Chapter 21

In the morning, I woke up early. Too early. I walked outside and looked around. The morning was quiet, from its normal hustle and bustle of the day. I took a few steps outside, breathing in the fresh air. The beautiful scenery of the rising sun started to blur, and the sounds of the chattering birds hushed...

He went inside the cabin.

"Hi, honey. I'm home!" he sang out.

Silence... Then a muffled sob from the bed.

"Well now, Kirie darlin', how ya doin'?" He set down a bag and went over to Kirie. Humming a little to himself. He untied and peeled off the silk scarf. He released her wrists from the twine. Kirie gasped, crunching her eyes,peering into the half-light. She saw him standing over her.

"Please, Blake. Take me home!" she blurted.

"Why sure enough, y'are home, sugar." Blake looked a little surprised, hurt she was thinking otherwise.

"Where am I?"

She rubbed her wrist, wincing as she went over the burn marks. Her hands felt dead.

"You're tucked away nice 'n' safe where nobody can find ya, honey."

Kirie looked around the cabin. A tin bucket stood in the corner. Coulda used that hours ago, she thought. Aware of the dark patch, now cold and uncomfortable between her legs. She saw a pack of bottled water, an open cardboard box, a rickety hardback chair, and Blake's bag, directly in front of her.

Shuffling til her back was against the wall, she took in the tick mattress. Old brown stains made big patchy patterns across it. Blood? There was more stain than mattress. She stifled a gulp of fear.

"Blake, what are you going to do with me? she asked, despising the tremor in her voice.

"Haven't decided yet, sugar. But take my advice, don't you worry your pretty lil head about it." He walked over to the cardboard box, took out a wrapped bread roll and handed it to her. "Here, you must be hungry. Sometime since you last ate, huh?"

She took the roll, peeled off the wrapper, opened up the top layer, and peered inside.

"Won't hurt you none." He watched her closely, an amused grin on his face. "Can't guarantee it'll be like your dad's, but it's good as you're gonna get." He picked up a bottle of water, twisted off the top, and passed the bottle to her.

"There," he said. "Salami on rye and a swig a' water and you'll be fightin' fit in no time at all. Mmmm... looks good." he said, and nodded at the sandwich. "Don't mind if I have one a' those myself."

Helping himself to a roll and fresh water, he sat facing her, astride in the hardback chair. He broke off a wad of bread and shoved it in his mouth.

"Guess you must be wonderin' why you're here." he said, chewing on the food. "Why I'm taking a special interest in my pretty lil girl."

"You could say that," Kirie said slowly, not taking her eyes off his face. How could she have ever liked him? Her heart began to hammer. Blake chewed on his food, smiling at her like he knew something she didn't. Kirie didn't like the way he did that. She shivered.

"Tell ya a story?"

"If you must."

"Gotta keep y' entertained, honey. Can't have ya gettin' bored now, can we?"

She made a face. He had to smile. The kid had guts, he'd have to give her that.

"I tell you a tale, then I take your photograph. Deal?" He offered a hand and she took in, warily. She didn't like the sound of "Photographs," but at least it didn't seem like he was going to kill her yet.

He got up and stood looking through the cabin's murky window.

"I should start out with my childhood. Ya see, my mom left me an' my dad when I was about seven. She had brown hair an' blue eyes like you. Ya know that? After that my dad started drinkin'. When he was drunk he'd blame me for her leavin. Used to beat the living shit outta for it. Now every time I see a pretty girl like you, it pisses me off. It makes me think of my mom, and how she just up 'n' left." he said, giving her that twisted smile again. He turned on his heel, and faced her. Looking into her eyes, saying nothing. Just staring like she was a stranger he never seen her before. She glanced away, feeling nervous, uncomfortable. He set himself astride in the chair again. He began talking.

"Ya know, you weren't the first girl here. Remember Megan Politano? She dumped me. It pissed me off, and reminded me of my mom. Let's jus' say she didn't move to West Virginia like everyone thinks. Don't think you're lil charade didn't go unnoticed either."

Kirie's mouth stayed shut.

Maybe he's gonna cry.

Then I can hit him with something and escape...

Casually, she looked around. Saw nothing she could use for a weapon. Except the chair... but he was sitting in that.

"I just want to know why she left me. So I can slit her throat for the right reasons."

"Maybe she left you 'cause you're a deranged lunatic!"

Right on smart-ass! That should get you killed. You wanna die? Carry on this way and you'll get your wish...

He lifted his head, and his eyes leveled with seemed oddly vacant, yet they glittered with a wild and dangerous look. Kirie shuttered.

Christ, I got him riled up again. What am I, a moron?

His mouth quirked with a humorless twist. "Well now. Ain't you the funny girl?"

