Two Faced Souls

By: AAHB ShadowFox

Chapter Two

Friend of my Enemy


"Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults."

Antisthenes (445 BC - 365 BC)

Ceased. Every part of her ceased, her mind, her heart, and her sanity. As Mr. Turner relayed her rights all Lex could muster was a blank stare to match Mr. Manak's ice cold one. A tingle lingered in her limbs, haunting her mind with a state of subliminal stupidity. Slowly she met her eyes with M's, who's deep brown globes radiated pity and concern, all of which she didn't want!

"I didn't kill anyone!" her voice burst into trembling rage finally, unable to take the stares any longer. The color of her knuckles drained to white as her fingers fisted against the table.

"Then how do you explain that you're alive with only very minor injuries?" Manak tottered in his chair forward towards her, the windows to his vindictive soul peered at her without waver, but purely with the certainty that she'd done it all. "Few bruised ribs and a strange scarring on your cheek hardly account for being in the 'accident' at all—you could have inflicted them to yourself!"

"You're insane!" Lex's eyes snapped to him, "Why the hell would I do that to myself?"

"To make yourself seem innocent when really—you're a cold blooded killer," his voice was so calm, so devoid of emotion that it even made the two other men fall silent. Manak tilted his head a bit at Lex's stunned reaction. Slowly her eyes began to narrow and she glanced at the other two males, hoping to find something there, but instead discovered her own expression mirrored on them. Lex peered at Manak again, uncertain of what to say to his abusive lexis.

"Mr. Manak, I think that's quite enough…. it's innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around," Turner silenced his partner with a stern, superior tone. Manak grunted displeased and sat back in his steel chair his eyes still leering down on Lex. She tried to avoid his eyes best she could, tried to calm her racing heart that nearly hurt against the back of her ribs it's beat so lively. It was sweltering, a bead of sweat shimmered down her temple before she displaced it with the back of her hand. It had been freezing just a few moments ago, but now it was as if they bundled her up and buried her in the sands of Death Valley at high noon.

"You don't have to say anything Lex, not until you have a lawyer here," M reassured her, nodding his head as if to reiterate his point further. It was a fruitless attempt. A lawyer? In these circumstances it would take more than a man with a bland stripped tie and a rawhide briefcase to save her, it would take a miracle.

"I know," she swallowed back the sickness that rose from her stomach to her esophagus as she patted her bottom lip with her sleeve. "And yes, I want a lawyer…." She had to stay calm, she eased herself, she had to remain strong, she was innocent…. only how could she prove that without sounding completely off her rocker? The truth sure as hell wouldn't do much but front her in an insanity plea. Manak's lips curled slightly in a pleased smirk as he watched her, seeing through her incognito emotions.

"We will talk with you later Mrs. Woods," Turner rose from his seat, a hand firm on the top of his chair, "Once you find a lawyer we will then speak to you in greater detail." Lex let herself take a slow deep breath, relaxing the adrenaline that tore through her blood stream. The natural impulse to fight or flight had itched her brain a few times through the talk, but neither was an option until then.

Lex nodded in response and took up her drink with trembling fingers taking a slag of the cool bronze liquid as the corner of the glass touched her lips. Turner waved his partner up and took his leave, patting Lex on the shoulder lightly as he brushed past her. Lex figured he didn't categorize her as guilty quite yet. Manak never tore his watch from Lex, even as he sauntered past her, the strong aroma of his musky cologne reaching the pit of Lex's nerves. She turned her head a hair and watches his shadow dissipate from her presence. A dry tongue flicked along her lips as she finally allowed herself to release her earlier deep breathes.

"Lex…?" Lex peered at Doctor Min-yao, who gave her an inquisitive look, "We'll get you a lawyer. I know a firm in New York, they have some of the best in the world…" Lex feigned a gracious smile.

"Thanks…." She set her drink down and filled her diaphragm with air, "I'm tired…. I think I'm going to go back to my room now…." She lifted from her seat setting the cotton napkin from her lap to the half devoured plate of food.

"Alright…." M followed her with his eyes as she maneuvered from the chair and started out of the cafeteria. Poking his food with his fork idly he slipped a piece of meat in his mouth with a sigh, chewing as he reverted his eyes to the side.

Lex was soon lying in bed, just watching the shadows on her ceiling. Shadows. They were the same breed that engulfed Manak's eyes. Twiddling indolently with her thumbs Lex thought about those shadows. They were all she had in her memory now. No snow covered mountain with the rays of light animating their dead silent with sparkles, just dark rock and honed walls that moved and jutted every ten minutes. No happy smiling faces of family and friends, just the horrified expressions of her companions, and the blood curdling screams as they were knocked off one by one.

Then another image filled her mind. That lone predator, one she should loathe for the killing of her team, yet she felt nothing to it. Her eyes narrowed at the image her mind conjured back up, the muscles of her jaw tightening.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Oh how she needed that now. She really needed an enemy of her enemy to save her.

Suddenly, footstep awakened her attention as they seemingly ceased at her door. Slowly the handle began to turn, the latching giving due, and popped open. Sitting up in bed, touching her side slightly from the twist of her tendon, Lex watched as the door opened slowly itself. A musky air filling the room.


E.N. Um…yeah, just gotta get through the plot details. Blah blah…lala….. tinky winky….wait, sorry Okay, will update soon! Since this was my faster update on anything ever 0.0 sad I know