The X Factor

by Bella Street

  Trent began moving down the passage. “If it was festive, the passage wouldn't be secret.”

  “Why do secrets always have to be ugly?”

  He stopped. Seffy lost hold of his shirt as he shifted in the darkness. She assumed he'd turned to face her but she couldn't see anything. Maybe he'd slipped down the passageway.

  “What makes you think secrets have to be ugly?”

  Seffy jumped at the sound of his voice. It come from right above her. Automatically she looked up.

  “Well?”

  Her heart began to pound hard. She closed her eyes and tried to gather her thoughts. “Because they are.”

  “Some are.”

  Seffy felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek and froze. He was close. Too close.

  “And some secrets are...a beautiful thing.”

  Now she could feel his body heat and yet he wasn't touching her. His breath fanned her temple, sending chills along her skin. “Oh.” She gulped silently, willing her heart rate to slow. What was he doing? A moment later the warmth spread to her collarbone and something soft brushed against her jaw. His eyelashes? Good Lord. She held her breath, not daring to move a millimeter or say a word that might provoke him to do something rash.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Um...” No. “...yes.”

  “Hang onto my shirt.”

  Seffy heard him move. She reached to where she assumed his waistband would be and touched fabric. Releasing a careful breath, she took a handful of shirt hem. Trent moved forward and together they headed down the passage. After several minutes, her eyes ached from straining to see, so she closed them. Seffy was reminded of the saying about the blind leading the blind. Hopefully Trent knew where he was going because she didn't have a clue.

  After what had to be at least half a mile, he stopped. Seffy heard him feeling along the wall. It was odd, the only sound aside from their breathing was his fingertips running along the wall. An involuntary shiver trickled down her spine.

  “Aha,” he said softly.

  She heard a latch turning. Seffy blinked as light flooded her eyes. It took her a moment to realize they were entering yet another storage closet, but this one was larger and filled with crates and cans, and smelled of oil and grease.

  Back down on the floor to shimmy under shelves. Once they were standing, she looked down and saw that she was indeed filthy.

  Trent glanced at her. “You okay?”

  She nodded without thinking. But she wasn't. Not when she was crawling around in dark and dirty places with a guy who probably had dark and dirty plots in mind.

  He turned his attention to the door. Cracking it open a bare inch, he cocked his ear toward it. Suddenly he grinned. “I can't believe I remembered how to get here.”

  “Where are we?” Seffy whispered.

  “Basically the garage.”

  “So we're close to getting outside?”

  He nodded and resumed listening. His eyes widened. “No way.”

  “What?” she hissed.

  Trent put his finger to his lips and concentrated on what he was hearing. He looked at her over his shoulder, smiling. “Wanna go for a ride?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You can't make a sound and you have to follow me, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her hand and pressed his face to the door crack, tensed to bolt.

  Suddenly he lurched forward, pulling Seffy along with him. She had only flashes of images as they slipped through the door—a vast industrial garage space, the smell of exhaust in the air, an old military style jeep in front of them. Trent grabbed her by the waist and dragged her over the tailgate into the cargo area.

  As she lay on top of him gasping for breath, he reached around her and fiddled with something. She glanced up and saw a canvas tarp. She tried to shift away from Trent, but he gripped her waist hard.

  “Not yet.”

  “What's going on?” The sound of the engine muffled her words.

  “Just hold still until we know we weren't seen.”

  While she could comprehend the wisdom of his statement, she also assumed he was using the opportunity to cop a feel. Suddenly the jeep lurched forward, making her gasp. She looked down at Trent. He grinned up at her in the gloom. She pushed away from him and slid to the side, but there wasn't much room. She ended up pressed against the length of him. “Where exactly are we going?” she whispered.

  “I heard the men talking. They're going into town for a few hours.”

  “Where is this town?”

  “I'm not sure, but it'll be a long trip.” He stretched out his arm. “You'll be more comfortable if you cuddle up.”

  Seffy knew he was flirting, but the bumpy ride promised to be brutal. She angled herself closer and laid her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “I can't believe I'm doing this.”

  “Hey, be nice to the pillow.”

  She looked up him. “No, I meant jumping in the back of a vehicle to go who knows where out in the middle of the Montana desert.” With you.

  “Oh, that. Yeah. Well, I think it will be worth it. At least this way we're getting fresh air.”

  Seffy wrinkled her nose at the smell of exhaust mixed with the mustiness of the tarp overhead. “Gotta love that fresh air.”

  Trent laughed softly and pulled her closer.

  She released a sigh and pressed her cheek against his chest. He really was a very nice pillow, and she was exhausted from her corridor crawling. Despite the jarring of the jeep over the terrain, her eyes drifted closed. Little by little, her muscles relaxed as the darkness claimed her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Seffy tried to scream, but a hand was clamped over her mouth, along with an arm wrapped around her waist in an iron grip. Fear made her frantic. She tried to writhe free but someone was stronger. She heard her name. The voice, low and insistent, was so familiar.

  “Seffy, you have got to calm down.”

  She ceased her struggles and tried to place it. The hand over her mouth eased. She pulled in a deep breath and looked up. “Trent?”

