Notes: Is Zack going to find Noah? Get ready to find out. Don't forget to
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Chapter VII: .And doing everything to get it
Zack's POV
Where is she?
It's all I'm capable of thinking, as I stand alone in what used to be Noah's living room. I've already been in her room. Her closets are empty; the money's gone, so is her bike. That's what I first noticed when I parked mine in the underground parking.
I've already dropped at her work. Karen told me she hadn't shown up in a week. What happened? If anything went wrong while I was gone, I'll never forgive myself.
Jondy! I have to call Jondy!
Jondy's POV
I'm watching some cheap TV program when the doorbell rings AGAIN! It's gotta be that jerk again! He's my neighbor. David's his name and well, he's kinda got a crush on me. Lately it's even turned into obsession. He comes to see me at least four times a day! He's always got something to say or to ask for:
"Have you got any butter Jesse?"
"Wanna have dinner at my place Jesse? I can't eat a whole chicken all by self!"
"Hey Jesse, we're watching the same TV program wanna come watch it at my place?"
Jesse's my new name. The guy I went to get new papers got mixed up. What a jerk, he couldn't remember Jondy! Too difficult when mother nature's only given you two neurons!
The doorbell rings again. 'What the hell does he want now?' I wonder heading for the door. I've only been in Santa Fe for a few months, well, since Eyes Only's hack.
I open up the door, already rolling my eyes at David again. Boy, he'll be happy when I'll go into heat! A tan, curly, young girl collapses in my arms as soon as the door's fully opened. She's all dressed up in black and a black leather jacket. I can smell blood all over her, dry blood. She looks up to me and says before fainting:
"Jondy, Jon"
No one knows my real name, except for my siblings. It's gotta be.
"Noah? Noah? Are you all right? What happened?" I ask carrying her inside.
Noah's POV
I open up my eyes. I'm lying on a bed. It's not mine of course, I remember running away from Phoenix. My vision's still blurry but someone's near me.
"Zack?" I whisper.
"Sorry sis" a girl says, "It's just me, Jondy, remember"
Yeah, I remember now. The three thugs, the robbery, the shooting, the graveyard, Manticore's gorillas after me and the car crash. Good old memories! Well, not so old, but still memories fortunately!
I slowly sit. My body still aches but I feel a whole lot better. I have a bandage around my abdomen.
"You got lucky that bullet got out and didn't hurt anything in there!" Jondy says.
"Luck?" I say gazing at Ginna's ring, "I would've been lucky if I had Syl or Tinga's fast healing" I smirk.
"We still heal faster than normal people" she says, "Now tell me, what happened and how d'you knew where to find me?"
"Zack told me where you were because he wasn't sure he was ever going to come back" I sigh.
Girl talk, pizza and a bottle of coke later, I head for the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. I really look like shit. I could even scare myself. My hair's all messed and as I try passing my fingers through my hair, I say:
"Jon, mind if I take a bath?"
"I'll getcha a towel" she answers.
"By the way, Jon! Please tell me you have conditioner!" I plead.
Anderson's POV
"You lost her! How could you have lost her? You said she was unconscious and handcuffed!" Vitali's voice resounds in his new office.
"I don't know Sir, I can't explain it" I answer.
He stops right in front of me, put his two hands on the armchair I'm sitting in and barks out:
"Explain it? Well I think I can Anderson! In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you three morons had been chasing the wrong truck!"
I can feel his breath on my face as he's screaming to my face. Then, he starts circling Miller and I again and keeps yelling:
"That bitch must have got her! She double-crossed me! I'll get her, I don't know how but I'll get revenge!"
I roll my eyes, as once again, the whole building's gonna now we failed. Suddenly, someone softly knocks at the door. It's Peterson. I thought he had felt like avoiding the whole humiliation thing.
"Sir?" he shyly says in hush voice and stepping in.
"What?" Vitali yells.
"I don't think they've got her either" Peterson says.
"I think you morons are even more stupid than I thought" the boss says letting himself fall into his chair as if he was giving up.
"No I mean, Sir. Remember we had placed a tracker on her bike and well, it's moved. Her bike I mean. It's actually in Santa Fe. She's a transgenic. Chances that she's escaped are rather" Peterson said.
"A 100%" Vitali says grinning and looking up to Peterson with hope.
A silence falls in the room, as the boss seems to be thinking.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Get your butts in Santa Fe" He starts yelling again.
As I'm walking to my cars, Miller and Peterson following me, I wonder why, if Vitali thinks we're such morons, he keeps putting us on such important missions?
