Author's Note: So…I'm back. What's it been? Three months? Four? All I know is that I suck for leaving you guys. I know there are no excuses for what I did, but the past couple months have been rough. I fell into a rut where I literally wasn't doing anything productive in my life, and since this is my senior year and I need to be getting ready for college, that was probably one of the worst things for me to do. Even worse, I let all of you down. All of you who have stuck with me throughout this story, those who have favorited and subscribed to it, and especially those who have favorited and subscribed to me. Even more so to those who have actually reviewed this. I owe you guys everything.
And so I'm going to let you decide what happens from here. This is chapter six of what was going to be a ten chapter story. But I was hit with some inspiration while writing this chapter and if you all want, I could turn this into a 30+ chapter story. But it's up to you. Seriously, you guys tell me what you want. You have been so awesome and I've been so shitty that you guys get to decide what happens from here. Private message me or review this and tell me what you want and I promise that I will keep up with this story, whatever you all decide.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inception, or all of Arthur in his deliciousness.
Chapter Six
Ariadne woke up with a strangled gasp, momentarily reliving her crash into the pavement. She repressed a shudder. She would never be able to get used to the brief lapse of panic she went through each time she killed herself in a dream, worrying that one day she wouldn't wake up.
She started to get up, know she only had a few minutes, if that, to get out before Arthur and Eames woke up. Standing up, Ariadne went to grab her totem, but found that her left hand was caught in a somewhat compromising situation. She felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. Arthur's right hand and her left hand were linked together. For a moment, she faltered.
Maybe he does like me, she thought.
Arthur and Eames began to stir.
No, she thought. I did it in my sleep.
And with her resolve still strong, Ariadne wrenched her hand out of his grasp and ran out of the warehouse.
"Taxi!" Ariadne yelled. The cab pulled over, and she climbed in, trying and failing not to notice the missing warmth of her left hand.
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Arthur opened his eyes, his vision bleary. That had been an experience. He had died in many scenarios, but jumping into a crack in the earth was a new one. He had just kept falling and falling. For a minute, he wasn't sure he would ever reach the bottom.
Shaking his head, Arthur said up and looked at Eames.
"That was an…interesting way to die," Eames remarked.
"I agree with you there," Arthur replied, shaking his head.
Arthur glanced around the warehouse, his alarm growing when he didn't see Ariadne anywhere.
"She ran," Arthur groaned, rubbing his face in his hands.
"She's embarrassed, Arthur," Eames said, sounding exasperated. "Of course she ran. She's probably at her apartment. It's not like she has that many places to run to."
"Thanks, Eames!" Arthur yelled, running out of the warehouse door to his car.
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Ariadne knew she only had a five minute lead on Arthur, if even that. She was out of the taxi before it had even stopped.
"I'll be down in two minutes. Don't leave!" Ariadne said, slamming the car door shut.
Racing up the stairs and into her apartment, she threw any and all clothes into her carry-on bag, grabbing only the necessary toiletries.
She opened the top drawer in her closet cabinet, using her fingertips as a guide until she felt the little latch near the back. Pressing down, a small chamber opened, and she pulled out the $3000 of cash hidden there for emergencies.
This is a good use of the money, she thought. The last thing she needed was Arthur following her. The whole point was to get away from him, not have him chase her across the globe.
Glancing around the apartment, Ariadne let out a sigh. Who knew when she would be back? Not for a while, she knew.
Taking one last look, Ariadne let the door close behind her with a soft click.
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His wheels squealing as he turned the corner sharply onto Ariadne's street, Arthur's heart began to pound with anticipation. Walking up the stairs to her door, Arthur hesitated before knocking soundly on her door.
No answer.
He knocked again. "I know you're embarrassed. But can't we just talk before you completely shut me out?" Arthur pleaded.
No answer.
He began to pace. What now? He could very easily pick the lock, but Ariadne would be furious. Maybe slip a note under the door? He shook his head.
"She's not here, honey," a voice said, interrupting the internal war going on inside his head.
Arthur turned towards the speaking, his gaze resting on an elderly woman. His gaze turned questioning.
"You just missed her. Seemed to be in a hurry," the woman remarked, a small smile gracing her face.
"Did she happen to say where she was going, ma'am?" Arthur asked politely, though the voice inside his head was telling him to be anything but nice.
The woman shook her head no. "She had a suitcase, though," she added.
"Thank you, Mrs…" Arthur trailed off.
"Just call me Clair, dearie," Claire said.
"Thank you Clair," Arthur said graciously.
Walking away as fast as he could without seeming impolite, Arthur climbed into his car and raced off to where he knew Ariadne would be. He only hoped he could catch her in time.
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"Can't you go any faster?" Ariadne asked impatiently.
"It'll cost you extra," the driver grunted.
"Fine," she snapped, tossing a fifty onto his lap. "Now pick it up."
Five minutes later, thanks to the driver's speeding, Ariadne stood in the airport terminal, waiting to buy an airline ticket.
"Where would you like to go, miss?" the woman asked.
"What's the next plane leaving?" Ariadne asked.
"There is a plane leaving for Toledo in ten minutes. You'll have to hurry, though," the woman said with a worried glance.
"Thank you," Ariadne breathed, thanking God that she had been smart to only pack a carry on; this way she would save time and not have to check her baggage in.
Ten minutes later, Ariadne found herself sitting in an airplane, her nerves growing with every passing minute the flight didn't take off. Finally, finally, she heard the engines start.
"Attention, passengers. Please fasten your seatbelts. We will be taking off momentarily. Thank you."
Ariadne felt the place start to move and let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. There was no way Arthur could catch her now.
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Parking illegally, Arthur raced into the airport.
"When does your next flight take off?" Arthur asked as he finally reached the front of the line.
"There's a flight that leaves for Chicago in two minutes, but there are no seats left. Sir!" the woman called out as Arthur jogged away.
"Sir, you can't get on without a ticket," the steward stated.
"I just need to see if someone is on the plane. I really need to talk to her," Arthur said, his patience growing thin.
"I'm sorry, sir. The door is closed. No one may enter or leave the plane," the steward said.
To Arthur's dismay, the plane began to slowly move backward. Within the next minute, the plane was gone, leaving a distressed Arthur in its wake. There was one shred of hope, though. He had one piece to where she would be next.
Chicago.