Hellcat

Chapter 61

The sidewalk was fairly empty at this time of night. I wasn't quite sure how late it was, but I knew it had to be late if only the homeless and a few others were out and about. We moved with a purpose, quick but not fast enough to catch anyone's attention. Matt still held the duffle bag securely, concentrating on walking without his cane as much as possible. I kept my other senses focused outward, hoping to hear the police before they got too close.

Sirens approached from behind us, getting closer as I grabbed Matt's arm and gently pushed him towards an alley with a large truck blocking the view inside. "Shit," Jessica hissed as Luke entered the alley first, followed by me and Matt, then Jessica. We stayed pressed against the wall as the cop car went past. Listening intently, I could hear the radio inside the car. "They got an APB out on us," I told the others as Matt let out a scoff. "They think you guys kidnapped me and Allison," he added, shaking his head slightly.

"Great," Jessica scoffed. "We're still 20 blocks away," Luke reminded us. "We need to stay off the streets," Matt agreed with a small nod. "Should we take a cab?" Jessica asked. I glanced down at my outfit, fully aware that this dress had no pockets. I'd had a purse when we were attacked by Elektra, but my guess was the police confiscated it. "They kept my wallet," Luke grumbled. "Yeah, me too," Matt agreed. "And my purse," I added. Jessica let out a heavy sigh, cursing under her breath. "Whatever we do, we need to do it fast. I got a feeling they'll be right on our asses," I grumbled, shaking my head. I heard a zipper and glanced over at Jessica. "Um..." she muttered holding up a metro card.

That's how the four of us ended up on the subway. Jessica and I sat between the two men, all of our shoulders pressed together in the small seats. As the subway pulled away from the station, I sat fully in my seat, back pressed against the metal chair. The cold seeped through the thin material of my dress and I regretted not leaving a jacket at Matt's on one of the many nights I had stayed over.

I fought against the urge to shiver, shifting slightly in the seat as I wrapped my arms around myself. "Cold?" Matt asked me as I noticed Jessica staring at a passed out drunk lying on the bench across from us, an empty beer can in his hand and the rest of the six-pack on the floor. "Oh. No, I'm fine," I lied uselessly, shaking my head as I forced myself to drop my arms and relax. Of course, as soon as I released the tension from my body, a shiver ran through me.

Matt let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned forward and began taking off his jacket. "Seriously, I'm okay," I tried to protest, but he already had the jacket off and was holding it out to me. I stared at it for a moment, hesitating, before finally taking it. A small smirk passed over his lips at his triumph, and I rolled my eyes at his stubbornness. Draping it over my shoulders, I felt myself instantly relax into the warmth of him that still clung to the material. "What about you?" I asked him softly. "I'm fine," he replied, flashing a ghost of a smile to try and convince me. I knew he had to be lying, but I didn't care so much.

Jessica moved then, going across the subway car to the sleeping drunk and breaking off one of his five remaining beers for herself. She eyed him for a moment, hesitating before returning to her seat between me and Luke. Cracking open the beer, she began to chug. Luke and I both stared at her with confused and skeptical eyes as Matt listened. When Jessica finally had at least half the beer down her throat, she lowered the can from her lips and glanced at me and Luke. "It's been a long week," she grumbled in explanation before taking another sip and sighing in relief.

"We have time to grab a drink? Or three?" Jessica asked Luke as Matt and I approached them, having just changed into our suits in a nearby alley. "Having second thoughts?" Luke asked her as the two stared up at Midland Circle. "No. Maybe. You?" she asked him. "No," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe," he then amended.