It must be a curse, again, a horrible title! (Smacks herself in the face)
And sorry it took some time to writhe this, but I started a new Dutch story and I got a little writher's block in this chap. That and my beta got sick. Hope you feel little better!
Many thanks for the beta Me-Loves-Orli and Sands Agent.
Chapter 24) Going into town.
Lizz sat bored on the sofa switching channels while eating chips. It was around 8 PM and the tension was high in the house. There had been a slight miscommunication about who owned the house and the car. It started with a small discussion when Sands claimed that someone had moved the chair, after almost falling over it. Of course he blamed El right after that.
'That wasn't a very smart move', Lizz thought. El was still mad about him teaching a child to shoot. El started to yell it was his house and of course Sands couldn't keep his snappy mouth shut. After a few minutes the car got dragged into it. And wasn't it for Lizz one had shoot the other.
'Yes, a very healthy environment for a girl,' she thought, eating another hand full of chips. She switched a couple of channels and found a nice and cosy talk show about a couple how wanted to get a divorce. 'That's more like it', she smirked when the wife slapped the man in the face for cheating on her. "You go girl! Show that sneaky rat what the word girl-power means!"
"Owh, look the feminist is talking." Sands walked in. He didn't look that chatty, muttered something probably about El and sat down on the sofa. Lizz pulled her feet up just in time.
"Hey!" She yelled. "Watch where you park your ass! You almost crushed my feet!"
"Fuck you." Was the simple answer.
Lizz made a face at him. "Jeez! Don't get mad on me 'cause you had a fight with El! I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Fuck you, Lizzy-O." He replied. "Now gimmy the remote."
"NO! I'm watching this!" In reflex Lizz snatched the remote, holding it like her life depended on it.
"I don't care!" Sands said. He grabbed her by the arm and tried to claim the remote. But Lizz fought back. She hadn't watched TV since forever and there was no way she would let some psychopathic jerk take that holy thing away.
"Little bitch." Sands cursed when she pulled loose. She started to laugh and pushed the volume button.
Sands pointed at her. "Don't mock me, girly. Now, give the fucking thing!"
"Make me!" She baited, sounding very immature.
Sands' eyebrows went up. "That was a stupid thing to say." Before she knew it, he ducked at her and they both were lying on the floor. Lizz screamed in surprise and amusement. "Get off of me, idiot!" She giggled.
"Not before you give me the remote!" He said, trying to sound threatening.
"NO! I will never give you the remote! He's mine!" She tried to push him off but he was much stronger.
"Don't make a fuss girly, just hand me the remote and no-one gets hurt." Sand said, smirking.
She started to struggle. "No, he's mine! My precious, I won't hand him to you, mean man!" She giggled and threw the remote in the air. Immediately Sands catch the thing out of the air. "You're as lousy with throwing as shooting, Lizzy-O." He stood up and sat down on the sofa. Lizz followed only a lot sulkier. She looked at Sands, who was very pleased with himself.
"Don't look so happy, you're just lucky." She snapped.
He glared at her. "Lucky? Sweetheart I was totally aware of your actions." He pointed at himself. "CIA agent, remember? We get trained for things like that."
"Things like what?" She immediately asked.
He smirked. "I'm afraid I have to kill you if I tell you that."
"You like the whole threatening part a little too much." She rolled with her eyes. "I'm out." She stood up intestinally kicking Sands' knee. The agent didn't replied and a little disappointed Lizz walked to the kitchen where El sat playing guitar. Lizz looked interested and sat down in front of him. "Wow, I didn't know you could play."
El glared at her. "My name is El Mariachi, what did you expect?"
'Why are all the guys in this house twenty-four hours a day pissed or incredibly moody?' She thought wile watching El play the guitar. He was really good, the best Mariachi she had heard. Of course that wasn't much because he was the first she ever heard but let's not spoil the moment.
"Who taught you that?" She asked after he finished a song.
"My dad, he was a mariachi too, just like his father." He said playing another song.
"He must have been very good." She said soft.
