Sequence

Chapter 2: The Commencement

It was late afternoon by the time the car eventually pulled up, in front of the large white building. The tall iron gates, blocking the entrance – and probably with many cases, the exit – from visitors and patients. I stepped out of the car, slamming the door absently behind me, and walked up to the small cabin to the right of the gateway.

"Excuse me, sir," My voice was shaky. I have to be honest with you, I was scared … petrified, and you know me … I don't scare easily.

"Yes," the guard looked up from what I assumed to be a newspaper, but I couldn't see through the small window, and set down a large mug of coffee, "What can I do for you?"

"I'm here to-" think fast Suze. I could use the reporter disguise, but then, I guess that wouldn't get me an interview with Paul, oh damn, what to say, what to say… "Visit a friend," I finally concluded, cursing myself for not having prepared for this.

The man shook his head, the shiny bald patch at the top of it glistening under the dim light, "I'm sorry, missy, unless you're with a member of the family or an official, I'm 'fraid I can't let ya in."

"But-" I started, but the man cut me off by shaking his head.

"Sorry, but you'll have to leave."

I was reluctant to leave, but in a way, almost relieved. I wouldn't have to see him, and yet, I'd never find out the truth.

I made my way back to the small red car, parked by the pavement, and my hand had just brushed the handle when I heard my name being called from behind.

I brushed it off as a coincidence and opened the door, after all, who would I know around here?

"Suze, wait!" I spun around on my heel, squinting my eyes towards the small dark figure running towards me.

As the figure neared, I noticed the distinguishing features that set him out from any other that I knew. Thick locks of curly, dark hair, were brushing backwards in the wind as a flushed, young face stopped in front of me, kneeling down and panting, out of breath.

When he finally regained it - his breath that is - bright, soft, blue eyes turned to stare at me, both bloodshot, from what I assumed to be a lack of sleep.

"Jack?" I asked, in disbelief.

"Suze," Jack started, his eyes full of distorted confusion as he peered up at me, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, uh," I brushed my hair quickly out of my eyes, tucking the stray strands behind my ear, "I was here to see Paul, but I can't get in."

"Really?" He asked, unsurely. The last time I had seen Jack, was when his brother had tried to kill my boyfriend, something that didn't quite put Paul Slater in my good books. "You're here to see Paul?"

I smiled at him. He had grown up quite a lot within the past – what was it, two years? His hair was somewhat wild, each curl framing his young face, but he strangely suited it, and he was taller, much taller. The kid was only ten and he was only a few inches smaller than me. However, I guess that isn't saying that much.

"Come with me," he chirped, almost happily, however, a strange, sad, depressing tone managed to entwine into his voice, letting me know that the happiness was only a show. Poor kid, he must have been devastated. He really looked up to Paul and then something like this happens?

He slipped his hand into mine and tugged towards the gates, which opened immediately in front of us.

"Thanks, Bill, she's with me!" Jack called back. He seemed so mature for a kid his age, which was a stark contrast to the way that he had behaved a few years back, when he would hardly even step out of the hotel.

I glanced back quickly to the car behind me, and nodded my head curtly, in a quick gesture of reassurance.

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The metallic, pneumatic doors, slid back, allowing us entrance into the room. I followed until the woman ahead of me stopped, and pointed towards a small seat, in front of a large glass window.

"Pick up the phone, you have a few minutes; try not to be too long, Miss Simon."

I nodded, understandingly and slipped into the plastic seat, lifting the heavy black phone from the box and staring at it, curiously.

I was startled from my thoughts as a door slammed at the far end of the room. Glancing up, I saw a tall, brawny guard, whose thick hand was wrapped tightly around Paul's upper arm, in a way that looked very painful.

I unknowingly grimaced at the sight of him. It scared me to see him like this, he looked so … weak. Even though his posture was strong and bold - as though he was trying to keep intact with the last remaining shreds of his dignity - his usually tanned skin was paler than usual, his hair limp and lifeless, and his eyes were unbearably blank and helpless. The piercing blue was no longer as sharp and cutting as usual, almost as if they had been rendered blunt, and the cocky, egotistical smirk that normally graced his handsome face was nowhere to be seen.

When his eyes locked with mine, I felt my heart jump and twist violently, as if someone had suddenly grabbed it and was trying to wrench it callously from my chest; the icy blue orbs flashed lightly with a look of hope, but before I had a chance to study it, it had disappeared.

The guard shoved him, forward, and he stumbled slightly, before regaining his composure and walking towards the seat behind the glass. I reckoned that the guard was saying something to him, but what, I couldn't tell through the glass and walls.

As Paul slid his hand smoothly across the receiver on the other end, I tightened my grip on the one pressed to my ear.

"Suze," he spoke first, but his voice was weak and less threatening than I was accustomed to.

"Paul," I answered, my own voice shaking with anxiety, and maybe anticipation. I stared at him, and realized that he was now so close that I could determine a few new emotions within those fathomless eyes of his … seclusion, sadness and fear danced vigorously around the light blue orbs, none of them striking me as oddly as the last. From my experiences, Paul had never been fearful of anything, and it was heartbreaking watching someone so strong dissolve into something much more fragile.

