RAVESWORLD

Humans only believe in what they can see, touch, smell, hear and taste. There are many things in this world that we could or would not let our minds grasp. Here I was in Trinidad’s Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Cemetery, surrounded by an urban jungle with small colorful buildings, stark black and white cemetery monuments with their lack of color stood out. Some tombstones had angels mounted on top, others had Mary mother of Jesus and then there was the cross which always looked traditional to me. Stefan stood beside me wearing black leather pants and a coat to match which fell just below his waist, his boots were the same color but reminded me of the ones they wore in the army. Around his belt buckle he had four hand grenades attached and spare ammo for the Browning Pro 9mm handgun he had tucked away in its holster inside his coat. He held in his right hand a sawed off shotgun and I knew he had a long blade in a sheath that ran along the spine of his back. I was dressed in almost the same clothing but mine was more of a dark blue and it was dark outside so it looked like I had on black. “Are you ready for this?” I asked Stefan, staring ahead at the sight before me. “As ready as I can be.” Stefan said and shifted his weight a little. “Who the hell is this guy again?” asked Stefan not looking away either. “His name is Rave, a rouge necromancer.” I said. “Just like you?!” Stefan said and in the tone of his voice I knew just how scared he had become. I didnt even need to look at his face to know the expression. I knew him all to well. Stefan mouthed the word, “Fuck,” as he frowned. Rave stood almost in the center of the cemetery with at least fifty or so zombies surrounding him. I felt his power prickle across my skin then, as if he wanted to stab me with it before I even got close enough to do some real damage. I knew he was powerful because he stood so far away and to have felt that much power from him ment that if he ever got the chance to kill me at close range he would probably take it. I was a necromancer also and that ment if it was dead, I could control it, or take over and make the dead do whatever I willed. The only problem with necromancy was that to raise the dead, the amount of power you put into it was what you got back in return and you had to either sacrifice an animal or person. The bigger the sacrifice the greater the outcome and the stronger the summon. My problem was I never had to sacrifice anything bigger than a chicken. The contract out on Rave was to capture him and bring him back either alive or dead. But by the looks of things he wasn’t going without a fight. “Do you think we can take him?” Stefan asked sounding a little unsure. “I hope so.” I said and even to me it sounded weak. Across the cemetery I felt the zombies, how they yearned for flesh, their need to feed, as if the connection to them through my necromancy powers were a direct line and they could communicate with me through it. I looked behind me then at the bag holding a live chicken. Then I turned back to where Rave stood with his army of zombies. I turned to Stefan and held out my hand, he reached inside his coat pocket and emerged with a small hunting knife, I took it from him and then opened the bag holding the chicken. I was surprised that as I was taking the chicken out of the bag it hadn’t made a sound, not even a cluck. I hated this part, I cut the chicken at the base of its neck with one quick movement and the blood began to pour down its body, then its body began to fight, it was funny how that worked. When the chicken stopped moving I took what blood I had needed and drenched my hands in it making it slick with its warmness. I then got down on the ground, placed both palms flat and closed my eyes. “I think they’re doing something.” Stefan said but I didnt move. Instead I slowed my breathing and concentrated on the task at hand. Like all the times before the power of the dead came to me like a drip from a leaky faucet at first then like a stream of flowing water. Then I felt as it filled me up like bottle of water, it filled me up and then it felt as if a cap had been placed over me to keep my powers from spilling out and making a mess. The powers needed to go somewhere and I knew where, so I pushed all that power deep into the earth, the dry grass and cold dirt welcomed it as if it were a blessing and then I felt the stir of things that had been dead for days, months, years and even decades. My powers spread out around us and fed the dead, making them claw their way through the coffins and dirt that held them back. I felt when their bones and what little muscle and skin they had come back to life. “Come to me.” I demanded, “Rise and be my soldiers,” I stood slowly with my eyes closed still. Something was wrong, I felt as if the zombies I were trying to make rise hesitated for a moment and in my mind I could feel them as if they spoke to me ask, “Why should we?” Then I felt it, at first I didnt know it was there but I knew what my powers felt like, If another necromancer used their powers against another it would be and feel different, as if every necromancer had their own flavor of power, It was like having their own taste. You could tell the difference between chocolate and vanilla. He was fighting me, even from way across the graveyard, Rave’s power lashed out at me, he made the dirt start to kick up and the wind picked up speed. “Are you doing this?” Stefan asked as he swung the shotgun up from his side and was in guard mode. I ignored him and kept my eyes closed, I couldnt lose focus. If we didnt have backup there was no way we would win this fight. I knelt back down on the ground and with the little blood I had left on my hands I began to draw a symbol, It would help bind the spell I was trying to do and strengthen it. When I was done I got back up and commanded them again, “Come to me now!” Then I opened my eyes and watched as the zombies surfaced from the ground. I watched as twenty of them emerged, some were old and some had been recently buried. I watched as