After two weeks, yes I finished it on time, here's chapter... *checks* 23 already? Boy this is going so fast yet I feel like I'm taking too long. Makes sense... Ehh. At least a long chapter for the wait. I'm a bit (a lot) insecure about this chapter, hell I'm unsure about 90% of my chapters but especially this one... Idk I hope I don't bore you. But otherwise you won't be reading... right? *tries to convince myself.*
Anyways, thank you for reading and enjoy! ^ ^
"In here." The man motions to the broad wooden door on our right. I tilt the handle and throw it open, inspecting the room closely before cautiously stepping in. The silence in the room is so great that I almost feel like tiptoeing my way in, considering the fact I'm in the enemy's territory.
It's part of the plan, I repeat to myself every time a doubtful thought reaches the surface. Still, I can't help but feel like I made the wrong move - or rather followed the wrong command. Like I voluntarily walked right into my own death trap.
As I reach the center of the room, the door closes behind me with an unnecessarily loud bang at which I flinch. With a sigh I keep on walking, realizing the man just closed the door, nobody had entered yet. Zack hasn't entered yet.
I observe the spacious room, a bedroom, since there's a king size bed standing before the large window. It's tidy and clean and looks as if no one actually sleeps here. Expensive looking paintings and mirrors occupy the white walls as statues decorate the rest of the room. A huge chandelier hangs from the ceiling and crystals reflect the afternoon sun as the dots light up the place. It's gorgeous but I can't afford to drop my guard and stare in awe. Impatiently I tap my feet as what feels like minutes of silence pass by with no sign of Zack. I wonder if the other part of plan worked out, because if not, I'm in deep shit, and that would be an understatement.
Mixed feelings surge inside me as they rock back and forth like a wave. First anger is present, I bawl my fists at the thought of Zack who will meet me any moment here in this room. Anger washes away as a new wave of uneasiness settles inside me, causing my heart to beat unnaturally fast, seeing that I'm standing still. I hear the seconds of the clock almost soundlessly tick by as I in rhythm tap my finger against my leg.
The moment I decide to sit on the edge of the soft bed, the door swings open. "I've been told I have a guest." He smirks as he enters the room. I close my eyes in annoyance, all anger and anxiousness fading away as irritation is most present now. I know he's not stupid, he thinks things through before acting, but I can't help thinking he's an actual idiot. I'm sure Dominic is the smarter one.
"You invited me. Get to the point." I say, not letting something as insignificant as emotions break my already thin front.
Last time I laid my eyes on him was at the trial, where he demanded me behind bars for as long as I live, locked up to rot away, forgotten by the world to never see the daylight again.
Now he stands before me, beaming like a fool as if none of that had happened. It takes every ounce of self control I posses to not run up to him and wrap my fingers around his neck so I can close his air pipe. Oh how I want this man out of my life.
"You know." He starts as he walks over to me and stops before the bed I sit on. Not liking where this is going I quickly stand up, but when I do he immediately pins me down again, his hands on my shoulders pushing me into the mattress. "Your face is pretty cute." He swipes the hair away from my face as I look at him, my eye twitching. "But your eyes are quite frightening."
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I ask as calmly as I'm capable of right now, voice dripping with venom as I grit my teeth.
"Your foul mouth really ruins the image." He sighs. His expression went from nearly wanting to kiss me, to a face full of frowns and I grin at that. "Ah, right there. You should smile more." He says and leans in. I grab his neck and with a tight squeeze push him away from me as I stand up and brush past him.
"Get to the fucking point already." I spout annoyed. He's just playing with me, and I can't stand being played with. It annoys me how easily he gets to me, and my blood boiled within a matter of seconds.
"Alright then." He sits down on a king like chair and grabs a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He puts one in his mouth and motions for me to take one, when I shake my head he lights his and tucks it away again. His composure went from idiotic and devilish to serious like I haven't seen from him before, so after all it is possible. He inhales deeply and let's the smoke linger from his mouth before he continues. "I'll keep things short. Unfortunately I was the one chosen to do your case at court." He shrugs and an apologetic smile marks his face. "Now, if you successfully complete the job I will arrange a hideout place for you." He doesn't beat around the bush and surprisingly gets to the point right away.