"What do you want?" he asked, bluntly.

I was slightly taken back by his biting tone, but I dismissed it quickly, jumping to the point of my visit, "Answers." I pushed the front page of the newspaper up against the glass for Paul to read, but he turned away, waving his hand in a gesticulation of annoyance.

"I've seen it already, Suze." He drawled, his eyes growing darker as he glared at me.

"Did you do it?" His face contorted with livid anger.

"Do you have to ask?" he growled. Whoa, this guy really was bitter.

"Yes." I replied, "What happened, Paul?" I slipped the newspaper article back into my bag with one hand, my eyes fixed evenly on his.

"How the fuck should I know?" His use of words was inflammatory, but his tone was soft, as if he was musing on the thought, himself. "I just, woke up here … with no memory of what had happened. Fuck, I wasn't even with her." He looked pained, agonized, and a sudden pang of sympathy rolled through my body.

I sighed, "Paul, I don't have a lot of time, here-"

"You think that I did it, don't you?" He asked, his icy blue eyes throwing accusing stares at me.

"I don't know, Paul, I really don't." I shook my head solely and solemnly, my mind slipping back to the vibrant Kelly Prescott, who would no longer be the object of every guy's desire; no longer be the object of every girl's envy; and no longer be an object, or being on this earth, because of Paul. Allegedly.

"Dammit Suze, do you really think that lowly of me?" he snarled, his lip curling slightly as he stared at me. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You don't know where you were, do you understand how bad that that looks?" I asked, my voice rising in protest to his anger, as if competing with his.

"Why are you here, Suze?" Paul asked, pushing his dark curls out of his eyes, with a strong yet shaky hand.

"For the truth," I answered, honestly.

"Well then, you want the truth? I'll give it to you; I didn't do it … I know I didn't."

"You have no proof Paul!" I objected.

"I didn't do it, you have to trust me!" He exclaimed, trying his best to keep his voice down.

"Trust you? Pfft … that's not possible." I snorted.

Paul lowered his voice, and casting a wary look over to the indifferent guard in the corner, he replied, "You can get me out of here … help me get proof. I've been framed; you can help me fix this."

I nearly fell from my seat in shock, but he continued, "I can't shift in here, I don't understand why; maybe I'm too …" he thought for a moment, before solely drawing out, "distraught."

"No, no, no… I will be in so much shit if anybody finds out that I helped a murderer escape."

"Suze," his voice was much softer now, and the anger in his eyes was dying, giving way to hope, "look me in the eyes and tell me that you really think that I did it."

My eyes diverted, quickly to the wooden desk in front of me.

"See?" He questioned gently, "Suze?"

"But I don't know how to-" he interrupted, clearly knowing what I was getting at.

"- I told you that you shouldn't have quit those lessons," he tried to smirk, but it failed miserably as a faint lopsided grin tried to tug at his lips, which were adamantly glued into a sombre frown. "You'll work it out, though, I've told you what to do."

I sighed, dramatically and sunk my head into my hand.

"Suze?"

"I'll be back in a two weeks. Be ready," I answered before slipping the phone back into place and leaving the room, without looking back.

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"So?" Jesse asked, as I slid into the passenger seat, closing the door firmly behind me and throwing my bag to my feet. I looked up at him.

"So what?"

"Was it true?" he raised his dark eyebrows, questioningly.

"Honestly, Jesse," I started, sinking back into the seat and throwing my head against the headrest, "I don't know."

A/N – Ahh, I don't really like this chapter. There wasn't enough tension, but the next one should be good. You get to meet a very important guy to my story … I love him already lol, he's so … ooohhh I can't explain, but anyways, he'll be like marmalade. You'll love him or you'll hate him.

: Thank you, guys, you rock my world:

Mrs. Nikki Slater – I'm sorry, you're probably not going to like what I'm going to say next. This fic isn't going to be fluffy … I'm sorry! I know that I stated one of the main themes as romance, and that's true, in fact really true, but the thing is … well it's kind of meant to be thrilling too, so I can't include too many fluffy moments. This whole plot revolves around romance though … it's quite a different romance than most are used to though. Hmm … I don't know, I have a weird mind.

starrynightdreamer – Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't lol. Anyways … it's only Kelly … hehe, joking! And to 'why does Paul have to ruin every single fluffy moment?' Well, because he's Paul Slater. He's hot, irresistible, annoying and isn't much into fluff … well in this fic anyways lol. Anyways, I have to say to you too, that there won't be much fluff in this fic. Please don't stop reading because of that, because it will have romanticism, but little fluff. I'm sorry.

tangopepperoni - Thanks! I'm glad that you like it. Although, it should get better once the plot gets rolling. (smiles)

bbblfl – Aww, thank you so much, I'm flattered, honestly. Anyways, as I've stated before, I hope that this will get better once the plot starts rolling!

Lady Storm – Lol, you don't need to say anything else. Thanks very much, I'm so glad you like it, and I hope you continue to read (and like lol)

La fonda – Yes murder … and let me let you in on a secret … only this once though. That's not the last. Thanks for the review!

Review my pretties! REVIEW!