Chasing Shadows: An Alice In Borderlands Fanfic (Completed)

Chapter 12: The Murder

The next night, Hatter threw a huge send-off party before he had to go play his required game. Everything was in excess, and Niragi took advantage of that. His jealousy ran deep, and he used every opportunity to show the Beach who I belonged to.

As if they didn't already know.

When the Hatter started his send-off speech, the Beach leader pulled me to his side, much to my lover's chagrin. As I was whisked away toward the cars, I saw Niragi sulking in the background. He leaned against the wall and stared at the ceiling not even looking at me. I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Hatter rode in a car with just me and a driver. "You never did tell me about yourself," he said, pulling me onto his lap. I didn't resist. This was what I was supposed to do. He placed a hand on my thigh. "I heard you, too, were a prostitute."

"I was," I said, trailing the back of my hand along his jawline, feeling the stubble. "Since I was fifteen."

"How did you get thrust into that world?"

This wasn't normally something I talked about to strangers...hell, I hadn't even told Niragi about it...but my nerves were frayed over what was about to go down, and I spilled out of anxiety. "My mother. It's how she paid the bills. I was born into that world."

"Mm. That's a shame. How did you end up in Japan?"

"I was restless. My mother died when I was eighteen. Drug overdose. I was a legal adult, had just graduated high school...barely...and I was alone for the first time in my life. One of my clients frequented Japan and he told me about the hostess clubs there.  Said I'd be a good fit for one of the international ones. So, with nothing to lose, I bought a ticket and flew there. Got hired right away. Became popular quickly, so the money was good. Best decision I ever made."

Hatter's hand drifted up my thigh. "Sounds like it," he whispered, nuzzling my neck.

Suddenly this didn't feel right. It was my job to seduce him, to lead him somewhere quiet and out-of-the-way before the games started. But I didn't want to do it. And I didn't want him touching me.

I just wanted my two of hearts card.

Niragi had threatened violence if I didn't get it. But I didn't want it because he demanded it. I wanted it because it was all I had left of Karube.

Karube, who had pulled me from the world of prostitution and made me feel loved and appreciated.  Karube, who believed in me, no matter how hard things got. My miscarriage last year had been rough on us. We mourned for months before trying again. But through it all, he was my rock. He held me even when he himself was crumbling. He smiled, his eyes sparkling, when he knew I needed a laugh to keep going.

His eyes...Karube's eyes were his best feature. They sparkled with the light of a million stars. I could stare into them for hours. And get lost amongst the stars.

In contrast, Niragi's eyes glinted like cold steel. Only death awaited me in his black orbs.

I pulled away from Hatter. "I'm sorry. I can't." When I moved to leave his lap, he stopped me.

"Something's bothering you."

I wanted to betray Aguni. I wanted to tell Hatter everything and warn him about his impending doom. I even opened my mouth to say something. All so I could get my card back.

But before I even spoke a word, the car had stopped and Hatter stepped out, waving to the players as they exited their own vehicles.

He grabbed my hand. "This way. I have a need only you can satisfy." He pulled me toward an alley as the players dispersed. I barely had time to pull my weapon from the car. No one even noticed us leave.