"Yes, he was." El replied.
"Excuse me for ruining this touchy moment." Sands said sarcastic, walking in. "But where is the beer."
Lizz glared at him. "There isn't any."
Sands stopped walking, letting his hands slide over the wall. "In that case, where is the tequila or whisky, or any other drink I'm not picky."
"Like I said," Lizz said after a frustrated sigh. "There isn't any, so go back to your Baywatch."
His mouth dropped. "I was watching Baywatch!" He sat down, after finding the kitchen table. "Fuck, I thought there was some terrible bloodbath with a surfer and a shark." He pulled out his cigarettes. "This sucks. No alcohol, nothing good on TV." He lighted a cigarette.
"Don't smoke in here." El immediately snapped.
"Or what?" Sands asked, blowing the smoke in El's face. Lizz saw how hard it was for El not to strangle him right this second. And she couldn't blame him.
"Sands, knock it of wouldya?" She pleated. "Please try to act like a normal person for once."
He grinned. "If you say so." And with a huge smirk he pressed the cigarette out on the middle of the kitchen table. Then he threw the cigarette into a corner and looked back at El. "To bad there isn't any wife around to clean up the mess."
El's eyes shot full of rage. With one hand he grabbed Sands blouse and dragged him over the table.
"What did you say!" He spat in the agent face. Not impressed the man looked back.
"What, do I stutter?" Sands voice was challenging. "I said, 'to bad there isn't a wife around to clean up the mess'." His voice went low, almost unhearing. "You know, the one you lost-"
El's eyes shot fire. Before he knew it, he hit Sands right on the jaw. Sands' head snapped to the other side and he hissed in pain.
"This time you went too far!" He grabbed Sands firm by the neck and dragged him to the kitchen door and opened. "Never even dare to talk about my Carolina, you blind rat!" He whispered dangerously. "Never!" Then he threw the man out.
Sands landed on the ground, spit out some blood and looked back. "Or what? You think you can hurt me? You thing that beating me hurts!" He pointed at the glasses. "You don't even know what pain is, fucker."
El looked disgusted at the dark glasses, knowing what was behind them.
Lizz looked from man to man. One on the ground, one standing tall. Both looked silent at the other. Both full of hatred. She was almost scared to breathe, the tension in the room was so high. After a few second she bravely stood up. "I think it's a nice idea for Sands and me to go out for a couple of hours." She managed to say without stuttering or skipping a tone.
El looked at her, his eyes softened and he looked a bit worried. "I don't think that's a good idea. You will be unarmed and very vulnerable."
"I'll be fine." She reassured. "And if someone shows up, Sands can blow there heads off."
Sands stood up. "Sounds good to me and I'm almost out of cigarettes"
El glared at him. "Still I think it's a bad idea."
"Owh, come on!" Lizz begged. "Think about it, a couple of hours Sands-less, doesn't that sound tempting?"
That idea seemed to have effect on El. He thought for a moment. "Okay, you can go. But be back before sunset and if you even think you're being followed or someone is spying on you, come back immediately."
"Of course, of course!" She ensured El.
"Good," he sighted. "And tell him." Pointing at Sands. "That if he ever even mentions my wife or daughter I'll make another hole in his head."
Lizz nodded quickly and walked to the car. Sands was there already, smoking.
"Stupid ass!" She screamed. "Why did you do that! Talking about his wife!"
He looked up, "What? I never said anything about his dear wife." Smirking he continued. "I just said it would be nice to have a wife around to clean up the mess."
Lizz stood right before him and was furious. "You know exactly what I mean! Don't think I didn't hear you! How dare you use the grief for his wife against him! You mean… manipulating bastard!"
"Owh, hush girly." Sands opened the car door and sat down.
Lizz follow his sample and sat down behind the wheel. "No, I won't hush! How would you feel if El started to mock your mother!" She saw him tens a little and knew she had hit the right spot. "Think about that, Sands."
He looked throw the window, like he tried to see what was out here. "Fuck you, that's not the same."
