A Dark Past

Amsterdam

Magalie couldn't have been happier here she was in the heart of the magnificent city of Amsterdam with a very good looking date beside her sipping tea. Nathan smiled across the table at her:

"So Magalie you travel much"?

"Not really I have a busy schedule" she smiled back at him. It was like his happiness was contagious, as soon as she was with him everything felt normal again and she didn't feel so self conscious.  

"You seeing anyone at the moment?" he asked her all of a sudden, flippantly like he was asking her her favourite colour.

"Not right now are you?" she paused waiting for and dreading what  his answer might be.

"To tell you the truth I recently split from someone" he looked down at the table avoiding her eyes.

"Was it serious?" He eventually looked back at her finally meeting her worried eyes and creased eyebrows. "No, to be honest it was destined to end as soon as it started"

She couldn't hold back her sigh of relief and he noticed. "I guess this means you're free this afternoon?"

She grinned mischievously "I might be that depends, are you afraid of water?" He raised one eyebrow. "Would you believe me if I told you I served as a lifeguard for three years?"

"Really I hope this means you'll save me?" She grinned shyly she was not used to flirting.

"Every single time" He said with such reverence and sincerity she had to avoid his eyes.

Three hours later and Magalie and Nathan were on a river cruise down the singel  canal. They were laughing wine glasses in their hands Magalie in danger of falling was it not for Nathan's supportive arm around her waist.

"This is what life is all about" he boomed loudly a slight slur in his voice as he leaned over the railings. Magalie laughed slightly hysterically which was the target of many peoples glares. She had to agree, it wasn't the bright lights of the city at night, it wasn't the weird and wonderful mix of cultures ages and people or even the smooth movement of the boat over the dark and rippling water but everything combined to make this the most perfect night to be alive. She leaned into him resting her weary head on his shoulder.

"You know you never actually told me why you always come here what is it about this place that is so special to you?" she asked him. He smiled his head cocked a little to the side as he reminisced.  " I used to spend summers here as a child with my brother to me this place is like a second home, there isn't one street I don't know one place I haven't been and besides what isn't there to love?" She nodded having to agree. He turned to her then raising one eyebrow in a question "You never told me exactly why you're here as well"

She squirmed uncomfortably nearly cursing herself for getting him on this topic. "Business I told you" she said hoping he would drop the subject but he didn't. "What are you doing illegally selling drugs or something that you can't tell me?" he said jokingly. She laughed a little too loudly but with any luck he would think it was down to the drink. He could have no idea how close to the truth he really was." I'm doing work over here for a client of mine translating some documents" she said as sincerely as she could. "The work I do is confidential though so I can't really speak about it" He seemed to buy it she thought thinking she was off the hook.

"A translator really? so what languages do you speak?" "Spanish and Russian" she said picking two languages off the top of her head. "Really I speak a bit of Spanish myself" Oh damn she cursed herself inwardly she had dug herself into a hole and there was no getting out of it. Just as she was ready to make an excuse and leave, out of the corner of her eye she saw a man clad fully in black coming towards them. At first she couldn't see his face but when she did she knew all too well who it was. She clutched Nathans arm frightened wishing she was anywhere else right now as Nathan slowly turned and saw him and she realized he knew him too and even stranger still he was just as frightened as she was...