Alright y'all, here is the anticipated chapter. Here we learn what the Covenant wants and see Sark and Chloe grow closer. So, without further ado, chapter twelve of Connected.
Chapter Twelve
Five-year-old Savannah Gogolack pushed back the dingy curtain of the dirty window. She gazed longingly at the children who ran about the old, rickety park, playing games of tag and hide-n-seek. How she dreamed she could be one of those children who ran about without a care, instead of being cooped up in the small apartment that she was locked in.
"Savannah," her mother cried, pulling her daughter away from the window, "what have I told you about going near the window?" The young girl shook at the harsh sound of her mother's voice.
"I just wanted to see the other kids." She whimpered, large tears falling down her small, cherubic face. Sasha Gogolack smiled lightly at her young daughter, hoping to stop her from crying.
"It's okay sweetie," she said pulling her daughter to her and rubbing a comforting hand up and down her back, "Mommy didn't mean to get mad. I'm just worried that's all."
"Why do we have to hide mommy?" Savannah asked innocently, her big eyes staring up at her mother in question.
"Because..." Sasha paused, unsure what to tell her daughter, "because if somebody sees you then big bad men will come and take you away from me." she said after a pause.
"Why?" The little girl repeated. Sasha was quickly growing weary of the questions.
"Just because," she snapped at her daughter, "so stop asking questions and just do as I say." The tears came once again to Savannah's eyes and she fled from her mother's arms and ran into the small bedroom that the two of them shared.
She clutched her teddy bear to her, a large, overstuffed thing with a torn ear and missing eye. The bear was Savannah's lifeline. What she clung to when she needed to escape the troubles laid upon a five year old. Her tears fell atop the bear's head, and his soft "fur" absorbed every drop.
"Why does mommy have to be so mean Julian?" she asked the bear. She waited for him to answer her, but like always, he remained silent, staring at her with his one eye. "You're right," she said, as if the bear had spoken, "she needs a hug." She gathered the bear in her arms and walked slowly out to the living room.
Chloe came out of the hypnosis sleepily, her mind slowly releasing itself from the fog that surrounded it.
"Well?" Sark asked, his face filled with anticipation.
"Sorry," Chloe replied shaking her head, "I didn't find anything."
"Damn it," Sark cursed, pounding his fist down on the table that he sat at. Chloe flinched as his fist continued to beat on the metal surface, causing an empty ringing to fill the room. "We're just gonna have to try again." He said sliding off the table in an undignified motion. He grabbed the watch and walked back over to Chloe.
"Happy birthday to you." Sasha's voice rang through the apartment. She smiled down at Savannah as she blew out the seven candles on her birthday cake. "Yeah," she said, clapping as all the candles were extinguished by her daughter. "Good job Savannah." The young girl beamed beneath her mother's praise and adjusted the hat atop her bear's head.
"What piece do you want Julian?" she asked the bear with childlike innocence. She leaned close, as if to hear what the bear was saying. "Julian says he wants that piece with the flower on it." she looked up at her mother who laughed lightly at her daughter's gapped tooth grin.
"Then Julian will get what he wants." Sasha replied ruffling her daughter's hair before cutting into the small cake. Savannah grinned and hugged the bear closer to her, seeking comfort in the feel of its soft body. The young girl bit into the cake, a crumb falling from the fork and landing on the bear.
"Oops," Savannah grinned, "sorry Julian." She brushed the crumb from his head carefully and kissed the top of his head. "There," she said, "all better."
Her cake gone, Savannah reached for her glass of milk. In a moment of rare clumsiness, the cup tipped and the milk spilled all over the table, the majority of it landing on her bear.
"Oh no!" Sasha cried, hurriedly picking the bear up and trying to dry him off, "How can you be so clumsy?" she yelled at Savannah. As tears flooded the girl's eyes, Sasha hurried into the kitchen to grab more towels and tried desperately to dry the bear off. "Stupid girl." She seethed, glaring at Savannah with a rare show of distaste. The small, distraught girl simply sat there, taking the verbal abuse that her mother so rarely bestowed upon her.
Finally, Sasha seemed content that Julian was as dry as he would be and she placed him back in Savannah's lap and quickly pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry Savannah." She whispered in her daughter's ear, "You know Mommy gets upset sometimes. I really am sorry. Can you forgive me?" The pleading in her mother's voice tore at Savannah's heart.
"I forgive you Mommy," she said, tightening her grip around her mother's neck.
"Thank you." Sasha planted a quick kiss on Savannah's soft, pale cheek.
