Fear, love... and betrayal; that's what I feel about my new life.
It's a life I never asked for, at least not like that.
I certainly dreamed of adventure, of escaping from my ordinary life, but nothing prepared me for what would happen when my norma...
Still trying to regain my human sense of calm, I hear an angry groan in my head and turn one last time to see Black, hands in tight fists and looking anything but amused, staring intently at me. I break the link by leaving the room, wondering how I could have been attracted to someone so evil. Flooded with the realization of the ridiculousness of the situation, I laugh out loud and Zach gives me an uncertain look.
"I'm so happy that you came to my rescue!" I tell him by way of explanation.
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly and continues his walking, taking my hand in his.
"To your rescue? So you've finally come to understand that you're the prey and I'm the hunter, Lou?" enunciates the voice in my soul.
How could I have been so stupid to let myself fall for an adolescent crush on a mysterious professor? If I had only stopped at first impressions, I could've recognized that there was a Machiavellian person behind that lovely face. I remember his stare, his eyes that are so blue as to be almost white, like a summer's full moon. What a mess!
Zach looks at me, sending me a sly wink. Although my first encounter with him had impressed me, after my meeting with Lord Black, it's hard for me to imagine having feelings for Zach. It's a bit like having smelled the most marvelous of perfumes and once committed to memory, smelling a rose. Sure, a rose smells sweet, but who would want a rose when they know the other perfume exists? Damn you Mr. X for having made me feel like this!
It's only an illusion, I keep repeating to myself, like a mantra. The real Lord Black is a nightmare determined to hate you...hate me...why does he detest me so much? What did I ever do to him? I can't wait for tonight when I'll get rid of the parasite.
"We're almost there, we can take advantage of the daylight to practice outside. So, tell me, little Lou, have you ever held a gun?"
"A gun? Ha, ha! You don't know me yet; my father has been taking me to the shooting range since I was tiny. I don't think that you'll have much to teach me in that department."
His look is both skeptical and impressed at the same time. We arrive at a small door made up of pearled glass panels that opens onto a yard bordered with wild flowers, a little like a secret garden. There doesn't seem to be anyone nearby but the bees. No spectators, perfect. Well, no spectator but one, but I hope that he's otherwise occupied with Bethany.
"Ok, I want to test your skills. You see those four targets there, if you manage to hit each of them, I'll be really impressed. There is a target at one hundred feet, and the next three are each one hundred feet further than the previous one. So, go ahead, impress me, little warrior."
I walk over to the table where there is an ar-15 machine gun already for me.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I place myself in position as I've done hundreds of times and I can hear my father's voice in my head, going over all the things he's told me in the past. The first target is a perfect hit. Zach smiles at me, and signals for me to continue. I then aim for the second and it's a direct hit. This time Zach uncrosses his arms, betraying the fact that he is suddenly interested. It's probably the first time he's seen a girl with such good aim. I prepare for the third target and smile broadly, taking my time to build suspense. Of course, I hit the target in the center just as easily as the first two.
