Kai

Chapter 8

"That's my name, sweetheart. Don't wear it out, now-come." Her voice was sweet but stern. When no one moved she groaned and rubbed her thumb and index finger on her forehead.
It was silent as she pondered her life choices that lead others.
"Kai," she said opening her eyes to focus on me. "Make them come." I scoffed at that, but when I met her gaze I saw she wasn't kidding.
"Doris, you're joking right? They fucking hate me?"
I sat in shock, I can talk, how can I talk? She healed me, that's what all the pain that I felt was. "Kai," she said softly. I brought my gaze back to hers and saw something there.
I saw trust and hope, she took a deep breath before speaking again. "I know you're scared, but you have to make them follow you. To help them, you want to do that, don't you?"
I took a shaky breath, trying to figure out what I could do to make them follow me like she wanted. Pretty sneaky using that against me, old woman.
But, she was right. That's all I wanted to do, I wanted to make Doris happy with me but I couldn't figure out how to make it so they would want to follow me.
I turned to them slowly, looking at the people I'd hurt, and lied to, and ruined their lives. They all stared at me and I could see the fear and hatred in their eyes.
No one would follow me, not one of them. They would rather sit here and die in this cage than follow me anywhere. I turned to Doris now and sighed, "how do I do this? I mean- can't Ryan, they like him more." I asked quietly, and she pulled me out of the cage and sighed.
"Kai, sweetheart, you have to dig deep inside yourself. They attacked you, that's why I'm assuming you were beaten and bloody when I came. They've taken their fill of hurting you, they got what they wanted."
Her voice was filled with concern and I pursed my lips, "if I can get Ryan to back me- I think they'll follow?" It wasn't really a statement I wanted her opinion, but she just stared at me knowingly.
"Alright," I said not feeling confident at all, "I make no guarantees this works." When I walked back to the cage I felt a sense of dread, they weren't going to follow me.
That much I knew, "h-hey guys," I muttered quietly and took a deep breath. "I um- I know you don't like me and I- I get it. I wouldn't like me either, if I were you."
I heard snorts of laughter, and even insults were thrown at me, I groaned in annoyance and punched at the metal frame of the fence. It was then that I met Doris' eyes and when I did, I felt a burning want light up inside me.
I wanted her to be able to rely on me.Something in me snapped then, I wanted to be perfect for Doris, I wanted to make her proud.
I barely knew her but she was an extension of Cal, Ryan, and Michaela.
I needed them to be proud of me, to believe in me. With that in mind, I turned back to them in the cage "Listen!"
I yelled startling some of them. "I know you don't fucking like me, and I don't really care." My entire demeanor changed, I took on Cal's attitude he used when he spoke to me. They had fear in their eyes, but I could see I had their attention.
"You got to kick the crap out of me, all of you, for hours!" Meeting each and every set of eyes, I watched as they seemed to shrink back. "Did I ever put up a fight?"
I directed my anger at them, and it felt good. I felt like I was letting loose, I was finally hitting them back. Some
of them sat staring at me wide-eyed and others just backed away. "You got your revenge," my voice lost its edge now.
I spoke softly to them watching as they soaked it in. "Let me help you. If there's one good thing I can do in this shithole of a life, let it be that I helped you get out of here. Please!"
With that, I turned to Doris and motioned for her to lead on.
If they wanted to follow me, they would. If they didn't, that was their own choice. "Let's go," I said quietly and felt as someone stepped beside me.
When I turned to see who it was, I couldn't help the sound that escaped from my throat, it wasn't a pretty sound either. It was one of shock, a loud spluttered sound with a high squeak at the end.
"Al?"
I asked incredulously and when I turned to Doris she too looked shocked but smiled nonetheless. "Come," she said and turned to the stairs. I turned back to look at the others and was surprised to see they were actually following us. I waited at the main entrance of the gate and let everyone leave it one by one.
The last person to go through was Ryan, he smiled at me and rubbed his hand in my hair in an affectionate way. "I knew they'd follow you, you didn't even need me dude." His joy was contagious and I couldn't help the stupid smile that found its way to my face.