Kirie almost felt sorry for him. He sure was a mixed-up guy. Yeah. Sick. Dangerous. But sad,too. Suddenly, he was on his feet again, staring out the window. His hands went to his hips, his jacket lifted, and she caught the bulge of his wallet in his back pocket.

"Blake?" she ventured quietly."Why don't you let me go home? Keeping me here isn't gonna do you any good. People'll be looking for me. They find me and-"

"Find you? What makes you think anybody's gonna find ya, sweetheart?"

"Well, they'll search for me. Probably trace me to here."

"No way. Nobody saw you go. Nobody'll find you here. Reason I use this place is because nobody ever comes up here. 'Cept me."

Then he was standing over her. His legs apart. Grinning. Stroking her hair. Smoothing the dark strands resting on her shoulders. Over and over again.

Breaking away, she squirmed back across the mattress, edging off it, landing on her knees. She scrambled to her feet.

"Just let me go, Blake. before we both do something we'll regret."

Her eyes wandered to the chair. One quick smash and it'd be in pieces. His eyes mocked hers. "Don't do anything stupid, Kirie. Remember, I could break ya pretty lil neck, just like that." He looked confused, bewildered. Shaking his head. Heaving a sorrowful sigh.

"I'm gonna have to put y'away, Kirie. Y'know that?"

"Put me away? Whaddya mean, put me away?"

"Put you someplace where you'll do no harm. Where you'll be safe. Come to Ole Blake, lil girl." He beckoned, smiling. Like he was offering candy to a baby. She glared back. Not moving.

"C'mon, sugar. Blake might turn nasty if Kirie doesn't come when she's called." his voice had a singsong tone to it.

"So, whaddya gonna do, Blake?"

"Something I shoulda done right from the start." He picked up the twine from where it had fallen earlier. She watched him advance, slowly, winding it around his hands. She backed away, stumbling against the cabin wall, her arms shooting out, spread-eagle against the wood slats.

"C'mon now, Kirie. There's a good girl."

Fascinated, she watched him twist the twine around his fingers. Her hand rose to her neck.
"No, Blake! Please don't," she paused. "Don't do it Blake!"

"What are you doing standing out here like that?" I jerked around. A black cat was sitting by my side, licking its front paw. Yoruichi.

"Oh, nothing. Just- admiring the sun rise."

"Now, I know it's not that. You've done that before. Zone out like that."

"What are you talking about?"

"Before you were admitted into the Shin'o Academy, you did the same thing. Your couldn't have been admiring any type of scenery in that damp dark forest." she purred, "So tell me."

I sighed. There would be no easy way telling her everything that I know, or the real reason why I wanted to join the Shin'o Academy. But, I told her anyway. I watched her face, seeing if it would change as I told the story. It didn't. She suggested we go inside, to talk.

She jumped up onto my sofa, spinning around and eventually sitting.

"I figured the reason for becoming a Soul Reaper was other than wanting to see the World of the Living. I just didn't know the other reason." she said.

"Then why did you suggest it?"

"Well, whatever it was, it seemed pretty important for you. Obviously it was, if you graduated with only four years at the Academy." She yawned, showing a few of her white, sharp teeth. "You mind telling me what you think these "visions" mean to you?"

"I don't know. I don't really know what the first three have to do with the last two."

"Simple. You know how in a book, the beginnings are always slow, and boring?"

"Yeah?"

"That's what your visions are doing. Just setting up the story. Putting things into place. I think they're trying to tell you something."

"So, what should I do?"

"Just live life, these visions seem to just happen when they want. When something else happens, let me know." She then leapt down from my sofa, and scratched at he door. I opened it for her, and she trotted outside. Before she left, I made her promise not to tell a soul. She agreed and left. She wasn't very helpful in my attempt to understand these.

I decided to get an early start on my patrol through Cagely. I got dressed into my uniform. Put my sheath around me. Headed out the door. I got to Cagely. It seemed as quiet as the Seireitei. A few cars were driving in the streets. The street lamps were still on. A chilling fog was lurking in between the buildings, making it difficult to see.

I walked through the park, like I normally do. Except I had an eerie feeling someone was watching me. I waved the thought out of my mind. Probably just the fog. I then paused, for a long moment. Listening for- something. I didn't know what to listen for exactly, I just listened. I heard a stick crack from behind me. I jerked around. Gasped. A great pain then overcame me. A sudden weight in my chest paralyzed me. My eyelids were heavy. My vision blurred. I could only see the shadowy figure that stood before me, until I saw nothing but blackness.

I didn't exactly know how I could easily transition into this happening to Kirie. This was the best I could come up with. It would be great if you could leave a review, telling me if it sounds good to you. Thanks!