  “Of course it's me,” he whispered, a trace of anger in his tone. He motioned for her to be silent.

  Seffy looked up and saw the canvas tarp. Reality came flooding back. “Are we there?” she whispered when she realized the jeep was stopped and the engine off.

  He nodded.

  Seffy listened hard and heard at least two men talking. The jeep rocked as someone got out. Then another. Trent lay motionless as the voices faded. After a few more minutes, he eased up and looked out from under the tarp.

  He turned to her. “Looks like the coast is clear. We're in a big parking lot and there are civilians walking around. I think if we just ease out, we can blend in pretty quick and get away.”

  Seffy tried to take it all in. Remnants of her dream sought to mingle with the present, making everything feel unreal. She'd been about to drown and her life preserver was floating away just out of reach. There was something else in the water, but she feared it was a shark. Did she dare reach out to it to avoid sinking?

  “Sef.”

  “Huh?”

  “I asked if you were ready.”

  She nodded, more dazed than coherent.

  Trent peeled back the tarp and slid over the tailgate. He held out his hands to her. She crept forward and he helped negotiate her limbs up and over. Her knees wobbled a bit but it felt good to be on solid ground. Trent took her hand and led her quickly away from the jeep.

  “How will we get back to the compound?”

  “They said they'd rendezvous at eight. We'll need to be back well before that.”

  Seffy looked around and realized they were in the parking lot of a grocery store. Shoppers loaded groceries into the back of station wagons and old pickup trucks under a pink, cloudless sky. Didn't the people worry about the wrong color right overhead?

  She took a deep breath. “Is there a point to this excursion? Seems like a big risk to take just for an adventure.”
/>
  He rolled his eyes. “You wanted out of the compound. I got you a day pass.”

  “What I want is to go home.”

  He turned and scanned the area. “I'm working on that, too.”

  She touched his arm, hope leaping within her. “You are?”

  “Didn't I just say that?” he said without looking at her.

  Seffy caught her breath, struck by the notion that she was free to go. If she wanted, she could start walking, hot-wire a car, steal a bicycle...just go.

  But what about the others? Could she leave them? She looked around and saw where the horizon met the sky—it looked to be a hundred miles away. And beyond that was another hundred mile stretch, with another thousand past that. Los Angeles was right there, within reach.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  She stiffened. Why was she here with Trent? Why not with Gareth and the girls? They should be all together, on the run, making the great escape back to West Hollywood. And yet they were planning a movie night.

  “Sef, we need to move.”

  There's no way I can leave the others. This will be a practice run. I'll get the lay of the land and take mental notes for the Big Escape.

  He took her hand. “C'mon, let's go across the street. There's a shopping mall and we can talk more there. I don't want to be spotted by the compound guys.”

  Trent hurried her across the street, and she went without resistance. Now that the pressure was off to hit the road, Seffy marveled at the old style cars and dated fashions. Trent pulled open the large glass door at the main entrance of the mall. Inside, skylights brought in sunlight over a long line of greenery in pots down the center of the building. She could see to the opposite end and noticed there wasn't a second level. In L.A. this would be more in keeping with a modest eatery than an entire shopping mall.

  She saw a few familiar sights—an Orange Julius, Lane Bryant, Radio Shack, a pretzel booth, and a coin shop, among other local stores, all anchored by a Kmart. Teenagers with teased hair, puffy jackets and tight jeans clustered in groups, laughing and posturing.

  Trent leaned close. “Does it bring back the memories?”

  Seffy decided to take this day for what it was—a break from the compound. She inhaled the familiar mall smell—yeasty pretzels, new clothes, too much perfume—heaven. “The clothes were better in the 90s.”

  “Let's get something to eat. I'm starved.”

  She saw the buffet style restaurant that had caught his eye. “How will that be any different than the compound food?”

  “Because it's not in the compound.”

  “You make a compelling point.”

  They entered the restaurant and found a booth near the back. Trent released a relieved sigh as they got settled on the faux leather seats. “We just need to stay out of sight for a bit.”

  A waitress came to take their order—a lively brunette with a wicked look in her eye. Seffy frowned when she began to flirt with Trent. Worse still, he flirted back. Seffy cleared her throat, mockery evident in her ahem.

  He grinned at Seffy then ordered two trips through the buffet. She leaned forward after the waitress left, all peevishness forgotten. “How are we going to pay for this?”

  “I have money.”

  “Is it 1980 money?”

  “Oops, I didn't think of that.” Trent pulled out his wallet and extracted a thick stack of bills. Rifling through, he extracted a new five dollar bill with its glaring purple number, a red tinted ten spot and a new twenty, and tucked them into his jeans pocket. “Luckily, they haven't changed the hundreds yet since that's what I have the most of.”

  Her eyes widened. “What are you doing with all that cash?”

  “What day was it when the blast happened?”

  Seffy planted her chin in her hand. “Friday, I think, because I always tanned before the weekend.”

  “Exactly. I had plans for a night out on the town.”

  “With a girl?”

  He sent her a unrepentant grin. “With girls.”

  Seffy pressed her hand to her heart. “What a shock.”