When we got to the stairs, Kenneth was there. He scanned the area behind us and had a rifle on his shoulder ready to shoot.
"Kenneth, you son of a bitch, I didn't know you were here still!" Ryan said and Kenneth chuckled, not meeting his eyes.
"I was leaving but was given orders to stick around and make sure you idiots got out." With that, he gestured for us to keep moving and he covered us from behind.
I felt my adrenaline spike and breathed out a sigh trying to keep it together. It was definitely hard but not impossible. "You've gotten a lot better at this, keeping control." Ryan whispered and I nodded, feeling that stupid smile coming again.
"Enough talking," Kenneth said behind us, the mood was changing slowly and I felt as a serious tension worked its way over us.
Everyone was scared, huddled together in one mass group behind Doris and I sighed, "if we get caught in this hall, no one's escaping. it's going to bottleneck."
Ryan made a face but nodded in agreement and I took a deep breath. I released my power outward giving off a calming air to everyone. I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me but shook it off. Get them out alive.
Once they're safe, then you can die. They needed to let go of their fear and feel more in control than they had in a long time. "What are you doing?" Ryan asked and I groaned quietly trying to hold on to give them as much of a boost as I could.
Slowly, I watched as they one by one pulled away from each other and started following Doris in a more spaced out fashion. When I let go of my power I slumped forward and Ryan leant me his arm so I could lean on. "Thank you," I muttered and he smiled.
" Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you slumped during your big moment." Doris held her hand up then and the others stopped.
I forced myself to stand on my own and when I did, I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders.
My entire body ached and my head throbbed but I forced myself to stand on my own. "What is it, Doris?" I asked quietly and she nodded toward the hall. When I looked, I saw Thomas coming toward us as well as a group of other men loaded with guns and looking pissed. "Kai!" Doris screamed and I frowned, what the hell am I supposed to do?
"Kai, now!" She screamed and I did the only thing I could, I threw my power outward from me. Every last ounce of strength I had left was put into this one move and I prayed it would work to keep us safe and stop them.
There was screaming and then, silence as they laid down in utter silence but their faces were contorted in silent screams. Everyone turned to look at me as I was breathing heavily with astounded looks and I sighed with a smile.
"What?" I asked wiping the blood I felt running from my nose, and Al chuckled.
"I got a taste of this kids power, you don't want to mess with this at all." He said gesturing to me vaguely and Ryan smirked, clearly proud of me having earned Al's respect.
"Look," he said calmly, "Kai may have led you here. But he was used just as much as anyone else. He's a good kid who just wants to help now that he has the full picture."
He pat my arm looking over the rest of them and Doris smiled brightly at me, "we're on the first floor, we have to go up two more to get to ground level. Can you make it, Kai?" I wanted to complain and say no and just tell them to leave me here to die, it's what I deserve after what I've done to these people.
Looking around the group and seeing the way their eyes weigh on me heavily. I knew without a shadow of doubt, not one of these people would be upset to see me die.
But then I looked at Doris, her eyes were filled with fondness, compassion, and there was a trust there that I'd never seen in anyone before. It honestly scared me, the people I'd trusted in my life had abandoned me.
My father, my mother, and then the Doc. Doris seemed different, she really, truly, genuinely, did but- I couldn't allow myself to be attached again.
I nodded to her and she made a face as if she didn't believe me.
She probably didn't, but nevertheless we continued. Ryan helped to lead me up the stairs and we took them slowly with small amounts of people so as not to get stuck if something happened.
Once we finally got to an area I recognized, all hell began to break loose. I glanced quickly out the window in the door and saw no one in the lobby. Or what had been the lobby. Now it was just a completely empty bare white room. No accents, no furniture, nothing to make it even appear to be a hotel.
They gave up on their charade the second I was thrown in the cages. "You ready?" Ryan asked and I nodded but something in me told me this wasn't going to work. Something wasn't right. I pushed past that feeling and nodded to Ryan to open the door.
