THE AGENCY

Chapter 10: THE WRECK

THE WRECK

I pull my leather jacket tight around my shoulders as the wind attacks me. I try not to think about what they're talking about and focus on going to my home sweet apartment. I step into the elevator and ride up to the 2nd floor. When I open my apartment I gasp and try to hold in my tears and fiery fury. The whole apartment was trashed. The windows had bullet holes. Glass shards coated the floor and the whole room was a disarray. It was as if a bloody whirlwind past through. I felt numb. I know it was on purpose. Blood was splattered everywhere and my possessions were broken and scattered everywhere. It was horrendous. I ran to my closet to see if my precious possession was gone. I looked inside and let out an anguished noise. I turned to the bed and found the only memory of my father torn into pieces. Tears ran down my cheeks as I pick up the scattered remains and discover a note written in blood red ink. My hands tremble with fear. It says,
"This blood will be yours, Sky. Be ready for a reunion with your father."
With shaking hands, I try to piece the fragments together, but then it gets too emotional. I drop the pieces and take out my gun as the fire of anger consumes me. I reach for my gun and whip it out as I fire at the wall. I squeeze the trigger hard as I continue shooting. My grip tightens as I take each shot. I let out an anguished cry as memories of my father penetrate my mind. I fire off more shots as my mind goes back into a state of panic from the memories. My head begins to throb and I feel a migraine coming on. The pounding is unbearable. I start to feel nauseated. His voice rings through my ears and I can almost feel him, but I know I can't. The pain intensifies as I fire another round of bullets. I hear the door slam open and I hear Xander's voice.
"I heard the gun...Sky? Oh god. What the hell happened in here. Tell...me...that this isn't your blood," I block him out as the memories swarm me and shoot the wall again. Tears stream down my cheeks. "Sky! Stop! Dammit! Put the gun down. Calm down. Talk to me." I can't focus as the pain pulses through me. Another bullet hits the wall. Suddenly, I feel arms come around my waist. My hands are shaking as I clutch the gun. "Sky. Sky, drop it. Just let go, darling. Shooting the wall isn't going to help. Sky. Drop. It." He pries my fingers one by one off the gun. It clatters to the ground as he takes a firm hold of my hands. He turns me around and I melt into his protection. "Talk to me, princess."
"The bed. There's a....a note." Without letting go of me he walks us over to the bed. I shut my eyes to lessen the excruciating pain. I feel dizzy.
"What the-...Oh gosh, Sky. I want to kill them... Oh, Sky. Come here..." He pulls me against his chest. It's the one place I truly feel safe anymore. He tucks my head under his chin.
"Xander, they're going to kill me," I say with a fearful voice, I don't recognize.
"Sky. Princess, I want you to look at me." He tilts my chin up and gives me a stern look. "Listen to me, I'm not letting that happen." He looks at me even more strictly.
"You can't promise me my life." I say with dejection.
"You're right, but you know what I can promise you? I can promise you that nothing and I mean absolutely damn nothing will harm you before going through me first. You hear me, darling?" He brushes away my tears with his thumbs and looks at me for me to answer. I nod. "I need to hear you, Sky. I need to know that you believe it with all you damn have. I need it. I need to know you trust me." He looks at me questioningly.
"Xander, I believe it. I believe in you. Xander." I clutch him tightly. He doesn't let me though. He grips my arms and kisses the tears away under my eyes. I wince as the pain is still acute in my head.
"Where? Where are you hurt?" He asks. I shake my head as he grips me tighter.
"I'm fine, It's just a headache." I say.
"You're not fine." He says with a frown. "But, I'll leave it for now." I pick up the scattered remains of my dad's picture and show it to Xander.
"This was the only memory I had left of him. It was the only thing that mattered. I feel like it's gone." I choke on my tears.
"Sky, nothing is gone. Sky, I'm sure he looks at his little princess everyday from there. You can't base everything on the picture. He loves you and that love is a strong enough connection. I'm sure he's got a bigger pride than me because of who his little girl is today."
"That is a pretty big pride," I say solemnly. He smiles with his adorable dimples shining brightly. He pinches my cheek playfully, but then his expression turns serious.
"This is wrong. Really wrong, Sky. Don't think for a second this is even slightly ok. I will kill them. You don't deserve this, princess. Listen to me. I don't want you to just accept this."
"I know...I know..." I say hoarsely. I try to conceal the pain.
"You should rest. Come on."
"Where? I mean look at this place. I just can't." I say. He gives me a disbelieving look. He tilts my chin up to look at him as he guides me toward the door.
"Did you honestly think I would let you stay in this wreck? Sky, as heartless as you believe me to be, I would never and I mean never let you stay here. Get that into your head. Now, I'm taking you to my apartment whether you approve or not. Understand?" I nod with a blush. "Ok, let's go."