they came up from the ground wearing black and grey suits and dresses, men, women and there were even a few teenagers and I caught a glimpse of an infant. It still amazed me how doing this made me feel. Like I were a god or something. I knew deep down it was wrong because even the dead had rights. But I needed help, and once I was finished I would put them all back where they belonged. “Here they come!” Stefan yelled and then moved forward, his shotgun close to his chest. Rave motioned with his right hand and his fleet moved forward as if we were at war and the battle was on. “Protect stefan with everything you have.” I commanded the zombies and they started moving towards him. I looked over to where Rave stood, he had both hands behind his back as if he hadn’t a care in the world his head was tilted back with his jaw pushed forward. One of my zombies came in contact with one of Raves and they started hissing at each other. Most people don’t know this but zombies are very strong, they could pull a human apart in minutes. Stefans shotgun went off and I only had a chance to see the zombies head fly back and things made up of skull and brain flew everywhere. Three zombies came towards me from different direction and I pulled out my smith and wesson from its holster and undid the safety. I shot at them making one fall and the other stagger. The last one started moving faster towards me and I only had seconds to react. I moved to my right and pulled the hunting knife I had hidden away in my shoulder sheath and jammed it into the side to the zombies head, the one way to stop a zombie from moving was just like in the comics and movies. Hit them in the brain. You could slow them down by burning them or cutting of a limb but they would only just keep coming after you if you didn’t remove the brain. I had to roll to my right again because two zombies ended up fighting, then I heard Stefans shotgun click empty. He pulled out his handgun and began shooting his targets in the head point blank and I was impressed. He had gotten better at shooting. I dug my blade into another zombie coming towards me and then shoved her hard towards another one. Then it hit me and I wasn’t prepared, It hit me hard and it smashed into my chest with such force I was airborne for a few seconds and I flew backwards a few feet. I held my hands to my chest and tried getting back up. Somehow my gun and blade never left my hands and I was grateful. But what I saw made me stop breathing, at first my eyes couldn’t adjust, I could not make out what was before me at first but then slowly I focused and my eyes went wide with fear. At first all I could see was what looked like flesh, moving and throbing as if it had a life of its own. It was huge, about 7 foot tall and the dark of the night made it look scary and wet somehow. What the hell was I looking at?! It moved and I saw a hand, it had hands?! There was just a huge mass of what looked like a black hole, it blended well with the dark and if you hadn’t been as close to it as I were you would have missed it. I did not know what it was and then it made a sound, it was as if it were a big bear or beast. I heard a laugh echo through the dark but did not want to take my eyes away from what was before me, I was too scared of what might happen if I blinked. “My little necromancer, do you like my creation?” Rave said and I knew he was close. I suddenly felt his power crawl over me like a warm mist that made the hairs on my arms stand up. Stefan came up behind me breathing heavily and reloading his gun. “Where the hell is he?” “I don’t know but look at this.” I said and pointed in front of me. Stefan squinted his eyes at first then when his eyes finally adjusted he started to back up slowly, “What the hell is that?!” Rave was suddenly standing a few feet away close enough to the big bear or whatever it was. He watched as our faces painted a question mark. “It is not what you think it is my little necromancer. It is beyond and more.” He said and then snickered. Then his power shot out towards me like a lightening bolt, it sent me flying and knocked the wind out of me when I hit the ground. My hands found something smooth and cold to help me stand. I turned my head and saw a tombstone with a bleeding heart symbol etched into it. It was hard to swallow but I pushed myself to get up. Stefan fired four shots at Rave but missed, he had moved out of the way with such impossible speed. Two zombies fought a few feet away from me and I felt when my zombies hand was ripped out of its socket. I also felt when two of my others died. Something caught my eye near one of the tombstones and I started moving towards it. I heard Stefans gun go off a few more times and then I reached where a body lay slumped over to its side. It was a girl, she was wearing a white dress with a silver cross pendent wrapped around her neck. She was dead and I knew because her blood was all over the tombstone and ground. My boots sunk into the ground where her blood had soaked and then I suddenly realised. She was the reason why my zombies were losing the fight, Rave had used a human as a sacrifice that was why his zombies were stronger! I turned back around to where the big beast thing still stood, I could feel it breathing as if it were a big dog or lion. I just couldn’t see a face. A zombie came towards me again and I punched it in the chest and then put the end of my barrel under its chin and then pulled the trigger. It went down and didn’t move. I kept moving towards the beast. “Do not be afraid necromancer, I will let you be the first to feed him,” came Raves voice again but I could not see him. The beast growled and moved, it seemed to have grown in size some. I then saw what looked like a head, It had a head! As I moved closer to it, two things happened then, my powers flared to life on its own and I could hear a voice. I was not sure if I heard right but I thought I heard my name then. “Abdullah.” It came first as a whisper, it seemed to have been carried across by the breeze. Just then I heard it again, my name, I looked