"Please tell me you saw SOMETHING?" Sark begged Chloe when her eyes opened once again. Chloe simply shook her head. She sighed and leaned her head back on the chair, wishing that something, some answer would present itself to her.
"I don't understand it." she whispered, "why can't I find anything?" she looked to Sark for help, but he would not look at her. He was too involved with his own thoughts to pay attention to her. She glanced over at Devin who was leaning against the wall next to the door. He offered her a slight smile, but Chloe derived no warmth, no hope from it.
"Let's do this again." Sark said, turning back to face Chloe. "If we don't get anything from this one..." he paused and drew in a deep breath, "then we're done."
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked. This mission had suddenly become as important to her as it was to him. Chloe didn't want to stop the images of her mother, she didn't want to forget her childhood, and no matter how many times her mother yelled at her Chloe didn't want it to stop. "We can keep trying." She looked Sark in the eye and knew that he was nearing the end of his rope. It was taking a long time and they kept coming up empty. He was growing tired of the search, he wanted answers and he wanted them then and there.
"One more time," he said firmly, "that's it." Chloe nodded solemnly and relaxed her muscles, ready to fall into the trance once again.
Just looking at her Sark could tell how much of a toll the hypnosis was taking on Chloe. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was growing tired. She needed her rest. Her eyes closed and Sark's heart leapt into his throat as he watched her relax. Her shoulders dropped, her frown relaxed, and the lines in her forehead vanished. She was falling into her memories. Her lips turned up slightly and Sark could tell it was a good memory.
There was something about watching Chloe relax that made Sark relax as well. She had such a calming presence that the hardened man could feel it all the way down to his soul. Without knowing it Sark had developed feelings for Chloe, though they weren't anywhere love, they were quickly approaching an extreme fondness and like. The knowledge struck Sark right in the heart. He couldn't develop feelings for Chloe, could he? No, it wasn't possible. But... no. Sark shook the thoughts from his head and tried to keep them from his mind as he waited for Chloe to, once again, emerge from the hypnosis.
The sun shone in through a break in the curtains and Savannah let the warm light seep into her skin. She breathed in deeply and wished that fresh air could fill her lungs instead of the stale, dry air that choked her. Her tenth birthday was nearing, and Savannah had yet to step foot outside of the small apartment. She had been cooped up in there for at least six years, and her deathly pale skin showed it. Savannah loved any bit of sunlight, air, or noise that could permeate the thick walls of the small apartment.
The sound of a glass shattering brought Savannah from her thoughts and she hurried into the kitchen to see what had happened. Sasha knelt in the middle of the floor with her hands covering her face and the remains of a wine glass lying on the floor around her. Her shoulders shook with deep sobs and tears spilled onto the floor. Unnerved by the sight of her mother crying, Savannah ran into the bedroom and picked up her old bear. She hurried back to the kitchen and knelt on the floor beside her mother, shards of glass crunching beneath her jean-clad knees.
"Here mama," she said holding Julian out to her mother, "Julian always helped me when I felt sad." She didn't know what happened, but suddenly her mother's harsh sobs turned to hysterical laughter. Savannah moved away from her slowly, frightened that her mother had gone insane from lack of sunlight. Sasha hugged the bear to her, squeezing him as her laughter echoed throughout the room.
"Oh Savannah, you always did know how to make me laugh." Sasha said after she had gained control of her laughing. She reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "You look just like your father." Sasha's voice was far away, as if she was remembering a distant memory. "He was a good man, your father, very brave and strong. I miss him so much." A tear slipped down her face and Savannah moved back towards her mother. She hugged her tightly and hoped it was enough to comfort her mother.
A sudden knock on the door startled the two of them and they broke apart, staring at each other in question. The groceries were due to be delivered for another day, and they never had visitors.
"Savannah, I want you to lock yourself in the bedroom." Sasha whispered, her voice tight with fear. The girl nodded and moved stealthily into the other room. The knocking continued as Savannah shut the door behind her and locked it. She heard her mother's hesitant steps as they approached the door.
"Who is it?" she heard her mother call, her voice strangely calm. There was no answer, just another rough knock. There was the sound of the lock clicking and then the rough grating of the door as it was pushed open sharply. Savannah covered her ears when she heard her mother's shrill scream and the sound of a gunshot.
"Mama!" Savannah cried, forgetting that she was supposed to be invisible. She banged on the door, praying that her mother was alright. Footsteps hurried towards her and the door was kicked in. Savannah screamed as a tall man loomed over her, a scar running down the left side of his face and his steely gray eyes glaring down at her. He reached down and grabbed her arm in a vice like grip. She screamed again, but was silenced by a jab across her jaw. She whimpered, silent tears streaming down her face as the man led her out to the living room.
