fallen | ✓

Chapter 33: "Let Me Go"

(Tagged: Connor)

A Week Later

I entered the bar in a cold sweat, shaking the water from my hair. I sat at the counter, burying my face in my hands. I looked up, the bartender raising a brow at me. I looked back down. "Just, scotch, please." I sighed. He nodded, passing me my drink. I popped the cap on the counter-top, glancing over my shoulder to see Connor, his wrapped head and all.

He didn't even grin. He just said "hey Carmen", sitting next to me.

"Hey," I replied. "How's your head?" He inhaled, looking away. He scratched the back of his neck. The bar door opened again and Joa walked though, his eyes landing on me, then Connor. He smiled, sitting next to me.

"Hey, guys." He said, looking at Connor. "What's up, man?" Connor glanced over, taking a deep breath.

"I have something to tell you." He looked at me. I turned my body, facing him, letting him know my ears were open. He inhaled deeply. "Carmen, I'm a SandShark." My eyes widened and my gut tightened.

Joao stood, his hand grazing my arm, tugging me back slightly. His hand swiftly moved over the holster of his pistol. We received many looks from the people around us. Connor stood as well, eyeing him, tilting his head. "I'm not going to fucking jump you. Sit down." He growled.

"You're still a shark." Joa bit back. I stared at them.

"Oh, and what are you?" Connor scowled, clenching his fists. Joa pursed his lips.

"A Blackwater Barracuda." He muttered all too quietly, glancing to the side. My brows raised.

Connor abruptly punched Joa in the nose, knocking him over.

"Connor!" I exclaimed, grabbing the collar of his shirt, pushing him back. "What the Hell has gotten into you??" The bar door opened again and a man walked in with shaggy black hair. He stood in the doorway, staring at us. He blinked slowly.

"What've we got here?" He cocked a brow at us. I slowly let go of Connor's shirt, glancing back at Joa, who was trying to contain his bloody nose. I glanced back at the man again and he smirked, his light blue eyes, sharp. I frowned, glancing at Connor again. "Well then.." The man grunted. "Who are y'all?" He asked, walking over. I looked up at him, estimating his height at, well... At least six feet tall.

"Carmen," I said. The man nodded, holding out his hand.

"Zak." He smiled.

Connor scowled, turning, storming out of the bar. I slowly shook Zak's hand with a small nod. I then passed him, walking out of the bar as well. But I wasn't following Connor. I was going on the Crane.

~~~

I sat, my knees squeezed to my chest, sitting on the edge of the crane, the rain pouring down on my head. My eyes slowly started to close, when a sudden clap of thunder made me jump. I rubbed my eye tiredly, glancing over my shoulder. A figure climbed up the ladder, walking over, and sitting next to me. My eyes adjusted in the pouring rain, and I finally saw Joa.

"What the Hell are you doing up here, you nut?" He yelled over the rain. It slowly became calmer over minutes.

"Oh, just sitting. Thinking about life. Try it sometimes. It gets pretty depressing." I responded, rolling my eyes. The rain slowly came to a stop. He nodded with a chuckle.

"I'd imagine so." He said. I heard more climbing and glanced over my shoulder, squeezing the water from my hair. Connor walked up with Zak and another man. And one thing that made my body tense was that they all had guns. Joa glanced over as well, standing. That's when they aimed at him, and my eyes shot wide. In the blink of an eye, Joa grabbed the man on the end of their line by grabbing the barrel of his gun, throwing his body in front of him.