Jondy's POV
"I betcha that in their nice little manticorian scientist group there weren't any women?" I tell Noah.
We're both in the bathroom, doing girl stuff. I'm shaving and she's putting her wet hair up and some make up, not that she needs any. Really, she's beautiful
"Why ya saying this?" she asks me.
"Well, if a woman had been involved in our creation, she would've thought about making our legs hairless! See what I mean" I say rinsing my legs.
"I know" Naoh says, "And she would've thought about not giving me curly hair and fixing that butt of mine I probably got from my supposed black parent" she sighs.
"I think your butt's fine. At least it's not, you know, 'flat' like some girl's. I wish my hair was as curly as yours" I note sincere.
"No you don't. Transgenic or not, guess girls are just never satisfied with what they've got!" Noah smirks.
I'm glad she's here with me. It's nice having a female sibling around. Zack's not too much of a communicative person. He just gives you orders, saves your ass and leaves. Well, looks like he's given her more information than he's ever given me. I found Zane by chance in LA. Zack'd kill me if he ever found out I stayed in contact with another sibling than him.
The doorbell rings AGAIN. This time I'm a 100% sure it's David. I haven't seen him since lunch and it was like four hours ago!
"O. M. N. again" Noah giggles.
"What does that stands for? Obviously Mad Neighbor?" I ask laughing.
"More for Obsessed Male Neighbor" she replies laughing as well.
"Why have you ever had to face an Obsessed Female Neighbor?" I ask joking.
"You have no idea," Noah says rolling her eyes.
I stop laughing, as I didn't think she was serious but she really was; she really had had an O. F. N. I look at her for half a second, my mouth dropped open and then we both start laughing again. The doorbell rings again.
"Have mercy" I sigh raising my two arms as if I was giving up.
"Bless yourself, O. F. N. can be worse than O. M. N." Noah giggles.
I walk out of the bathroom towards the door, open it and surprise, surprise fall face to face with. David.
"Hey, Jesse! Guess what there's a bike parked right near yours in the parking" he says as enthusiast as a kid that was just given an ice cream.
I roll my eyes again and say:
"Yes, it's my sister's"
Then I hear Noah calling:
"Jon, we gotta jet NOW!"
Noah's POV
There are only two cars but their plate says Arizona. These black suits have nothing to do with camouflage uniform. These guys are definitely not from Manticore. Them again! The three jerks I beat up to save Ron's ass are here again. Who the hell are they working for? I should think about asking them someday: a girl's gotta know who's hunting her down!
These are the thoughts running through my mind as I'm looking out Jondy's window. Her apartment's on the tenth floor. We still got time till they come up here!
I feel so guilty dragging Jondy into this. I really made sure no one had followed me. How could they have found me?
"What's up?" Jondy runs to me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want this," I say pointing at the window.
"This is definitely not Manticore. Let's bounce," she says.
"Jesse? Is everything all right?" O. M. N. also known as David asks as he steps into the living room.
"See ya David!" Jondy says shoving a few things in her backpack.
I put my leather jacket back on and swing my backpack over my shoulder. I'm gonna have to leave my bag filled all clothes here. I know, I know: guys are waiting outside, ready to either dissect me or look e up in a cage or make end up in Psy Ops and I'm worried about letting my clothes here. What can I say? I am a material girl.
I look out the window again and blurt out:
"Two cars. Ten men. Armed. No teasers. Saw my bike. They're in"
"How can you tell all this from here?" David says blinking and frowning as he's looking out the window as well.
"We can take'em out. They're only ten" Jondy says.
"What d'you mean by taking them out Jesse? Why are armed men looking for you anyway?" O. M. N. asks me.
"I'd like to know too. I think it's time I ask them," I say dropping my bag.
Jondy grins at me; obviously glad she's getting some action. I'm glad I'll be able not to leave all my clothes here.
We run down a few stairs, David following us and telling us how dangerous it is and bla, bla, bla. He finally shuts up when Jondy knocks him out. O. M. N. are always such a drag!
We're still in the staircase. Five men are coming up to our floor, their guns out. A make a military sign to Jondy. She nods. I jump on two of them and face a third one.
"You again?" I tell him before punching him.
The two others are pointing their guns at me but they aren't expecting a second killing machine. Just like I did previously, Jondy jumps on the last two and easily knocks them out. There's only one left and he's trembling like a scared girlie as he's lost his gun.