"Let her go," Sasha ordered from where she stood, a man holding her arms behind her back, and another tearing the room apart.
"Not until we get what we came for." The man who was searching the room said.
"What do you want?" Sasha cried, fighting against the man who was restraining her.
"The disk," the man said turning on Sasha, "we know you have it and my employers want it."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sasha replied, a look of defiance on her face. The man approached Sasha, fire in his eyes. His fist came out of nowhere and Savannah cringed as her mother went limp. The man turned to her and Savannah struggled against the giant that held her.
"Don't be scared," the man said, crouching down to look her in the eye, "I won't hurt you." Savannah had to look away from him, his eyes were just too scary to look into. "Now can you tell me where your mama hid the disk?" Savannah shook her head, afraid to say a word less he hit her like he had hit her mom. "No?" he said, he put his hand under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Are you sure?" he asked. Savannah didn't respond. "You can tell me," He said, "where did your mama put the disk?"
"I...I don't know." She whimpered. His eyes blazed with a harsh fire and Savannah's fear grew.
"Damn it!" he yelled, standing up quickly and overturning the rickety coffee table that was in the middle of the living room. He rounded on Sasha's limp form. "Stupid bitch," he pulled her hair so that her head was looking up at him, "where'd you put the damn disk?" Savannah shivered as her mother's vacant eyes stared back at the man. She had never seen her mother like that before. It frightened her to no end. The man growled, spit in Sasha's face and returned to looking around the room.
"Come and help me." he ordered the goon who held Savannah's mother. The flunky nodded and dropped Sasha on the floor before going to help his boss. Savannah winced as her mother's body fell to the floor with a thump. She looked down at her mother with tears in her eyes. She was so distraught that she could almost imagine that Sasha winked at her from where she lay.
"There's nothin' here boss." The goon said after they had torn up the apartment.
"Shut up," Boss yelled, "it's here somewhere, I know it is." He walked over to Sasha and forced her to her feet. "Where is it bitch?" he screamed, "I know you have it."
"If you think I'm going to tell you," Sasha said, her voice weak, "you're sorely mistaken." Boss walked a few steps away from her then turned back around and pulled out a gun from inside his jacket. Chills ran down Savannah's spine as the gun was pointed at her.
"You have two choices here," he said to Sasha, "you either tell me where the disk is and the kid lives, or you don't and she dies." He looked Sasha in the eye, "What's it gonna be?" Sasha looked from the man to her daughter, her eyes clouded with fear. Her body suddenly went rigid and she flung herself on Boss, tackling him to the ground. The gun flew from his hand and across the floor. The man that had been holding Sasha ran to help his boss, but she hit him with a back kick and he fell to the ground fighting for air. The man that held Savannah released her and tried to pull Sasha off Boss. She stopped pounding in Boss's face long enough to kick the man in the gut, landing him right beside his buddy.
Blood covered Boss's face, but he was putting up a good fight against Sasha. They rolled around on the floor, exchanging jabs and punches. Bruises were forming on Sasha's face and there was a cut above her eye. Sasha managed to pin Boss to the floor, but her weight was not enough to keep him down, and he easily kicked her off him. he reached for the gun, but Sasha, realizing that she was running out of strength and ideas, reached for a nearby vase and smashed it over his head. Boss crumpled to the ground, his eyes half closed.
"Hurry Savannah," she said, grabbing her daughter's hand and pulling her towards the door, "we've got to get out of here while they're still out of it." she reached the door then stopped. Quickly, she ran into the bedroom and emerged seconds later with Savannah's bear in her arms. She grabbed her daughter's hand once again and led her out the door at a fast paced run.
Sark didn't know what was happening. As he watched Chloe's face, the small smile and the wisps of hair that fell across her forehead, Sark knew that something was changing. He hadn't known it 'til then, but in the days that he had been with Chloe, she had slowly but surely softened his heart. And now, as he looked at her, he knew that he was changed, that he could never go back to the way he had been. It wasn't a big change, but enough for him to know that Chloe had done something to him. she had broken through the walls he had set around himself. Broken down his defenses 'til there was nothing left to hide behind. Every time he slept, he dreamed about her and her serene face.
But her face wasn't so serene anymore. Before Sark knew what was happening Chloe was tossing and turning in the chair on which she lay. Incoherent mumblings were escaping her lips. she was pleading with somebody, begging them not to hurt someone. Sark quickly moved to her side and tried to shake her from whatever memory had captured her.
