CHAPTER SIX
Jesse is sat on the unmade bed in the corner of a bare room she watches as Sam makes himself more comfortable on the rolled up blankets on the wooden floor beside her.
SAM: I don't think Alec likes me very much.
JESSE: That's probably a good thing.
SAM: I don't know why though.
Sam looks clueless.
JESSE: He must recognise a backstabber when he sees one.
SAM: It wasn't my fault that you fumbled that job!
She looks at him infuriated.
JESSE: No you just let me take the fall then you denied all involvement!
Max listens on the other side of the closed door.
SAM: I didn't ask you to come back and help me…
JESSE: You were too busy panicking.
SAM: If it's any consolation I do regret what happened.
She ignores his comment.
JESSE: Are you still working for White?
He doesn't hesitate in answering.
SAM: Absolutely not…Are you?
JESSE: …No, not really…I can't help but follow his orders.
SAM: I understand I was the same…I meant it when I said I can help you.
JESSE: I gotta go clear my head.
Max waits until Jesse is out of sight them joins Sam in the small room.
MAX: So your one of White's upgrades huh?
She says this matter of factly and he nods as he stands.
SAM: I was I got out, it cost more than I could afford but it was better in the long run.
MAX: Can you really help her?
SAM: I can.
MAX: Then get your friend over here ASAP cos she doesn't have long left.
He walks towards her an enquiring look on his face.
SAM: What do you mean?
MAX: She didn't tell you.
He waits impatiently for her to continue.
MAX: Her body can't handle what they did to her she's dying.
* * *
Jesse walks just outside the borders of terminal city it's pitch black and the streets are for the most part empty, she watches as the last person disappears into a tatty building, then continues forward.
Footsteps sound on the pavement behind her and she stops, waiting. The footsteps come to a halt the flip of a blade the only sound.
"Don't move"
Jesse smiles and aims a kick at the guys mid-section she moves into a fighting stance as he falls to the floor. Keeping her eyes on the attacker Jessie picks up the knife, another voice to her right steals her attention.
"That was very stupid"
She moves swiftly into a position where she can see both men, the newest thug the older one of the two, tall and muscular the complete opposite to his fallen comrade. The tall one spins the metal chain he holds, around in the air, the one on the floor gets up rubbing his stomach.
YOUNG THUG: That hurt.
JESSE: And I was holding back too.
YOUNG THUG: I can take her Jimmy.
The muscular guy, Jimmy shakes his head and steps forward.
JIMMY: Watch and learn.
He hits her with the chain flicking it like a whip; it fastens around her wrist and he pulls her forward she butts him in the head bursting his nose. She steps behind him throwing the chain around his neck she forces his head back. She kicks the back off his knee causing him to fall forward.
His companion throws the knife which she catches.
JESSE: Thanks.
Her eyes glint as she thrusts the knife into Jimmy's pounding chest he gasps and his breathing becomes laboured. Jesse turns to his friend.
JESSE: I'll give you a 10-second head start.
He doesn't hesitate in running and he doesn't look back. She looks at the dying man.
JESSE: I'm very impatient.
She pulls the chain tighter around his neck and waits for the snap of his neck, looking in the direction of the other man she pulls her gloves up then begins the hunt.
* * *
White slides into the car seat then leans forward towards the driver.
WHITE: Don't lose her.
* * *
She hunts him like an animal a lone wolf singling out the weakling of the pack. He can hear her behind him, she makes her presence known by kicking things on the floor or tapping a window to let him know she's still on his trail.
She's the predator and he is dead.
* * *
Max glances out of the window keeping an eye on the shadows that lurked outside the fence, Alec interrupted her watch.
ALEC: Jesse should be back by now.
MAX: She'll be back when she's ready she needs to clear her head.
ALEC: Clearing your head doesn't take this long…Something's happened --
MAX: Will you quit it with the paranoia!
He taps her on the shoulder and points outside.
ALEC: No, something's wrong.
Jesse stumbles forward limping badly, her arm bleeding. She waves Alec and Max away as they come to help her.
JESSE: I don't need you help!
MAX: What happened to you?
She looks at Max with cold, unfeeling eyes.
JESSE: Nothing I couldn't handle.
Out of the corner of her eye Max sees Logan motioning for her to come to him, Alec pulls Jesse to one side.
ALEC: What happened huh?
JESSE: I ran into a little trouble nothing happened, no harm done.
She starts to walk up the steps to where Sam waits for her.
LOGAN: A man was found murdered tonight not too far from here a young woman found him then chased after his friend.
MAX: And what happened to him?
LOGAN: A man from the FBI saw what happened this man saved the friend, Agent White.
MAX: Ad you think Jesse did this.
LOGAN: You saw the state she got back here in and she wasn't to anxious to tell all.
MAX: Alec trusts her.
LOGAN: He can't see what she's doing.
MAX: He doesn't want to.
They watch her as she begins talking to Sam.
MAX: I don't trust him.
LOGAN: That's what Alec said.
MAX: Wow we actually agree with each other about something.
She sets off walking in the direction Jesse went.
LOGAN: What are you going to do?
MAX: Ask nicely.
* * *
Sam lies sprawled out on his make shift bed, he watches as cleans the cuts on her arm after refusing his help.
SAM: So who did you fight Jess?
JESSE: White was following me and I stopped him,
SAM: He's waiting for you to break.
She shrugs.
JESSE: That won't happen.
SAM: Do you still want to see the guy I told you about?
She nods solemnly.
JESSE: White saw what I did and he was…Happy.
SAM: I heard about that dead man I take it that was your work.
JESSE: I was trained to attack and he posed a threat, I did what had to be done.
SAM: And White saved the other one?
She nods again.
JESSE: He fought me to protect a complete stranger I don't know his purpose --
SAM: We can go first thing in the morning.
JESSE: Why can't we go now?
Sam nods to where Max and Alec stand in the doorway.
MAX: Because we won't let you.
ALEC: You have some explaining to do.
TBC…
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