Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

  The car swivels and perilously drives over the pedestrian pathway, nearly crashes into me. I let out a terrified scream, bringing my hands up to cover my face.

  Few tense seconds pass and I sense I'm not hurt. Trembling heavily, I blink open my eyes.

  It's glaring headlights almost blinding me as I realize I'm trapped between the hood of the car and the edifice behind me.

  The passenger door swings open, but I'm unable to discern the figure poking halfway out of the car due to the glaring headlights in my face.

  "Sanam! It's me ! Bev! Get in!"

  I'm more than gobsmacked upon hearing her voice. I stare blankly at the obscure feminine figure behind the open door.

  She waves her hand frantically. "Get in ! Hurry up girl !!"

  "There she is !! "

  My head whips around to spot the gang members only a couple of feet away from us.

  Even if my legs have now turned into what seems like heavy tons of lead, I manage to crawl out from behind the front of the car. I reach out, clasping my hand into Bev's.

  As she tugs me into the car halfway, the deafening sounds of gun fire is made audible.

  The gangsters have their guns out, producing bullets by the dozens.

  We both scream as we tumble into the vehicle. Hastily, Bev reaches over me to pull the car door shut.

  "Fuckers!"

  I make no mistake in recognizing Grigori's agitated voice from behind the passenger seat.

  "Sit tight ladies!" I hear Serge assure from behind the drivers seat in calm voice unlike Grigori's. "Duck low, we're about to pass through a mini storm"

  Serge pulls out onto the road as bullets rain down on the car.

  "Show time, brother!" He chuckles in merriment as if it's some sort of joy ride.

  Bev is cursing under her breath next to me while I'm shrieking in complete horror and clutching at her for dear life.

  Clinking of some sort of metal is made audible. Suddenly the window of the front passenger seat of the car slides down.

  "Say hello to my good friend you fūckers!" Grigori's voice is fuelled with rage as he starts pulling the trigger on something more than a simple gun.

  My knowledge about guns and stuff of the sort was lacking,but whatever it was he was using didn't cause the same noise like that of the opponents.

  Whatever weapon it was, shot bullets in one going relentlessly unlike the guns the gangsters were shooting from. Quite suddenly the opponent's gun fire dies out.

  "Glad you brought that baby along!" Serge chortles excitedly as he's speeding up the car.

  "Finished em all in one go." Grigori's tone switches casual as his window slides back up. "Useless fūckers are no match, they will never be."

  My breathing hitches in my throat at the realisation of what just happened.

  Those gangsters were dead !

  Grigori killed them !

  Terror overtakes me as I continue to huddle on the carpetting of the vehicle, drawing my arms around my knees.

  "No ones a good enough match for you Grig! You're unbeatable!" Bev remarks seriously, as she pushes herself up onto the passenger seat.

  Her hands clamp around my upper arm as she gently prompts me to meet her eyes. She offers me a warm smile.

  "Sit up Sanam" she coaxes in a whisper. "It's okay now, you're safe."

  I'm glued to the spot, unable to move from the extreme fear coursing through my veins.

  Right at this moment I'm afraid of these people.

  But she tugs at me again and my body is plagued with tremors as I crawl up on to the seat.

  "Vladimir is the undefeatable. I've been hospitalised a few times over shįt." Grigori corrects her. "As I've said before these puny gangster fuckers are no match anyway."

  "True enough, gotta give credit where credit is due!" Serge affirms ."Bev, you should see Vladimir in combat mode! Man goes berserk but yet he's all calm and shįt. Gets out unscathed with the task complete. Fuckin epic."

  "I wish I could get to witness hardcore trips you guys go through but mister protective over here won't allow it" Bev whines as her lips form into a pout.

  She throws a punch at Grigori's shoulder and he scowls.

  "There you go again man! Enticing her about places she has no right to be in." Grigori's tone of agitation apparent.

  "Sorry! Was done indirectly!" Serge responds.

  "Grig you're being unfair, I can prove useful on your missions." Bev interjects smugly.

  "Oh I have a special mission, alright." His voice slips out sultry.

  Serge ends up chuckling at this display. Instantaneously, Bev reddens and she throws a punch at Grigori again hitting his shoulder "Shut up!"

  Grigori turns his head and gently bites her hand prompting her to pull away just as quick. Smirking, he looks back at her with affection.

