Faceless Instincts

Taking Lives Not Names

"We're doomed." Nikolai said as he sat with his head in his hands, "we'll never be able to find out what happened.

I stroked his back as Joschka sat silently on the other stool, "don't lose hope." I said and he lifted his head just enough to look at me.

"We just found out that the only thing that could have led us to the truth was buried with my mother and it's probably stolen."

"Nikolai I am pretty sure there are other ways too." I said and he sat straight, "like what?"

"Like stop hiding." I said bluntly, "it's been way too long, Nikolai. We can not hide anymore and do things secretly just so others don't find out."

"But that would-"

"Risk our lives?" I asked and he looked away, "Nikolai we are in danger anyway. They are watching us, they know what we do then why not just do it?"

"I don't care about myself, Kiara" he groaned, "I can't lose you?"

"Then help me finish this once and for all."

"I can't... I am scared that if something happened to you..."

"Nikolai." I took his hand, "you won't let anything happen to me."

He shrugged, "that's true."

I smiled down at him and he nodded with a ghost of a smile. I knew it was tough, impossible maybe now that we might have lost our most crucial lead but I wasn't going to give now that we were so deep into it.

The next morning Nikolai and I were back in at my house, "I don't understand what a neck chain can probably have to do with any of it?"

"Well, I reckon we'll never know," I mumbled getting out of the car.

"Kiara..." He stopped me in my tracks as I approached the stairs.

"Yeah?"

"Look..." He said nervously glancing at the house, "if Olivia is a part of this then there's a chance it can get dangerous inside, I just want you to keep your calm."

I squinted my eyes and cocked my head, "you are talking to yourself"

"No... I am not, remember how I told you about being brave and not hesitating while defending yourself?"

"Nikolai." I rested my palm on his arm, "you didn't tell me anything of this sort."

He stared at me, "I... Didn't?"

I shook my head in a no and squeezed his arm gently, "it's fine... It happens."

"No... It doesn't, it's not a thing that I forgot about it.. that was basically pep talk we are talking about."

I smiled, "it's completely fine, it's just a symptom of extreme stress and anxiety."

He rolled his eyes, "thanks doc." He took my hand, "anyway, what I was saying is that, stay calm but don't hesitate or refrain from doing anything if you're threatened, but not before alerting me."

I smirked, "why, you don't trust me enough?"

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, "more like, I want to be prepared to watch you kick some ass."

We walked up the stairs and I pulled out my keys to unlock it but found it already unlocked, "it's unlocked."

"Bloody hell, we are not even inside yet." He growled taking out his gun, "step back." He held my waist and pulled me back, shielding me with his body. With a loud thud he kicked on the door and we walked inside.