by Fleur Camcho
“I told you, I didn’t need your money.” He looked very confused.
“Why did you take it then?”
“Because you wanted me to have it. I couldn’t not take it.”
She stared at him, her mouth open. They were both confused now. He closed her mouth with his finger. “Was I not supposed to take it?”
She laughed. “I don’t know; you’re very confusing.”
“Do you like it?”
She peered at it. “Well…”
“Well what? What don’t you like?”
She avoided his gaze. “It’s kinda… cheesy. I mean, a rose and everything? It’s kinda… cliche´.”
He took it out of her hands.
“Wait.” She grabbed for it but he moved out of her way. “I still want it.” He unfolded it. “I said I still wanted it, you don’t have to do that.”
He turned slightly away from her, so she couldn’t see what he was doing. After a bit he turned back around and it was an elephant. She grinned. “How did you do that? How did you know I love elephants?”
He was staring at her now and his gaze made her feel warm. “I told you. I know everything now.”
She fell back down on the bed and put her hands over her face. “You are so confusing.”
“I’m sorry.” He stared down at her, musing, then placed his hands on her hip and inched the side of her pajamas down.
She grasped his hand, her eyes wide. “Don’t.”
He looked at her, really looked at her and she couldn’t pull away from his gaze.
“It’s ok.” His voice was soft. Not judging. She closed her eyes, turned to face the wall and released his hand.
He pulled down her pajama bottom, just slightly, until the stark white lines on her hip were visible. He traced his finger over the scars; they were a thin line of white against her skin.
“You did this. Where no one else would see.” His eyes were filled with pain. She nodded and a tear trickled down her cheek. He wiped away the tear, ever so gently, and she felt a warmth in her cheek where the tear was. She stared at him silently, wide-eyed, as he bent over the scars and kissed them softly, each one, counting them as he kissed them. Then he lay next to her. Their silence stretched between them, lost in their own thoughts. Laura struggled to keep her tears inside but Jace touched each eye and they began to flow.
A sob escaped her and he pulled her onto his chest. He said nothing but allowed her to cry. The tears flowed slowly at first until they became a river of emotion, coursing through her, that grew until it flowed out in waves. All the anguish and desperation drained out of her.
He stroked her hair softly, silently, letting her get it out until eventually her sobs grew softer and slower until they were only a hiccup.
“You don’t need to feel that kind of pain anymore.” She gasped and another wave of sobs overcame her. She’d held in so much for so long, and felt such relief that someone, especially him, knew about it. His quiet reassurance that everything would be okay was too much for her to hope for and she held on to it like a lifeline. It was a lifeline.
After a while, he pulled her chin up to meet his eyes. “I will help you. All of you. Even those you’ve…” he paused. “Those who are gone.” She nodded, the tears still pooled in her eyes and she wanted to believe him but she didn’t think that he could keep his promise. There was too much for too long and her dreams were insurmountable.
He whispered in her ear and she couldn’t hear his exact words but the release of all the emotions, combined with everything that happened that day, crashed like a wave over her and she fell asleep, exhausted.
CHAPTER FOUR
She woke up the next morning and felt the bed next to her. It was empty. She sat up abruptly. Was that real? She saw the window open; she was freezing. She stood up, grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself, peering out the window. She saw footprints in the snow leading from her window into the backyard. She grinned and sat down at her desk.
It was real.
She took a shower, taking a moment to trace the white lines on her hip, and got dressed. She hesitated at the window. Should she wait for him to return? The smell of bacon drifted upstairs. She was starving.
Laura spent forty minutes watching her mother stare at her as she ate, actually ate, breakfast at the table. When she returned to her room, Jace was laying on the bed, hands crossed behind his head, waiting for her. “Hi there.”
She pinched herself. Yep, still awake. “Hi yourself.” She jumped on the bed. “Where’d you go?”
He stared at her for a moment. “You are beautiful.” She grinned and blushed, then crawled under her blanket.
“What are you doing?” He pulled the blanket off her and then put it over the both of them, and they faced each other under the covers. “Don’t hide.”
She sighed. “Jeez. You’re too much.”
“What?” He traced her hand with his finger and electricity buzzed between them.
“I mean, you’re not real. You’re too perfect.”
“Hmm. That’s funny.”
“Why’s that funny?”
“Because I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Ha.” She covered her face.
He climbed on top of her and pulled her hand away. The blanket cocooned them while his eyes searched hers. “I’m serious. I’ve never met someone so beautiful on the outside and the inside.”
She stared at him in awe. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
His eyes bored into hers. “I would never lie to you.”
Why did she feel so safe with him?
“You never tell me the truth.”
“I might not tell you everything you want to know, but that doesn’t mean that I’m lying.”
She laughed. “That’s the truth.”
“See? No lies.” He grinned.
“So, where did you go this morning?”
He lay back down next to her. “I had to go look for my sword.”
She shot up, pulling the blanket down. “What?”
He laughed. “I thought that would get your attention.” He got out of the bed. “Get something warm on, I need to show you something. But you’re going to have to climb out the window. I don’t want anyone to know where we’re going.”
