Silhouette (Part One)

Chapter 13

12 hours earlier

"Kaitlyn. I need to leave, and you can't stay here." She looked at the bodies, then me, back at her father again, and stopped at me the second time.

"I know." Tears started sliding down her cheeks, glistening in the room's low light. The anger in her eyes turning to sorrow. "And I know how we can get away. My father activated a self destruct for the house, I'm assuming, before you killed him. But my father always kept a few cars in the garage in case of emergency. We will have to take those to the nearest town then go our separate ways." Her voice started getting choked up at the end, making my heart start to break for her. I know how she feels, but how come she's helping me get away? Why doesn't she try to kill me?

"Then what are we waiting for?" I dropped the gun to the floor with a clunk, reached down and plucked up the knife, shoving it into my backpack and slinging that over my shoulder, then started towards the door. "Lead the way."

She hastily wiped the tears away and started down the hallway. I followed close behind, keeping an eye out for any guards that might have been alerted. None seemed to know what happened yet, but it was only a matter of time.

We made our way through the brown paneled halls, taking a few turns. Left, right, right, Door. The metal door in front of us had a little black box on the wall next to it. A number pad lit up as she keyed in the correct combination. The answering click signaled the door was opened.

It swung outward into a large concrete room. Expensive cars lined the walls angled towards the large rectangular garage door that filled one wall. A Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati and a six other cars lined the walls. "Pick whichever one you want to take. Personally I like the Bentley." Kaitlyn voice broke the stupor I was in from being in the same room as so much metallic money. A shimmer caught my eye from a dark Grey car in the corner. I walked up to it, it turned out to be a Aston Martin Rapide S.

"This one."

"That one was Dad's personal favorite." I heard a clunk from the wall behind me, making me turn. Kaitlyn backed up from a large wooden box hanging on the wall. "Here's the keys." A tinkle of metal, and the keys flew at me with a flick of her wrist.

I caught them and immediately unlocked the car. A barely used car smell enveloped me as I sat down in the drivers seat, sinking a half inch into the barely worked leather. Throwing my backpack into the back seat, I reached forward to push the key into the ignition and hit empty air. Actually looking in front of me would have revealed the wheel on the other side. I got in the wrong side. A light tap on the window made me look out. Kaitlyn stood there with a smirk.

"I noticed I got in the wrong side."

"No kidding." Came her muffled reply. "Scoot over. We don't have much time." I looked to the divider on my right; the black panel full of buttons and flowed from the dashboard into the cup holder seamlessly. I moved one leg at a time over then resettled in the correct driver's seat.

Kaitlyn got in the passenger side with a slam of the door. "Punch it." She looked at me and grimaced.

I shoved the key in the ignition and turned. The engine's muffled roar vibrated through the cabin. I couldn't help but grin. Shifting into drive, the metal garage door started opening. As soon as it stopped I pressed the gas. The car leaped forward in answer, making me maneuver quickly to narrowly avoid the car next to me.

We cleared the garage and rumbled onto the open driveway. I wasted no time and slammed the gas pedal to the floor. A growl replied from the engine as the car sped forward. The soft purr of the engine hummed through the car as the winding road flashed under us and the trees blurred on either side. After about five minutes of silence and trees covered in snow, I needed to know why it was so urgent we leave.

"Why did we have to hurry? Other than to escape the security." Does this road ever end?

"Stop the car." Came her simple reply, making me confused. So I indulged her and slowed the car down until it stopped. Once motion ceased she exited her door and faced behind.

"What are you doing?"

"Get out and watch." I got out and faced the same way she was. Back down the road towards her house.

"Why do I...." A rumble vibrated through the concrete, shaking everything. Some trees surrounding us shook off their winter coats in response. A flash of light illuminated the dimming horizon followed by an orange ball of fire that rose into the air. It disappeared quickly, but orange light wavering against the sky left evidence of burning rubble.

I was stunned, someone was willing to sacrifice their entire family. Just to keep one person's secrets safe, and to erase any evidence of how they actually may have died.

The car door slamming shut broke me free of my thoughts. So I reentered the car and started back down the road. Everything blurred as I was lost between concentrating on navigating the roads at 80 mph, or 128 kmh, and sorting out what to do next.

The road eventually turned to dirt, and eventually led us to a sparsely populated town. By that point I had slowed down to avoid attention, but one can only avoid so much attention when one drives into a town full of rusted out Chevy trucks and minivans in a freshly waxed Aston Martin. The people that were seen were staring as I cruised through the cracked streets, looking my for somewhere to stop.

I spotted an old looking hotel and pulled into one of the parking spots barely outlined by the faded paint. Silently, I retrieved my backpack from the backseat and exited the car. Kaitlyn also exited the car and came around to me. She pulled me into a hug, throwing me off. "I'm sorry this is the way we had to meet, but you did the right thing."

I pushed her away gently. I was not expecting this. "How did I do the right thing? I killed your father."

"Yes, you killed my father, but he didn't deserve to live if he was going to kill billions of people." Her eyes held mine steadily. She was completely serious.

"What?" In response she shoved a USB into my hand and wrapped my fist around it, wrapping her hand around my fist.

"This contains all the information you need. He was also not working alone. You can still save the world if you kill them." She let go of my hand and opened the car door then stopped. She looked at me, and a sad smile crossed her face. "I hope we meet again, Daniel. And when we do, maybe I'll learn your real name." She ducked into the car and pulled out of the parking spot. Heading down the main road, she disappeared around a corner.

An empty feeling punched me in the chest as I looked down at my clenched fist. When I clenched it I don't know, but I do know I need to get the information off the USB. Thats what I am doing next. That's how I fulfill my revenge.

I turned and headed into the old hotel, and this time. I have a plan.