City in Pieces

Chapter Forty-Nine: Test

Chance didn't apologize as she quickly left the house. That cold, sinking feeling in her stomach clung to the walls of her nerves like a vines along the side of a house; she hurried fast through the streets. As she paced herself, her only thoughts were of anticipating Bane's disapproval, and although he would value her alive, he wouldn't hold anything back. He was fair in terms of understanding, but the punishment for miscalculation was severe, and even a decorated lieutenant like Chance wouldn't be able to find a way around it.

Her jogging staggered and she plummeted herself toward the church,

Get it over with already! Chance thought desperately. She hurried through the confession booth. She tore the curtain across the hanging and rapped the wall quickly.

"Forgive me, Father," breathed Chance, panic in her voice, "for I have sinned."

"What are your sins, my daughter?" asked Apostle from the other side.

"I am the Messenger of the one who wears the mask," said Chance quietly.

"Lieutenant...Are you all right?" Apostle remarked from the wall, clicking the button beneath the seat. Chance glanced at the door that opened.

"I've made a terrible mistake." Chance whispered, staring through the dark.

"Then let's be hopeful that God can help you out," Apostle told her kindly through the wall.

"God can't help me now," retorted Chance softly, entering through the darkness.

She descended the stairs in a glide, came to the double doors, and saw Bane standing in the middle of the room, looking straight at her. Chance gulped loudly. She dared not enter full bodily into the lair; her feet stoned themselves in her shoes. Ice cold. She wasn't frightened of him.

She was terrified.

"Sir..." Chance said, meaning to sound bold, but her voice failed her. She was panting from the run, and it was lucky that she was; her voice shook from fear, but to anyone unknown, she was out of breath. Chance held onto the frame.

Bane hadn't been waiting for her. He had glanced at the door at the convenient time when she entered. He turned to his agents of shadow whom apparently had been listening to a good speech, for their eyes returned to him with certain appreciation.

"We will make reservation in Burgas, Bulgaria. That is our destination. As you were." The men fell into their cots. Chance stared at Bane, who turned to her, then motioned for her to follow him. Chance's stomach dropped off when she knew they were heading toward the sky light pent house. They said nothing as they climbed the stairs. She followed behind him, trying to catch anything to give light over what has happened.

Burgas, Bulgaria was on the other side of the Europe—they would skip like...Chance recounted the world map in her head and counted...four or five countries. And the country couldn't have been picked off the map at random. What did Bane know? Surely, he wasn't following a hunch...

Not like me, thought Chance, fuming at her ignorance.

He stopped in front of the door. Prickling started from her neck, down her back, and seemed to caress down her arms as she waited for Bane to open the door; after fiddling with the lock on the handle, he pushed it open and stepped to the side to let her through. Chance passed him. Bane closed the door behind him and leaned against it, crossing his arms. Chance stood in front of him, her back turned to him because her eyes couldn't meet his disappointed gaze. Or an angry one.

"What did you learn?" he said. His voice was low and controlled, but even then, Chance knew that he was able to control it even if he was furious. This was no help for her. She couldn't read him. Now she was like all the others, like she was before. Frightened, and the walls seem to close in the moment she opened her mouth.

"I have news," she uttered; she could practically feel his eyes burning into her skull—her mouth was dry, "But...you won't like it..." A silence blanketed the atmosphere. Her heart pounded in the awkward tension, she could see her chest pulsing under her shirt. "I think," she managed through a shaking voice, "you already know...though..."

His feet moved behind her. Chance closed her eyes.

Do it fast. Whatever you're going to do, do it fast. Please...

Bane's presence was ever closer. She could tell he stood...right...behind her. If she moved back any, his body would be up against her, and suddenly—

That hot surge pelted down her chest, to her quaking cavity, and pooled like molten lava to a bottomless pit of her pelvis. She fought the thoughts that raced through her mind; fear was a drug, and if she liked it when he frightened her, it was what it was. Chance didn't know whether to utter a plea or to ask him to take her.

"How," his voice thundered against her neck, "do you think I already know..." A pause. "...When you haven't told me?"

Chance bit her lip; she tasted blood. Maybe a bit too hard.

"Sir, I tried..." Chance whispered. She felt a trickle run down the corner of her lips of what blood she hadn't caught. "I thought...I..."

"A month," he said in her ear. "You had all of us down here for a month, waiting for you to catch his family"—Chance flinched as one of his hands steadied on her right shoulder—"and you have returned with information...Did you learn anything?"

"I was mistaken...I was mistaken..." Chance whispered shakily, shaking her head.

"A hunter like you? Mistaken. No," he sighed. "You assured me that you knew them for sure."

"I was sure..." Chance whimpered.

His other hand crept along her waist.

My God, make it quick if you're going to let him kill me...