  "Hey little lady! I hope we haven't frightened you too much like the last time?" Serge addresses while glancing over at me briefly before readjusting his eyes on the road ahead. "If so, I offer my deepest sincere apologies. It was unfortunate for you to have witness all of that."

  I try swallowing down the growing knot forming in my throat but to no avail. I'm unable to respond to him.

  Bev places an arm around me while handing me a tissue from one of the glove compartments.

  My hand shakily grasps at it but I'm beginning to feel queasy. The churning in my stomach makes me pull away from her.

  Her brows crease in concern. "Are you alright ? You've got some welt marks all over your face and hands!"

  I glance down at my hands and see the onslaught of hives forming. The allergic reaction the flower filled bush had caused me has only began increasing. It's only now that I'm noticing the searing pain.

  "What's wrong ?" Serge's voice is laced with worry as he gives another quick glimpse my way.

  "Are you alright, Sanam? Please tell us !" Bev implores as she reaches up and places the back of her hand against my forehead. "Oh my, she's running a fever! Her forehead is burning hot!"

  I want to respond, tell them that I don't feel alright. I feel sick and scared beyond belief.

  But a sob escapes my lips and I continue crying from the shock of the events tonight.

  Immediately Bev throws her arms around me, trying to comfort me. "Oh you poor girl. Shhh don't cry, everything's alright now, you're safe."

  "Do you need me to pull over at a hospital ?" Serge asks.

  "No! She needs to pull herself together!" Grigori growls looking my way briefly. "Not pullin over at a fuckin hospital after the fūckers bodies transporting there by now and the cops askin shit."

  "Man, she's not feeling well!" Serge glares at him. "I didn't drive through that mess just to risk her life again, besides Rachael will have our heads over this!"

  "We should definitely stop at the hospital" Bev agrees with him, earning a scowl from Grigori.

  In a fraction of a second Grigori whips around and leans in over us while switching on the interior lights of the car.

  I cower away from him as he stares at me with irritation etched into his features.

  After a few seconds of scrutinising me he concludes. "She's suffering from a skin allergic reaction, all she needs is some anti-histamine tablets. No need for a hospital just stop at some 24 hour pharmacy."

  "You better be right about this man." Serge warns.

  Around ten minutes later of extreme speed driving, he pulls up into a twenty four hour pharmacy parking lot.

  Leaving the ignition on, Serge looks back at me warmly. "I'll buy you the medicine, just bear with me alright?"

  I nod in acknowledgment and his smile broadens into a grin. Some five minutes pass and he returns with a box of allergy medication and four bottles of Spring water.

  Bev hastily unboxes the tablets and hands me two. I chug them down with water. I hadn't realized how thirsty I had become from the excessive perspiration the running had caused me.

  As Serge pulls the vehicle onto the road again, Bev shifts closer to me. She s
tarts talking in a low voice audible enough for me. "Now I'm sure you've got a bunch of questions running through your mind. Let me start by saying your father inlaw called Rachael directly some hours ago when he found out you escaped."

  Upon hearing this, I feel myself relax a little. So Mister Mirza knows my whereabouts. I was beginning to worry if he would ever contact me again.

  She continues. "Don't know the details but yeah Rachael requested Serge and Grigori to go find you and I begged to help along. I'm glad Rachael and Serge gave in unlike mister protective over there!" She huffs and rolls her eyes.

  "So here I am in handy! I'm sure without me you would have felt unsafe with two big bad wolves !" She smiles and winks gesturing with a thumb at Serge and Grigori.

  I respond by trying to smile back. But I fail the attempt.

  How can I smile and take this all casually like these people?

  "Miss Townsend, are you gossiping about us ?" Serge's curious voice interrupts.

  "Oh yeah ? What did I say ?" Bev shoots back at him mockingly.

  "Dunno, but I kinda sense it." He replies, lips tugging into a grin.

  "Bev, I heard you clearly mention my name though." Grigori affirms.

  "Yeah?So what? I can say your name all I want!" Bev snaps and sticks her tongue out at him playfully.

  ◆◆◆

  The rest of the drive lasted over twenty minutes in silence. My mind was reeling from the past couple of terrifying hours of my life.

  The skin irritation had diminished from the allergy med I had taken. I decide it would be rude if i don't thank Grigori for suggesting the medicine and just when I'm about to, Bev interrupts.

  "Finally! We're here !" She points towards the window excitedly.