"Wait! Don't please, Noah!" he stutters stepping back.
"You know my name?" I ask surprised.
"I don't mean to. It's my boss; he wanted to sell you. I had to" he says still backing up.
"You know my name, I think the least you could do is tell me yours" I ask with a too big a smile to be sincere, "What's your name? Who's your boss?" I coldly add as he doesn't answer and just keeps sweating, trembling and backing up.
"Anderson. My name's Anderson"
"Are you depth Anderson? I've just asked you two questions," I say shoving him against the wall.
"His name's Vitali. He works for the Italian Mafia"
"The Mafia? How did you find me?" I scowl.
"There's a tracking device on your bike" Anderson stammers.
"Who did you intend to sell me to?" I ask putting my fingers around his neck.
"To some lady called Renfro, I think. She double crossed Vitali though," Anderson says.
"Was she from Manticore?" I ask raising my voice as this geek's getting on my nerves he's shaking so much.
"Manti-what? I don't know what you're talking about" he says closing his eyes as if he was expecting me to punch him.
"Don't lie to me Anderson. I hate liars. What does this Renfro bitch have to do with Manticore?" I ask, "Didn't you have to deal with Lydecker?"
"I don't know what's Manticore. I don't know who's Lydecker either I swear" he begs.
"I think he's telling the truth," Jondy says behind me.
"I think so too," I say letting go off his throat and turning around to face my sister.
"Thank you Noah, thank you really" Anderson says rubbing his throat.
"Don't thank me. Remember last time I said I'd make sure you'd never be able to come back" I say before turning back around and punching him so hard that he collapses.
I rub my left side, where the bandage is. It's still hurting like hell.
"Are you OK?" Jondy asks me looking concerned.
"Yeah, no biggy" I shrug.
"Good cause five more gorillas coming right up!" she says.
Later that same day.
"I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble and blown up your cover Jon" I apologize to my little sister.
We're in the parking down her building. The two black cars are still there but it's passengers and drivers are fast asleep in Jondy's staircase. We made sure they were when we went down them a second them with our bags packed and all. Now, we're on our bikes ready to leave. We figured that Jondy should move too because maybe Manticore had followed these geeks here. Of course, we got rid of the tracker on my bike.
"It's all right. I was getting tired of Santa Fe anyway. I wanted to move out especially because of O. M. N." Jondy shrugged.
She's just awesome. I've always loved her. I hope I'll see her soon again. I got her phone number and she's got mine. Zack wouldn't approve but screw him!
"Look I don't know where I'm going but I know you still need to rest. You haven't fully recovered. I'll leave a message to Zack don't worry about it, telling him that you went to see Zane" she says hugging me.
"You know where Zane is?" I ask pulling myself away from her clutch to look at her blue eyes.
"Zack's gonna kill me for this" she says pinching her lip, "I found out Zane was in LA while I still was in San Francisco. It really was by chance and well, we've kept contact, disobeying to every rule Zack had imposed us. So, we've kept it secret up until now. It turned out useful after all... You need major help! He'll find you some nice cozy place to stay for a while till you can find another job and well, start over!"
"Yeah, that's the story of our life" I sigh.
"You got enough money?" she asks me.
"I'm cool. I've made a few trades before I left Phoenix" I say which was true.
Her blue eyes stare at me for half a second, scanning my whole face to check if I wasn't lying. I must've looked pretty sincere as she hugs me again and starts her bike.
"Here's Zane's cell phone, last time I called him he was in Utah. Don't ask me what he was doing there, I haven't got a clue! Good luck Noah!" she shrugs handing me a piece of paper.
I look at it for a second, enough to memorize it. Then, I tear it into a thousands pieces, throw them away and start my bike waving at her.
Jondy's right: I haven't fully recovered. Driving my bike requires an effort! I'm heading for Utah. Maybe I could try skiing once I'm feeling better? I've never tried.
Unfortunately, I've got a lot more on my mind. I need to be a lot more careful this time. The Italian Mafia after me? Who'd have thought? I knew foreign countries were interested in having us, as we were high tech soldiers. Zack had told me so after what had happened to Brin.
This Mafia guy must've found me when I made that strength demonstration to save Ron. I still don't know how this Renfro bitch's related to Manticore. Looks like Lydecker's not the only one that we need to worry about.
God, I hope Zack's all right and I hope Tinga's OK too. I wish I could see him again. I promise I'll stop being irresponsible, I'll be a good soldier from now on if I could just see him again.
A few days later.
