Out of Oblivion

Chapter 26

The cold had never felt so malevolent, nor the streets so lonely. The moon seemed to be mocking me, reminding me of how James had gazed upon its wonder. My mind continued to wander, back to how we had danced, how my hand felt in his, how he held me so gently…

            “Would you hate me, Heather? Am I disgracing your death?” I called out in the dark.

            There was no answer but the whisper of the wind against my ears. The darkness swelled in my eyes and sent a crawling snake of fear down my spine. Up ahead, I saw a shadow moving, lurking between the buildings.

            I stopped in my tracks, frozen by fear. Slipping one hand in my purse, I felt for my pistol.

            It wasn’t there.

            The cold wind grew colder, as if ice had solidified the air. The shadow moved quickly and appeared in the street, revealing a man dressed in the glimmer of the moonlight. He approached me swiftly and pressed his fingers to my neck, his other hand clutching a gun.

            The man had sharp features and black soulless eyes. When he spoke, puffs of his breath fogged my vision. “Where is it?”

            “What?” I managed to squeak.

            Black Eyes tightened his grip on my throat. “The notebook, you grueling creature. Where is it?”

            “What do you want?” I wheezed.

            “I want you to give me that stupid notebook about that stupid Captain!” Black Eyes yelled. A loud rumbling vibrated in my chest, although I knew it wasn’t coming from inside me. It came from behind.

            The rumbling quieted and a voice spoke up. “I can tell you about the stupid Captain.”

            Black Eyes’ gaze darted to the voice behind me and loosed his grip on me. “And who might you be?” He demanded, approaching the voice with his gun pointed up.

            I whipped around and gasped. “James, no.”

            Black Eyes glanced back at me and then at James. “You know this girl, eh?”

            James dismounted his motorcycle and held up his gun. “Don’t do this,” he said between clenched teeth.

            Black Eyes laughed, stepping closer to James. “I wouldn’t dare attack Hydra’s little puppet. No…but…you’re not him anymore, are you?”

            Anger and hatred flashed in James eyes. His finger tightened around the trigger. “James…” I breathed.

            “No, you may not say you’re him anymore, but you always will be. You’ve got that metal arm to remind you of it every day. Oh, and the Captain. Don’t forget what you did to him.” Black Eyes jeered.