Out of Time

chapter 2 - stranger

TW: HEAVY CONNOTATIONS OF RAPE (NO ACTUAL SCENE BUT BE CAREFUL)

"What the actual fuck are you doing in here?" I ask the blond boy. I've been held at gunpoint a fair few times before. However, they were by people I knew wouldn't shoot me. A blue-eyed boy - who I just caught sneaking around my father's office - doesn't seem to me as the most trustworthy character.

"I will shoot you if you scream," he warns me. I chuckle at his words.

"I'm on my deathbed, literally bleeding out of my stomach. So, creep, your death threats are doing nothing to me." He unclicks the safety and pushes it closer to me. "You're doing me a favour, blue-eyes."

His eyes swirl with confusion and curiosity. "Who are you?"

"I don't think you are in the place to be making demands."

"I'm aiming a gun at you."

"And I can scream at any time."

"I saw you take the keycard."

His words stop me. "I caught you sneaking around my boss' office." Mine seem to stop him too. "Truce?" he asks me. I cock my head to the side before humming in agreement. I could use an ally.

"Can you get rid of the security cameras?" I ask him.

"They are already off."

Well, that is convenient.

"I assume a part of the alliance of sorts is that we don't tell anyone else about this encounter," he states. I nod. His blond hair falls over his eyes and sticks to his forehead. Sweat glistens on his skin. He is nervous.

"They aren't coming back for today. It is a Friday, so the family goes out for dinner," I assure him. He evidently calms down after hearing this and collapses onto one of the emerald chairs. He runs his hands through his hair. His presence fills the space. His stature and his lanky features fill the room, but the air of arrogance and - not an entitlement - pride pervades the room.

"What do you want in return?" he asks me.

"I'm not sure yet, but if I figure it out, I'll ask. Wait, how can I find you?"

"I'll find you," he replied cryptically.

"What's your name?"

"Jesse Hendrix, And you?" I hate this question. I sigh in annoyance.

"Lara Ashwood."

His eyes open in surprise before he aims the gun at me again. "I don't like my family, Jesse. In fact, I despise them. Why do you think I'm about to bleed out and die?"

A flash of confusion appears on his face, followed by one of realisation. He lowers his gun. I do notice, however, that he keeps his hand wrapped tightly around the handle. "Why are you here? Because you want my family's money, you're here to kill someone, or maybe you're a spy here to steal information. What is it?"

I saw his eyes look to the floor and his hand fumbling around with his gun when I mentioned a spy. He takes a second to decide whether to tell me or not. He does the latter, simply stating, "it is irrelevant why I am here." It wouldn't have been much of a revelation anyway. Jesse stands up to leave, but as he reaches the door, he asks one final question.

"Are you sure there is nothing you want in return? I prefer not to leave threads untied." I ponder for a second.

Food? No, that's not big enough.

Escape? No, that's the opposite.

Oh.

"There is one thing..."