One Minute

Chapter Eight- Safe And Sound

My eyes gaped open on a sharp gasp. You were towering over me, brushing my hair back with a warm palm. “Shh… It’s okay Zora.”

            “How long was I asleep for? I rubbed my eyes, voice a little groggy. I took in the view of hotel room in my suite, yawning softly. I could feel your breath against my skin. It was warm, sweet.

            “About half an hour… not long. I was just about to head back into my own suite.” You rubbed the back of your neck, letting out a yawn.

            There was a knock on the door and I sat up. You turned to listen to the sound. “Who’s there?” You called out, slowly approaching the door.

            As you investigated on who was knocking, I began to think to myself. Yesterday was the first day we actually did something romantic. For that moment that I danced with you, it felt like… you liked me. It felt like we had something—some sort of… fiery electricity. A fire had ignited inside of you, and I was your match.

            The door flew open and I jumped. Nikolay stomped into the room dramatically before planting his feet firmly on the ground, flinging his arms around me. “Honey! I’m home!!” He yelled, his Russian accent audible.

            I jerked myself away from Nikolay; from a distance, I could hear you growl. Nikolay clicked his tongue, turning to face you. “Now, now, no need to get so defensive. I was just saying hello to my new roommate.”

            “Excuse me?! There is no way in hell that you’re going to be sharing a room with Zora!”

            “Why not? Boss told me to keep an eye on you and made sure you got the job done—he didn’t ask me to made sure you two had a ‘good time’.”

            You clenched your jaw and breathed in deeply through your nostrils, eyes closing on an exhale. Your hands were balled up into trembling fists.

            “I know what I’m doing. I don’t need you breathing down my neck.” You pinched the bridge of your nose, exhaling slowly.

            Nikolay took my hand and you took a step forward. He shook his head at you. “Chill, man.” He tried to say this with an American accent, but failed dramatically. “I’m just going to have a little talk with her. Get to know her.” His hand was cold as he squeezed a little tighter to mine, taking me away from you. You couldn’t do much as he took me away to the bathroom, locking the door behind us. Your fists were pounding against the door from the other side.

            “Calm your tits for Pete’s Sakes!!” Nikolay rolled his eyes and sat back against the sink’s counter. I sat down against the tub, unsure of what to do.

            “So tell me something about yourself Zora.”

            “Why should I tell you?” I crossed my arms, glaring at him.

            “It’s my job to get to know you. I’m the boss’s right hand man,” he held out his hand towards me, “They call me Nikolay Vyshinsky.” He cleared his throat, trying to speak clear English again, “You pronounce it as Nee-coli Vie-sheen-skee.”

            Looking down at his hand, I hesitated, shaking it. “Zora Montero…” clearing my throat, I had to ask him just one question, “Why do you have to watch Roivas?” Letting go of my hand, he rested his on his knees, watching me with those snake-like eyes.

            “Roivas is one of our most important workers, and he’s the one that catches the target and gets rid of him.”

            “Kind of like a cop?” I asked.

            “Yeah, like a cop. Roivas does more of the dirty work like this case with your friend. Eric is all the muscle on the team—kind of like an interrogator. People fear him easily just by his looks, and so we always get our information quickly. I on the other hand, am part of the intelligence department, but the most important part is that when there is a job needed to be done, I make sure that Roivas finishes it and doesn’t slack off.”

            There was another loud bang on the door. Nikolay huffed lightly. “Reminds me of when I was a young boy and I had to hide from my father.”

            I quirked a brow, eyes flooding with concern now. “Why did you have to hide from your father…?” My voice grew soft as I asked this.

            He blinked for a moment before smiling at me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He patted my head and stood up.

            “But you just—”

Nikolay opened the door and you stumbled inside, panting softly. Your body was shaking and my eyes scanned you, falling upon your hands; they were swollen and red—the skin on your knuckles were scraped off.

I quickly got up on my feet, touching your arm with gentle fingertips. Your body began to tremble more as Nikolay chuckled softly.

“What’s wrong princess? Is your corset too tight?” He smirked as you growled lowly and I gripped a little to your arm.

I watched you relax slowly and I touched your hands with delicate fingers; they were burning. Nikolay snorted and walked out of the bathroom.

“You think you're strong, you only smell strong.” You retorted before he could fully walk out. He stopped for a moment before continuing to walk away.

“I’ll be in the other suite if you need me Zora.” He said before the front door opened, then closed.

“Roivas… your hands…”

“I’m fine.” You hissed before looking at with sad eyes, “I’m sorry…” You gnawed on your lip.

“It’s okay—let me tend to your wounds at least.” I reached to turn on the sink and you touched my hand gently with your quivering fingers.

“I’ll do it,” you stated, stern. “Just make sure that the front door is closed—I’ll go back to my suite and I’ll talk to you in the morning.” You trekked out the bathroom and I followed behind you, stopping short as I watched you walk to the door.

“I’ll be here, if you want to talk.” I whispered to you before you left.

Your hand was hovering over the knob for a moment before opening it. “Thank you…" You spoke softly before opening the door and slipping away from my sight; I was now all alone in my suite.

My throat grew dry, and I walked to the kitchen, thinking about Raymond. All I wanted was for him to be safe wherever he was.

“Raymond…” I whispered to myself, “Please be okay. Please be safe…” I sunk down into a fetal position in front of the fridge, face in my hands. I started to rock back and forth, bursting into tears as I repeated the same line over and over again, “Please be safe… please be safe… please be safe…”

I was worried for him—for his family. I remember seeing his parents at the kitchen table across the street, his mother crying. I remember seeing her face in her hands while her husband tried to calm her down, his own silent tears falling.

I didn’t want him to fade away—no, not like everybody else had. I didn’t want him to disappear from my life. And that’s what I was scared of.

I was scared he was going to fade away like the wind—that he was going to end up like a speck of dust soon if he wasn’t found. I was so scared for him, and I wanted to find him already. I needed to find him.

“Please be safe… please be safe… please be safe…” I whispered over and over again, crying myself to sleep.