No...make it slow...Oh, God, I don't know...Why am I still so addicted to him?

Shut up, you're being punished for your failure!

Oh...but if it's punishment, it feels so good...

Chance's mind barricaded the undertones of reason and lust. Long ago, she'd have hated the feeling of fear mixed with want, but it was under Bane that she had become accustomed to wanting something that she was terrified of, which was once a path—now it was Bane. Chance shuddered as his left hand steadied his fingers on the waistline of her skirt.

"The family isn't Pavel's," said Chance quietly.

"Isn't it?"

"Wrong family...family of a CIA agent..." Chance said quickly, staring straight ahead. Bane's hand along her waist pulled her back; her back was against his stomach. It was like being punted against a wall. By reflex, she set her hands on his thighs behind her. Chance was aware of his right hand caressing her neck.

He'll make you understand why you failed...

I want him to do it...

You're sick you know that; wanting some guy to strangle you.

Mm, not just a guy.

Bane...

Chance's breathing quickened.

"Do you know how much you set us back, Chance?" he said.

"I'm so sorry..." she whimpered. "I—Oh!"

Chance's neck seared as Bane grasped her throat; his fingers clung around her windpipe. Chance's fingernails clawed automatically along his jeans instinctively. His face remained calm all the while, glancing at her. Bane held her fast as she choked.

"I never told you to apologize..." he said from behind his mask. Chance's hands flew up to his wrist, attempting to pry his fingers from her windpipe. She gasped for air. "You assured me of false claims, my dear. I don't have to yell at you to make you understand how upset I am right now, do I?"

Chance cried out, nothing came. She shook her head. Chance's lungs screamed. Her stomach ached. Bane released her neck; Chance inhaled grateful gobs of oxygen, falling to her knees, grasping her heart. She coughed wildly. But her relief ceased when Bane leaned over, pulled her head back by a handful of her hair, and stared at her frightened eyes.

"I...I..." Chance breathed. "The boy looked just like Pavel...I was certain...You have to believe me."

Bane caressed the side of her jawline with a fore finger. Chance hoped he was merciful.

"I believe you."

Bane entangled his hand in her hair; Chance cried out as he pulled her to her feet by a raw technique. Chance stood in front of him.

"I know that I was wrong!" Chance yelled angrily when he released her locks. She stepped a few good inches from him. "I knew it when the woman told me! But you would have never known if I hadn't told you!"

"You're under the impression that I just discovered it recently," said Bane, approaching her.

Chance stared at him.

"You sent me here to track them." Chance reasoned.

"They're in Bulgaria, Chance," said Bane. "Pavel and his true family reside in Burgas, comfortably awaiting our arrival. They haven't turned against us, they await us..."

"Then you set me up for failure," Chance said.

"No, I was testing you." Bane said calmly.

Chance glared at him.

"You still don't trust me?" she hissed.

"I trust you, I believe you, but I wanted to see how well you would do." Bane explained. He signaled for her to come to him, but she scoffed coldly and walked away, sitting on the bed.

"Then why did you strangle me just then?" Chance questioned him, suddenly furious.

"Chance, I can read you like a book by now." Bane said, standing in front of her. She glanced at his eyes. He reached for her chin. "Look at me." She tried pulling away, but his grip around her face tightened. "Look at me, I said."

Chance bore angry eyes as she watched him.

"I knew that you would fail." Bane said. "I wanted to see how you would react. You didn't run from me. You came back to give me unfortunate news that would no doubtedly cost you your life. It's an admirable trait. Some may see it as foolishness," he pulled her tangled her and pushed it behind her ears, "I call it loyalty."

Chance sighed.

"You knew that I was watching the wrong people. All this time."

"Yes," said Bane, nodding. A pause. "This CIA agent, the husband of the family...did she drop a name by any chance?"

"She wasn't specific," said Chance honestly. A pause from her. "Why?"

"It's not a surprise that the American CIA has been watching my activity." Bane told her. "I've known quite a while."

"Why haven't you mentioned this to me before?" questioned Chance softly.

"It's less likely that we'll be caught unintentionally," said Bane truthfully.

Chance watched him.

"If," began Chance gently, "you were to die"—Bane gazed at her purposefully—"what would you have me do?"

"Do what must be done." Bane answered.

"And if I should fail at that?" asked Chance hesitantly.

He searched her face.

"Do you doubt your ability to look beyond death?"

Chance shook her head.

"No." She rose to her feet. "Just yours."

Chance stood up on her tip-toes and lightly kissed the place on his mask where his lips would be. She rubbed her neck slightly. Some heavy marks appeared around her throat, the imprint of his hand was visible. Bane shook her head.

"I expect you to do what is necessary, Chance. And leading these men through the world, liberating those who were imprisoned by corrupted men—that is your destiny. As it is mine."