❦
Jace peered at Laura. “Can you tell me exactly where you saw me first?”
She stared out over the burnt field; it still smelled of ash and burnt stalk. A thin layer of freshly fallen snow covered the field, so it looked like a mixture of newspaper ash. Laura looked for the fire and ambulance tracks. “Where did you come from? I mean, how did you end up in the fire? What even started the fire?”
“I’m from up North, just like Urban told you.”
She gave him a hard look but he just smirked at her and she pointed vaguely. “Somewhere in that direction.”
She grabbed him before he stepped on the ash. “There could still be embers in there. You might burn your feet.”
He still wasn’t wearing shoes. He held her shoulders, softly, and peered down to look into her eyes. “It takes a lot to hurt me.” She still wasn’t certain and he could see it. “I promise.”
Reluctantly she nodded, and he walked in the direction she indicated. The snow-ash sizzled under his steps and he swept in wide sweeps, searching the ground. Finally he bent down, studying the snow.
“Did you find it?”
He jogged back to her. “No, but I found something else. Can I show you something?”
She wrapped her scarf around her face, covering her mouth and nose to help with the smell and stepped out into the ash. He guided her to a trail of footsteps, which circled around a large hole in the ground and wandered off in another direction. She gaped at the hole in the ground until Jace led her to the footsteps that circled around another spot on the ground and then walked off into the field.
“What’s out there?”
“We have a barn out there. It holds our machinery and equipment
.”
“Do you know whose tracks these are?”
She licked her lips and nodded. “Yeah. They’re my dad’s work boots.”
He stared thoughtfully across the field and started following the boot tracks. “That might be a problem then. Let’s follow these.”
“Why do you need a sword? Where did you even get one? On eBay or something?”
He laughed. “eBay? No, I didn’t buy it on eBay.”
“If you don’t tell me anything about yourself, then how am I supposed to know what’s a dumb question?” She rubbed her arm with her free hand; the wind brought in a chill even with her coat on. He put his arm around her.
“I’m sorry. There is no dumb question. Ask me anything you want.”
“How old are you?”
He grimaced. “You can ask me anything, but, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to get an answer.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
They approached the barn now; the tracks led directly inside. Unfortunately, there was a padlock on the door.
Jace jerked Laura aside as a swoosh zipped past her. She stared at a flaming arrow stuck in the ground.
“What the…”
Four people faced them from across the field, dressed in black. Urban, gripping a sword of his own, glared at her.
The shooter, a girl, was loading another arrow. She fired in quick succession and five flaming arrows flew towards them. Jace grabbed her, hauling her behind the barn. The five arrows landed exactly where they were standing.
“We can’t let the barn catch on fire. If my dad’s equipment goes up in flames, he won’t be able to work.”
Jace scanned the field around them; there was nothing to protect them. There were more swishing noises and Laura yelled. “Jace, my dad has to work!”
He grabbed Laura, threw her on his back and ran out into the fields. “Hold on tight.”
Everything grew fuzzy and Laura felt nauseous as the world blurred around her. He could run fast. Laura squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to puke on him. The wind blew at her face and stirred ash blew around her. More arrows whizzed by and Laura’s heart pounded. What if one of them hit them? She thought of her brother. What would he do without her?
Flashes of blazing light and heat hissed by her ear; hell was raining down on them.
Jace zigzagged through the fields, narrowly avoiding the flames of light, and ran back to Laura’s backyard.
“Stay behind this.” He dumped her on the ground behind the only tree in the yard.
Laura yelped as an arrow landed in the tree beside her. Jace ran directly towards them and they spread out. Were they afraid of him? He pummeled into the arrow shooter and they tumbled in the snow. They fought so fast that Laura couldn’t keep track of everything that was happening. Jace ran in blurs around them, throwing his fists and dodging until one of them slammed his fist into Jace’s neck and the girl pushed him to the ground.
They crowded around him, punching and kicking Jace, who was in a fetal position protecting his head. Feeling helpless, Laura ran towards the fight. She put her arm around the girl’s neck and yanked her back in a chokehold. The girl elbowed Laura in the face and Laura dropped her, holding her nose. The girl swirled around and round-kicked Laura to the ground. Laura was no match for her. The girl kneeled over Laura and pulled back her arm, holding an arrow over her head. Suddenly a knife slid through the girl’s ribs.
❦
Laura’s coat gushed with hot, slick, blood and the world was silent.
The blood was black.
“Camilla. No!” Urban, about to stab Jace in the back, dropped his sword and caught the girl as she fell.
Jace stared in shock at the girl for a moment and then he recovered. He grabbed Laura and sprinted to the street. “We only have a few minutes.”
Zipping by her house, he threw Laura into a car and the engine roared to life. Laura stared back at the group, who were kneeling next to Camilla, heads bowed as if in prayer. Jace gunned down the road and Laura lost sight of them. Reeling in shock, Laura tried to get her bearings. They were in a bright orange Camaro.
“Where did you get this?”