"Thanks Zane! Really means a lot to me!" I say hugging the tall athletic dark hair and green eyed X5.
"No problem Noah. Pleasure seeing you again. You can stay here a couple of months, I'll let you know if my boss reappears anytime sooner than expected. No one'll come disturb you here. That's why I love this place... it's almost empty! I might drop by sometime next week to check on you and bring you some food, OK?" he smirks.
"My pleasure" I say grinning and looking at the nice cozy little cabin, "In the mean time, take care of my bike"
"Don't worry little sister," he says before disappearing behind the wooden door.
It was a lot more fancy than anywhere I had ever slept in was. Well, except this one time, I was in New York and I went into heat. I met this rich kid and we ended up in this five star hotel suite. Well, we didn't sleep much anyway so doesn't really count.
Zack's POV
I'm all covered with snow. It reminds me of that night in 2009 when the twelve escaped. I feel the same way: just as cold and nervous. I can see the cabin. Nice place, Zane's right; it does seem lost, kinda like Logan's cabin: you can't find it unless you know it's there.
I called Jondy as soon as I saw Noah was gone. She told me she had sent her to Zane in Utah because both Manticore and the Italian Mafia were after her. Jondy also said Noah came to her badly hurt. I hope she's OK. I can't believe I didn't see it come. They had been after her for a while apparently. I can't believe I didn't even notice a thing, too busy saving Max, Tinga and Brin. Turns out, Max doesn't need my help, Tinga and Brin got caught anyway. I'm not losing another one and especially not Noah.
I walk up the stairs that lead to the front door and try to get the snow outta my hair. I push the front wooden door open; it's not locked. I let the warmth of the cabin coming from the fireplace, heat up my whole body. I start focusing on her. Where is she? I can sense her: she's in a room nearby, I believe it's the bathroom. I think she's having a shower: I can hear the water running.
I walk towards that room, careful not to make a sound. I don't want her to notice me yet. I'm excited and nervous. It's hot in here. That heat mixed with my enthusiasm of seeing her again could make me sweat. I can't afford to sweat if I don't want her to notice me. If I do, she'll be able to smell me. I try to focus and lower by body temperature. I shiver, it works.
I slightly push the bathroom's door open, not sure of what I'll do once she's noticed me. It's even hotter in here: Noah's been taking a hot shower, the condensation hits my cold face as soon as I step in. I see her hand coming out of the shower grabbing a towel nearby. Then, the shower curtain opens up. She steps out of the shower with the grace that characterizes her, nothing but the towel wrapped around her and her long brown wet curls falling on her shoulders.
I'm unable to make a single move. I just stay there, in the doorway, gazing at her. She's so beautiful and delicate. Finally, she notices me and turns around. She stares at me the same way I'm staring at her. Her voluptuous lips slightly split as she tries to say something. I can read her lips, she's saying my name but not a sound has escaped from them.
Those lips, I wanna taste them; I wanna grab them without ever letting them go, I want every breath they take to be coming from me. Yet, I don't know if I can, I don't know if Noah'll let me. Maybe she hasn't forgiven me for being such a jackass and not realizing things sooner. But now, I know what I want and above all who I want: it's not Max, it's no one else than this caramel beauty standing in front of me.
Her hazel green eyes are looking straight into my blue eyes and she slightly smiles. I take this as signal, a positive signal. I rush towards her, she meets me half way. We stand chest to chest and still eye into eye, green meeting blue. My hand gently runs down her arm feeling the little drops of water that are also running along her tan body, wet meeting dry. My hands go round her waist and I drag her closer to me, warm meeting cold. My second hand goes through her hair and grabs her head, also dragging it closer to mine as I finally get to taste those lips, caramel meeting white.
Her hands first hold my face and then find their way on my body. Mine go down to her chest as I unwrap her towel. I feel her stiffen so I stop kissing her to look at her. I had forgotten Jondy had told me she was hurt: broken ribs from here, but also what look like a bullet whole on her abdomen.
"What have they done to you?" I ask frowning.
"Don't worry. I'm fine now that you're here" she whispers to my ear as she hugs me.
Then, she pulls herself away to kiss me again. I lift her up in my arms and carry her to the bed. There, we made love for the first time in the warmth of the cabin, away from Lydecker, away from Manticore, away from the Mafia and away from the whole world. There was just us and it was perfect.
Notes: So? D'you like it? Next chapter corresponds to 'Meow' Review please.It will make my life easier. I really sound pitiful, don't I? Good, maybe it'll make you feel sorry for me and REVIEW.
