38
I followed beside the short boy looking him over for a second. This was too crazy! I shouldn't believe him, but how does he know about The Commission. I couldn't take anymore secrets or lies of such large magnitude like the Swedes. I shook my head immediately.
"Okay so before you even take me on the confusion ride of a life time, what is your name?" I asked. The boy tucked his hands comfortably into his pockets and just smiled up at me.
"Five." he answers. I arched a brow.
"Five?" I asked. What kind of a name was that? I would date a guy with a number for a name? He nodded.
"Hey you want the truth and I'm going to give it to you." he replied. I looked around noticing we were just walking on the side walk taking turns into another neighborhood.
"Okay Five, you have to tell me something that no one else would ever know about me." I demanded. Five looked ahead for a moment that smirk growing some on his face, his eyes never looking at me, but his cheeks sure started to redden.
"If you shave off all your pubic hair, you have a perfect triangle shaped birth mark pointing right down at your-"
"Okay!" I cut him off. Oh my god he knew about that. So that means he's seen me naked. This kid or whoever he was has seen me naked! Have we done it too? Obviously! I finally placed my hand on his shoulder to stop him and turn him to me. Not even Axel and the others knew that. No one knew that. I looked him over curiously. "If you said we dated… how come you're-" I moved my hand up and down his body. He inhaled and just took my hand, looking at the top of my palm for a moment. He looked to be reminiscing about something, the past obviously, but the way he caressed my skin it was strange yet oddly familiar. His thumb even rubbed over the top of my palm. I looked around noticing peoples were shooting us weird glances. I didn't blame them.
"Look just come to my home and I'll explain everything." he said and finally let my hand go and turned and continued his walk. I knew I probably couldn't trust him, but at this moment, I didn't care about anything at the moment. We walked side by side and I noticed he was glancing up at me from time to time. When I glanced back down, I expected him to look away like some shy teenage boy, but he didn't. He just smiled up at me shaking his head as he looked away. This was still so crazy.
"So how far is your home?" I asked watching as he pointed ahead at a large mansion across the street from us. I blinked rapidly at the size of it. It was not something I was expecting.
"That's your home? Sure your parents are going to be okay with you bringing home a stranger, scratch that a grown woman?" I asked. He chuckled now and I looked at him confused. "What?" He shook his head.
"You'll see once inside." he replied and took hold of my hand and before I could finish blinking, the light around us was gone and now my eyes had to adjust to the dimness of the room we were suddenly in. I jumped and looked around now finally finding Five in the doorway of this room. It was a big room, too but that was not the first thing I noticed. What I noticed was how we got here.
"You can teleport!" I said in shock and he nodded walking over to me casually, his hands back in his pockets.
"Yes. So can you, but Escorts have their abilities tattooed into them like the blue butterfly you have on your back." he said. I shook my head caught off guard by how he knew that. It seemed his words were holding more and more weight the more he spoke. I finally nodded.
"Okay I want answers." I replied looking around some more for a moment. This place was very nice. Was this a school or something, it had that vibe. The walls were dark and I could imagine the entire place was dark. Five nodded and motioned for me to sit on the bed which I did.
"Well I'll try and give you the shortest version I can give you. I was born October 1 1989 with special abilities as you know. I have family here also born on that day who also have special abilities. Because I thought I knew more than what I knew now, I jumped too far into time and got stuck in a world ravaged by an apocalypse. I was there for about forty years or so, but I managed to go back by projecting my consciousness forward into a suspended quantum state version of myself that existed across every possible existence of time in order to get back to my family." he told. I was staring starry eyed at him now as I watched him pace about. He looked at me and observed my face before tilting his head. "Doesn't make sense?" I smiled with embarrassment before shaking my head.
"I'm sorry I'm not as smart as you." I replied. He just smiled at me some more before waving his hand at me.
"Don't worry about it. It's stupid. Long story short I managed to get back only a little with the help of The Handler who I met during my years in the desolated world. I know you're familiar with her." he said. I tensed and nodded. He nodded back. "She introduced me to the Commission and we made deal that if I worked for her, she'd bring me back. Well we made a deal and she got me back just far enough so that I was stuck in the world of the Commission. The thing was my consciousness remained the same but my body was that of a thirty year old man. I didn't know how I aged back at the time, but I figured it out." He told. I nodded slowly.
"So you were young once and used your powers to jump too far ahead and you couldn't return and you continued to aged, then the Handler came and introduced you to The Commission and you worked for them for a while, but now you're here and even younger?" I asked. He shrugged.
"More or less. Theres's more to it. Wow you definitely know how to explain things." he said as if impressed, his eyes giving me a once over. I shook my head now trying to ignore the look he was giving me.
"Okay but you missed the point about us." I replied. He nodded stepping closer to me some.
