's when I just glared into her eyes and smiled more brightly. I knew she couldn't tell, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find any emotion in my eyes. I had nothing left, and I didn't care. She wasn't apart of my world anymore then I wanted her to be, and I didn't. One thing, never trust Alex.
I turned in that moment, walking out the door leaving not only a shocked Alex but her confused and angered girlfriend. My smile faded down the hallway, I fought the pain with laughs and smiles. For the second time, reaching the bottom floor of the apartment complex, I felt exhilarated for going home with Alex.
"Piper!" I heard her yell behind me. "Piper, wait!" She grabbed my arm, pulling me to face her. "Stop!"
"There is absolutely nothing you can say to me right now that would make this better." I glared up at her. We were standing on the sidewalk, where everything had started with lunch in the very beginning.
"Piper, you know how insane it was to run into you, for you to give me another chance?"
"No. But you did it a second time Alex, and there's absolutely no way you're going to change my mind now."
That's when the clock stroke twelve, when the birds flew from the tree's and the screeching of the tires were heard. I watched Alex look away for a second before turning back towards me and tackling me to the floor. I spotted the bullets then, the loud ruckus of everything being shot at in our direction. When I fell on my back with Alex above me, it wasn't long before she was rolling off and gripping at her arm. "Fuck me.." She groaned.
I quickly got on my knees and watched the patch of red soak her left shoulder. "Alex, sit up. Sit up!" I yelled, pulling her up and guiding her to the parked car by the sidewalk. She pressed her back up against the material, and all I could do was press my hands firmly to her wound.
"Fuck that hurts.." I watched her eyes flicker open after closing, I was surprised that she wasn't in as much shock as a normal person would be.
Alex was bad for me, she always caught my attention and however much she hurt me, for some reason life had always wanted me to come back to her. To push me back into her life at the most undefined times of ours. I focused on her more then my surroundings, and I could of prevented what was to come with the contents of what had been in the black duffel bag, but I didn't. I didn't because Alex was more important to pay attention to. That was my mistake.
The doors opened and closed shut, one opening something else while the other ran behind me and immediately pulling me away from Alex. For the second time, in weeks, I not only fought to get back to her but I felt the pain of leaving her again. "Alex!" I yelled, struggling with there grip. "Alex!"
I felt the sidewalk against my side, then the hard hit to my face.
Black
Chapter 14- Part Two
I was lying there, unable to move, my eyes fixated on the sky above; and it always take's you a while to realize that there is deb-re falling, the ash now crowding the surface, and your body is achingly burning.
It's in those few moments that you notice the sky is that much more blue, and the clouds are that much more white; the sun is that much more warm.
It is in those few moments, everything and anything means the world to you.
The second you're able to move your head, looking in the direction beside of you, that is when you realize that you are not alone. I notice Rodrick beside me, lying there all the same except he is on his stomach, facing me with his eyes closed and his body burned to a crisp.
But it is when you look to the other side that you notice he is not with you, because when Alex is lifeless and bleeding; that's when the sky is not that much more blue, and the clouds are not that much more white; the sun is not that much more warm.
Bump
All in one rush, my eyes jolted open along with my body; and quickly the pain in my face increased. Turning my head from left to right, I could barely see anything and I could barely move freely in the confines of this very small dark place. That's when I listened, and I could hear the engine. A car. I was in the trunk and suddenly I remembered the evening before. Alex.
"Alex!" I yelled even though I knew she wasn't here, how could she be? I could barely move. If I didn't notice her in the beginning, then she wasn't here.
Kicking the top, I tried to open it while my hands searched around for anything the trunk may carry. But when I found nothing, I tried to shift my body closer to the back of the seats, wanting to listen to if anyone was talking. I couldn't hear anything but the engine, and what was going on around outside. We were moving, and where ever we were going, it wasn't the rondevu spot.
It wasn't long before I felt the car come to a stop, and I heard the doors slam shut. I swallowed, knowing that in just seconds, I was either going to live or die.
When the trunk flew open, the sunlight scorched my eyes, burning them to a close. I didn't have the chance to spot who had grabbed me and pulled me from the dark place, because in just seconds I was falling face first into the dirt. My hands were forced behind my back, eventually being tied with plastic wire, and I was then lifted to stand before I was being pulled not far from the car.
Who ever it was, had ordered me to kneel and when I didn't comply, they had forced me down. After that moment, I had the chance to scan the area; I was oblivious to the place. For miles, I could only see faint buildings and bridges. The floor was nothing but dirt and rocks, and just behind me I could hear the waves crashing against the surface. I was in the middle of no-where and death never seemed more present.
