De Luca

25. Italy?

25

I stepped out of the cab with no money in hand. 

Oh, duck.....

Shame crept to my features.

I had entirely forgotten about the cash dilemma.

So I just smiled at the driver and said thank you. He titled his head in bewilderment. “But, ma’am...” he didn’t get a chance to complete his sentence as I started to run as fast as my legs could take me without looking back. The cab driver, as he seemed to understand my plan, rushed to get out of the vehicle.

But I was quick.

Poor man. He just yelled for a minute and gave up. I still kept sprinting in fear that, what if he changes his mind and start chasing me? He maybe Flash in his past life...

I jumped across the fence. The security uncle, a man in his late fifties, guarding the dock was fast asleep. He failed to notice me entering. And the others were not in sight.

KC-13

KC-11.

I kept searching.

KC-8.

KC-5.

KC-2.

I found it.

I barged open the door, to a view of several guns aimed at me. Seth sat in a chair all bloodied and bruised with ropes tying him down. From the all clamour, he lifted his head. For a second, when his eyes met mine, relief washed over me in tidal waves. 

“Seth.” I sighed out. Despite him being badly bashed I was happy to see him still alive and breathing. The guns in their hands no more frightened me when I saw a particular figure moving behind the mass of 10 armed guards.

A specific blue-eyed man I used to know.

A specific man I thought was dead long ago.

A specific man named Stephan.

I no longer cared about my safety, not even when I pushed aside all the men and reached the palm of my hand to Seths’ crimson covered face. I covered his ears to eradicate the noise of racing bullets.

Gunshots echoed.

None hit me.

And none hit Seth.

The painful thud of bodies hitting the floor.

I no longer cared about the deaths caused by me.

I just grazed my fingers through his cheeks for the one last time before rushing to untie the ropes that strangled him. My fingers  grated against the material and blood trickled on to its surface.

I no longer cared about the pain.

It was a painful process. And Stephan watched me in great agony and helplessness. He knew I didn’t want to be disturbed in any way so he never intervened.

I embraced Seth, supporting his weight with my body and lifting him off the chair. He hung his arm around my shoulder.

My eyes met Stephan’s. But his eyes stayed glued to the teenager beside me, inspecting him with great suspicion. He seemed to reach a conclusion as his eyes strayed to me with a lukewarm smile. 

He walked out of the container and I followed after him in great silence. The moon and the twinkling stars of the night sky accompanied us. We got near a black Aston martin. “Get in.” He said, opening the car door for me.

My eyes watered. All the emotions I held deep within me submerged in to the tears and started flowing with it. I helped Seth into the backseat. He was shocked to see me crying. 

I never cried in front of him in my entire lifetime. But this situation forced me to show him how miserable I was. But the notion of being a puppet was way worse than the person I am, now.

I closed the door with a smile plastered on my face and I wanted to turn back to see the man’s face I so longed for. But, I was afraid.

Duck the fear.

I turned back, throwing my arms at him and embracing him in a deep emotional hug. His hands stroked my back and patted it. And we both pulled back. I looked up at him as he ran his hands through my ruffled hair and planting it behind my ear.  

“I missed you.” My tone was crammed like gravel.

But, I no longer cared about myself.

I became lost in his eyes, his smile, his everything, the beauty within his soul. His white shirt now turned crimson and his face splattered with blood, did nothing to scare me like before. Instead, I learned to see the terror in him as glamour.

Thundering footsteps in large amount broke my trance. And Stephan may have heard it too, that he ushered me in to the passenger seat and secured the seatbelt for me. He hoped on inside and started the engine roaring it back to life.

The speed was ultimate, but the bangs of gunshots echoing through the open air in the atmosphere made him hit the gas much harder. Some hit the window beside me and I ducked my head.

Nothing hit me.

“I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake twice, Ella” Stephan said with a smirk, apparently proud of his work, he turned to look at me for a second before going back to driving.

I just saw my life flash before my eyes.

I smiled and shook my head.
“Why are you guys smiling?” Seth asked from behind, looking at me through the rear-view mirror. I and Stephan shrugged. “Experience.” Mumbled Stephan. “True.” Said I.
We sped out of the dock and to the airport.

“Italy?” I asked.

“Italy.” He replied.