Chapter VII: .And doing everything to get it
Zack's POV
Where is she?
It's all I'm capable of thinking, as I stand alone in what used to be Noah's living room. I've already been in her room. Her closets are empty; the money's gone, so is her bike. That's what I first noticed when I parked mine in the underground parking.
I've already dropped at her work. Karen told me she hadn't shown up in a week. What happened? If anything went wrong while I was gone, I'll never forgive myself.
Jondy! I have to call Jondy!
Jondy's POV
I'm watching some cheap TV program when the doorbell rings AGAIN! It's gotta be that jerk again! He's my neighbor. David's his name and well, he's kinda got a crush on me. Lately it's even turned into obsession. He comes to see me at least four times a day! He's always got something to say or to ask for:
"Have you got any butter Jesse?"
"Wanna have dinner at my place Jesse? I can't eat a whole chicken all by self!"
"Hey Jesse, we're watching the same TV program wanna come watch it at my place?"
Jesse's my new name. The guy I went to get new papers got mixed up. What a jerk, he couldn't remember Jondy! Too difficult when mother nature's only given you two neurons!
The doorbell rings again. 'What the hell does he want now?' I wonder heading for the door. I've only been in Santa Fe for a few months, well, since Eyes Only's hack.
I open up the door, already rolling my eyes at David again. Boy, he'll be happy when I'll go into heat! A tan, curly, young girl collapses in my arms as soon as the door's fully opened. She's all dressed up in black and a black leather jacket. I can smell blood all over her, dry blood. She looks up to me and says before fainting:
"Jondy, Jon"
No one knows my real name, except for my siblings. It's gotta be.
"Noah? Noah? Are you all right? What happened?" I ask carrying her inside.
Noah's POV
I open up my eyes. I'm lying on a bed. It's not mine of course, I remember running away from Phoenix. My vision's still blurry but someone's near me.
"Zack?" I whisper.
"Sorry sis" a girl says, "It's just me, Jondy, remember"
Yeah, I remember now. The three thugs, the robbery, the shooting, the graveyard, Manticore's gorillas after me and the car crash. Good old memories! Well, not so old, but still memories fortunately!
I slowly sit. My body still aches but I feel a whole lot better. I have a bandage around my abdomen.
"You got lucky that bullet got out and didn't hurt anything in there!" Jondy says.
"Luck?" I say gazing at Ginna's ring, "I would've been lucky if I had Syl or Tinga's fast healing" I smirk.
"We still heal faster than normal people" she says, "Now tell me, what happened and how d'you knew where to find me?"
"Zack told me where you were because he wasn't sure he was ever going to come back" I sigh.
Girl talk, pizza and a bottle of coke later, I head for the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. I really look like shit. I could even scare myself. My hair's all messed and as I try passing my fingers through my hair, I say:
"Jon, mind if I take a bath?"
"I'll getcha a towel" she answers.
"By the way, Jon! Please tell me you have conditioner!" I plead.
Anderson's POV
"You lost her! How could you have lost her? You said she was unconscious and handcuffed!" Vitali's voice resounds in his new office.
"I don't know Sir, I can't explain it" I answer.
He stops right in front of me, put his two hands on the armchair I'm sitting in and barks out:
"Explain it? Well I think I can Anderson! In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you three morons had been chasing the wrong truck!"
I can feel his breath on my face as he's screaming to my face. Then, he starts circling Miller and I again and keeps yelling:
"That bitch must have got her! She double-crossed me! I'll get her, I don't know how but I'll get revenge!"
I roll my eyes, as once again, the whole building's gonna now we failed. Suddenly, someone softly knocks at the door. It's Peterson. I thought he had felt like avoiding the whole humiliation thing.
"Sir?" he shyly says in hush voice and stepping in.
"What?" Vitali yells.
"I don't think they've got her either" Peterson says.
"I think you morons are even more stupid than I thought" the boss says letting himself fall into his chair as if he was giving up.
"No I mean, Sir. Remember we had placed a tracker on her bike and well, it's moved. Her bike I mean. It's actually in Santa Fe. She's a transgenic. Chances that she's escaped are rather" Peterson said.
"A 100%" Vitali says grinning and looking up to Peterson with hope.
A silence falls in the room, as the boss seems to be thinking.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Get your butts in Santa Fe" He starts yelling again.
As I'm walking to my cars, Miller and Peterson following me, I wonder why, if Vitali thinks we're such morons, he keeps putting us on such important missions?