As soon as he did, we walked through and we were instantly pulled down to the ground. Bullets we're firing, people were screaming and Doris was yelling at us.
"Kai! You have to put them to sleep! Please, hurry!" My eyes widened as I looked from her to the people shooting at us. It was Thomas- of course- guess he pulled through the brain melt I'd given him.
How the hell did he get here before us? He as well as a few others with him- where did they find these people?
I looked at the group of them and saw, a shorter blond female with a look of rage. She seemed to be in her early twenties maybe? Then beside here was a taller male with brown hair that looked to be shaved into a mowhawk, and a few more around them were firing at us.
None of them seemed too worried about survivors. Ryan pushed me toward Doris who seemed to be going through an odd change. Her skin was no longer young and vibrant like it had been, there were wrinkles and creases now. Her eyes were a duller color now than the bright blue they'd been when I'd seen her in the cage. And her hair, it was turning grey at the roots.
"Kai," her voice sounded frail now, she was older and it was alarming to say the least. "I know you can do this, give me your hand I can heal you and you can help us."
I stared at her in shock, not moving and she rolled her eyes making a growling noise before reaching out and yanking my hand between hers. She held it and I watched as her young physique fell completely and the older woman came through.
It was bizarre, one minute she'd been young, radiant, and beautiful. Now, she was older with an heir of wealth about her but nothing about that young look was here anymore.
There was a blue light that came out from her hands to shine over mine. I felt as everything in my body slowly mended and was healed. It was quick and painful but not anything overwhelming. Not like before, this was mending my soul and my mind more so than anything else.
I felt as though I were being prepped for battle and, in a way, I suppose I was.
When she let go, she made a groaning sound before letting go completely and falling backward. I leaned to catch her but Ryan was there in an instant.
He held her to him and looked at her with worry before turning troubled eyes on me. I stared at him for a long time trying to find the strength i needed to do this.
I felt fine, physically speaking, but mentally I felt as if I were destroyed. My mind lay slashed and shredded before me waiting for me to slowly glue it back together. Instead, I focused on the task before me-doing what they wanted- that much was easy.
Kenneth was holding his own against Thomas' crew, but it was clear it was a losing battle that was being fought.
Thomas was clearly the stronger of the two, and he wasn't going to hesitate hurting Kenneth. The second he needed to reload he'd be killed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath centering myself before opening my eyes and focusing on the targets.
I imagined what a wave would look and feel like. How it would move to and fro liquidly and never stop until it broke over the shore. I imagined Thomas and them as the shore.
If I'm going to win, I thought, it's gonna be an all out knock-out fight. No half-assed trophies. If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don't fight, you can't win!First place is mine, damn it. We fight
I watched as, slowly, they each crumpled. One after the other, like a domino effect. They each had a dawning realization as to what was happening and when they turned to me, I saw the shock in their eyes before they'd fall, completely overwhelmed. Thomas put up a fight and growled, he'd had some experience with this after all. When I saw he wasn't going down, I grit my teeth and gave a little more toward putting him out of commission. The others with our group stopped to watch what was happening, none of them had ever seen me truly use my power.
The only thing they knew of my power was that I could sense theirs, but as they watched me struggling against Thomas' will and sweating from the sheer force of keeping myself upright and conscious, they seemed to have an appreciation for me.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and felt rather than hear them, I felt as a voice spoke to me. It wasn't out loud though, it was a quiet, almost soft voice that spoke in my mind.
It was also familiar, Kai, it said, Ryan is lending you his strength- let him. I flicked my gaze to Ryan who was looking at me in concentration Your stamina reserves are tapped, if you don't take his energy you will pass out and possibly die from the strain you're putting on yourself. We need you still, please, I took a deep breath, trying to listen to what the voice was saying. That's when it clicked who it was.