"Hideout?" I snort. "I'm not going to live as a fugitive." I state as I sit down opposite from him, arms and legs crossed. I knew he wanted me to finish the job I took on, but I didn't think he would offer me an 'escape' now that authorities got involved.
"Whether you kill Levi or not, you can't avoid a prison sentence. The Survey Corps can't offer you such a deal." He inhales sharply and locks his eyes with me. "No matter what they promised you, It's futile." I lower my brows at his words, calculating them and his expression.
"Is that all?" I ask.
"I said I would keep it short, but I got more matters to discuss with you." He presses the cigarette out as he then grabs something. "I got the final stage of your job written in detail." He throws a envelope on my lap that contains surely more than a few papers.
"You wrote in detail how you want me to kill him?" I say with disgust, frowning my brows, not even wanting to know what he precisely has written out for me. Partially because if Zack had been quicker, I would've followed his instructions without a second thought, simply carrying out orders I would be paid for. And if all would've gone well, I doubt that knowing Levi, he would be a dead man, and I might be as well. Being paid for Levi's death... I shudder at the thought. I simply don't want to face what I could've done, how cowardly that might be, I don't want to face facts.
"I won't do it." I affirm strongly.
Zack presses his second lit cigarette out and leans his head on his fist. He appears unimpressed, not puzzled for the slightest as he looks at me with half lidded eyes. "Somehow I predicted this would happen." He sighs. "Why, don't you realize it's the Survey Corps that took the life of your precious friend?"
There it goes. My already crumbled wall falters completely as I clench my jaw painfully. Anger seeps through the cracks as I look up to him with murderous eyes, because that's what I want to do right now, kill this bastard and have him gone for good.
"I'll kill both that runt and Kay, is what you told me not too long ago, remember Zack?" I spit his name and clench my teeth, not trusting myself once I let my mouth run loose.
"Only if you disobey my orders." He adds, amused by my reaction he obviously tried to provoke and easily succeeded at doing so.
My fingers itch, wanting to collide my fist with his face, but my thoughts are interrupted when the door opens and two more men enter the room. Mentally I calm myself down and inhale deeply before setting eyes on him again. I focus on him but keep close watch to the two men who entered the room and almost unnoticeable make their way behind me, out of my sight. That moment I turn my head, sensing the bad feeling of their presence.
Immediately I'm punched against my temple, catching me off guard. I notice a second too late that they grab both of my wrists, now tying them against my back and around the chair.
"What's the meaning of this." I say as I squirm in the hold of the ropes, noticing they're not tightly fastened as the men disappear out of the room, leaving us alone once again.
Zack stands up and walks over to me, sitting on the armrest, eying me with what looks like pity. "Nobody will believe a criminal from the underground. See, I need you." He strokes my cheek and tucks loose strands of curly hair behind my ear. "You were the only one to accept this job and probably are one of the few who can pull it off." He say with a low voice, lifting my chin to face him. "Be a good girl." He whispers and stands up again, sauntering around the room as he rests his hands behind his back.
I cringe at those words coming from his mouth and decide not to answer. What he fails to realize is that my reason not to do this, is because I don't want to end Levi's life. I don't want to hurt him, I don't want to lose him.
After April's death I was struck again by the realization of how fragile human life is. It takes one bullet, one fatal wound, one fall to end someone's life. After a life full of sinning and killing, I now protest against it. Not that it can make up for all I've done, but the man in the courtroom was right; killing Levi would be a threat to humanity because he gives his all while I just take lives to save my own, but not anymore.
While he is absentmindedly strolling around the room in deep thought, I concentrate on getting the ropes from my wrists. I turn and pull, working my way out of them as I have my eyes glued onto Zack who astonishingly, and suspiciously, doesn't seem to suspect a thing. I breathe out a sigh of relief when the ropes softly fall to the ground. I sit up straight and grab the knife behind my back, waiting for the moment he turns his back to me again.