up at the beast before me and wondered if it had come from him. “Abdullah, come closer.” It had said. “What the hell was this thing?!” I wondered. Then what happened next made me want to run, fast and hard, get Stefan and run as fast as I could away from this place. The beast sprouted a long tail and his face began to form, My eyes could not believe it but I knew I was looking up at a demon. A real demon, with black skin and muscles and eyes so red it was not natural. I backed up slowly but reloaded my gun, The demon looked down at me and I swore it grinned. “I am Berith, kneel before me and offer me your flesh!” the demon commanded. I swallowed hard, I had heard of the name before in books and stories told. He was a demon, a flesh eating demon. But how was he here? “I have brought him here.” said Rave matter of factly. “Why?! why would you do something like this, and how?!” I couldn’t keep the disbelief out of my tone. “I am going to bring the one true father back from the dead.” Rave said, I still could not see where he was hiding. “Who? who are you talking about?!” I yelled into the cold nights air. My throat hurt from it and I heard three more shots from Stefans gun ring out into the night. It was starting to get quiet and I suddenly realised that the zombies were nowhere to be found. A thick fog had crept into the cemetery and it was starting to feel like what a cemetery should really feel like at night. The demon Berith stood tall before me with wet things leaking from its mouth. “Abdullah?! Where are you?!” I heard Stefan call out. I did not know what to do, I felt so scared and frozen in place. I did the only thing I could have done, I pulled out my blade and cut my upper arm. The blood ran down my arm, I bathed my hand in it and ran towards the demon. Suddenly Rave was there, standing next to the demon his own power flared to life and like a fan had been turned on the fog surrounding them both vanished when his power hit its peak. It choked me and my kness almost gave way suddenly. I knew I had to keep moving. “What are you trying to do necromancer, your powers are too weak, why keep fighting me?” Rave said with a smug look on his face. I kept running towards Berith, his physical form was growing by the second and I knew if I didnt stop him soon he would be stronger and more difficult to take down. A shot went off and Berith staggered, Stefan had snuck up behind and was firing multiple times. Rave turned around to see and then I knew I had an opening. I started shooting at Rave so he wouldn’t get a chance to do something to Stefan. Rave rolled to his side and as I got closer to him I noticed that his eyes were red, an unatural red, the kind of bad dreams. He was not human, I wondered why his eyes were red, if he was a necromancer he should not have red eyes. I had only known of humans being able to do this kind of magic. Stefan had reloaded his shotgun and had fired a shot at Berith, there was a hole as big as my fist in its chest. As I got close enough to the beast I dropped down to the ground and shot my power into the ground again. Rave saw this and then did the same. Both our powers collided and there was a moment when I couldn’t breath, I held a hand to my chest and found myself trying to learn how to breath again. It was painful, I tried looking up to see if Stefan was ok but the power grew then. Rave didn’t have to use blood or anything else to use his powers, so how was he doing it? Berith started moving towards me then, I took the knife I had in my hand and then carved a cross symbol on the palms of each hand. I called my power again and this time I willed it to become stronger, the power answered and filled me like a cold glass of water. I raised my hand and fired at Berith. The bullet hit him in the chest and Berith began to stagger again, he put a hand to where I had wounded him and he let out a growl, long and deep. I kept firing at him until he fell to his knees. Suddenly it was hard to breath again and my vision was starting to blur. I felt as if I were about to pass out. My body was begining to feel heavy as if someone were sitting on me. I managed to look up, Rave and Berith were standing, I could see Stefan laying on the ground his shotgun still in hand. “You will have to catch me another time necromancer.” Rave said walking away from me, Berith by his side. Before I finally passed out I saw four zombies moving towards Stefan, but I knew they belonged to me, I had told them to protect Stefan and they had.

If it felt like this all the time, everytime I would never want to leave his side.
As I kissed his neckline the warm skin made me want more as if I were drawn to his body heat itself. It was cold outside and we stood pressed up against each other behind the house of his parents. It was Christmas time and music played in the background, “I’m dreaming of a white christmas.”
As I exhaled I leaned into him and rested my forehead on his, bring my eyes very close to his.
He smiled up at me and tried pushing me away but I grinned and pushed my weight onto him holding him flat against the side of the house.
“Stop, we gotta go back inside. My parents are gonna miss me and send my sister out here to look for us.” He said looking down at something on his coat.
“Just a few more minutes.” I said, “I don’t know when I’ll have you alone like this again tonight.”
I cupped my hand around his face and then raised his to mine, he was so beautiful. The moon was full and out tonight but even hanging there in the dark sky with its glow, it couldn’t compare to this face.
I dipped my head and kissed his lips softly making sure I feel every part of his lips, he smelled of apples and cinnamon. I wanted to kiss him hard and long but the moment felt too right and I was afraid that if I had done that it would have led to other things we both couldn’t finish in the back yard.
Instead I moved my hand from the side of his face to the back of his head, and as I slowly moved from lightly kissing his lips to exploring his mouth I pulled on his hair and a moan escaped and he tried to pull away again.