I caught another car rolling on up, black with tinted windows and out came three men while the driver stayed in place. Two men followed the one, who I was going to have the pleasure in knowing soon, but it was the way he rolled his wrists that got me. I could already smell the blood before it even started.
"This is the girl?" He spoke with an Arabic accent.
"Yes, sir." The man behind me spoke with no accent.
"She doesn't look like much. Are you sure?" I knew the man behind me had nodded because he didn't say anything. "Well then."
I watched the front man take the remaining steps in front of me and then kneel down. His eyes scanned my face, he held such a serious expression, and I noticed the desperation for blood within his pupils. This man wanted to kill me, but for some reason felt forced not to. I couldn't understand it, and I couldn't understand why I was no longer afraid of these things. In which kidnapping had become a thing, and how it was going to haunt the years to come, if I had the chance to live.
"You're going to answer my questions truthfully. And if you don't, we are going to have a problem."
The man stood up, turning and walking back a little bit. "The first question is easy."
"Who is working with you?"
Who was working with me? Alex, Rodrick, a masked man who I couldn't trust. Could I tell him this? No. Next question.
"You're thinking too much, which means you don't want to tell me. Such a shame." I watched him tilt his head, motioning towards me as his right hand man came hurriedly in my direction. I felt the r-man sink his knuckles against the right side of my face, my head had turned after, pulsing and aching before I felt the second hit.
"Now, I'm going to ask you again. Who is working with you?" My eyes inched closed and then re-opened, turning to glance up at the man who currently held the control of whether I lived or died. "Still not going to answer?"
I swallowed, ready for what was going to come after the man shook his head. "More." It was over then, because I felt every muscle in my cheek tense under there knuckles, crunching and cutting at my skin.
"Stop." When my body felt it was going to topple over, the man behind me held me up right. I could feel the dizziness, the sudden strain to stay awake. "Answer the question!"
"Who is working with you!? Who is alive!?" The man was becoming anxious, impatient, and I didn't care. He wasn't going to get anything out of me.
My eyes fell in that moment, I could only focus on the blood falling from my lips, mixing with the dirt surface below. I twisted my wrists, trying to loosen the ache in which only cut at my skin more. More blood. The bruise on my face was surfacing. More pain.
The front man grabbed my chin and lifted my head to face him. "Tell me who is working with you." He spitted through his teeth, he was angry that I wasn't complying to his demand, which only made the left side of my face perk up. I grinned, my eyes falling on his while I licked my top lip.
"I hope you kill me." I whispered and that's when I had his greatest attention.
"Is that so.."
"Because if you don't, I'm going to kill you."
The man stood, shaking his head as he brought his fist up. He was going to hit me, and before he even had the chance to I could hear another car in the distance; which caught his attention more. They all turned, focusing on the distance while I focused on not passing out.
"You were followed! I told you to make sure you weren't followed!" He yelled, reaching out and gripping at the mans throat.
"Boss we have to go!"
"Grab the girl!" He pushed the man away before walking towards the black SUV.
That's when I was being lifted and then thrown to the ground when the bullets were fired. The man that held me fell to the ground, I couldn't focus after I hit the ground.
When I was being lifted, it wasn't long before I felt the dirt surface against my side. I had toppled over when the bullets started and the man in which brought me here fell to the ground, choking on the blood while holding his neck. I couldn't focus after that, because the slumber was falling close. The last few seconds of being conscious, I watched the man who had held my life in his hands open the SUV door and pause. I didn't know if he paused intentionally, really, or if it was just my imagination because there was someone else in the car; already waiting. When his facial features etched in, he looked familiar; and it was just before I realized who he was that my eyes had fallen closed.
"Thomas..."
"How is she?"
My eyes blurred open, I caught glimpse of Rodrick looking back from the drivers seat even so often; looking directly at me.
"She is fine, just drive." Her voice. Alex.
That's when I noticed my body lying on the backseat, my upper side in her lap, she was holding me. I didn't have the chance to look up at her, because the motion of the car was making me sick and all I could focus on then was not throwing up. As I felt the dizziness return, I felt her lips on the side of my face, piercing my delicate bruised skin. It was all it took for the black to return, and I fell.
Warmth had its way of making unexpected appearances, always. In this case, the warmth had traveled along every inch of my skin. I could feel the protections of a comforter, keeping the cold away as it continued to guide me back in to an endless amount of slumber. I never minded sleeping, and I never complained if I had the chance to rest for a full ten hours; although, I wasn't entirely sure how I ended up in a bed and for how long I had been here. My back felt extremely comfortable against the material, my body wrapped up in warmness, I was almost afraid of peeking out and feeling that cold once again. No matter how comfortable it was, I couldn't find the spot to fall back asleep.
