The Assassin & The Mercenary

Chapter 4

*2 Weeks later*

I started walking home after an 8 hour shift that turned into 12 because of my dear brother Howie's stupidity. All I wanted was to slip my clothes off, take a warm shower, and sleep for the next 24 hours. I decided to take the short way home despite me wanting to take the safe way as per usual. As it was after 9 in the afternoon, carrying a firearm was not possible because our dear Mayor thought things are safest after dark. Despite the Mayor's remarks stating that crime rates were "on the mend", a girl can never be too careful.

About halfway through my journey I came across yet another ally. As I passed I heard footsteps start up behind me. I sped up, they sped up. I slowed down, they slowed down. They stopped, I was stopped by a hand around my bicep. A hitch of breath at the sudden contact and a sharp exhale as I was quickly turned around.

"What's a lady like you walking around a place like this, all by yourself?" The smell of alcohol getting stronger with each word spoken.

"I'm just on my way home from work. My brother is waiting for me to get home."

"Well, I'll walk you the rest of the way. Don't want a girl such as yourself to get hurt now do we."

"Oh, um. It's quite alright." I started slowly backing away. Hoping he is too intoxicated to notice me slipping from his grasp. "Our apartment is just up here".

"You got a husband waiting on you then?"

"I do. He's probably waiting for me to get home so I can cook us some supper. Don't want to make him wait too long since I live right there" I say as I motion to the nearest apartment complex.

It is not. 

My apartment is still 6 blocks ahead.

He doesn't need to know that though. He also doesn't need to know that I never had a husband and that I can't cook to save a life.

"Ah. I didn't take you for a Greenwich kinda girl. Nor a married one".

Is that the name of this complex area? Oh well.

"Well, I am. It was nice to meet you but I must really be getting home now" my voice now having an unnoticeable shake to it.

"Aww, sugar. I'll walk you up. Just want to make sure you get home safe is all" the sound of his voice now having a malicious edge to it. "there are all sorts of boys out here"

"I assure you I'll be alright. Again, nice to meet you. Maybe I'll see you around" the formality plastered atop the fear. I learned never to piss off a drunkard. I'm glad he hasn't realized the space between us by now. I turned around and ducked into the entrance gate to the complex's yard. Looking over my shoulder, I could see he was still watching me. I followed the path towards the stairs leading up the height of the building. It was four stories high so the second shall do.

Looking over the open balcony in front of the apartments towards the street, I could see the man still watching me. He was in the complex yard now. I could tell he was trying to make it look like he was not tracking me, but his poisoned brain had no proper judgment and betrayed his wishes. I counted the apartments, second from the last on the row. It was out of view of the greenery. I stopped in front of the door and knocked. I was praying to whatever being there was that the residents would open the door. I looked around and moved my hand to knock again. After the third knock the door swung open. My head swung back around to the door to be met with something rather unexpected.

"Steve, for the last fucking time you have a key. You have to u-" his voice stopped as he realized who was standing in front of the door. "Lizzie, didn't expect to see you here. Wait, how do you know where I li-"

"Can I come in? I promise you I mean no harm" another glance over my shoulder as I heard sluggish footsteps on the metal of the stairs before I speak frantically"please can I come in?"

"Sure, yeah. Come on in" he must've noticed the urgency in my voice as he ushered me in and stuck his head out to look both ways before shutting the door and fixing up the dead bolt. "Although I am concerned as to how you know where I live. I have to ask, are you okay? What happened, cause you look pretty shaken up"

"Drunk creep wanted to know where I live so he offered to walk me home the rest of the way. This was the closest complex so I came here. I go to the same apartment every time this happens. Second floor, second to last apartment"

"Do you need to call your brother? Tell him that you're here? Luckily we can afford a phone so if you need to call him you can. I can also get you some stuff if you need to stay here to make you more comfortable"

"If I could call my brother that would be great. I appreciate this. I honestly wasn't sure if whoever lived here would open the door at all. Luckily you lived here"

"Honestly Steve was supposed to come by tonight and he always forgets his keys so I thought it might've been him"

"That's fine. How have you guys been? I haven't seen you two since the Expo"

"We're great! Everything's been good since then. Becca was so excited to see the expo. She was so happy to see the car you created. She's always been the one to look on the more logical side of science while I always look at the illogical and impossible. She really loved your car so if-"

"You're rambling."

"Sorry, I get excited when I talk about my sister. OH RIGHT. Phone is right this way" I followed him through the living room towards the dining room where a phone sat on the bureau.

"God it's been a while since I used a phone like this" I mumbled as I tried to remember how it worked. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see James glance at me with confusion written on his face before checking the glass window in the door again. 

"What do you mean by that? Those models are the most commonly used and everyone has one. There is no way that a Stark doesn't know how to use a landline"

"Actually there is a way because my brother has taken it upon himself to create a 'revolution of the digital age'. So I have been using his models instead of everyone else's" I said as I "GOT IT! Figured it out and I remember the system"

I picked up the receiver and requested our apartment. I picked up and heard a rapid system of inhales and exhales.

"Elizabeth Fucking Stark. Where the hell are you?! It is 11 at night and you were supposed to be home an hour ago. There better be a damn good reason your late or I'll ha-"

"Howie, I promise you I'm fine. I'm at a friend's house for the night. Cat got stuck in the chimney again. I'm staying overnight to keep an eye on him" James looked over at me with confusion.

This is our phrase we have for situations like these.

"A CAT?! What the fuck does a cat ha-" I heard him mess with somethings in the background. Sounding like pen on paper and a keyboard "alright, stay the night. That's fine with me, but just make sure you're safe. I'll see you tomorrow"

"See you soon Howie" then the line died. "Well James, I hope you don't mind me stealing the couch for a couple hours".