It was Micki! Micki was speaking to me. I wasn't sure where she was, but I knew she could see us. See me, but I couldn't see her. I flicked back to Thomas, as I felt his shift. He was on his knees, sure, but he was fighting hard against me and my wave of power. The others were long since down but he knew what had been coming. He- unlike them- knew to throw up mental walls to keep me out.
He'd learned from his mistake last time, that much was obvious. Either he'd gotten stronger or I'd gotten weaker. To be honest it could've been either thing that had happened but I wasn't going to let him win. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Ryans hand placed on my right shoulder and felt as his strength instantly flowed from him into me. It started from just under his palm into my shoulder and flowed freely to every nook and cranny in my body.
I felt whole again and rejuvenated, it was incredible. Thomas's eyes widened as he realized what had happened and I smirked, knowing this was nearly over. When I reached for my power again, it flared up instantly stronger and ready for action. I walked to Thomas now and put my hand on his forehead and breathed out slowly as I felt a small wave escape me and wash over him.
He went down gently, almost as if he were sleeping but I knew that wasn't the case. His mind was utterly silent now, the silence deafening, almost crushing him.
He gasped softly as his eyes closed and a tear went down his cheek. I smirked at his lifeless form before I felt the dizziness hit me. "Ugh," I blew out before slowly crumpling to the ground. I was on my knees and trying to force myself up. I just didn't have the strength.
I heard a thud behind me as Ryan went down, he too was apparently out for the count. "Oh Kai," Doris said running up beside me. Her face was worried and she held me against her in a hug. "Shh, shh I know. I'm so sorry," she said soothingly and it took me a second to realize I was shaking in her grip.
She wanted to comfort me, that much was clear, but I didn't know what I needed to be comforted. My body shook and I felt cold all over. Something was definitely wrong, but it didn't make sense to me. "We have to go," a soft voice murmured to Doris. I felt as she nodded, and after a moment she pulled away.
"Kai, I know it's a lot to ask," she said softly helping me to my feet. I felt as though I were bare, no emotion, nothing to say, no thoughts. Just bare. "I need you to stand strong, tall, and lead these people. They trust you," I looked at her and scoffed.
But when I looked around the room, I saw they were looking to me for guidance. Do they even realize that I'm just as broken as they are?
It wasn't until a little girl stepped forward. She seemed familiar but, I didn't remember ever seeing her.
"Please, sir," she said softly. She wore a simple white jumpsuit that was dirty and grey like the others. She herself, was dirty but her bright blue eyes shone through the dirt still. She had tears in her eyes and for some reason, I felt connected to her.
"I-I'm not a hero," I said swallowing past the lump in my throat. I felt completely defeated, even after Ryan gave me his strength, I felt that I was going to crumble. As I stared at her, though, I knew I had to be the person she needed.
I took a deep breath and she held her hand out to me, waiting for me to take it. "You never hurt us. They did. Please sir, don't leave us now." I closed my eyes as she held my hand, and felt as tears slipped down my cheeks. I nodded once to her and when I opened my eyes, I saw she was smiling.
"Let's go," I said and the others started moving, Thomas and his friends were on the floor still. "Doris," I said calmly and she was at my side in an instant, "what's it like outside? Was it only these few that were armed or is there more?" We were headed toward the doors now, and when I turned to look at her, I saw she was smiling at me.
Someone came to stand by my side and I felt arms wrapping around me. "Kai!" I stopped in my tracks when I heard that voice.
I'd heard that voice in my dreams and hallucinated it more times than I could count. But this, this was real. "Micki?" I said and instantly turned and wrapped my arms around her as well. That's when I felt two more sets of arms wrap around us and squeeze. I went rigid for a moment before I realized who it was.
Cal ruffled my hair and laughed, "I knew you'd make it out!" He said and Micki laughed and when I looked at her, I saw tears in her eyes running down her cheeks.
Her hugs were warm and safe, she made me feel like I was safe from whatever this life held. "There's an exit this way," Cal said gesturing to the side. I raised a brow, looking toward the front and he chuckled, "we don't want to walk into their hands."