This time he almost got away but because I was not ready to let him go I wrapped my fingers around his and locked them tight.
“Let’s go back inside.” He said breathing heavily as if trying to get away from me had taken everything out of him.
I laughed and shook my head, I moved up behind him and put my hands around his waist. He leaned his head back and I put my cheek close to his temple. He felt so warm, I bet the heat we were creating could have heated a house.
“Gay.” Came a voice that made us both jump and look to left of us.
It was his sister, she stood there with a grin on her face as if she were enjoying herself. I wondered how long she had been there?
“Come on guys, mom is waiting for everyone to sit at the table, its time to eat.”
And as we three walked inside for dinner his sister winked at me and said, “the moon is overrated bro.”

YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
I FELT LIKE TIME HAD FROZEN THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
IT WERE AS IF I GOT THE BEST GIFT EVER!
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
I FELT THE SPARKS AT MY FINGER TIPS WHEN I GOT CLOSE ENOUGH AND TOUCHED YOU.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
WHEN I FIRST KISSED YOU ALL I REMEMBERED WAS THE FLAVORED LIP BALM…CHERRY.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
AS I DIPPED YOU AND BEGAN TO CARESS THE CURVE OF YOUR NECKLINE I MEMORIZED EVERY INCH AND WOULD NEVER FORGET.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST FIGHT I SLEPT OUTSIDE MY TRUCK TILL THE MORNING LIGHT.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
WE BROKE UP TO MAKE UP.
YOU WERE SO HARD TO FIND,
I WILL LOVE YOU BEYOND TIME ITSELF AND WITH ALL THE POWER IN ME FIGHT TO MAKE YOU HAPPY IN THIS LIFE…AND ALL THE REST.

I MISSED YOU NOT A DAY, NOT EVEN AN HOUR…BUT EVERY SECOND I BREATHED.
THE DAYS WENT BY AND I FELT LIKE I WOULD DIE WITHOUT YOU RIGHT BY MY SIDE.
HOW COULD YOU PUT ME THROUGH THIS?
DOES YOUR HEART NOT BURN?
MAYBE WE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TOGETHER, BUT IF WE DONT TRY HOW WILL WE KNOW?
IT SEEMS LIKE I AM BY MYSELF IN THIS LOVE, OR MAYBE ITS BECAUSE I MISS YOU SO MUCH….

I WATCH AS HE HURLED HIMSELF INTO HIS FOOTBALL BUDDIES. ALL THAT SWEAT AND BREATHING INTO EACH OTHERS FACES HAD TO BE GROSS. I KEPT MY HEAD BENT DOWN TOWARDS THE BOOK I WAS PRETENDING TO READ, MY EYES MADE QUICK MOVEMENTS UP TO KEEP HIM IN SIGHT, JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY. ONE OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS WACKED HIM IN THE BUTT…I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHY GUYS DID THAT TO EACH OTHER WHEN IT WAS KIND OF A “GAY” MOVE. ” THERE YOU ARE, YOU BUGGER!” SOMEONE YELLED OUT CLOSE TO ME. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND SAW MEGAN BREATHING HEAVILY AND CLIMBING THE BLEACHERS TOWARDS ME. I SMILED, MEGAN WAS BLONDE WITH SHORT HAIR TO HER SHOLDERS, GREEN EYES AND SKIN SO CLEAN AND SMOOTH SHE LOOKED ALMOST DOLL LIKE. ” YEAH, SORRY I FORGOT.” I SAID LOOKING UP AT HER AND SQUINTING BECAUSE THE SUN POKED ITS BRIGHT HEAD OUT AT THAT VERY MOMENT. MEGAN MADE A FACE AND SAT DOWN HARD NEXT TO ME, SHE PUT HER RIGHT HAND UP TO BLOCK THE SUN AND LOOKED OUT OVER THE SCHOOLS FOOTBALL FIELD; SHE THEN GRINNED AND LOOKED AT ME. ” WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BROS