"No," Devin said firmly as he grabbed Sark's arm, "this might be the break through we were hopping for." Sark looked down at her tormented face, all scrunched up in fright, then at Devin. He nodded and moved away from Chloe, praying that she would soon release herself from the memory.
With a gasp, Chloe's eyes sprang open. She was trembling and her face was dripping with sweat. She sat up slowly, too lightheaded to move quickly. The room swirled around her and a strong arm caught her as she began to tip off the chair. She looked up into a pair of ice blue eyes that, at that moment, had never seemed so beautiful and comforting. She sank into their depths like a boat sinks in the ocean.
"Are you alright?" He asked in a voice that was unlike she'd ever heard him use. It held care and concern within its depths.
"I'm...I'm fine." She said bringing her hand up to cradle her head gently.
"Here, lie back down." Sark gently laid her back down and wiped the sweat off her face with a cool cloth.
"I know what the Covenant wants." She said suddenly. She could feel Sark's hand pause for a second, and then continue to wipe her brow.
"What is it?" he asked calmly, even though Chloe knew he was dying to know.
"It's a disk." She replied, looking up into his eyes and allowing herself to lose herself in them.
"What's on it, where is it?" He asked. Chloe closed her eyes, trying to clear her vision so she could see him more clearly.
"I don't know." she whispered, "I don't know." she could see the defeated look on Sark's face and felt the same combination and failure and accomplishment that he did. "I'm sorry." She said, and was surprised to find that she meant it.
"It's okay." Sark said, "at least we know what it is we're looking for. That should narrow down the search."
"We can try the hypnosis again, just to see if I can figure out where my mother hid it." Chloe offered, even though she felt completely drained from the sessions she had already gone through.
"No," Sark shook his head, "I can't ask you to do it again, at least not until you've gotten some rest." Chloe nodded. She reached up to take the cloth from him and her breath caught in her throat as their hands brushed together. She looked down, refusing to meet Sark's eyes, and took a great interest in a small string that hung from her shirt.
There was no use denying it now. Chloe had an affect on Sark, he knew it as soon as her hand touched his. A fire spread up his arm and through his body as soon as her soft skin brushed against his. He looked away quickly and fixed his gaze on his shoes. Chloe groaned softly and Sark looked back at her concerned.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Chloe replied, looking up into his eyes with a soft smile, "I'm fine." Sark nodded and turned away from her.
"You should get some rest." He said looking at her over his shoulder, "Then we can figure out our next step."
"Alright," she replied. He heard her feet hit the floor and turned around just in time to see her start to sway. He caught her before she could fall and a shockwave ran through him as her body fell against him. "I'm okay." She said, reassuring him before he could even ask.
"No you're not." Sark replied with a smirk. He lifted her in his arms easily and carried her out of the room. They emerged from the hidden room and walked through the closet that was in the bedroom. Chloe's arms wrapped around his neck, making it burn. They entered the bedroom and he placed her on the bed gently.
"Go to sleep." He said, pulling the covers up around her, "We'll discuss our next step when you wake up." Chloe nodded, her eyes already closed. Sark turned around and headed for the open door that led out to the living room. He was about to close the door behind him when Chloe's voice caught his attention.
"I hope we find the disk," she whispered, "then this will all be over." Sark smiled gently and closed the door. He hadn't thought about that. Once they found the disk it truly would be over. He would be able to return Chloe to her family and when he did that, he'd never see her again. The thought tore at him like sharp teeth. He didn't want to let Chloe go, he wanted her to stay with him, forever.
Wow, that is like the longest chapter I have EVER written. I hope you all enjoyed it and that it lived up to what you thought this chapter would be like.
It will be awhile before I update this story. My family is going to Florida for a few days, so I won't be able to work on the next chapter.
I hope you all will review and tell me what you thought of this chapter.
Csk8-20: The age difference is fifteen years. Personally, I don't it's that much, but some people might. Oh well, I'm the one writing the story. Lol.
Natalie: Yeah, I'll probably use the idea. It's a pretty good one.
Beautiful Tragedy: I'm glad that I have such a loyal reader and I'm glad that you enjoy this story so much. Thank you.
Majesticness: I hope this chapter was long enough for you. I don't know how long the others will be, so this might be the longest one in the story.
Tentoesupurnose16: Thank you so much. I'm glad I can describe feelings well enough for my readers to pick up on them. And about Devin, you'll just have to stay tuned to see what happens with him.