Jondy's POV
"I betcha that in their nice little manticorian scientist group there weren't any women?" I tell Noah.
We're both in the bathroom, doing girl stuff. I'm shaving and she's putting her wet hair up and some make up, not that she needs any. Really, she's beautiful
"Why ya saying this?" she asks me.
"Well, if a woman had been involved in our creation, she would've thought about making our legs hairless! See what I mean" I say rinsing my legs.
"I know" Naoh says, "And she would've thought about not giving me curly hair and fixing that butt of mine I probably got from my supposed black parent" she sighs.
"I think your butt's fine. At least it's not, you know, 'flat' like some girl's. I wish my hair was as curly as yours" I note sincere.
"No you don't. Transgenic or not, guess girls are just never satisfied with what they've got!" Noah smirks.
I'm glad she's here with me. It's nice having a female sibling around. Zack's not too much of a communicative person. He just gives you orders, saves your ass and leaves. Well, looks like he's given her more information than he's ever given me. I found Zane by chance in LA. Zack'd kill me if he ever found out I stayed in contact with another sibling than him.
The doorbell rings AGAIN. This time I'm a 100% sure it's David. I haven't seen him since lunch and it was like four hours ago!
"O. M. N. again" Noah giggles.
"What does that stands for? Obviously Mad Neighbor?" I ask laughing.
"More for Obsessed Male Neighbor" she replies laughing as well.
"Why have you ever had to face an Obsessed Female Neighbor?" I ask joking.
"You have no idea," Noah says rolling her eyes.
I stop laughing, as I didn't think she was serious but she really was; she really had had an O. F. N. I look at her for half a second, my mouth dropped open and then we both start laughing again. The doorbell rings again.
"Have mercy" I sigh raising my two arms as if I was giving up.
"Bless yourself, O. F. N. can be worse than O. M. N." Noah giggles.
I walk out of the bathroom towards the door, open it and surprise, surprise fall face to face with. David.
"Hey, Jesse! Guess what there's a bike parked right near yours in the parking" he says as enthusiast as a kid that was just given an ice cream.
I roll my eyes again and say:
"Yes, it's my sister's"
Then I hear Noah calling:
"Jon, we gotta jet NOW!"
Noah's POV
There are only two cars but their plate says Arizona. These black suits have nothing to do with camouflage uniform. These guys are definitely not from Manticore. Them again! The three jerks I beat up to save Ron's ass are here again. Who the hell are they working for? I should think about asking them someday: a girl's gotta know who's hunting her down!
These are the thoughts running through my mind as I'm looking out Jondy's window. Her apartment's on the tenth floor. We still got time till they come up here!
I feel so guilty dragging Jondy into this. I really made sure no one had followed me. How could they have found me?
"What's up?" Jondy runs to me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want this," I say pointing at the window.
"This is definitely not Manticore. Let's bounce," she says.
"Jesse? Is everything all right?" O. M. N. also known as David asks as he steps into the living room.
"See ya David!" Jondy says shoving a few things in her backpack.
I put my leather jacket back on and swing my backpack over my shoulder. I'm gonna have to leave my bag filled all clothes here. I know, I know: guys are waiting outside, ready to either dissect me or look e up in a cage or make end up in Psy Ops and I'm worried about letting my clothes here. What can I say? I am a material girl.
I look out the window again and blurt out:
"Two cars. Ten men. Armed. No teasers. Saw my bike. They're in"
"How can you tell all this from here?" David says blinking and frowning as he's looking out the window as well.
"We can take'em out. They're only ten" Jondy says.
"What d'you mean by taking them out Jesse? Why are armed men looking for you anyway?" O. M. N. asks me.
"I'd like to know too. I think it's time I ask them," I say dropping my bag.
Jondy grins at me; obviously glad she's getting some action. I'm glad I'll be able not to leave all my clothes here.
We run down a few stairs, David following us and telling us how dangerous it is and bla, bla, bla. He finally shuts up when Jondy knocks him out. O. M. N. are always such a drag!
We're still in the staircase. Five men are coming up to our floor, their guns out. A make a military sign to Jondy. She nods. I jump on two of them and face a third one.
"You again?" I tell him before punching him.
The two others are pointing their guns at me but they aren't expecting a second killing machine. Just like I did previously, Jondy jumps on the last two and easily knocks them out. There's only one left and he's trembling like a scared girlie as he's lost his gun.
"Wait! Don't please, Noah!" he stutters stepping back.