  His smile faded. “You had another bad dream, didn't you? On the way here?”

  She shifted from a safe place of sarcasm to a depressing reminder that she was on the verge of losing her mind. “I guess,” she said slowly. “I was drowning.”

  “You started screaming just as the guys were pulling into the parking lot.”

  Great. “Bad timing.”

  “Very.”

  Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. “Sorry.”

  “I'm starting to get used to it.” A small smile quirked his mouth. “Hanging with Seffy means either hunger or screaming.”

  “What can I say, I'm a hot date.”

  He glanced at his watch. “We have about three hours before we have to head back to the jeep. I say we make the most of it.” Trent jumped up and led the way to the buffet line.

  Seffy wasn't as hungry as she thought she'd be, but she piled her plate high with fruits and vegetables since that's what she had the least access to at the compound—making sure to avoid the strawberries. After returning to their booth and eating for several minutes, she put down her fork. “How far have you been from the compound before today?”

  Trent, whose plate was covered with heaps of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, shook his head. “While we're here, let's avoid the 'C' word.”

  She looked down at a piece of honeydew melon. “How far have you been from you-know where?”

  “I once got past the outside guards and had planned to find that last safe house, but, after the 'luxuries' of our...residence, I forgot how friggin' cold it is in the desert at night. So I wimped out and came back.”

  “Were you just going to leave us behind?”

  He stared at her for a moment, his gray eyes steady. “Yes.”

  “Would you have sent help back?”

  He looked away and stabbed a piece of beef with his fork. “I don't know. I never got that far, mentally or distance-wise.”

  “Well, considering how bad I want to leave, I guess I can't blame you. But it's very bad form to forget your friends that way.” And yet I considered the same thing ten minutes ago. Bad Seffy.

  Trent sent her a heavy-lidded smile. “I wouldn't forget you.”

  She shook her head. “Um, I'm thinking after a hundred bucks worth of cocktails and a girl on each arm, you'd forget I ever existed.”

  He laughed but didn't argue the point.

  After they were done eating, Trent paid on the way out and they headed into the main thoroughfare of the mall. He took her hand, saying they'd blend in better as a couple in case anyone from the compound was around. After her latest nightmare, Seffy didn't mind holding onto someone. That someone should've been Gareth. Why had he changed so much? Why did he no longer seem to care? One moment he seemed to forgive her, then the next, she was just an afterthought.

  They walked slowly towards the other end of the mall until they ended up at Kmart. Trent looked down at her and pointed to her stained blouse.

  “I think you could use a new outfit.”

  “I'll be fine.”

  “No, really. Let's do some shopping.”

  Seffy groaned, secretly glad for the distraction from her Gareth-heavy thoughts. “I don't think there's anything wearable in 1980.”

  As they walked down the length of the building, a TV sat in the opening of the Radio Shack store. Seffy paused to watch, and noticed it was on a news channel where the subject was still the Iran-hostage affair. “So, that's still going on,” she murmured.

  “It will until after the inauguration, remember?”

  “History was never my strong suit.” She looked at Trent. “It's weird that we're being held at the same time as those hostages.”

  “But with me, you at least get a free day.”

  “Wow, I never realized how lucky I was until now.”

  He smirked. “As long as you're grateful.”

  “You mean, as long as I demonst
rate my gratefulness in a certain fashion.”

  Trent looked horrified. “Get your mind out of the gutter!”

  Seffy rolled her eyes.

  He tugged on her hand, drawing her toward the clothing store. When they arrived at the misses department and she saw the racks full of awkward fashions, she tried not to grimace. “Not only is 1980 a bad year in general, but I think it's safe to say Montana is still a few years behind that when it comes to couture.”

  Trent plucked an item off a rack and held it up. “I think this is pretty timeless.”

  She lifted her brows. “There's no way I'm getting a miniskirt.”

  He sighed dramatically and hung it back up. Seffy sorted through the other racks without much interest.

  “I think you should grab a bunch of outfits to try on. I'll wait outside the fitting room and you show me each one while I give a running commentary on your choices.”

  “Wow. Prepare to be bitterly disappointed, 'cause there's no way that's happening.” Seffy found a pair of reasonably cute jeans, and a fitted aubergine shirt. “This will be adequate.”

  Trent peered at the ensemble without much interest. “Can you at least wear the shirt with several of the top buttons undone?”

  “Actually yes, because I'll be getting something to go underneath.” She suited actions to words, choosing a pale yellow lacy-edged tank top, and held the clothes out to him. “You're buying, right?”

  “I still think you should get the miniskirt.” But he took the clothes to a cashier and paid for them. They left the store and found the main mall restrooms. Seffy went inside and changed. She also took the opportunity to wash up a bit and finger comb her hair into some semblance of order. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, it occurred to her that for all his assertions he was looking for a way out, Trent seemed pretty damn adapted to his newfound environment. Was he really trying to figure out how to get them all home? Or just himself? Was it just all talk?

  Why did they all seem to accept their fate? It wasn't like she was planning escape attempts every spare second. She stared harder at her wan reflection, trying to get her head around the concept that she was just as guilty of apathy...and failed. She heaved a disgusted breath and left the bathroom.