Zeriae: Thank you for reviewing.
Chapter Twelve
Five-year-old Savannah Gogolack pushed back the dingy curtain of the dirty window. She gazed longingly at the children who ran about the old, rickety park, playing games of tag and hide-n-seek. How she dreamed she could be one of those children who ran about without a care, instead of being cooped up in the small apartment that she was locked in.
"Savannah," her mother cried, pulling her daughter away from the window, "what have I told you about going near the window?" The young girl shook at the harsh sound of her mother's voice.
"I just wanted to see the other kids." She whimpered, large tears falling down her small, cherubic face. Sasha Gogolack smiled lightly at her young daughter, hoping to stop her from crying.
"It's okay sweetie," she said pulling her daughter to her and rubbing a comforting hand up and down her back, "Mommy didn't mean to get mad. I'm just worried that's all."
"Why do we have to hide mommy?" Savannah asked innocently, her big eyes staring up at her mother in question.
"Because..." Sasha paused, unsure what to tell her daughter, "because if somebody sees you then big bad men will come and take you away from me." she said after a pause.
"Why?" The little girl repeated. Sasha was quickly growing weary of the questions.
"Just because," she snapped at her daughter, "so stop asking questions and just do as I say." The tears came once again to Savannah's eyes and she fled from her mother's arms and ran into the small bedroom that the two of them shared.
She clutched her teddy bear to her, a large, overstuffed thing with a torn ear and missing eye. The bear was Savannah's lifeline. What she clung to when she needed to escape the troubles laid upon a five year old. Her tears fell atop the bear's head, and his soft "fur" absorbed every drop.
"Why does mommy have to be so mean Julian?" she asked the bear. She waited for him to answer her, but like always, he remained silent, staring at her with his one eye. "You're right," she said, as if the bear had spoken, "she needs a hug." She gathered the bear in her arms and walked slowly out to the living room.
Chloe came out of the hypnosis sleepily, her mind slowly releasing itself from the fog that surrounded it.
"Well?" Sark asked, his face filled with anticipation.
"Sorry," Chloe replied shaking her head, "I didn't find anything."
"Damn it," Sark cursed, pounding his fist down on the table that he sat at. Chloe flinched as his fist continued to beat on the metal surface, causing an empty ringing to fill the room. "We're just gonna have to try again." He said sliding off the table in an undignified motion. He grabbed the watch and walked back over to Chloe.
"Happy birthday to you." Sasha's voice rang through the apartment. She smiled down at Savannah as she blew out the seven candles on her birthday cake. "Yeah," she said, clapping as all the candles were extinguished by her daughter. "Good job Savannah." The young girl beamed beneath her mother's praise and adjusted the hat atop her bear's head.
"What piece do you want Julian?" she asked the bear with childlike innocence. She leaned close, as if to hear what the bear was saying. "Julian says he wants that piece with the flower on it." she looked up at her mother who laughed lightly at her daughter's gapped tooth grin.
"Then Julian will get what he wants." Sasha replied ruffling her daughter's hair before cutting into the small cake. Savannah grinned and hugged the bear closer to her, seeking comfort in the feel of its soft body. The young girl bit into the cake, a crumb falling from the fork and landing on the bear.
"Oops," Savannah grinned, "sorry Julian." She brushed the crumb from his head carefully and kissed the top of his head. "There," she said, "all better."
Her cake gone, Savannah reached for her glass of milk. In a moment of rare clumsiness, the cup tipped and the milk spilled all over the table, the majority of it landing on her bear.
"Oh no!" Sasha cried, hurriedly picking the bear up and trying to dry him off, "How can you be so clumsy?" she yelled at Savannah. As tears flooded the girl's eyes, Sasha hurried into the kitchen to grab more towels and tried desperately to dry the bear off. "Stupid girl." She seethed, glaring at Savannah with a rare show of distaste. The small, distraught girl simply sat there, taking the verbal abuse that her mother so rarely bestowed upon her.
Finally, Sasha seemed content that Julian was as dry as he would be and she placed him back in Savannah's lap and quickly pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry Savannah." She whispered in her daughter's ear, "You know Mommy gets upset sometimes. I really am sorry. Can you forgive me?" The pleading in her mother's voice tore at Savannah's heart.
"I forgive you Mommy," she said, tightening her grip around her mother's neck.
"Thank you." Sasha planted a quick kiss on Savannah's soft, pale cheek.