"I met you during my times at The Commission. You were a retired Escort which was incredible because you were still young and I kept wondering why they let you retire. I thought it was because you were a board member's child. You could do whatever you wanted," he said before looking up and just smiling at the ceiling, "You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. So head strong and smart, so kind but so guarded. Someone had hurt you which is why you retired from The Commission." he said lowly, and I tensed now trying not to be uncomfortable from the gazing and soft-spoken words this boy was conveying. But I also realized that he may have been telling the truth. Five sighed and nodded. "I know you were dating three elite brothers and they broke your heart."
Yeah he was telling the truth. I looked him over now showing a more serious gaze.
"How long did we date?" I asked.
"Eight years." he replied and I was stunned by this. Eight years! "Mostly it was because we kept our relationship hidden out of fear of what your father would do." Yeah that made sense. Maybe I didn't trust Five at the time thinking he was paid off by my father to date me to get my mind off of Axel. I stared at Five for a moment now feeling at a loss of words. This kid was someone I dated in the future and for eight years? Did I care about him that much? Did I love him? Five smiled.
"I can see it in your eyes this is a lot." he said. I nodded.
"What all did I tell you?" I asked. He opened his mouth to speak, but a commotion made us both jump.
"FIVE WHERE ARE YOU!" someone familiar male's voice yelled. I looked up more alert.
"I've heard that voice before." I replied moving from the room.
"Anja wait!" Five called out. I didn't know it was I was going, this hall was very long. Five moved in front of me and stopped me. "I don't think my siblings need to know about you right now." I sighed some.
"Not exactly what I call spending the day. I know I'll have more questions." I said quickly. How did we meet? Where did we meet? Exactly how did he get me to say yes to a date with him?
"Five!" a woman called out now. I knew I had heard these voices before, but I also knew I had no right to go through this boy or my ex or whatever he was house like this. Five swiftly looked over his shoulder and then up at me.
"Yes and I promise down the road I will answer them." he replied. I looked ahead and then I nodded and looked down at him.
"I will see myself home." I replied and he took my hand suddenly, and I looked at his hand holding onto me before looking down at him. I could tell he looked as if he was regretting something.
"Just be careful. We will meet again." he replied. Heavy footsteps were approaching us and immediately I vanished away back to the alleyway beside my apartment. I was standing there just staring into space as more things seemed to be just opening themselves up to me. As I took in the information I learned I realized the only reason Five and I dated, was because the Swedes and I didn't make it. Our relationship didn't make it. This fact made my eyes water. It hurt to know this. It hurt to know I moved on. Was it this moment? Did something happen to them that made me retire? Did we have an even bigger falling out? Did what I say to Axel start the chain of events? Did they move on? Did they ask for another Escort. I know I was pissed at them, but deep down I didn't want to lose them. They were my boys, my loves. Five says they hurt me. So they did something? What was it?
That night, I lied in the tub silently crying about the facts I knew. Could I change it somehow? Usually when someone knows that something horrible happens in their future and tries to change it, it's the exact thing that makes said future come true. I sighed and realized I can't just sit here and do nothing. The Swedes apologized and I knew it was genuine. It doesn't make it right or hurt less, but we had to at least try and work things out right?
So now I had to go to them. I got out of the tub and dried off and just pulled on some pants and a blue sweater. Once I was finished getting dressed, I grabbed my keys and headed out to my car and took off down the road.
As I drove I wondered what I would say. What would they say. What would they do? Things just couldn't end here. I did my best to drive the speed limit, although when I found my car alone I would speed forward. I could feel the knots forming in my stomach as I realized the possibility that they may not want to speak to me after what I said to Axel. I saw the familiar exit and took it slowing my speeding down as I knew the off road was coming. I turned and now there was only darkness except for my head lights. The trees were deep as usual and finally cleared out as I saw my house up on the hill.
I could see a few lights on. It wasn't entirely late. The truck was still there and finally I parked beside it and cut the car off. I took a few deep breaths remembering my words to Axel.
The four of us are done! Our relationship, our partnership is done!
They could have easily not have been here. They could have just packed up their things and left. No that couldn't happen! I pushed my body from the car and closed it moving to the house quickly. My heart was pounding hard in my chest with anxiety and I ignored it. I jumped onto the porch and just unlocked the door and went inside, kicking the door closed stepping into the middle of the room. Everything was the same there was nothing out of place. I looked around for a moment, placing my hand over my stomach thinking I'd be sick at the fact they were gone. But the meowing of kittens made me close my eyes in utter relief as I turned to see Oscar standing in the hallway wide eyes. He was here, he was still here which meant they were still here. I just stood here tears falling down my cheeks at the sight of him. To think we were only separated for a day and thoughts of us separating felt like torture to me.
Slowly Oscar smiled and it wasn't malicious or sinister as I was used to seeing aimed at a victim, but it was sincere and loving. He just moved up to me with great speed smiling more as he opened his arms out to me.