Not even a second after I stand up he already turned back around. This time with a gun pointed at me. "You thought you could make a move?"
My eyes widen and mouth slightly parts. He knew? A moment later I squint my eyes at him as anger returns again. He must be doing this on purpose. Acting all innocent and dumb, like he's oblivious to it all. Meanwhile he's sharper and has things planned out better than I thought. I've been underestimating him from the start, haven't I?
"Just let me go." I say as I tighten my grip on the knife. "I won't talk to anyone about your fucked up plans. After all, I'm just a girl from the underground, right?" I mock using his own words against him, and he doesn't seem entertained by the attitude change.
For once he is the one to remain silent before he calls the men back in who had just left the room.
I bite my lip in frustration. He won't let me leave, not unless I agree, which I clearly won't do. I contemplate my options. Running won't be a choice, not until I get ordered to do so at least. So I'll have to rule that out. But his good nature won't last forever either and neither does mine. Patience is running low and it's tangible in this now all of a sudden seemingly cramped room.
I can feel a headache build up at the confronting decision making. Thinking isn't my best trait anyways. So fuck it. Sometimes you have to take a gamble.
I swing my hand forward and throw the knife right at him, hitting him in his arm. Not wasting any time I run past him but the deafening sound of the gun causes me to freeze and seems to pause time as well. A bell-like noise rings loudly in my ears as I halt in my movements.
Was I shot?
I can't tell if I'm in pain or not, the adrenaline in my body causes me to feel a million things at once and a sense of hurting is one of them. Hesitant I look down, looking myself over but to my relief find no blood splattered around me.
It's as if time kicks right back in when a second later the door flies open and the two men come running in. When they glance over to Zack, seeing him wounded with a weapon stuck in his arm they turn to me. Roughly they drag me back, away from him and back onto the chair. The ropes that lie disregarded on the ground used once more to tie me up, this time pulling it hard enough that I curse at the constriction, the material almost cutting my skin open.
"Call a doctor." Zack commands and one of the men disappears. He grabs a chair and pulls it opposite of me as he sits down. He takes a glimpse of his injury on his arm and the vivid crimson tainted blouse that continues to soak up the flowing blood before he eyes me again.
"I missed on purpose." He informs me as I raise my brow. "Because right now, you're important to me. I just need you to do this one thing." His hand trails along my face as he closes even more distance between us, making sure our eyes are locked. "And then I'll let you go, that's a promise. Just tell me what it is that you want in return." He slumps back into his seat and studies me carefully.
It's not as if his fucking promises or whatsoever have any value to me. I don't believe nor do I trust him and I'm sure as hell he doesn't trust me either. So even if we ever miraculously come to any sort of agreement, it is nothing but a fruitless attempt. I'm sure we both came to realize that at this point in time.
Before I can reply, a woman walks in backwards while holding something. Zack tore his eyes off me and walks up to her, undoing his shirt and poking the red skin as she without question gets to work. The female stands with her back to me as she efficiently cleans up his quite deep cut I inflicted. I grin at the fact that I was able to pull that off, though I'm slightly worried that I've been treated nice, too sweet for someone who has just wounded him like that. If his patience wasn't running low I'm sure it has surpassed his boundary by now. "Thank you Ilse." He says when she finished.
"I hate to ask. " He points to me as I let out a faint huff. "But could you also treat her wounds." He looks over to me and so does the lady.
A chill runs up my spine as I let out a shaky breath. It feels as if my heart has stopped right this instant, my chest feeling heavy and tight like it will break and burst under the weight of emotions. For some stupid reason I want to cry. The dark haired woman walks up to me and hunches down to my eye level. "This could take a while, why don't you take a break while I treat her?" She suggests and surprisingly he agrees without question.
The wounds I have are not even inflicted today, they merely reopened from the harsh way they treated me, is all, I think but keep my mouth shut. Not that I will be capable of muttering a single word intelligibly now, I think.