"Why not? You loved your mom and El loved Carolina. See the resembles?"
He gave her a long cold look. "You don't have a fucking clue what you're talking about." His face darkened. "His life got fucked up when he was a grown man. My life got fucked up before it even started. And he didn't need his wife to protect him from an evil bastard."
A shiver went throw her body as she thought back of what Sands had told her about his dad. She nodded needles. "You're right, I'm sorry."
"Well, that makes everything dandy, doesn't it?" He sneered. "Who cares about their eyes being ripped out, their fucked up life, being a fucking roomy with there number one enemy as long as you're sorry!"
He inhaled for the last time and threw the cigarette out of the window.
It was just then, that Lizz realised how bad the whole situation must be for Sands. He had to spend his day with the man who partly was the rezone he lost his eyes. And that man had beat him, like his dad used to do. In his way he tried to make El go away by threatening him and hurting him mentally because he knew he couldn't beat El in a fight. And on top of that she started to whine about it, bringing up memories of his mom.
'Memo, for yourself, you're an idiot.' Lizz didn't know what to say. Therefore she started the car, turned it and drove to the road.
"So is there anyplace you want to go?" Lizz asked after a couple of minutes in horrible silence.
Sands sat next to her, feet on the dashboard looking extremely bored. "I don't give a shit." He said, placing his armed behind his head and leaning backwards.
'Nice he always knows how to pick up a conversation,' she thought sarcastic. 'Well, if he doesn't want to talk, that's fine with me.' She glared at him. 'Stupid ass…'
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Finally, after half an hour Lizz pulled over and parked the car. Sands had seemed to be asleep, but was fully awake now.
"Where are we?" He said a little hasty, looking, or rather trying to hear what was going on.
"We're in the centre of the city, if you can call it that." She turned the car keys and places them in her pocket. "It's not much, couple of shops, bars and stands. Owh, and a big statue of some rich old prick in the middle surrounded by fountains."
"I didn't ask for the grant tour, girly." He spat, looking pretty angry. "What the fuck were you thinking! You drove me to the middle of some fucked up city! Do I look like I want an excursion! I'm not a fucking tourist!"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be a baby, I asked you where you wanted to go and you didn't have any place particular in mind, so I picked a place to go to." She jumped out of the car and a couple of people gave her an odd look. It wasn't usual that little girls like her drove big army trucks.
Lizz heard Sands mutter something not so pleasant but he also stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut to make clear how much he was enjoying the trip.
Lizz didn't say anything but stuck out her tong at him. "C'mon, Mr. Sunshine, let's go!" She grabbed his hand.
He immediately torn loose, like he got bitten by a snake. "Don't fucking hold my hand. It fucking looks like we're dating!"
"Owh, you prefer to smack your head against a wall?" She asked, watching him closely.
"Yes, in fact, I do. Everything is better then people thinking I might even consider dating a naïve, stupid, talk-to-much, little brat!" He spat at her.
"Always so nice to hear those beautiful complements of you." Without getting pissed by his insults, she grabbed his wrist. "Come let's go!"
Sands glared at her, but didn't argue about the whole holding-thing anymore. A very smart idea of him, Lizz thought, she would defiantly have kicked him if he started to nag about it.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
They walked through the streets, the girly talking about the beautiful houses, the fat tourist and the cheap clothes they sold in the shops. The girl really didn't get that he wasn't interested in any of those things. But he didn't want to make her upset because… she still was his eyes, nothing more, but he needed her. So he nodded sometimes or mumbled something so the girl would think he was listening to her endless talking.
Suddenly she stopped walking. He tensed and tried to hear what was going on. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just have to buy… some stuff."
"What stuff?" He asked directly.
"Girl stuff." She answered.
"I ask you again, what stuff?" He said this time a little annoyed.
She sighted. "Fine, if you want to know it that badly... Maybe you remember this from biology. Once a month a girl starts to eat very much chocolate, listen to crappie music, gets very pissed of about the smallest things and cries all the time. Or at leased that's my example. Around that time she needs to go to the store to buy tampo-"
"Alright I get it!" He jerked his wrist loose. "Get your fucking stuff."
