Zephyr's Promise

5

 "There's glass in my hair." Ira sighs.

Her once pristinely immaculate home is destroyed. Shards of glass shine across the floors. Broken lamps lay like decay. Even the kitchen walls are stained with various liquids. Axel moved from destroying only electronics to destroying whatever he desired. Ruining such a lovely home seemed pointless to me, but Ira cashed in on the fun.

The two of them seemed to have a penchant for chaos. Mayhem. And even destruction. Obliterating their home only wasted the time we had to figure this mess out. While I would like to hope Axel would be kind and merciful it wasn't guaranteed. I wouldn't be so quick to take to him. No matter how many cans of soup he threw at the walls or how many shoes he shredded he still held power over us. Someone like that I had to be wary of.

Once their hunger for destruction was sated. Graciously he allowed Ira and I five minutes to grab necessities. Many of the items I brought were hers. Axel refused to backtrack to my home. He claimed it a waste of time. I would argue leveling this house was the true waste of time. But, again, he had the power. Gauging his temperament I did not argue with him.

All forms of our identification had been cut up and set on fire. The only way to identify either of us would be through a fingerprint or DNA sample. He even got rid of my college ID. It seemed ridiculous to Ira, but I knew how far that kind of information could help a person who knew what to do with it. How to wield and manipulate it for their gain. Unintentionally it exposed more about Axel rather than anything else. This isn't his first time doing something like this and likely would not be his last.

A chill sets in my spine. A sign to proceed with caution. I wish I could explain that to Ira. Sitting in the backseat of this Mustang left no privacy for us to speak. Truthfully I don't know Ira well enough to be in a situation where she is the only person I can truly rely on. The realization makes me want to jump out of the car.

"We'll get it out when we get there. Just don't shake too much." Axel drives. Every so often he sneaks a peek at the two of us through the rearview.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Chicago." He sighs. "At least for now." At that I swallow.

If he planned to drag the two of us around Illinois I would not survive. Being in this car is enough of an anxiety inducer I feel like I might explode. Even though we are aligned in our dislike for Cristiano I can't really trust Axel. The enemy of my enemy is my friend notion only goes so far. The second he gets what he wants we become expendable. Useless.

Now he's bringing us even deeper into his world. The miniscule glimpse I have seen so far is a caution. It tells me I shouldn't be chasing after this. After Cristiano. Destruction may be Ira and Axles' penchant, but curiosity is mine. The need to know. Extrication of the truth.

Information has always led me. Not having it felt akin to being slighted. Even if I tried to avoid it, somehow I would have found myself here. Sitting in the back of a camry with two people who in total I have known less than an entire week.

At least we're starting our journey in a place I know well. Chicago. My home. I was born and raised here. Wait. If we were going closer to my home why couldn't we stop by there on the way?

"I'm sure you know exactly where I live." My eyes narrow at him through the rearview. I really didn't want to wear Ira's expensive fabrics. As grateful as I am for it. I prefer my own clothing. Baggy shirts and sneakers. Comfort.

Axel's eyebrows raise at me. Amusement swirls in those stark blue eyes. "Is there a question somewhere in there?" Axel is a smug asshole. It annoys me that I can not tell the boundary of his amusement. If it comes from a place of cruelty or not.