"She's tied up but has creative ways to break out, so watch your back." He warns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind his back as the other man followed him onto the hallway.
All this time my eyes never left her face. All of a sudden I feel so insecure, penetrable and vulnerable, a hundred emotions striking me all at once as I sit powerless with my hands tied behind my back. Betrayal and anger is most present, overwhelming the hurt like darkness absorbs the light, leaving no room for it to shine.
I clench my fist behind my back painfully as I stare into these familiar yet strangers eyes. "Ilse Hillard?" I speak and she turns around the moment I let my voice be heard.
She stares at me wide eyed, her mouth gaping open and closed like the words are stuck on her tongue. Tears form in her eyes as she remains silent, soft whimpers escape as she tries to muffle them with her hand. After swallowing hard she once more attempts to talk, the words barely audible. "Is it... you?"
I think my words over before I speak, knowing that a certain someone is here to hear, if not also see everything.
"What? Don't even remember what your own daughter looks like?" I spit and turn my head away, hiding it from her view as I bite my stupid tears away. Why do I feel like crying? She left me, she and Evan, so called parents, left me like it was nothing, like I was trash.
Yet the look on her tear stained face hurts me, how dare she look at me like that; like she's glad, relieved, almost happy to see me alive and well.
I gasp and sit up straight as she sinks to her knees in front of me, tears now spilling as she rests her head onto my lap, shaking uncontrollably. "Jaclyn... Jaclyn it's you!" She mutters between broken sobs, now looking up to meet my eyes.
I hate to admit it, but she resembles me- or I resemble her. Watery hazel brown orbs lock onto mine as I study her appearance. A slim oval face, full lips, long lashes that grace her eyes as the faintest of wrinkles surrounds them. Curled dark brown, almost black hair falls to her shoulders as a warm, welcoming smile grows on her lips.
"Tch." I avert my eyes to the other end of the room, staring at some painting as I speak, secretly afraid that if I look at her any longer, I'll break. "Undo my ties." I don't ask but order, voice cold as I regain my hard demeanour for my own sake. I don't look directly at her, but I see her eyes widen as she backs off.
"What?!"
"My hands are tied up, undo them." I repeat.
"I... I can't!" She desperately almost yells. While I mentally curse and sigh, it's what I had expected. It was worth the try, but my mother is still the weak, indecisive woman she had always been. Abandoning me back then and right now, painfully again.
"You're going to leave me again?!" I accidentally shout, never meaning to raise my voice as I tear my gaze from the painting and back to her.
I can only guess that this isn't how she expected our mother-daughter reunion to go, if she ever expected one to begin with, because I sure as hell didn't. Let alone here, right now under the worst possible circumstances.
"If you're trying to be a mother, acting as if you're happy to see me, then help me!" I mean every single word leaving my lips while trying to influence her motherly feelings, if she still has those for me after all these years.
"You can never make it up to me." I confess softly, probably shattering her last hope of doing so before my voice gradually increases again. "But at least do one thing in your lifetime as a good mother and get me out of here!" I shout to her face while tears prickle my eyes, biting down my lip and trying my hardest to not let them fall.
Tears leak from her eyes, faster than before as she looks at me with quivering lips. After a moment of silence she slowly shakes her head, muttering, "I can't." over and over. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, along with my last chance of getting out of here without too much trouble.
"Then just clean up my wounds." I sigh in defeat and lean my head back over the edge of the chair. "Useless." I almost soundlessly mutter.
How come my friends won't hesitate to save me, even if it means risking their own lives, but my own parent can't. I glance down at her in disappointment when I think about how she has treated me, or actually didn't treat me, because she was never there to begin with. How she and dad had left me behind to die without ever seeing the outside world.
She wordlessly gets to work and gently passes each wound, even the little ones that don't need attention. "You're wasting time on those." I referred to the scratches on my hand. I peer over my shoulder to see her staring at them and softly brushing them with her fingers.