"You know my name?" I ask surprised.
"I don't mean to. It's my boss; he wanted to sell you. I had to" he says still backing up.
"You know my name, I think the least you could do is tell me yours" I ask with a too big a smile to be sincere, "What's your name? Who's your boss?" I coldly add as he doesn't answer and just keeps sweating, trembling and backing up.
"Anderson. My name's Anderson"
"Are you depth Anderson? I've just asked you two questions," I say shoving him against the wall.
"His name's Vitali. He works for the Italian Mafia"
"The Mafia? How did you find me?" I scowl.
"There's a tracking device on your bike" Anderson stammers.
"Who did you intend to sell me to?" I ask putting my fingers around his neck.
"To some lady called Renfro, I think. She double crossed Vitali though," Anderson says.
"Was she from Manticore?" I ask raising my voice as this geek's getting on my nerves he's shaking so much.
"Manti-what? I don't know what you're talking about" he says closing his eyes as if he was expecting me to punch him.
"Don't lie to me Anderson. I hate liars. What does this Renfro bitch have to do with Manticore?" I ask, "Didn't you have to deal with Lydecker?"
"I don't know what's Manticore. I don't know who's Lydecker either I swear" he begs.
"I think he's telling the truth," Jondy says behind me.
"I think so too," I say letting go off his throat and turning around to face my sister.
"Thank you Noah, thank you really" Anderson says rubbing his throat.
"Don't thank me. Remember last time I said I'd make sure you'd never be able to come back" I say before turning back around and punching him so hard that he collapses.
I rub my left side, where the bandage is. It's still hurting like hell.
"Are you OK?" Jondy asks me looking concerned.
"Yeah, no biggy" I shrug.
"Good cause five more gorillas coming right up!" she says.
Later that same day.
"I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble and blown up your cover Jon" I apologize to my little sister.
We're in the parking down her building. The two black cars are still there but it's passengers and drivers are fast asleep in Jondy's staircase. We made sure they were when we went down them a second them with our bags packed and all. Now, we're on our bikes ready to leave. We figured that Jondy should move too because maybe Manticore had followed these geeks here. Of course, we got rid of the tracker on my bike.
"It's all right. I was getting tired of Santa Fe anyway. I wanted to move out especially because of O. M. N." Jondy shrugged.
She's just awesome. I've always loved her. I hope I'll see her soon again. I got her phone number and she's got mine. Zack wouldn't approve but screw him!
"Look I don't know where I'm going but I know you still need to rest. You haven't fully recovered. I'll leave a message to Zack don't worry about it, telling him that you went to see Zane" she says hugging me.
"You know where Zane is?" I ask pulling myself away from her clutch to look at her blue eyes.
"Zack's gonna kill me for this" she says pinching her lip, "I found out Zane was in LA while I still was in San Francisco. It really was by chance and well, we've kept contact, disobeying to every rule Zack had imposed us. So, we've kept it secret up until now. It turned out useful after all... You need major help! He'll find you some nice cozy place to stay for a while till you can find another job and well, start over!"
"Yeah, that's the story of our life" I sigh.
"You got enough money?" she asks me.
"I'm cool. I've made a few trades before I left Phoenix" I say which was true.
Her blue eyes stare at me for half a second, scanning my whole face to check if I wasn't lying. I must've looked pretty sincere as she hugs me again and starts her bike.
"Here's Zane's cell phone, last time I called him he was in Utah. Don't ask me what he was doing there, I haven't got a clue! Good luck Noah!" she shrugs handing me a piece of paper.
I look at it for a second, enough to memorize it. Then, I tear it into a thousands pieces, throw them away and start my bike waving at her.
Jondy's right: I haven't fully recovered. Driving my bike requires an effort! I'm heading for Utah. Maybe I could try skiing once I'm feeling better? I've never tried.
Unfortunately, I've got a lot more on my mind. I need to be a lot more careful this time. The Italian Mafia after me? Who'd have thought? I knew foreign countries were interested in having us, as we were high tech soldiers. Zack had told me so after what had happened to Brin.
This Mafia guy must've found me when I made that strength demonstration to save Ron. I still don't know how this Renfro bitch's related to Manticore. Looks like Lydecker's not the only one that we need to worry about.
God, I hope Zack's all right and I hope Tinga's OK too. I wish I could see him again. I promise I'll stop being irresponsible, I'll be a good soldier from now on if I could just see him again.
A few days later.
"Thanks Zane! Really means a lot to me!" I say hugging the tall athletic dark hair and green eyed X5.