BEFORE HOES?” SHE ASKED. I LOOKED AT HER AND TRIED NOT TO LAUGH BUT MANAGED TO SAY, ” I CAN’T HELP IT.” SHE LET OUT A QUICK BREATH, AS IF SHE WERE DISGUSTED. ” FINE, BUT IF HE BREAKS YOUR HEART AGAIN DON’T COME CRYING TO ME!” “NOT SO LOUD!” I HISSED UNDER MY BREATH AND PUT A HAND ON HER KNEE. MEGAN KNEW I WAS GAY, SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I TOLD BECAUSE SHE ONCE HAD A CRUSH ON ME AND TRIED TO KISS ME BEHIND HER HOUSE. IT WAS HORRIFIC BECAUSE AFTER I THREW UP BEHIND HER GARBAGE CAN. ” LOOK AT YOU KYLE, YOU ARE TOO CUTE TO BE RUNNING AFTER HIM.” MEGAN SAID LEANING INTO ME PLAYFULLY. ” WHY CAN’T THESE FEELINGS GO AWAY?” I ASKED LOOKING BACK OUT AT THE FOOTBALL FIELD. SOMEONE THREW THE BALL AND SOMEONE CAUGHT THE BALL AND THEN, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, SOMEONE GOT TACKLED. ” THE THING IS, YES HE KISSED YOU AND HE WAS YOUR FIRST, BUT WHEN HE STARTS IGNORING YOU AND ACTING LIKE HE DOESN’T KNOW YOU.” MEGAN STOPPED TALKING THEN BECAUSE THE “HE” WALKED UP TO THE LAST BLEACHER STEP TO GRAB SOME WATER. ” HEY JASON.” MEGAN SAID SOUNDING LIKE A SCHOOL GIRL WITH A CRUSH, SHE EVEN HAD THE RIGHT TONE IN HER VOICE. JASON LIFTED THE WATER BOTTLE AND TOOK A SWING, HE PUT THE CAP BACK ON AND LOOKED UP TO WHERE MEGAN AND I SAT. JASON HAD DARK RICH BROWN HAIR, IT WASN’T LONG OR SHORT BUT WAS CUT JUST THE RIGHT LENGTH NOT TO FALL BELOW HIS EARS. HIS EYES WERE HAZEL AND HE HAD THE BODY OF A GREEK GOD, OR SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY JUST TO PAINT A HEAVENLY PICTURE OF HIS BODY. HIS FOOTBALL UNIFORM FIT SO WELL AND HIS BICEPS LOOKED AS IF IT WOULD RIP OPEN AT THE SLEEVES. I KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT HIS CHEST WAS HARD AND THAT HE HAD A SCAR JUST UNDER HIS COLLAR BONE, SOMETHING ABOUT HIS COUSIN PUSHING HIM INTO A DITCH. I SHOOK THE MEMORY OF IT AWAY QUICKLY AND LOOKED BACK TOWARDS PRETENDING TO READ MY BOOK. ” HEY MEGAN, HOW ARE YOU?” JASON ASKED LOOKING AWAY JUST AS QUICKLY; WAS HE AVOIDING TALKING WITH HER? HE PROBABLY KNEW THAT I HAD TOLD MEGAN ABOUT OUR LATE NIGHT MEETINGS. ” OH, YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE WATCHING YOU GUYS PRACTICE.” MEGAN SOUNDED LIKE SHE COULDN’T CARE LESS AND I WANTED TO PULL ON HER HAIR. JASON HAD HIS BACK TO US AND DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING FOR A WHILE. I TOOK A QUICK PEEK FROM BEHIND MY BOOK TO FIND HIM LOOKING OUT ONTO THE FEILD. OUT THE CORNER OF MY EYE I COULD SEE MEGAN GRINNING, SHE WAS LIKING THIS. JASON THEN STARTED PULLING OFF HIS HELMET, HE SET IT DOWN NEXT TO HIS WATER BOTTLE AND THEN TOOK OFF HIS CHEST GUARD. MEGAN CLEARED HER THROAT. I BLINKED AND LOOKED AT HER. SHE THEN MOTIONED WITH HER FINGER AT MY JAW. SHE MADE A MOVEMENT AS TO SAY, “CLOSE YOUR MOUTH YOU FOOL YOU ARE GAWKING.” JASON WITH HIS BACK STILL AT US THEN BEGAN TO MOVE HIS HAND TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS JERSEY, HE WERE ABOUT TO PULL IT OVER HIS HEAD THEN STOPPED. HE TURNED AS IN SLOW MOTION TOWARDS US AND THEN LIFTED HIS JERSEY OVER HIS HEAD, HE EVEN REMOVED HIS UNDER VEST. HIS BODY FROM THE WAIST UP WAS BARE AND BOTH MEGAN AND I SAT THERE WITH OUR MOUTHS OPEN. JASON WATCHED US, HIS FACE BLANK. HE THEN SMILED AT MEGAN…BUT THEN WHEN HE TURNED HIS EYES TO MEET MINE…”I COULDN’T LOOK HIM IN THE EYES.”