"I don't expect you to forgive me... us. Words cannot explain how sorry we are Ja-"
"That's enough." I interrupt her with a groan. I can't take it. I want to believe them, forgive her, but whatever reason she had I know I won't be able to. I can't forgive her for all those nights I've been crying, longing for my mothers embrace, only to find myself alone and cold in the dark.
I mentally curse myself at my thoughts.
"Levi. Now what?" I shake the feeling of sadness and bring myself back to the here and now, deciding that she won't tell anyone he'd be here.
The large wooden closet to my right opens and Levi reveals himself. "Are you alright?"
"Not important right now." I say even though I'm a mess, both mentally and physically. Seeing my mother again after all these years causes an ache in my chest. I'm angry but also happy to see she's doing okay and bloomed into a beautiful woman. Still weak as ever, but that doesn't matter right now, I've seen her and she is doing just fine. "By any means we need to get out of here, you got your proof so do something." I say harsher than I intended. "Please." I add with pleading eyes as he nods a single time.
Voices are audible again on the hallway and Levi just in time hides before the door opens and Zack returns.
"Is everything done Ilse?" He asks, the two other men standing beside him.
"I finished." She walks from behind and stands before me, hands behind her back - holding onto a knife. Don't tell me... she's planning to make a move against them.
A dreadful feeling settles inside me, heart beating faster, rapidly thinking of ways, ways to stop her doing something she will regret, or maybe even get her killed.
"Don't do it, you'll get a nosebleed." I mock loud enough for only her to hear, but her fingers tighten around the blade in determination as they also shake uncontrollably. If she wanted to help me out she could've just cut the rope and tell them I escaped. Not only was she being weak, her way of thinking is also as illogical as can be.
I close my eyes and fill my lungs with one deep breath, mentally apologising, but it's for her own good. When I part my lids again I talk. "I don't care about you. Go away and don't you ever dare show your face again in front of me."
Her fingers that gripped the handle for dear life slowly loosen. It is working. Zack however, furrows his brows and walks a few steps forward. "What is she talking about?" He lets the question linger in the air, directing it to no one in particular.
"I bet she's just crazy." One of the men said.
A lonely drop travels the short path down to my chin before it drops onto my lap. "Now fuck off!" I shout and the whole room was suddenly quiet.
I was breathing hard, tears stinging my eyes. I glance up, before I saw it coming a fist headed my way, colliding with my cheek.
"Shut up." One of the men said and blew me another punch to the stomach as I hunch over and restrain myself from letting any sounds leave my lips.
I looked up and see Ilse - mom, standing behind Zack, eyeing me like any mother would, seeing their daughter beaten and tied up with tear stained cheeks. But my eyes are cold, distant from any emotions that twirl inside.
I speak before I make sure our eyes are locked, glued onto hers. "Go to hell." I say at last, removing all her doubt in the moment.
Zack raises his brow in question, oblivious to who I directed the words and am related to. The next moments were all a blur, pain spread through my body as the men decided to shut my foul and talkative mouth before I'd spout any more nonsense. I came back to my senses when I fall to the ground, the ropes that held me back being cut. I hold myself up with my hands. I wipe my bloodied mouth, my throat is burning and my head pounding as if someone's beating onto it with a hammer.
"Will you do it?" Zack stands before me with his arms crossed, looking down on me.
My breathing calms down and I manage to stand up. The two men take a step towards me but Zack stops them, holding his hand up. I forcefully put one foot after the other and after a few painful steps I stop in front of him, leaning forward so that my mouth is besides his ear. "Go. To. Hell." I step back and continue. "Kill him yourself."
He parts his lips, but no sound passes through. He then scratches the back of his head. "You're a pain in the ass Jaclyn."
"So I've been told."
"Gail, Lance." He speaks as the two look up. "Make sure she joins us." He says with a smirk, placing a cigarette between his lips before lighting it.
"Why won't you fight me yourself?" I manage to say with the little bite I have left.
"I don't hit women." He shrugs and grins, inhaling the toxins as he motions for them to charge at me, and they seem more than ready to carry out their orders.