"If we go out the front door, there's bound to be traps or guards. Trust me, I've worked here for years. Ryan, what say you?"
Ryan's head snapped up, "dude I've been in a cell for.... How long has it been?" He asks uncertainly, his eyes were droopy and he had dark circles there now. I felt a pang of guilt run through me as I looked at him sadly.
Doris opens her mouth just as shots are fired. "What?" Ryan asks in anger and whips around. Standing there is a whole new team of staff for the Doc.
I recognized some, but most of them seemed to be brand new faces and they looked ready to fight. It was clear they were told no survivors. These new people were armed to the teeth with guns.
They were in what looked like swat gear, black vests and tan pants that were padded. Each held a different assortment of guns or weapons, and each had helmets.
Even with the helmets, I knew who at least two were. "Fuck," Ryan whispered right as I saw the blonde hair. Cal made a noise but grabbed the nearest kid to him and hauled them to their feet. "Move. Now!" He yelled and I heard the laughter emanating from across the room.
My skin crawled as her high pitched laugh rang out to us. The blonde took her helmet off and I felt as dread filled my stomach. Fuck me, of course Tiffany, Eric, Sandy, and Stacie would be the backup when all else failed.
Eric wasn't too much by himself. He could hold his own in a fight, sure, but we could easily beat him. The girls on the other hand, they were ruthless. If I know anything it's that Tiffany doesn't travel alone. "I guaran-fucking-tee that's Sandy and Stacie under those last helmets." Cal said reading my mind.
Sure enough, when the other two removed their helmets I saw the deep cocoa color of Sandy's skin and her signature puffed out pigtails. How does she keep them perfect in a helmet? Makes no sense.
Beside her was the, also familiar, tan-skinned girl with long brown hair that went to her waist. She had to be part Indian or something because her features seemed almost otherworldly. "We're so fucked," Ryan said groaning now. "Move!" That one word seemed to snap everyone to attention and just like that, we were off. We ran for our lives, the worry of walking into a trap was gone.
The main doors were flung open, and Doris was in the front leading everyone. Cal and Ryan were beside her in an instant and I was near the rear making sure no one fell or was left behind. Michaela was beside me and I couldn't help but feel responsible for her as well.
If she gets hurt, I'll never forgive myself.
Bullets flew past us as we ran, dodging this way and that.
I wanted to stop and stare at the outside but I couldn't, my mind was trying to process it all and it was hard to focus on any one thing. Focus! My mind screamed at me, survive, that is the most important thing right now. Questions later, survive now.
We were running down a narrow road that lead up to what was clearly not a hotel. The front had big glass windows all the way to the roof, what looked like wood paneling was off to the left side, and houses more windows there. To the right of the main glass windows was just white building. It was absolutely beautiful, but I knew what dangers lurked inside.
I'd never seen the building. Not when it looked like this, I barely remember what it was like when I was brought here all those years ago.
I physically shook myself to regain my focus on the task at hand: running for my life. Tiffany was the closest to us, I could hear her laughter ringing through the air. It sent chills down my spine and I felt as adrenaline started kicking in more.
My legs hurt from the running, I'd never exerted myself this much before, my lungs burned, and I felt like I could pass out at any second. But, I was free. I heard Stacie yell and heard the gun fire and ducked as bullets flew by.
Please let everyone be ok, please let this work. Suddenly, a van pulled up and Doris was yanking the door open. People piled in and just as I got near it, the van started peeling out.
"No!" I yelled and sped up trying to jump in. Not like this, please not like this. Don't take this from me, please!
My lungs were burning and I was slowing down. Tiffany was closer now and I knew if I didn't make this, I wasn't going to live. The van sped up and left me in the dust, I screamed for it to stop but it never halted. Tears streamed down my face as I fell to the ground pounding on the asphalt. My fists ached from the impact but I didn't care. I was alone.
They left me.
I heard footsteps slowing as they got closer, my breathing slowed and I sat there waiting for them to shoot me. I wasn't even afraid anymore, all I felt was exhausted.