I could almost feel my ears perking up, like a dog when something is near. The sound of muffles came to the left of me, and I knew I wasn't alone in this bed. Cautiously, I peered up and spotted a raven haired beauty beside me. Alex, I breathed out lightly, my body sinking calmly against the mattress, but I had the intense urge to get up and drift away from the confines of the comforter. Warmth has never been a lovely feeling, not after going through so much cold times; I had forgotten how comforting it could be.
Slowly, I slipped out, not wanting to wake a sleeping Alex. Why she was here in the same bed, I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to know just yet. When I watched her shift against the mattress, I almost stopped in my place, taking notice to how calm and collected she looked. From this one glance, you could never tell that there was anything wrong with her, if she had been sad or angry the day before, or if she wasn't feeling entirely well; you could never tell with that look.
My eyes drifted away from her and I was suddenly intrigued with how beautiful the room looked. The walls held a polished white, while the simplicity carried a rather unique taste to it. It awfully felt like our place in Paris. I was beginning to feel as though I hadn't entirely opened my eyes just yet, that I was still asleep somewhere far away. Whether it would be in Iraq, Afghan, Germany, or New York, I was somewhat grateful for getting the chance to look back. To fall back to where everything had started. I was then wondering if Alex would ever wake up, or if she would just lay there restfully until my dream had ended.
I had made my way around the side of the bed, before stopping in front of a dresser and reaching out for the silver cup; one in which was merely for decoration. My fingers ran over the metal, admiring it once more, and then setting it back in place; moving on. Gliding my hand over the fine blackened wood, I stopped when the small candles came in front. I smiled, even if it was just a small one while I picked up that rounded essence, bringing it to my nose so that I could smell the contents inside. Lavender.
Setting the candle down, my eyes had that one second to catch the blue- purple- green- and yellow mixture, and that had been all it took. I froze in place, glaring down at the candle, terrified of looking up and catching the blackened ring. But I had to, I was so curious to know, and when I did I could feel it aching just by looking at it. My eyes studied the black eye on the right side, it was more then just a small one, the mixture reached the line of my cheek with a cut above; that's when I noticed the other cut. The longer I stared, the more I seemed to hurt; the more my head ached, which had allowed everything to split.
Who is working with you!?
I pinched my eyes closed, which only seemed to pulse the bruise on my face. I wanted nothing but to wake up, for this dream to end, but when I brought my hand to my forehead I knew it was nothing of the sort.
Tell me there names!
When my arms reached outwards, I had pushed everything off the dresser in one quick motion, allowing everything to fall to the floor in a loud judgment. "Stop.." I whispered, bringing my hands to face while my eyes fell closed once more, and that's when I turned around and fell on my knees. "Stop.. please stop." My hands achingly twisted against my temples. I was desperately wanting the headache to pass, to vanish, I kept wishing I would just wake up. That I was really in Paris, with Alex, with her drug dealer days, I wanted nothing but that. But as the throbbing continued, I knew it just wasn't possible. "gah.."
"Piper." I could hear their voice, trying to pull me back from the depths of my own despair. I felt my nails digging into my palms, furthering the pain in my body. "Piper... Piper.." They continued, until they were pulling me in to the covens of their own warmth. Alex.
I could feel my back being pressed against her while her arms wrapped around my small frame, she was trying to stop my body from shivering; and I hadn't realized that I was shaking. My hands fell down to my chest and I could feel hers then gripping at mine, she was holding me tightly, heating my body with her own. The coldness of my skin was vanishing layer by layer, erupting against her. I never opened my eyes, I couldn't, the pain was just to much. I was breaking, becoming less whole then I have ever been, and in Alex's arms I could feel the skin of my cheeks burning.
"I.. I don't know if I can do this anymore..." I sobbed out, clenching my eyes that were already closed.
The shaking never stopped when the tears began to fall, tracing down my face and dripping onto the floor. I couldn't stop sobbing, I couldn't stop remembering ever little thing that had happened the day or two before, and everything in between. It felt as if my moment was finally here, that I couldn't fight it any longer. I was wondering if the headaches would ever stop, if I would ever feel completely whole again, and if I could live a day without thinking I was going to die. I was wondering if that was ever possible.
"I can't... I can't..." I chocked out, squeezing my fingers against hers.
I could instantly feel another burn against my right cheek, the drops falling onto my skin, and that's when I noticed Alex was crying along with me. I was unable to tell if she was shaking or sobbing, she was quiet and calm; holding my own weight against her. She was doing her best, but her warmth and her presence was much enough for me. Alex didn't need to cry, it was unlike her to, and that thought only hurt more.
"I can't do this anymore.."