"Please tell me you saw SOMETHING?" Sark begged Chloe when her eyes opened once again. Chloe simply shook her head. She sighed and leaned her head back on the chair, wishing that something, some answer would present itself to her.
"I don't understand it." she whispered, "why can't I find anything?" she looked to Sark for help, but he would not look at her. He was too involved with his own thoughts to pay attention to her. She glanced over at Devin who was leaning against the wall next to the door. He offered her a slight smile, but Chloe derived no warmth, no hope from it.
"Let's do this again." Sark said, turning back to face Chloe. "If we don't get anything from this one..." he paused and drew in a deep breath, "then we're done."
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked. This mission had suddenly become as important to her as it was to him. Chloe didn't want to stop the images of her mother, she didn't want to forget her childhood, and no matter how many times her mother yelled at her Chloe didn't want it to stop. "We can keep trying." She looked Sark in the eye and knew that he was nearing the end of his rope. It was taking a long time and they kept coming up empty. He was growing tired of the search, he wanted answers and he wanted them then and there.
"One more time," he said firmly, "that's it." Chloe nodded solemnly and relaxed her muscles, ready to fall into the trance once again.
Just looking at her Sark could tell how much of a toll the hypnosis was taking on Chloe. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was growing tired. She needed her rest. Her eyes closed and Sark's heart leapt into his throat as he watched her relax. Her shoulders dropped, her frown relaxed, and the lines in her forehead vanished. She was falling into her memories. Her lips turned up slightly and Sark could tell it was a good memory.
There was something about watching Chloe relax that made Sark relax as well. She had such a calming presence that the hardened man could feel it all the way down to his soul. Without knowing it Sark had developed feelings for Chloe, though they weren't anywhere love, they were quickly approaching an extreme fondness and like. The knowledge struck Sark right in the heart. He couldn't develop feelings for Chloe, could he? No, it wasn't possible. But... no. Sark shook the thoughts from his head and tried to keep them from his mind as he waited for Chloe to, once again, emerge from the hypnosis.
The sun shone in through a break in the curtains and Savannah let the warm light seep into her skin. She breathed in deeply and wished that fresh air could fill her lungs instead of the stale, dry air that choked her. Her tenth birthday was nearing, and Savannah had yet to step foot outside of the small apartment. She had been cooped up in there for at least six years, and her deathly pale skin showed it. Savannah loved any bit of sunlight, air, or noise that could permeate the thick walls of the small apartment.
The sound of a glass shattering brought Savannah from her thoughts and she hurried into the kitchen to see what had happened. Sasha knelt in the middle of the floor with her hands covering her face and the remains of a wine glass lying on the floor around her. Her shoulders shook with deep sobs and tears spilled onto the floor. Unnerved by the sight of her mother crying, Savannah ran into the bedroom and picked up her old bear. She hurried back to the kitchen and knelt on the floor beside her mother, shards of glass crunching beneath her jean-clad knees.
"Here mama," she said holding Julian out to her mother, "Julian always helped me when I felt sad." She didn't know what happened, but suddenly her mother's harsh sobs turned to hysterical laughter. Savannah moved away from her slowly, frightened that her mother had gone insane from lack of sunlight. Sasha hugged the bear to her, squeezing him as her laughter echoed throughout the room.
"Oh Savannah, you always did know how to make me laugh." Sasha said after she had gained control of her laughing. She reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "You look just like your father." Sasha's voice was far away, as if she was remembering a distant memory. "He was a good man, your father, very brave and strong. I miss him so much." A tear slipped down her face and Savannah moved back towards her mother. She hugged her tightly and hoped it was enough to comfort her mother.
A sudden knock on the door startled the two of them and they broke apart, staring at each other in question. The groceries were due to be delivered for another day, and they never had visitors.
"Savannah, I want you to lock yourself in the bedroom." Sasha whispered, her voice tight with fear. The girl nodded and moved stealthily into the other room. The knocking continued as Savannah shut the door behind her and locked it. She heard her mother's hesitant steps as they approached the door.
"Who is it?" she heard her mother call, her voice strangely calm. There was no answer, just another rough knock. There was the sound of the lock clicking and then the rough grating of the door as it was pushed open sharply. Savannah covered her ears when she heard her mother's shrill scream and the sound of a gunshot.
"Mama!" Savannah cried, forgetting that she was supposed to be invisible. She banged on the door, praying that her mother was alright. Footsteps hurried towards her and the door was kicked in. Savannah screamed as a tall man loomed over her, a scar running down the left side of his face and his steely gray eyes glaring down at her. He reached down and grabbed her arm in a vice like grip. She screamed again, but was silenced by a jab across her jaw. She whimpered, silent tears streaming down her face as the man led her out to the living room.