My body trembled with a full ache from the running and exercise I'd just done. My throat felt cold and dry as I sucked in air. They got the prisoners out. That's what matters.
I thought glumly, I was happy they were free. My debt was paid and no one even died for it. I was already dead anyways, it didn't matter if I died here in the dirt or inside the building under layers of concrete.
I was still owned by the government. I was theirs to use as they wanted. I felt the barrel of a gun as it pressed against the back of my head. It moved and shifted through my hair lightly before finding the base of my skull and pressing in slightly. I didn't react, only waited for what I knew was to come.
Only, it didn't. The gun pulled back and I heard that same laughter, shrill now as it was closer and rolled my eyes. "Just kill me, already, spare me the speech." My voice sounded dry and parched but still was loud enough to reach their ears.
"Kill you? Why on earth would we kill you? You're much too valuable to blow away, Kai." It sounded like she sneered as she said my name and I sighed sadly.
"That's what they call you now- isn't it?" Tiffany asked feigning innocence. She leaned back and hauled me to my knees, I didn't even fight her. I let her throw me like a rag doll. I felt completely dead now, I'd given up on hope and felt as if I was ready to just let go.
I met Eric's eyes and he stared at me blankly while Stacie smiled psychotically and Sandy filed her nail with a blade.
Tiffany cocked the gun and I faced the road the van had disappeared onto. I imagined I could still see it glowing like a beacon of hope. I wanted it to be the last thing I saw before she shot me. Just as I felt the cold metal of the gun touch the base of my skull again, I heard it.
"What," Tiffany said quietly and I felt the gun leave once more before I heard someone scream "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Without hesitation, I rolled to the side just barely missing being hit by a car by inches. Tiffany, she wasn't so lucky. She didn't react. Instead, she stood in shock and was completely ran down by a small grey car. The driver slammed on the breaks and backed up quickly. Effectively dropping Tiffany off the hood of the car.
Stacie gasped and Eric took his gun out, shooting the car. "GET IN!" A woman screamed at me and I stood bewildered for half a second before taking my chance. I jumped through the door and before it even closed the car took off like a shot. The woman had her hands on the steering wheel at the top, and was hunched over the wheel driving like a maniac.
You could hear bullets bouncing off the car and she screamed in anger, "stop hitting my fucking car! Hand me that!" She yelled at me, hand outstretched. I floundered before reaching down and pulling a- "is that a grenade?!" I asked in shock.
She didn't answer, only pulled the pin and threw it out the window before flooring it. There was an explosion that gave me my answer and I leaned against the seat in shock.
We drove in silence for a while before she laughed and I couldn't help but stare. She was laughing so hard she was wheezing and fanning herself, "oh Gods."
She said before clearing her throat and focusing on the road.
"My anxiety's bad," she said and I stared at her with a clear question on my face. She was a little heavier set, but I knew she could still throw at least a punch before getting taken out.
She had curly brown hair that went to her shoulders, she was pale-like she never went in the sun- maybe she works indoors? And her eyes, I saw when she looked at me for a second, were brown.
She was heavy set, but I had a suspicion she'd put a fight up if anyone gave her issues. I breathed out a deep sigh and stretched my hands out, I couldn't help but do it as a sad attempt to relax.
"Oh Gods, what? What is it?" Her voice rose a level on the second question and her gaze flicked from me to the road and back. She's very panicky for someone driving a getaway car.
"Nothing, it's no- mmm," I groaned as I felt a burning stab in my right side. She glanced over at me and I saw as she paled.
I took my hand from my side and felt shock as I looked at it, it was covered in blood- my blood- "wh-what?" I said quietly and I heard as the driver sucked in a breath before gagging, "hyech, are you- oh Gods- it's ok!"
She exclaimed, and reached forward to blast the ac. I groaned and felt as she pressed her foot down on the gas, "can you put pressure on it?" Her voice was higher now and I could tell she was doing her best not to panic.
