🔞5EX: SUSTAINED OBLITERATION🔞

Chaos and Doom

Syd pov

We arrived at our destination after a slightly uncomfortable drive of around 30 minutes, during which we all attempted to make polite small talk, relatively successfully. I think the resentment and animosity will take a while for us all to overcome. I don't expect we will all ever be best buddies, but I'm hopeful that we can move on from here and be civil and kind to each other in the future.
Eloise seemed to be trying the hardest to initiate conversation, teasing Noah about the stench of him and asking Yanni about work.
She turns her attention to me and asks almost too sweetly how I'm getting on with the book.
I swallow the first words that come to mind, no reason to upset the applecart so soon after our new peace treaty has begun with bad language and aggression!
Does she seriously think that I've had any thoughts about that over the last few weeks? Things have been pretty awful, and just a little distracting of late. Obviously being imprisoned, tortured and raped, and in Yanni's case almost killed, isn't reason enough to stop working in her eyes!
Yanni notices the tension in my body beside him and places his hand on my knee, his attempt at soothing me.
He knows how I want to respond, I can see it in his face. The simple gesture does what is intended and calms me enough to reply that I am a little behind schedule, but that I will make my deadline without any reason for concern, then smile what I hope appears to be a friendly polite smile.
Yanni softly chuckles as I rest my cheek on his chest and close my eyes, hopeful that this will eliminate the need for forced pleasantries.

It does! Thank Goodness, the effort of this pretence is tiring!

The house is the most stunning, awe inspiring work of art I have ever seen.
As we climb wearily from the van Vinni is proudly telling us all of its features as if it were his own home!

"It has a games room, home cinema, an indoor pool and gym, an outdoor cinema and even a helipad!!
There are 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, and 2 acres of land with its own small lake. Isn't it gorgeous! Weeze found it for us, she wanted us all to be together, and you know how she likes her luxuries"

Yanni and I exchange shocked glances as we approach the enormous home that looks like it belongs at the top of a cliff on the Mediterranean coastline. It is incredibly modern, reminiscent of a Spanish villa in style, with pristine white rendered walls and a wide, curved, ground to roof window. An incredible light wood staircase visible through it, winding its way up majestically, a large ornate crystal chandelier hangs low, glinting in the setting sun, rainbow shards of light radiating out across the stairwell hinting at the luxury and grandeur beyond. We continue along the immaculately kept York stone driveway, past rows of box hedges trimmed into cubes so perfect I expect they must have been clipped that way with the use of a spirit level.
There are jets of water rising up from lit points in the lawn, a blend of nature and technology leading to a beautiful and tranquil display.

Eloise opens the double wide frosted glass front door wide and gestures for us to head inside. Holding hands Yanni and I enter the reception hall, followed by Noah. It is incredibly bright, likely due to the double height cathedral ceiling and the huge expanse of glass allowing the vibrant orange sun rays to bounce freely off of the white marble floor and rendered walls. Glass and chrome fittings and lavish all white flower arrangements decorate the space, a glossy ebony grand piano sits centrally on a charcoal grey rug, black leather chairs placed in a gentle curve around one side of it.
I cannot believe that this place is going to be our home for at least a few weeks.

"Wow!!" Yanni and Noah exclaim loudly in unison, the echo reverberating around the amazing space.

"I've never seen anything like this in my life....... it's phenomenal! How did you find somewhere like this so close to London? You really do have exquisite taste. I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of the place almost as much as staying here for a few weeks. Thank you Eloise" I tell her with genuine gratitude.

She sends Noah along the hall and up the stairs to the right, telling him to do us all a favour and go and shower, then to burn his filthy clothes. He does as instructed with an embarrassed grin and the rest of us continue through the entrance hall into the slick modern kitchen as she explains that the home is up for sale. She approached the owner and requested he defer the sale for two months, for a generous remuneration of course, which he gladly agreed to, especially after bargaining with her to allow him to state that 5EX had stayed there in his sales description.

"I thought it would be only fair for you guys to have the Master suite, it's just through this hallway and up these stairs, first door on the left. We'll let you see it on your own. Your luggage has already been taken up and unpacked, I hope you don't mind, I just thought you'd both like to relax. I'll order some food for 8pm, maybe it would be a nice way for us all to talk, get up to speed with where we are at. What do you think? Is that acceptable to you both? It's ok if not, I can send....." she continues to fire words rapidly at us, a serious case of that verbal diarrhoea I often suffer with seemingly affecting her.

"Weeze! Calm down" Yanni soothes, "The house looks amazing, the dinner plans sound perfect, and so does the suite. Thanks Weeze, we appreciate it" he finishes with a small smile.

"Yes, thanks Eloise, especially for having our luggage unpacked. That's one of my least favourite parts of travelling" I tell her gratefully, also smiling what I'm a little surprised to realise is a genuine beam of thankfulness.

"Great! Excellent. Ok, good. So, up the stairs, first door on the left. There are drinks and snacks already up there for you both. Relax, get settled and we will see you in the lounge at 7:45 if that suits?" She babbles, a grin lighting up her face.
She looks 10 years younger than she did the last time I saw her. This whole situation has had an effect on all of us. That realisation sends a sadness through me that causes a real ache to settle around my heart. These people are suffering because of me. Because of my history, my work, my husband!

They don't deserve it. None of them. Noah wouldn't have done any of the things he has if it weren't for me. Yanni would never have almost been killed, Laura wouldn't have had to see me in such awful circumstances, Billy might still be alive and Roni wouldn't be mourning. Mark wouldn't be dead!!

Oh my god!
I'm jinxed. A Jonah. A flesh and blood harbinger of chaos and doom. I am at the epicentre of a swirling hurricane of shit that has already caused so much damage to so many lives, they don't deserve to suffer any further.

I need to leave.

I have to go!

Forever. Completely. Secretly........ and soon.

"Syd? You ok? You've gone very pale" Yanni queries, startling me from my thoughts.
My heart is pounding, my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth and I sway on my feet, Yanni catching me around my waist keeping me from falling to the ground.

"Hmmm, me? Oh, yes, I'm fine Yanni, just tired I guess" I croak.

He tells Vinni and Eloise that 7:45 will be fine for us as he guides me towards the staircase, a concerned frown temporarily marring his beauty. Tears form in my eyes as I look at him, the emotional pain I'm feeling right now is crushing, stealing my breath and causing the tears to spring from my eyes.
The sob contained within me is desperate to escape but the lack of air in my lungs makes that impossible, conversely I cannot inhale as my body is attempting to expel the sob.

We reach the room and Yanni opens the door and leads me inside, sitting me on a couch in front of a beautiful large stone fireplace, crouches down and looks me in the eyes.

"Breathe slowly babe, you're ok, you're having a panic attack, close your eyes and breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth. That's it........ there you go, well done."

He pours me a glass of water from the pitcher on the table before us and hands it to me, taking a seat beside me and holding my free hand, concern on his face as he runs his thumb over the back of my hand.

"Now, how about you tell me what ridiculous notion has you so freaked out so I can help?"

Shit! He knows me so well.