"Coward." I huff before glancing around me. In my current state I won't hold out for long and Levi can't reveal himself or all the plans will fall into ruins. My body craves rest so bad, rest for the body and mind.
Two knocks on the door interrupt the moment as everybody faces the door which almost immediately opens afterwards, revealing a girl behind it. "Excuse me, Zack Ross?" She speaks in a soft voice. She has thick black hair and bangs, her face remains hidden as she glances down. She hasn't noticed me yet. Maybe, if she sees me...
I part my lips to speak but the words die on my tongue when I see she wears the Military Police uniform. More importantly, she's handing a gun over to Zack. He gladly takes a hold of it, turning it to have a good look at it. "Good, very good." He smiles. "You may leave now."
With a small nod and without another word she turns around and walks away. When she stops by the door she quickly throws a glance across the room as her eyes fall on me, and I stare into hers.
That can't be...
The door closes and she's gone before my mind is able to register who I just saw. Don't tell me she's also involved, not her, that's not why she joined. She wanted justi- My thoughts ran over each other as realisation struck me. Ella, the girl whom I shared a room for over a year, had dinner with for over a year, the girl who wanted to join the Military Police in the name of Justice. She was there at the trial, she knows about my criminal past, she isn't forced. She knows what she is doing, who she handed the gun to, what he will be using it for...
I sink to my knees. I won't fight a losing battle, I can't win against a gun. I'm not as fast as that gun. The burning desire to fight in the pit of my stomach fades, I feel my body relax as I accept the familiar thought of death. That is, if he won't do anything soon. I did what I was told, all I can do is wait for this to end. Be it alive or dead. "Giving up already?" When my parents left. When Noah and Ivy died. Recently when April lost her life. Too many people whom I failed to protect - I always gave my all, I was willing to give my life, still they're gone before me. I stare at my hands that lay motionless before me, unable to create a solid fist. In the end my efforts were never enough, I trained, fought, killed and was prepared to be killed, all for the people I treasured.
My eyes shoot open when I feel the cold barrel of the gun poking my head. My fists instantly bawl, painfully so. It's as if the contact between me and the deadly object triggers something inside me. I can't give up. Kay is still alive, Levi is here for me. That's reason enough for me to keep on living, to keep fighting and trying until my final breath.
I'm about to make a move when I hear a heavy something bounce onto the floor. I turn my head to look past Zack as he too, stares at it in confusion. "What is th-"
Before he is able to complete the sentence the room is filled with black smoke, blackening my vision almost entirely. Immediately I stand up but I can't see a hand before my eyes. I stand still, coughing and not knowing what to expect, when I suddenly feel two strong hands on my hip pulling me close to the person they belong to.
"Hold on." I hear him say, his breath fanning against my ear as he pulls me up. Relief washes over me as I let out a shuddering breath, Instinctively tightly wrapping my arms around his neck as his hand slips under my legs.
I feel his body shift underneath me and then, suddenly I'm greeted by a cool breeze. The sound of shattering glass fills my drums and even though my sight is still hazy, I can recognise the outside world.
I inhale deeply, letting my lungs be filled with fresh air as let my head fall against him, closing my eyes. Levi squeezes my leg in order to get my attention and when I open my eyes he speaks while he eyes me with a serious and worried face. "No matter what, keep yourself awake or you'll lose consciousness."
My eyes feel heavy. It's just that now I don't have to be on guard, well, a hundred percent, so my body relaxes with the thought that my safety is in Levi's care, I can feel myself slip away. "Took you long enough." I mumble, forcing my eyes open as I tighten my grip and press my head against him. My eyes are open, but I'm not fully conscious as I blankly stare at my surroundings, trees passing by as we head deeper into the forest.
Alright we're down to 90k words and I'm still not sure about the ending, yes I am being a indecisive little brat. Next update will be in three weeks for sure, probably two but I don't want to disappoint, so just count three.
See you next time and, review? Pretty please. (⌒-⌒; ) It is greatly appreciated.