Archer Diaries

Way Back Home

I saw something I wasn't supposed to see and it was ugly. I never imagined that life would ever happen right before my eyes. It was meant for the movies, the fake reality potrayed by delusional bastards who find joy in decieving others. I froze that moment, unable to move a limb or utter a sound. The sheer terror in his eyes was enough to raise hell on earth and it did. I saw demons for the first time in human form sucking a man's soul until there was nothing left. He turned and saw me,the familiar hazel orbs held a venomous look which chilled me to be the bones for a moment before recognition set in. I didn't pin Jorge to be a saint but I wasn't expecting the devil either. He had just shot some guy between the eyes and nothing about his demenour was remorseful. In fact, I believe this was mostly likely not his first and certainly not his last. He yelled something in Spanish and two guys, one I knew as Miguel scampered to clean up the mess made. I trembled visibly as he stood before me wiping blood from his hands and shoving the gun at the back of his pants. He said I wasn't supposed to be here and that he was sorry I saw that. He draped his arms around my shoulders, dragging me away from the gruesome scene. I looked back one last time to catch the pitiful look on Miguel's face. I knew immediately then my fate was sealed.

*******
The thick transparent glass separating the outside world from his world seemed excrutiatingly long however they were just two feet apart. Mason studied Antoine's face. He couldn't deny he'd grown handsome over the year, if you could ignore the broken nose. It seemed prison brought out the beauty in him, he bemused but quickly berated himself for thinking stupid. The tap on the glass pulled him out of his head and on the connecting handset.

"You look horrible" Antoine playfully said gesturing to his black eye and busted lips and earning a chuckle from him.

"I wish I could say same for you. How're you doing?"

"I think the better question is how are you doing, Flaco?"

He cringed at the nickname. It meant skinny and Antoine often called him that when he was about to give him a speech, one he just wasn't ready to listen to again. "I'm fine..."

"That's quite hard to believe with that face."

"Antoine..." he begun but got cut off.

"You're doing no one good blaming yourself and trying to get yourself killed. I'd hate to think that my sacrifice is in vain, Mason so don't make me regret it."

Tears welled up in his eyes but the stern look from him stopped it from flowing down. "Maman misses you." he offered instead.

"I miss her too." he smiled weakly glad she was doing okay. "Now listen to me..."

The visit to prison had drained him emotionally but no one knew that, and pinned his sudden but not unusual focus on fixing the car as enthusiasm. He joined in the usual playful banter that characterized their day but his mind was a million miles away, basking in that one thought Antoine unknowingly festered. Maybe, he was right.

********
This day could be seen as any other day, clear blue sky, unwavering summer sun, an opera of birds and Robyn. This day should be just like any other day but it wasn't. As soon as she opened her eyes that morning, she dreaded it. This day was one she had been waiting for, not enthusiatically but waiting all the same. It was the day of launching her book, Seeing Past You. It was supposed to help those depressed souls out there but she couldn't help but feel she was a fraud. What did she know about helping anyone see past anything when she was still exactly where she was in the past. She sighed heavily and turned on her side only to realise she was alone. She couldn't say she was surprised. In fact she would've been surprised if she wasn't. The familiar ringtone of her phone got her reaching out to the drawer. It was her agent, Fletcher probably calling to remind her of the event schedule. She wished she could cancel the entire event but that wasn't gonna happen so she might as well suck it up and conjure happiness.

"Hey, Fletch..." she answered a bit too cheerfully.

Time lapsed between the moment she woke up till this moment as she stood backstage waiting and listening to the accolade sang about her so-called life and experiences, experiences she'd only heard of from her clients but never felt.She tried her best not to turn on her heels but her premeditated escape was thwarted by Fletcher's bubbly voice. Boy was the man excited, if only his excitement could rub off her. He informed her of her husband's arrival along with a couple more reporters. She rolled her eyes at the news, trust Rodrick to revel in unnecessary limelight. She could bet millions that he'd invited most of the reporters, most likely to sell the lie that was their life. She didn't have enough time to dwell on the thought as her name was called out.

"Good luck!" Fletcher assured with a smile. She returned the smile, took a deep breath and walked up the short stairs onto the stage admist cheers and flashing cameras. She accepted the hug and pecks from Elliot, her editor. He walked away leaving the stage to her. The cheers had died down but the clicking of cameras still sounded away. She looked over to Rodrick to see him busily typing away on his phone. So much for showing support. She begun her rehearsed speech, making jokes here and there to keep the crowd lively.

As she prepared to wrap up her speech , her eyes drifted to the back and landed on something. She continued talking but inside she was freaking out. Those grey eyes had returned. She'd know them anywhere but the face wearing those eyes wasn't something she recognised but she knew it was him. She ended her speech earning an exaggerated applause from everyone thus breaking eye contact.

As she made her way off the stage for the book signing and socializing, she looked towards the back again but he was gone. She excused herself and all but run to the bathroom trying to wrap her head around what she'd seen. Try as hard as she could, she couldn't deny it. Mason Archer was back and he clearly wasn't the same boy she used to know.

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I don't know when I might update again so I would use this opportunity to say a Merry Christmas to you all and a magical New Year. Pls don't hesitate to tell me all about your New Year's kiss as well*^▁^*. That's probably the most experience I'm ever gonna get. Anyhoo...Thanks for reading...^_^