I nodded, and pressed my hand to my left side before grimacing and she made a squealing sound. "It's ok, we're ok, we're fine! It's fine! I- ya know what, go in the glovebox," she instructed looking at me quickly and turning back to the road.
"Are they following us?" I mumbled before finding the strength to lean forward and not wince as I did. She glanced in the rear-view mirror before shaking her head and leaning forward into the steering wheel.
When I opened the glovebox, there was a bunch of paperwork, fast-food napkins, and these square pillow looking things. I reached for the napkins but she stopped me, "not that." She explained and leaned over to grab one of the pillow things.
"This," she explained ripping it open and whipping it out in full to me. My eyes widened once I realized what it was she was trying to get me to use.
"Th-that's a pad! I'm not use-ah!" I cried out, and she gave me a stern look, narrowing her eyes at me. "Listen buddy," all hint of panic was gone from her voice. "You're shot, you're bleeding in my car, and neither of us can stop the bleeding right now. These are meant for bleeding, heavy bleeding- I would know ok, trust me- shut up and put it on the wound."
Her voice left no room for argument and I groaned but took the pad anyways, my hand was soaked in my blood, and the shirt I had on was getting soaked through.
"Ok," she said calmly, "take the pad and press it to the wound. It'll ab-hyech," she gagged loudly and turned away.
I looked at her in confusion but put pressure on the wound and sucked in my breath sharply as I felt the burning pain spike more.
I took a shaky breath and sighed, running my other hand through my hair.
She seemed to calm down and get a hold of herself after a minute of deep breathing. When she finally glanced at me again, I could see the question in her eyes.
She was leaning against the steering wheel, sitting up close to it and grasping it tightly with her hands. "Why do you drive like that?" The question was out before I could really think about asking it, and I felt a little bad about being so personal with someone I'd only just met.
Well, sort of met, I didn't even know her name. All I knew was she pulled up, ran down my attacker, and screamed at me to get into her car.
She huffed a sigh before groaning out a slow and deep rooted, "I have anxiety, ok?" I nodded in understanding and couldn't help but smile at her strangeness.
"I'm Kai, by the way," I muttered not sure how to really start the conversation. She gave me a look that said no-shit-sherlock.
"I know who you are, my dude. I was the backup driver-it was Cal's idea incase you couldn't keep up to make it to the van." She softened as she spoke and I could tell she felt bad saying that.
"He wanted to make them think they had you, and then fwoop," she said gesturing with her hands, bringing them together.
"Big bitch Betty would come in and save the day, heh heh." I couldn't help the choking laugh I gave.
I regretted it by the pain in my side, but I couldn't help it. "What was that?" I asked incredulously, this girl was hilarious. I turned to look at her and really see her. To see past the old lady driving, and the panic.
I took a shaky, calming breath before letting go of my pain to feel her emotions. They slammed into me like a freight train and then.... Stopped. "Ah, hey no, respect the boundary, bro."
Her voice was stern and I raised a brow looking at her before breathing out and looking down at my side.
It was definitely bleeding still, but it didn't seem to be profusely bleeding anymore. "You're not gonna like,,,, die in my car- are you?" Her tone was playful and I couldn't help but crack a smile. I'd never dealt with anyone as interesting as this, she was different than the others.
"To be honest," I confessed, "I don't know. I've never been shot." She made a snort sound and I found my eyes were getting heavier.
It was harder to keep them open as I stared at the road in front of us.
Can't fall asleep! My mind screamed at me, jolting me awake. As I jolted, she let out a scream in answer to mine "why are we screaming!?" She asked and I looked at her incredulously. "No one else screamed, only you!"
She huffed and sighed before laughing again, "I'm sorry! I panicked! Your jolt made me jolt, my holy made me scream. SHUT UP." She yelled when she heard me laughing.
"I'm sorry!" I laughed waving her off, "you never told me your name." It wasn't accusatory, only an observation.
I did genuinely want to know what her name was, she was pretty hilarious. After a minute she made a thinking face before sighing, "fine. But only because I'm pretty sure we're going to work together more. My names-"