"What? you're staying here?" She asked surprised.
"What do you think! That I let you lead me through a story, holding me like a fucking dog, while buying your freaking girl stuff. No, I stay here, sugarbutt." He felt around and found a wall. "I'll stay right here, you hurry, buy your stuff."
"Whatever." She said, right after that he heard her walk into the store. There he stood, right in the middle of some city, right in the big open. If anyone was spying on them they could kill him right now, and he wouldn't even see it coming.
"Isn't this just peachy?" He told himself. A very soft laugh echoed through his head. "Stay away, fuckmook, don't come back!" He whispered.
"Owh, look it's talking back again!" The voice sneered.
"Go away! NOW! I do not need you around, I never did!"
"That's to bad, Shelly, 'cause I'm not going. And don't think you can drug me away. I'll never leave you, Shel, I am you, just like the other two voices are. They both will be back soon, Shel, and if that time comes, I'll be sitting on the front row, laugh my ass off!"
"No, no! You can't do that!" Panic started to get to him. "They can't come back!" He suddenly felt very cold and a shiver went through his body. His breath started too quicken, he let his head rest against the wall. "Please, don't let them come back."
Again a laugh echoed through his head, but this time it was much lower and way more terrifying. "NO! Not you!" He whispered, though gritted teeth. Slowly he let himself slid down the wall. "No, you can't!" He buried his head in his knees.
"See, dear Shelly, your daddy is looking for you. Soon he will find you again, just like the old days, Shelly. You and me both in the dark, you scared to death and me making funny comment…"
He felt his hands shake. Where were the pills? Where was Lizz? She had to come back! Now, right now! He heard the hollow laugh again, this time louder. Pain shot through his head, he jerked his head back and slammed against the wall. He cried out after another shot of pain.
People started to notice him and stopped to look what was going on. He heard them mumble about his behaviour. Someone made a joke, but he was to far gone in his mind to snap at the man, or even hear it. He bit his lower lip so hard it started to bleed, but it was nothing compared to the sharp pain, slicing through his head.
'This is too much!' He breathed heavily and shook his head, trying to make the pain disappear. He listened closely and started to come aware of the people staring at him. People who were making jokes about him, feeling pity for him. Maybe even thinking about hurting him. He had to make them leave, make them go away, to restore the balance in his head.
With a shaking hand he brushed over his gun, his safety. Suddenly he pulled back. He hearted a jingling sound. The bracelet, he knew immediate from who it was. "Lizz?" He whispered. The jingling sounds came closer. "Lizzy? Come here! Lizzy-O?"
"Move it, ass, I'm trying to get through!" He heard her snap at a guy. Her quick footsteps hurried closer.
"Sands? What happened?" Her voice was frustrated. "Is it so fucking hard to wait a few minutes?" She stopped breathing for a moment. "Sands, what's wrong, why is you're lip bleeding?' All the frustration in her voice was gone and replaced by worry.
She touched his shoulder. "Sands, you're shaking, please tell me what's wrong!" Christ, now she sounded like she was about to cry. Slowly he looked up.
"It came back, Lizzy, he's coming back and he tries… he's hurting me." Again, he felt so vulnerable and naked. But right now he didn't care. "Please, make it go away, Lizzy."
Suddenly he felt her arms around his neck. Her head rested on his shoulder. "It's okay Sands, I'll make it go away." She whispered in his ear.
Slowly she let him go and stood up. She turned around to face the people who where staring at her and Sands. Her eyes narrowed. "Move it, show's over! Everybody fuck off! Go back to your boring lives!" She made a gesture and slowly the people started to move and walk away.
She rolled her eyes. "Some people…" She whispered sighing.
Yes mission completed! I let her hug Sands twice and he didn't kill her yet! (starts to do a very lame dance).
Pleas please pleas, review!
Luvzzz Sue-AnneSparrow