"Let her go," Sasha ordered from where she stood, a man holding her arms behind her back, and another tearing the room apart.
"Not until we get what we came for." The man who was searching the room said.
"What do you want?" Sasha cried, fighting against the man who was restraining her.
"The disk," the man said turning on Sasha, "we know you have it and my employers want it."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sasha replied, a look of defiance on her face. The man approached Sasha, fire in his eyes. His fist came out of nowhere and Savannah cringed as her mother went limp. The man turned to her and Savannah struggled against the giant that held her.
"Don't be scared," the man said, crouching down to look her in the eye, "I won't hurt you." Savannah had to look away from him, his eyes were just too scary to look into. "Now can you tell me where your mama hid the disk?" Savannah shook her head, afraid to say a word less he hit her like he had hit her mom. "No?" he said, he put his hand under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Are you sure?" he asked. Savannah didn't respond. "You can tell me," He said, "where did your mama put the disk?"
"I...I don't know." She whimpered. His eyes blazed with a harsh fire and Savannah's fear grew.
"Damn it!" he yelled, standing up quickly and overturning the rickety coffee table that was in the middle of the living room. He rounded on Sasha's limp form. "Stupid bitch," he pulled her hair so that her head was looking up at him, "where'd you put the damn disk?" Savannah shivered as her mother's vacant eyes stared back at the man. She had never seen her mother like that before. It frightened her to no end. The man growled, spit in Sasha's face and returned to looking around the room.
"Come and help me." he ordered the goon who held Savannah's mother. The flunky nodded and dropped Sasha on the floor before going to help his boss. Savannah winced as her mother's body fell to the floor with a thump. She looked down at her mother with tears in her eyes. She was so distraught that she could almost imagine that Sasha winked at her from where she lay.
"There's nothin' here boss." The goon said after they had torn up the apartment.
"Shut up," Boss yelled, "it's here somewhere, I know it is." He walked over to Sasha and forced her to her feet. "Where is it bitch?" he screamed, "I know you have it."
"If you think I'm going to tell you," Sasha said, her voice weak, "you're sorely mistaken." Boss walked a few steps away from her then turned back around and pulled out a gun from inside his jacket. Chills ran down Savannah's spine as the gun was pointed at her.
"You have two choices here," he said to Sasha, "you either tell me where the disk is and the kid lives, or you don't and she dies." He looked Sasha in the eye, "What's it gonna be?" Sasha looked from the man to her daughter, her eyes clouded with fear. Her body suddenly went rigid and she flung herself on Boss, tackling him to the ground. The gun flew from his hand and across the floor. The man that had been holding Sasha ran to help his boss, but she hit him with a back kick and he fell to the ground fighting for air. The man that held Savannah released her and tried to pull Sasha off Boss. She stopped pounding in Boss's face long enough to kick the man in the gut, landing him right beside his buddy.
Blood covered Boss's face, but he was putting up a good fight against Sasha. They rolled around on the floor, exchanging jabs and punches. Bruises were forming on Sasha's face and there was a cut above her eye. Sasha managed to pin Boss to the floor, but her weight was not enough to keep him down, and he easily kicked her off him. he reached for the gun, but Sasha, realizing that she was running out of strength and ideas, reached for a nearby vase and smashed it over his head. Boss crumpled to the ground, his eyes half closed.
"Hurry Savannah," she said, grabbing her daughter's hand and pulling her towards the door, "we've got to get out of here while they're still out of it." she reached the door then stopped. Quickly, she ran into the bedroom and emerged seconds later with Savannah's bear in her arms. She grabbed her daughter's hand once again and led her out the door at a fast paced run.
Sark didn't know what was happening. As he watched Chloe's face, the small smile and the wisps of hair that fell across her forehead, Sark knew that something was changing. He hadn't known it 'til then, but in the days that he had been with Chloe, she had slowly but surely softened his heart. And now, as he looked at her, he knew that he was changed, that he could never go back to the way he had been. It wasn't a big change, but enough for him to know that Chloe had done something to him. she had broken through the walls he had set around himself. Broken down his defenses 'til there was nothing left to hide behind. Every time he slept, he dreamed about her and her serene face.
But her face wasn't so serene anymore. Before Sark knew what was happening Chloe was tossing and turning in the chair on which she lay. Incoherent mumblings were escaping her lips. she was pleading with somebody, begging them not to hurt someone. Sark quickly moved to her side and tried to shake her from whatever memory had captured her.