"My flower." he mutters before wrapping his arms around me and crashing his lips into me. I embraced him hard, moaning against his lips as I had missed them so much. Coming out of his room, Otto walked through the hall and paused, wide eyed as he saw us together. Slowly I let my lips leave Oscar's, his smile still there, and I turned to Otto and he just looked at me with great relief before coming up to me. Oscar moved so Otto could just stand before me looking me over with worry in his eyes and I just smiled up at him happily crying that he was here. He placed his large hands on my face, his thumbs wiping away my tears. I missed his heat. He just leaned down and pressed his forehead against mine smiling with utter joy before laughing happily and kissing me passionately. I ran my hands up his chest exploring every inch of his bare chest. He wrapped his arms around me and just embraced me lovingly.
"Say we'll never be apart again." he said against my lips.
"Never." I promised leaning up into him to taste his lips some more. Now the sounds of footsteps descending onto the ground made us all look toward the stairs and Otto moved out of the way so the last Swede could be seen. Axel stood there staring at me and I could see the anger flaring in his eyes. Slowly I began to approach expecting him to be upset and as I neared him staring at me with light and gentle eyes, I could see the look of anger fading to almost a look of indifference as he just looked away from me now. Once I was right in front of him, he looked down at me with a soft wince. I bit my bottom lip some trying to hold it together.
"I'm sorry for what I said. I don't want to break things off our partnership." His eyes flexed at my words now as I shook my head. "Or our relationship. I want to stay together. If that's what you all want." I turned to Otto and Oscar who nodded quite quickly and I smiled at them before turning to look up at Axel. They had their own minds, and I wanted to know what each of them thought individually. Axel just looked down at me with a deep gaze.
"We wouldn't let you break up with us anyways." he said lowly and I looked almost stunned before his lips cracked into a smile as he laughed humorously and I scoffed softly not being able to believe he managed to slide a joke into this. He leaned in and devoured my mouth and I gripped his shoulders in response holding onto him as my mouth opened to meet his. I missed his embrace. Oscar surprised us by coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my hips. Otto wraps his arms around all of us and just squeezes us tight. After our little bear hug, Otto was asking if I had eaten and if he wanted to cook me anything. I assured him I was fine although he thinks stress can make anyone hungrier therefore I need to eat more. So he was going to make breakfast for dinner. Oscar wanted me to try the eggs he had learned to make.
The kittens seemed to have missed me and so for a short time they followed me about the house. I moved upstairs to my room and saw the bed was made. I didn't remember fixing it up. The entire place actually looked better than when I left.
"We cleaned the house," Axel said moving to sit at the foot of the bed staring up at me lightly. "We planned to clean it every day so when you came back you'd know we looked after the place."
I approached him stopping at my knees as I crossed my arms comfortably.
"I expected you all would have just left back home somehow after what I said. Maybe go to The Commission and tell them you wanted a new Escort." I replied and he Axel snorted lightly shaking his head.
"You were angry and I get that… we hurt you, we betrayed your trust. When I first met you, I suspected we would never be able to trust you and when the trust was finally formed, we were the first to break it. I'm sorry I hurt you." he said sincerely. I nodded slowly smiling gently up at him.
"We will get through it." I told him. I knew that would take effort on both our parts. Axel now looked up at me with guild before leaning in and wrapping his arms around me placing the side of his cheek against my stomach.
"I should have told you everything I knew when we grew closer and I was afraid the more I revealed the more you'd think everything was set up from the beginning." he said. I looked down in thought of his words. The first time he and I ever met was when he had to take my virginity. I pushed him gently back from me finally placing my hands on his cheeks and his eyes fluttered close as he leaned in to my palms. I smiled just a bit at the fact he had missed my touch.
"My father didn't plan our first time, did he?" I asked. I just had to know. I needed him to tell me that my father wouldn't be so horrible as to plan such a moment for me. Axel looked at me quickly and took my hands in his finally and stood up to love over me and I just looked up at him with a mild fearful gaze. He shook his head immediately.
"I…chose you." he replied, and I felt my heart flutter at his words because I believed him. I smiled and placed my hand around his neck pulling him into me as our lips collided lovingly. His hands came up to cup my cheeks as he dominated my lips once more. Oscar was now in the doorway knocking on it. Axel now began to pepper my face with soft kisses now and I smiled looking over at the youngest brother.
"Breakfast is ready." he said. I smiled up at Axel and took his hand before leading him from the room to follow after Oscar. Otto was taking plates from the cabinet and Oscar was pulling a jug of apple juice from the fridge. They had made eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits and honestly it all looked good. After we fixed our plates together we sat down at the table and the brothers stared at me with warmth in their eyes and I couldn't help but feel my cheeks warm up beneath their gazes. However, before we could put our food covered forks to our lips, the familiar noise of a tube made us all pause and look toward one of the cabinets. In unison Oscar, Otto and I looked at Axel who got up from the table and moved over to the cabinet and pulled the tube out.
The rest of us got out and moved around him now to look over his shoulder. It looked to be of some man in a suit looking over his shoulder as if on look out or something. We looked down at the message below.
Los Angeles, California. 1969. The coordinates were below it. My eyes popped as I had seen those coordinates before.
"We're going to Hollywood." I replied.