“I really don’t think now’s the time to explain.” Jace shifted gears and the engine responded immediately. “We need a place to go, somewhere they’ll never find us.”
What’s happening? Did Jace just kill that woman? Why did they stop?
“Laura!” Jace snapped his fingers in Laura’s face. “Where’s a good place to hide?”
“Umm.” Laura tried to think.
“Crap!”
“I’m trying!”
“No, not you. Look.” Jace pointed at a red and black car as they raced past it. “They have a Veyron.”
“I don’t even know what that is.”
“Only the fastest car in the world. We need to hit the freeway.”
Laura grabbed her seat belt and secured it tightly.
“Laura, think. Where can we go?”
She nodded. “I know a place. Go north on the freeway.”
Jace hit the gas.
“You need to tell me what the hell is going on.” Laura grasped the door handle as they skidded around a corner. “And, for heaven’s sake, remember there’s ice on the ground.”
Jace didn’t respond but gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Jace.”
No answer.
“Jace!” Laura’s anger was built up now.
“What?!”
“Who the hell— no, what the hell are you?”
He grit his teeth and accelerated as they entered the freeway. Fortunately there were no cars in sight.
“Laura, why don’t you go to church?”
Laura was flabbergasted. “What?”
“I want to know why you don’t go to church.”
“What does that have to do with anything? Besides, I thought you knew everything about me now.” Laura pushed back in the seat as the speedometer hit ninety.
“I want to hear you explain it.”
“I don’t… I don’t know. We used to go but then everything happened and we just… stopped. Jeez, can you slow down?”
“We’re not going nearly as fast as we need to. Where do I get off?”
“It’s twenty miles out.”
“Do you still believe in God?”
Laura huffed. “Why don’t you answer my question, Jace?”
“I’m trying to.” Jace zipped around a lonely car and sped up to one hundred and twenty.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Laura leaned over and Jace rubbed her back. “Laura, keep it together. I’m used to going this fast. Plus I have quick—”
“Reflexes. I know, I know.” Laura took deep breaths and tried to relax. Leaning back against her seat, she closed her eyes.
“Laura—”
She interrupted him slowly, taking time to gather her thoughts. “I don’t know if I believe in God. I did once.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “But now… I don’t know anymore.”
They rode in silence and Laura barely noticed how fast they were going until the car started trembling. One hundred and sixty-five. Laura sucked in a breath and grabbed the armrest. “Jace.”
Jace looked in the rearview mirror. “Crap.”
“You’re going way too fast.”
“They’ve already caught up with us.”
Laura jumped around and saw the red and black car behind them. It was getting closer.
“Get off on the next exit, I know some back roads.”
Jace darted over the lanes, speeding in the slow lane to prepare to get off at the next exit.
“Crap, crap.” The red car was only a few yards from them now and the Camaro was pushing it at one hundred and ninety. “Laura, I’m going to need you to do something. Do you remember how to handle a gun?”
Laura sucked in a breath. “I’m not shooting at anyone, Jace. I couldn’t kill anyone.”
“You’re not going to shoot at them.” He
r wide eyes held his. “I promise. It wouldn’t kill them anyways. I just need you to shoot their tires to give us some breathing room.”
Laura took in a deep breath. The black stickiness of Camilla’s blood clung to her unnaturally; it was beginning to smell foul.
The car swerved into the emergency lane as the red car bumped them. They were right beside them now and trying to push them off the road.
“Laura! They won’t hesitate to kill us, we have to defend ourselves.”
Laura narrowed her eyes and nodded. “Give me the gun.”
Jace pulled a Glock out from under his seat and handed it to Laura. She checked for bullets and took the safety off. The red car slammed into them again and they jerked into the emergency lane.
Jace straightened the car, took his foot off the gas briefly and they fell behind the red car. Laura took aim and Jace grabbed her arm. “Not through the front glass.”
“Oh.” Laura felt dumb. It would just fly in their faces. “Sorry.”
Jace grimaced. “We can’t outrun them so I’m going to slow down enough to force them to come to us.” He rolled down his window and the smell of cow manure drifted through the window. “When they pull up beside us, I want you to shoot out my window. Just pull the trigger as many times as you can at their tires.”
Laura nodded and checked the safety again. The red car was slowing down.
“Laura, one more thing.” She looked at Jace. “You’re going to have to climb in my lap. I really don’t want to get shot right now. Face me so you can use your good hand.” The red car had stopped and was driving in reverse.
Taking care where she pointed the gun, Laura crawled over the stick shift and into his lap. She was inches from his face and her heart was going crazy. The red car was a few feet away now.
“Jace.” She stared at him in the eyes, relying on his ‘good reflexes’ to keep them from crashing. “What are you?” The red car pulled up right next to them and crashed into the side.
“Shoot, Laura! Shoot!” Jace somehow managed to keep the car straight.
Laura steadied her arm out the window, but kept eye contact. “What are you, Jace? Tell me.”
“We don’t have time for this! Just shoot the tires.” Laura could see Urban leaning out his car window with his sword.