WE SAT THERE IN HIS TRUCK ON A HILL FAR AWAY FROM THE TOWN, THE NIGHT SKY WAS A SIGHT SRAIGHT OUT OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. THE STARS LIT UP THE SKY LIKE LITTLE DIAMONDS AGAINST A PITCH BLACK BACKGROUND. THE RADIO WAS TUNED INTO SOME SONG I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND HE HAD HIS HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, HIS GRIP SO HARD AND STRONG; WAS HE AS NERVOUS AS I WAS? ” SO, HOW ARE YOUR PARENTS?” I ASKED NOT LOOKING AT HIM YET. I WANTED HIM TO LOOK AT ME FIRST. I NEEDED HIM TO TOUCH ME FIRST SO I KNEW THIS WAS NOT MY IMAGINATION. IT HAD BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE I HAD SEEN HIM LAST AND HERE HE WAS BACK IN MY LIFE WITH NOTHING BUT HIS ARMY UNIFORM ON AND A BEAT UP JEEP. I WAS WALKING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SPOTTED SOMETHING IN A STORE WINDOW. I STOPPED TO LOOK AT A NEW SHIRT. MARGRET MY FRIEND WAVED AT ME AS SHE SPRAYED GLASS CLEANER ON THE FRONT DOOR AND RIPPED OFF TWO PIECES OF PAPER TOWELS. IT WAS AROUND 8PM AND CLOSING TIME FOR MOST SHOPS. MARGRET WORKED IN THE STORE AND WAS FRIENDLY, SHE HAD BROWN HAIR WITH THICK CURLS THAT BOUNCED AS SHE MOVED. SHE WAS PRETTY IN A BETTY BOOP KIND OF WAY. SHE FINISHED CLEANING THE DOOR AND OPENED IT QUICKLY TO TELL ME SHE KEPT A SMALL SIZE SHIRT FOR ME TO TRY ON, SOMETHING SHE DID EVERYTIME SHE GOT IN NEW MERCHANDISE. I WORKED IN A CANDY STORE, AND I LET HER HAVE ALL THE NEW SAMPLE CHOCOLATES THAT CAME INTO THE SHOP IN RETURN. I TRIED ON THE SHIRT AND PURCHASED IT AND WAS LEAVING THE STORE WHEN SOMEONE DASHED PASS ME ON A BIKE, IT STARTLED ME AND I FELL BACKWARDS. I WOULD HAVE HIT THE GLASS DOORS BEHIND ME WHEN SOMEONE WITH STRONG ARMS CAUGHT ME. I LOOKED UP AND I COULDN’T BREATH, HE WAS THERE LIKE SOMEONE HAD TURNED BACK THE HANDS OF TIME AND I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN. HE LOOKED JUST AS I REMEMBERED HIM JUST, SOMEHOW BIGGER, WITH BROADER SHOULDERS AND A DULL LOOK IN HIS EYES LIKE HE HAD ALL THE WORRIES IN THE WORLD. “HI.” WAS ALL THAT I HAD SAID. HE JUST STARED AT ME AS THOUGH HE HAD NEVER SEEM ME BEFORE. “HOW, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” HE SHOOK HIS HEAD. “NO I’M FINE THANKS.” I SAID AS HE HANDED ME THE BAG WITH MY SHIRT. I DIDN’T EVEN REMEMBER DROPPING IT. “THAT KID.” WAS ALL HE SAID AND LOOKED DOWN THE STREET. I FOLLOWED HIS GAZE AND SAW A BOY ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD WITH BLONE MESSY HAIR AND A CAP ON. THE KID LOOKED AT US FOR A MOMENT WITH A FROWN AND THEN HIS EYES WENT WIDE WHEN HE REALISED THE ARMY OUTFIT. HE TOOK OFF DOWN ANOTHER STREET AND WAS OUT OF SIGHT. “YOU SURE YOU’RE OK?” HE ASKED ME AGAIN AND STARTED TO WALK AWAY. “WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” I ALMOST YELLED IT AT HIM, MY PULSE BEGAN TO SPEED UP A LITTLE. “I HAVE TO GO TOM, I CAN’T RIGHT NOW.” HE SAID STILL WALKING AWAY FROM ME, JUST LIKE HE DID 3 YEARS AGO. “MARK.” WAS THE ONLY THING I BREATHED. I SHIFTED IN THE SEAT AND FINALLY LET THE BAG I HAD BEEN HOLDING EVER SINCE I GOT INTO THE JEEP FALL TO THE FLOOR. MARK WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ONLY HE COULD SEE. “HOW ARE YOUR PARENTS?” I ASKED AGAIN AND HE BLINKED, BUT STILL DIDN’T LOOK AT ME. ” THEY’RE NOT DOING SO GOOD.” MARK SAID AND FINALLY LET HIS HANDS FALL FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I SMILED AND REMEMBERED HIS MOTHER THEN, SHE WAS A SHORT WOMAN, BARELY 5FEET. SHE HAD SALT AND PEPPER HAIR WITH LIGHT FRECKLES ON HER SMALL NOSE. SHE LIKED TO COOK AND HAD LOVED HER SON VERY MUCH. MARK’S FATHER