"No problem Noah. Pleasure seeing you again. You can stay here a couple of months, I'll let you know if my boss reappears anytime sooner than expected. No one'll come disturb you here. That's why I love this place... it's almost empty! I might drop by sometime next week to check on you and bring you some food, OK?" he smirks.
"My pleasure" I say grinning and looking at the nice cozy little cabin, "In the mean time, take care of my bike"
"Don't worry little sister," he says before disappearing behind the wooden door.
It was a lot more fancy than anywhere I had ever slept in was. Well, except this one time, I was in New York and I went into heat. I met this rich kid and we ended up in this five star hotel suite. Well, we didn't sleep much anyway so doesn't really count.
Zack's POV
I'm all covered with snow. It reminds me of that night in 2009 when the twelve escaped. I feel the same way: just as cold and nervous. I can see the cabin. Nice place, Zane's right; it does seem lost, kinda like Logan's cabin: you can't find it unless you know it's there.
I called Jondy as soon as I saw Noah was gone. She told me she had sent her to Zane in Utah because both Manticore and the Italian Mafia were after her. Jondy also said Noah came to her badly hurt. I hope she's OK. I can't believe I didn't see it come. They had been after her for a while apparently. I can't believe I didn't even notice a thing, too busy saving Max, Tinga and Brin. Turns out, Max doesn't need my help, Tinga and Brin got caught anyway. I'm not losing another one and especially not Noah.
I walk up the stairs that lead to the front door and try to get the snow outta my hair. I push the front wooden door open; it's not locked. I let the warmth of the cabin coming from the fireplace, heat up my whole body. I start focusing on her. Where is she? I can sense her: she's in a room nearby, I believe it's the bathroom. I think she's having a shower: I can hear the water running.
I walk towards that room, careful not to make a sound. I don't want her to notice me yet. I'm excited and nervous. It's hot in here. That heat mixed with my enthusiasm of seeing her again could make me sweat. I can't afford to sweat if I don't want her to notice me. If I do, she'll be able to smell me. I try to focus and lower by body temperature. I shiver, it works.
I slightly push the bathroom's door open, not sure of what I'll do once she's noticed me. It's even hotter in here: Noah's been taking a hot shower, the condensation hits my cold face as soon as I step in. I see her hand coming out of the shower grabbing a towel nearby. Then, the shower curtain opens up. She steps out of the shower with the grace that characterizes her, nothing but the towel wrapped around her and her long brown wet curls falling on her shoulders.
I'm unable to make a single move. I just stay there, in the doorway, gazing at her. She's so beautiful and delicate. Finally, she notices me and turns around. She stares at me the same way I'm staring at her. Her voluptuous lips slightly split as she tries to say something. I can read her lips, she's saying my name but not a sound has escaped from them.
Those lips, I wanna taste them; I wanna grab them without ever letting them go, I want every breath they take to be coming from me. Yet, I don't know if I can, I don't know if Noah'll let me. Maybe she hasn't forgiven me for being such a jackass and not realizing things sooner. But now, I know what I want and above all who I want: it's not Max, it's no one else than this caramel beauty standing in front of me.
Her hazel green eyes are looking straight into my blue eyes and she slightly smiles. I take this as signal, a positive signal. I rush towards her, she meets me half way. We stand chest to chest and still eye into eye, green meeting blue. My hand gently runs down her arm feeling the little drops of water that are also running along her tan body, wet meeting dry. My hands go round her waist and I drag her closer to me, warm meeting cold. My second hand goes through her hair and grabs her head, also dragging it closer to mine as I finally get to taste those lips, caramel meeting white.
Her hands first hold my face and then find their way on my body. Mine go down to her chest as I unwrap her towel. I feel her stiffen so I stop kissing her to look at her. I had forgotten Jondy had told me she was hurt: broken ribs from here, but also what look like a bullet whole on her abdomen.
"What have they done to you?" I ask frowning.
"Don't worry. I'm fine now that you're here" she whispers to my ear as she hugs me.
Then, she pulls herself away to kiss me again. I lift her up in my arms and carry her to the bed. There, we made love for the first time in the warmth of the cabin, away from Lydecker, away from Manticore, away from the Mafia and away from the whole world. There was just us and it was perfect.
Notes: So? D'you like it? Next chapter corresponds to 'Meow' Review please.It will make my life easier. I really sound pitiful, don't I? Good, maybe it'll make you feel sorry for me and REVIEW.