I•C•E// r.s.l.❣

0.3

When I woke up after the effect of the drug, I was in quite the state. I was kept in a special ward of the hospital, until I was good to go. Everybody there was understanding to the need for me to fake my death, and they cushioned the blow- after all, my loved ones (except from my family) think they will never see me again.

Rocky's state was acceptable, but he didn't have to handcuff me to the car door. I wasn't planning on jumping off the window, I did however have a plan.

I work for I.C.E. (Standing for Inter-Continental Executioner) and ultimately, my job is to kill. However, if I get caught, I have a pea-sized cyanide pill to take, which would kill me in a matter of 10 minutes. Right now, it was in a little slim box in my pocket. In the darkness, I reached for it, when his hand clasped around my wrist.

"Don't be a coward"

"I'm supposed to kill myself if caught, and you know that, because you're meant to do the same" he snatched the box off me.

"I'm not an enemy though" he replied. "Just an old friend with questions. Why did you do it Athena? Why put all of us through all of that?"

"Nobody would understand, so why put it out there" was all I replied with. He took a deep sigh. "Can you take me back home, I have succulents to look after"

"Hell no" he said. "And do you know why? You faked your death, leaving us to grieve and believe you were gone for good; that is just selfish"

"Funny that, because when your brother did it, you didn't seem that bothered-" I paused. "Oh wait, you were in on it too!"

"Don't even go there. Ross was protecting you!"

I pulled the hand brake with my free hand. "How the hell do you know I wasn't protecting anybody?! Who are you to accuse me without knowing your facts?! You know nothing about how tough these last 3 years have been, so don't begin making assumptions"

At this point, we both ignored the cars beeping behind us, just holding each other's gaze. I eventually scoffed, looking out of the window & Rocky exhaled, turning back to the road.

***

"No it isn't a sick joke, she's here right in front of me" Rocky said into the phone, then held it to me. I glared at him, remaining silent. He pinched my side and I squealed. "Piss off!"

"Holy shit" Ross' voice echoed across Rocky's living room. I bit my lip, to keep away tears. "Alright, okay. I'll be there by tomorrow"

"Cool" his brother replied and hung up. I glared at him. "You'll thank me soon"

"No, I won't. You hate me because I kept this from you and you want to see me suffer" I said. "It's dangerous; I'm dangerous for you all, don't tell me I didn't warn you"

"And why's that? Why is it that you need to fake your death to protect us all?" He crossed his arms. I looked to the handcuffs, that kept me trapped to the table.

"I can't fucking tell you" I hissed for the 5 millionth time and he walked away. "Fight me"

"Are you being serious?"

"Fight me. If I win, I go. If you win, I stay" I pointed at the handcuffs. He looked confused and skeptical, but then removed them from me. I faked tying my laces, but swung my legs in his direction, knocking him over. I took this opportunity to aim for his face but he kicked me back and towards the coffee table.

When I scrambled to my feet, I was knocked into a wall by him, where I finally managed to aim for his face. He did the same, but not using his full strength. It was enough to have me bleeding from my mouth. I wiped the blood dribbling down my cheek and ran, hitting him with a drop kick.

Usually, I rely on weapons rather than fighting, so this was leaving me out of breath. And Rocky was in a much better shape than me, like always.
During the 'break' I had, he came for me but I elbowed his jaw. In return, I received a powerful kick to the gut which virtually paralysed me (and knocked me over metres from him).

I curled up as I heard his footsteps, ready for the ass-whooping of my life. When I realised, he was no longer walking, I got up and into a stance, wiping the blood from both my mouth and nose. Rocky almost looked as if he felt sorry for me.

With little hesitation, he pulled me over and I stumbled into his arms, where he held me the tightest anybody has held me in the last few years.

And I lost it, and I wasn't crying anymore- I was wailing into his chest and gripping onto him like a toddler, tears mixing with blood.

"I'm sorry" I whispered. "I'm surprised you haven't killed me"

"Understandable" he replied. "More on that later"

And he was back to holding me, and right now, it was the only thing I really wanted. Rocky was right, I was a coward. But it was time to face the music.

shit gets real next chapter ayy