  I had been too lost in my chain of thoughts to have noticed that we were in a very metropolitan setting of the city.

  Serge parks the car in parallel. They all began departing from the vehicle so I follow along.

  Stepping out into the cool night air, I sling my duffel over my tired aching back and shoulders. The guys stride ahead into a glassy entrance guarded by security of a modern high rise sky scraper.

  Right above the entrance, massive golden letters etched into polished granite read Nielsen Enterprise And Corp, Gold Coast Headquarters.

  Bev grips my hand firmly as she tugs me behind. I crane my neck to view the sky scraper, it was forebodingly enormous in width and height.

  I wondered how many floors it contained since it towered over other buildings in this area.

  We stroll in without the security halting or hassling us to get through three types of metal detectors.

  They merely nod in acknowledgment at Serge, Grigori and Bev. A couple of times Serge and Grigori pet the security guard dogs who trotted towards them excitedly with tails wagging.

  The interior entrance of the skyscraper consists of soaringly high ceilings lit with hundreds upon hundreds of parallel fluorescent lighting. Floors are gleaming well polished black marble.

  It almost bares resemblance to the JFK airport in New York. I have to admit that for a brief moment I'm awed before I'm reminded again about the situation I'm in and the crazy night I've just had.

  We make it to a private elevator not reserved for public use. The well polished elevator is as large as a studio apartment it seems. Grigori punches the button for the 70th floor.

  My eyes widen as I scan the buttons.

  150 floors!!

  Chapter 8

  The Elevator ride turns out to be a very smooth glide upwards which for me was unexpected. We arrive swift enough to the destined floor.

  The polished doors slide open, revealing an extravagant entrance of a waiting lounge area. It is brilliantly illuminated by a chandelier of sophisticated quality.

  Comfortable beige and cream coloured leather chairs arranged purposefully around a large glass top coffee table above a plush beige rug.

  Ahead a massive in length ivory with glass desk is positioned before two very preoccupied receptionists dressed in immaculate beige and white uniforms.

  Behind them a wall and double swinging doors made of thick hazy glass containing beautiful white etchings of floral designs cascading all over.

  A bronze rectangular plaque above the doors reads: Nielsen Salon/Spa Beauty Dept.

  I wonder what other sorts of departments and corporations this skyscraper contains?

  Inwardly impressed by the chic decor, I trail behind the group as we enter in. A refreshing fragrance swathes the air as we halt before the receptionists.

  One of them glances up and offers us a sparkling smile. "Oh yes, Rachael is expecting you all.You may head in."

  We enter the through the glass door into a significantly wide hallway trailed with many more glass doors below plaques indicating what facilities they conceal.

  I can distinctly hear the sounds of blow dryers from behind one of them as we stroll left.

  Within a matter of couple of seconds we come across a set of such doors with plaque above reading Conference Hall. Serge holds one of the doors open for the rest of us to walk in.

  I'm accosted with yet another impressively embellished area illuminated with larger chandelier yet similar that of the waiting lounge. Below it sits an extremely long glass top conference table with around sixty beige and cream coloured leathered chairs lining either sides.

  Opposite from us and the table, instead of a wall there is ceiling to floor length panels of crystal clear windows revealing an impressively current night view of the cityscape.

  The sight of the glimmering skyscrapers beyond the glass panels leaves me in awe as Bev tugs me to move along from the door entrance.

  "I trust you all got here safely without any trouble ?" Rachael is making her way towards us from ahead. A smile graces her lips as she catches sight of me.

  "Well.." Serge trails off as his eyes flit from Grigori to Bev. Both purse their lips, concealing guilty impressions. So he continues. "Yes,yes we made it without any trouble."

  "Nice to see you again,Sanam" Rachael greets me with an embrace.

  Splendid scent of her perfume wafts to my nose as my face gets buried in her blonde tresses.

  I am aware of how much taller she is as she pulls back and straightens while peering down at me with a concerned look in her eyes. She continues "Although under unfortunate circumstances it seems, as mister Mirza informed me. How are you,dear ?"

  "I-I'm fine.." I manage to state in a shaky tone which was a lie but I didn't want to appear as an ungrateful and whiny person.

  "Are you sure ?" She palms my cheek gently.

  "Just a little t-tired, that's all.." I admit, albeit I was immensely tired. My body ached to collapse onto a warm bed.