The Killjoy Life Vol. 1

Chapter 8

After the trains, the walk and chair lifts, Ruby and I finally made it back on top of the hill where's tanding the mansion. In the driveway, are standing two figures, Switzerland team. Ruby and I start to run towards them. Akira and Lisa turning around because of the noise that our steps make in the snow. We jumped in each others' arms, breathing into each others hair, the nervousness dying down, finding a part of my family. After a moment, we pull away to look at each other, to see if any one is injured. The girls don't look better nor worst than Ruby and me, which I'm thankful for.

"Your mission was compromised too" Akira speaks softly, not wanting to alert anyone in the mansion just yet, we want to be together before we all get back into that hell hole. I nod yes to her question. We can hear crushing snow in the distance, we all turn our head to look at the hill from where the movement in the snow can be hear. Isis and Nadia are walking toward us, they looked like shit too. We join them and repeat our reunion, briefly talked about each others' missions, it all happened the same way. I look at Ruby, this information only making my assumption even worst.

"Girls, Mary and I have some new information to tell you" Ruby says looking at me, seriousness in her tone made everyone stop talking. Ruby and I talked about my newfound talent, a kind of invisible power that I can direct to things and people. I think that I can play in people's mind, using their sight to give them the wrong perception of what's happening.

"In time given, I'll give you a signal and we do as planned in Budapest" We all nod at Ruby's statement. We turn to the entrance of the mansion, walking side by side with the girls that I grew up with. I take the metal forge handle and push it open. I enter first, slowly calculating each step that I make on the hard wood floor. It's the first time that the Killjoys come back to the base with a failed mission. We always succeeded our missions. The girls carefully follow behind me. Everything is strangely dark; the smell of dust is invading the room. I turn my head to my left, footsteps coming our way, six, all of them. The men standing in front of us. Looks of sorrow on their faces. I want to pinch myself to see if this is real. I expected a lot of scenarios, but none include this kind of mood. Till steps forward to Ruby, looking into her eyes, I follow his every move with my eyes. He softly takes her hand in his giant ones.

"Poor little girls, you're all tired, let us take care of you" He speaks looking at all of us as the soft words escape his mouth. Till guides Ruby towards the large living room behind them, the rest of the master keepers doing the same. I let myself melt into Richard's touch when he gently grabbes my hand. He sits himself on the couch, laying down on the armchair, opening a space in between his leg, silently inviting me to lay there and again, I do as I'm told. I lay my body on my left side so that I can see the rest of the girls, my back against the couch and my head on Richard's chest. I can hear his heart pumping, his veins making his warm blood flood through his entire body. A light background music is audible, I look at the other girls, everyone had to cuddle up to their master keepers. I just hope that this isn't some nasty plan to get us all relax and then violently punch us or torture us. After a moment, Richard put his hand on my head, I slightly jumped, thinking that he's about to hit me or grab my hair, but he keeps on petting my head gently.

"It's okay now" He softly whisper, I can feel his hot breath on the top of my skull. His legs surrounding mine, my hands falling on each side of his chest, I can't help but let myself relax in the embrace. I close my eyes thinking that I'll open them in a few seconds, apparently that didn't happen because when I open up my eyes, I'm suddenly in my bedroom. Covers are laying on my body, keeping me warm. I slowly regain composure and start to notice my surroundings, finally noticing an arm around my waist, a constant breathing giving me a warm sensation on the back of my neck. With only the smell of his cologne I know that it's Richard, but I still put a hand on his, feeling his warm skin on me. I follow the movement all the way to his hand and to his fingers, feeling a polish sensation on his nails. No chance that can be anyone else than Richard.

"Feeling better now" His voice low, the bass tone making me shiver, I don't know if it's from the stress or from the excitement. Mixt emotions are crossing my mind as I try to rationalise them. But everything goes so fast, I don't realize that my hand is still on his until he starts to caress my skin, making our fingers intervene. I don't fight it. It almost feels good, creating a knot in my stomach and a warm feeling in my chest. Something that I never felt before. Being touch like this when I'm in a vulnerable state, when I'm Mary and not some coverup identity. Richard slowly pull my hand in his direction, making my body turn around to face him. Again, I don't fight it. A part of me wants to see where this will go, what will he do? And another part of me is scared that if I try anything, to get away from him, that he will hurt me. His blue eyes staring into mine, like if he's trying to find something in my mind. I decide to try something, unsure of how it will turn out, in my favor or against me. I smile at him, trying to make him see that I'm okay. That I still have value for the team.

"I'm not one of your targets that you can manipulate with a tender smile, Mary" Richard speaks, his hand letting go of mine before reaching up to touch my cheek with the back of his fingers. My smile fading as fast as it came on my face.

"I know you Mary, because I made you" He says as his fingers made their way behind my neck, his face closing in the space between us. Soon enough, I feel his lips on mine. I can feel a subtle hitching over his top thin lip because of the recent shaving he did, about two days ago. His bottom lip feels much fuller, rounder, warmer. I melt into it, I close my eyes and let myself go into it. A part of me wanting to know how it feels to have a relationship with another living, with someone who knows you, the real you even if I don't like the person that I am because of him. After a few seconds he pulls away, his face inches from mine.

"Ten minutes before dinner" Richard says before getting up from my bed, opening my bedroom door and closing it behind him. I stay in my bed, laying there, putting my hand where Richard was laying, feeling the warmth leaving just like he did. I like the feeling it gave me, that sensation of need and touch felt great but I don't want to have that with Richard, he's my master keeper, he's the one who kidnapped me, the one who tortured me, trained me, made sure I ate and made sure that I behaved. His words echoing in my brain.

"I know you Mary, because I made you"

Everything that I like and dislike about myself, they are all related to him, to this place. I sigh, pushing the covers off of my body, letting my feet touch the ground before walking to the door and turning the handle, making my way to the dinning table.

Keeping my eyes on my plate as I eat, I suddenly hear Till cough. Every girl's breathing stops at the same time, waiting for what's coming.

"The mission failed, but it wasn't in our control, we have been betrayed by one of our contact. To keep our high reputation in the domain, we have to gain back the trust of our buyers. In order to do that, we'll organise a little feier*, we will give you more information about your role in given time" He finishes, none of the girls dare to say something or to look at one another. We all know what those parties are for and what they implie. Our keepers have been invited to some and it was accustomed to bring along your team or weapons to display them to the competition and the buyers that have contract to offer. We saw how the one receiving has to do to impress the ones who are invited. The Killjoys didn't get beat up or tortured that night, but I wonder if it's not for worst.

*Party, ceremony. Feier is the German word according to google translate.