Crossfire - a sizzling slow burn with supernatural powers

Escape from no. 7

Maria had left me to go to bed, but I stayed up with my back against the wall. Outside, it was dark and everything was quiet. In the bunk room, I had turned off the lights, so it didn't spill from under the door of no. 7. I listened to the sounds in the dormitory. There was a hush, that settled over the house, where everyone had fallen asleep.

When I had listened to that hush for a long while, I stood up and tip toed to the door. As stealthily as I could, I turned the door knob and opened the door to the hallway. It was empty. I stayed close to the wall and creeped towards the front door. I could do this. I saw the front door in shadow, and my heart began beating faster behind my Lichtenberg figure. A few more steps, and...

In front of the door, down on the floor, there was a slight movement. Someone was breathing and making a sleeping bag move with every inhale and exhale. I froze. It was the young man, who had helped Maria's grandmother to the table. He was the night sentry, lying right in front of the door to the outside. My heart dropped. There was no way for me to get out without disturbing him.

I turned and tip toed back to no. 7. With one hand on the door frame and the other on the knob, I heard someone clear their throat. A little further down the hall, Perez stood in the door to his bunk room with his arms crossed, watching me. He had seen the entire thing and he wanted me to know it. I entered the bunk room and closed the door behind me.

That was a bust.

I went to bed and tried to quiet my thoughts, but they sped around the racetrack in my mind. If I had been at home, I would go for a run, but that was out of the question. I tried to make everything that had happened fit into the same mold, but I couldn't, and then I missed Brandt. I felt tears escape and dried my eyes with the covers.

I helped Maria make breakfast, and sat down across from her at the table. I had only buttered a piece of toast when Perez answered a phone call. He immediately got up from his seat.

"Watch her," he said with a stern glance at the two young men and the jittery woman. He followed up with an equally stern glare at me that in no uncertain terms meant stay. Perez left without any further word, and breakfast carried on. After breakfast, the young man helped Maria's grandmother to the rocking chair and Maria brought her a glass of water. I sat down at the table and in boredom, paged through the magazine, Maria looked at yesterday.

"I love looking at those fancy dresses. I mean, imagine wearing something like that." Maria chirped as she stood behind my chair and we looked at an actress in a beautiful long gown with a slit that showed off her leg and straps that crisscrossed her torso. She looked divine, but in my opinion not very comfortable.

"Harper, go to no. 7, now." The young man frowned and looked up from his phone.

"Don't be like that." Maria stood up for me.

"Now!" He reiterated, completely ignoring Maria. This couldn't be good.

I didn't know what was happening, but I did what he said. I closed the door behind me and listened.

Moments later, the front door opened and several people entered. Something was about to happen, and I didn't know what. There were heavy steps in the hallway en route to no. 7. I jumped back when the door opened and Perez entered, a finger over his mouth.

"Wake up!" He said in his gruff voice and closed the door behind him. I was confused and utterly petrified. I stared at him and shrugged. He wasn't making sense.

"How long can you hold your breath for?" He whispered. The weird exchange continued. I didn't understand where this conversation was headed.

"I don't know, a minute?" I whispered back.

"Galvan gave the order to finish you off."

I froze. Cold sweat pebbled on my skin.

Perez went to the bed and pulled the pillow out of the pillow case and stuffed the pillow case in the pocket of the sweatshirt.

"When I smoke you, hold your breath and stay still. Breathe through the pillow case if you have to."

He looked at me straight on. I nodded. This was an uncanny alliance, but a chance to stay alive was worth taking.

He opened the door and announced,

"Come on, I'm taking you home." Even though I knew it to be a lie, my heart jumped at his words.

He took hold of my arm and despite the underlying bruise, I didn't register any pain. Galvan wanted to kill me like a loose end. Perez was going to defy his orders. I didn't know why. I was just a pawn on the chessboard, but right now my life was in the balance, and Perez didn't intend to kill me.

In the common room, Maria embraced me.

"I'm happy for you. I'll miss you." She teared up and I hugged her back.

"Thank you for everything."

We broke the hug and I saw the creep standing behind Maria. He made me shiver.

"Let's go," Perez ordered and we exited the dormitory with the creep in tow. We walked up the path and Perez didn't let go of my arm. The creep walked behind us. At the parking lot, Perez loaded me into the car and the creep entered the car from the other side.

"Need help with the seat belt?" The creep asked rhetorically with a sneer on his face. He lived for the kind of chaos, Maria spoke of, and he enjoyed every moment.

I fastened the seat belt without acknowledging his question. It was meant to intimidate me and I wasn't giving him that pleasure.

Perez sat down behind the wheel and off we drove.