Protect

Chapter 4

Michael felt the smoke from his cigarette start to permeate the air around him. He knew It was bad. He knew this habit would kill him. He just couldn't bring himself to give a shit. So what if he died? What difference would it make? No one would care, specially not Michael himself. Earth and hell both held the same sort of appeal for him. Either was fine with him.

He toed the cigarette or rather what was left of it under his shoe and headed for the car. Mae... would she be crying again when he entered the car? He hoped not. He didn't like her crying. It felt wrong on her face. 

When he entered the car, she was sitting shotgun. He was a little surprised.

" Would you mind if I sat here?" she asked.

" No."

He got in and started driving. After a little while she spoke again,

" Can I know what your name is?"

" Michael"

She nodded and stopped talking. Several minutes went by. Michael thought of things to say to her. He didn't where the impulse to talk to her was coming from but he couldn't ignore it. Maybe he was curious because she spoke so little compared to other clients or girls her age. Finally a question popped into his head.

" Does your head hurt?"

She replied,

" Not at the moment, but it was throbbing slightly a little while ago."

Shit. She was actually hurt there. He had only guessed she was unconscious due to a hit on the head. He thought she probably passed out due to shock or something. He felt guilty. She was under his care and hurt.

" We're going to get that checked."

"It's fine now."

" Head injuries are unpredictable."

If she argued, he would just tell her that he wasn't asking. But she brought the subject up again,

" Wouldn't that be dangerous?" she asked in a tone filled with fear.

She was scared to go to the fucking hospital? Not on his watch.

" Yes, it's dangerous. Everything we do is dangerous. Even now they could find us. If we went to Timbuktu, they could find us. If we lived in a helicopter for the next couple of days, they could find us. That's why I'm here. I won't let anything  happen to you. I've never let a client down and I'm not about to start now."

Her next question startled him,

" Could we live in a helicopter though...if we wanted to?"

He didn't know how to answer that. He gave such a long speech and the part she decided to comment on was the helicopter part? He almost felt like smiling. Such an odd feeling for him. To feel any sort of positive emotion was foreign to him.

" I'm sorry. That was a stupid question. " she said again.

"No...um...I guess it's possible but it would be extremely uncomfortable and someone would have to keep control of the vehicle at all times.And the noise would be too disturbing but other than that, it's not impossible. Besides people can live on planes so helicopters aren't really an option."

Now that he thought about it, he could have just named a plan as an example. But he was distracted and said the first thing that came to mind. She had caught him off guard with her question. That also never happened to him.

" I know I'm safe with you. I trust you,that's not why I'm afraid. I'm just scared of the times you won't be there. What if you go to talk to a nurse or if you go to the washroom? They could come and take me." she said suddenly.

" I'd never leave you long enough for that to happen. Even when I was outside, I was watching the car. I don't think you understand that I do my job very well. You have nothing to worry about."

She trusted him. She genuinely trusted him. He felt strange hearing that. He had never heard anyone say that to him. Not even his mother. The phrase stuck to his heart and refused to leave. It felt good to hear someone say that.

The car filled with silence again. maybe she would like to listen to the radio?

" Do you want me to turn on the radio?" he said.

" If it's okay with you." she replied.

She was so fucking polite. He had never met anyone that polite. When he wanted something, he just took it. He made sure he was worthy of it but he took it. He slowly started to understand. Mae was a unique person. She was different. She hesitated and constantly apologized. He would have to deal with her differently. In other words he couldn't be an asshole to her. She wouldn't be able to deal with his fucked up attitude.

He thought he should tell her what he planned to do tonight,

" We're going to stop at the next mall or any place that sells clothes so you can buy clothes. We're also going to stop at a motel after we shop."

She responded with a nod.

The car was quiet again. He watched her from the corner of his vision. She had really pretty eyes.  Her eyes were blue, but not like his. His eyes were cold and dark. Her eyes were the prettiest shade of baby blue. He tried to bring his attention back to driving but his eyes kept travelling to her every few minutes. Jesus. He was in such deep shit.