"No," Devin said firmly as he grabbed Sark's arm, "this might be the break through we were hopping for." Sark looked down at her tormented face, all scrunched up in fright, then at Devin. He nodded and moved away from Chloe, praying that she would soon release herself from the memory.
With a gasp, Chloe's eyes sprang open. She was trembling and her face was dripping with sweat. She sat up slowly, too lightheaded to move quickly. The room swirled around her and a strong arm caught her as she began to tip off the chair. She looked up into a pair of ice blue eyes that, at that moment, had never seemed so beautiful and comforting. She sank into their depths like a boat sinks in the ocean.
"Are you alright?" He asked in a voice that was unlike she'd ever heard him use. It held care and concern within its depths.
"I'm...I'm fine." She said bringing her hand up to cradle her head gently.
"Here, lie back down." Sark gently laid her back down and wiped the sweat off her face with a cool cloth.
"I know what the Covenant wants." She said suddenly. She could feel Sark's hand pause for a second, and then continue to wipe her brow.
"What is it?" he asked calmly, even though Chloe knew he was dying to know.
"It's a disk." She replied, looking up into his eyes and allowing herself to lose herself in them.
"What's on it, where is it?" He asked. Chloe closed her eyes, trying to clear her vision so she could see him more clearly.
"I don't know." she whispered, "I don't know." she could see the defeated look on Sark's face and felt the same combination and failure and accomplishment that he did. "I'm sorry." She said, and was surprised to find that she meant it.
"It's okay." Sark said, "at least we know what it is we're looking for. That should narrow down the search."
"We can try the hypnosis again, just to see if I can figure out where my mother hid it." Chloe offered, even though she felt completely drained from the sessions she had already gone through.
"No," Sark shook his head, "I can't ask you to do it again, at least not until you've gotten some rest." Chloe nodded. She reached up to take the cloth from him and her breath caught in her throat as their hands brushed together. She looked down, refusing to meet Sark's eyes, and took a great interest in a small string that hung from her shirt.
There was no use denying it now. Chloe had an affect on Sark, he knew it as soon as her hand touched his. A fire spread up his arm and through his body as soon as her soft skin brushed against his. He looked away quickly and fixed his gaze on his shoes. Chloe groaned softly and Sark looked back at her concerned.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Chloe replied, looking up into his eyes with a soft smile, "I'm fine." Sark nodded and turned away from her.
"You should get some rest." He said looking at her over his shoulder, "Then we can figure out our next step."
"Alright," she replied. He heard her feet hit the floor and turned around just in time to see her start to sway. He caught her before she could fall and a shockwave ran through him as her body fell against him. "I'm okay." She said, reassuring him before he could even ask.
"No you're not." Sark replied with a smirk. He lifted her in his arms easily and carried her out of the room. They emerged from the hidden room and walked through the closet that was in the bedroom. Chloe's arms wrapped around his neck, making it burn. They entered the bedroom and he placed her on the bed gently.
"Go to sleep." He said, pulling the covers up around her, "We'll discuss our next step when you wake up." Chloe nodded, her eyes already closed. Sark turned around and headed for the open door that led out to the living room. He was about to close the door behind him when Chloe's voice caught his attention.
"I hope we find the disk," she whispered, "then this will all be over." Sark smiled gently and closed the door. He hadn't thought about that. Once they found the disk it truly would be over. He would be able to return Chloe to her family and when he did that, he'd never see her again. The thought tore at him like sharp teeth. He didn't want to let Chloe go, he wanted her to stay with him, forever.
Wow, that is like the longest chapter I have EVER written. I hope you all enjoyed it and that it lived up to what you thought this chapter would be like.
It will be awhile before I update this story. My family is going to Florida for a few days, so I won't be able to work on the next chapter.
I hope you all will review and tell me what you thought of this chapter.
Csk8-20: The age difference is fifteen years. Personally, I don't it's that much, but some people might. Oh well, I'm the one writing the story. Lol.
Natalie: Yeah, I'll probably use the idea. It's a pretty good one.
Beautiful Tragedy: I'm glad that I have such a loyal reader and I'm glad that you enjoy this story so much. Thank you.
Majesticness: I hope this chapter was long enough for you. I don't know how long the others will be, so this might be the longest one in the story.
Tentoesupurnose16: Thank you so much. I'm glad I can describe feelings well enough for my readers to pick up on them. And about Devin, you'll just have to stay tuned to see what happens with him.
Zeriae: Thank you for reviewing.