HAD STRONG FEATURES, WITH DARK HAIR AND DARK BROWN EYES. HIS FATHER WAS A QUIET MAN WHO ALWAYS WATCHED BLACK AND WHITE WESTERN MOVIES. “WHAT’S WRONG, ARE THEY OK?” I ASKED MARK STILL SMILING AT THE THOUGHT OF HIS PARENTS. “MY FATHER IS SICK.” MARK SAID AND THEN I BROKE MY AGREEMENT WITH MYSELF, I LOOKED AT HIM FIRST. “WHAT HAPPENED?” I ASKED. “MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS A SICK MAN, ITS JUST HIS TIME TO GO.” MARK SAID LOOKING DOWN AT HIS HANDS IN HIS LAP. “I’M SORRY.” WAS ALL I COULD SAY. “HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?” MARK ASKED AND STILL HE DID NOT LOOK AT ME. “I HAVE BEEN GOOD.” “ARE YOU HAPPY?” “I’M ALWAYS HAPPY.” I SAID. “HOW IS YOUR GRANDMOTHER?” “SHE DIED LAST SUMMER.” I SAID, MY THROAT SUDDENLY DRY. MARK STILL DIDN’T LOOK AT ME. “DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING IN THE ARMY?” I ASKED. MARK NODDED HIS HEAD. I GRABBED MY BAG AND QUICKLY OPENED THE JEEPS DOOR. I GOT OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR. “WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!” MARK YELLED OUT. “HOME!” I YELLED BACK. MARK GOT OUT OF HIS SIDE AND MADE HIS WAY TOWARDS ME WITH BRISK STRIDES. HE GRABBED MY ARM AND SPUN ME AROUND. “ITS NOT MY FAULT TOM! ITS NOT MY FAULT I LEFT! I HAD TO DO THIS!” MARK YELLED AT ME, HIS FACE SO SERIOUS. “YOU COULD HAVE CALLED, YOU COULD HAVE WRITTEN!” I YELLED AT HIM, MY THROAT HURT AND THERE WAS A NAGGING TO CRY. “TOM, WHEN MY FATHER CAUGHT US, IT TORE HIM UP, I COULDN’T BREAK HIS HEART ALL OVER AGAIN.” MARK SAID THE LAST PART ALMOST OUT OF BREATH. “DID YOU EVEN LOVE ME?” I ASKED. MARK LOOKED AT ME, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DARK OUT I COULD STILL SEE THE MUSCLES IN HIS JAW WORK. “WHAT?” HE ASKED. “YOU HEARD ME.” I SAID AND TURNED TO WALK AWAY AGAIN, MY SNEAKERS MAKING THE DRY DIRT KICK UP AROUND US. MARK IN A BLUR OF SPEED WAS IN FRONT OF ME THEN, HE PUSHED ME BACK. “HOW COULD YOU EVEN ASK THAT?” “NOT ONE LETTER OR POST CARD, NOT A SINGLE PHONE CALL.” I SAID AND THEN THE TEARS WERE THERE. MARK MOVED INTO ME WITH HIS CHEST OUT, HE BUMPED ME ONCE AND THEN AGAIN. “YOU THINK I DIDN’T LOVE YOU?!” MARK YELLED INTO MY FACE. HE POUNDED ON HIS CHEST AND THEN PUSHED ME AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH THE PALM OF HIS HAND. HIS FACE WAS RAW WITH EMOTION AND I COULD SEE HE HAD UNSHED TEARS IN HIS EYES. MARK PULLED AT HIS SHIRT WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND CONTINUED PUSHING ME WITH HIS RIGHT. HE STARTED UNBUTTONING HIS SHIRT AS HE BACKED ME UP TO THE REAR OF THE JEEP. MY BACK HIT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNTED ONTO THE JEEP AND HE ALREADY HAD HIS SHIRT OFF. “DO YOU SEE THIS?!” MARK YELLED INTO MY FACE, HE REACHED UNDER HIS VEST AND PULLED OUT A CHAIN. IT WAS THICK AND IT GLEAMED UNDER THE STARS AND MOON. HE HELD THE CHAIN CLOSER TO MY FACE UNTIL I SAW A LOCKET ATTACHED TO THE CHAIN NO BIGGER THAN A 50 CENT PIECE. I FROWNED AT HIM AND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME WITH EYES I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. “OPEN IT.” MARK BREATHED. WHEN I DIDN’T MAKE A MOVE HE SCREAMED INTO MY FACE, “OPEN IT!” I JUMPED AND MOVED MY HAND UP TOWARDS HIS NECK SLOWLY. I HAD TO DROP THE BAG THAT I WAS HOLDING TO OPEN IT. THERE WAS A SOFT CLICK SOUND THAT LET ME KNOW IT HAD OPENED AND THEN MARK BROUGHT HIS HAND UP HOLDING SOMETHING SILVER. HE FLICKED HIS WRIST AND FINGER AND I REALISED HE HAD A LIGHTER. I FROWNED BECAUSE HE DIDN’T SMOKE AND JUST BY THAT HIS EYES SOFTENED. “LOOK AT THE PICTURE, LOOK AT WHO IS IN THE PICTURE, LOOK AT WHO I HELD CLOSEST TO MY HEART FOR THREE YEARS TOM.” HE HELD UP THREE FINGERS, ” I’VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THREE YEARS AND NOW MY FATHER IS DYING. I’VE COME BACK HERE TO SEE HIM AND MY MOTHER AFTER THEY SENT ME AWAY FROM HERE, FROM YOU.” HE POKED ME WITH A FINGER. I COULDN’T HOLD IT ANY LONGER, THEY TEARS JUST FELL FROM MY EYES AND IT BURNED TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN. ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS BLINK AWAY THOSE TEARS, BUT I KEPT MY EYES ON MARK’S FACE. “LOOK.” MARK SAID FINALLY FIGHTING BACK TEARS, HE SAID THE WORD AS IF IT WERE TOO PAINFUL TO SAY. I FINALLY LOOKED DOWN AT A PICTURE OF MARK SMILING AT A CAMERA HELD ABOVE HIM, HIS EYES WERE BRIGHT LIKE I REMEMBERED AND HE LOOKED AS IF HE HAD NO WORRIES IN THE WORLD. IT WAS THE MARK I FELL IN LOVE WITH, THE MARK WHO MADE ME LAUGH AT THE STUPID CARTOONS WE WATCHED EVEN WHEN I PROTESTED WE WERE TOO OLD TO WATCH. THE MARK WHO CAME TO MY HOUSE AT 2 IN THE MORNING, THE MARK WHO BEAT UP HIS BEST FRIEND FOR MAKING FUN OF MY GRANDMOTHER. AS I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE MARK I ONCE KNEW, THE MARK THAT HAD ONCE HELD ME IN HIS ARMS AND MADE LOVE TO ME BODY AND SOUL I ALSO SAW ANOTHER GUY…ONE WHO WAS HAPPY ONCE SMILING BACK AT THE CAMERA MARK WAS HOLDING. MARK HAD SAID, “JUST LAY THERE ON THE FLOOR AND WE WILL TAKE AN EPIC PICTURE.” MARK AND I LOOKED AT THE CAMERA AND HAD BURST INTO LAUGHS BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TWO GUYS IN LOVE AND DIDN’T CARE, PLUS MARK HAD USED THE WORD “EPIC” AND I HAD THOUGHT HE WAS A NERD. MARK LOOKED AT HE, “I HAVE NEVER STOPPED LOVING YOU TOM.” I LOOKED UP INTO HIS FACE AND IT WAS THEN HE LET THE FIRST TEAR SLIP PAST HIS DEFENCES. I STARTED CRYING ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE IF HE CRIED…I CRIED…A MOMENT AGO WE WERE JUST, TWO GUYS IN A TRUCK.

THE ROOM WAS BRIGHT WHITE, FROM THE FLOOR TO THE CEILING. THE FLOOR GLISTENED, THE MARBLE WHITE AS CHALK. THE CEILING WAS BEAUTIFUL, WITH A LARGE CHANDELIER AND A FAINT DESIGN OF RED AND PINK FLOWERS FLOWING OUTWARDS FROM THE CENTER, IT TRULY WAS A SIGHT. I WONDERED HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE ROOM WAS SO CLEAN AND KEPT. LARGE GLASS WINDOWS LINED AROUND THE ROOM, IT LOOKED LIKE A SCENE FROM A CINDERELLA MOVIE, WHERE THE PRINCE DANCED WITH HER IN HER MAGICAL GOWN. THE MOON HUNG IN THE SKY LIKE A NIGHTLIGHT AND THERE WAS NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY. THERE WERE MEN WALKING ALL OVER THE ROOM DRESSED IN BLACK AND WHITE SUITS AND WOMEN IN LOVELY DRESSES THAT FLOWED AS THEY MOVED. I WAS PERCHED AGAINST A WALL MY FEET HURTING A LITTLE FROM MAKING MY WAY AROUND THE ROOM CHATTING WITH PEOPLE THAT I KNEW. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND WATCHED AS A WOMAN THREW HER HEAD BACK AND COVERED HER MOUTH WITH HER HANDS AS SHE LAUGHED, SHE WAS VERY PRETTY, ABOUT THIRTY SOMETHING WITH LONG BLONDE HAIR AND THICK EYELASHES. SHE HAD VERY LITTLE MAKEUP ON AND HER DRESS WAS LIGHT BLUE WITH FRILLS TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. I LOOKED THE OTHER WAY AND SPOTTED MY MOTHER STANDING NEXT TO A TALL MAN WHO COULD HAVE BEEN A DEAD RINGER FOR THE MOVIE STAR BRANDON ROUTH, HE HAD DARK FEATURES FROM HIS HAIR TO HIS EYEBROWS, HIS LIPS WERE PINK AND PERFECT, AND HE WAS BUILT JUST RIGHT. A WAITER PASS ME BY CARRYING A TRAY OF DRINKS. I WOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM BUT SOMETHING CAUGHT MY EYE FROM ACROSS THE ROOM THAT MADE ME FREEZE IN PLACE. I SAW THE HIS FACE FIRST, HIS SKIN SO PERFECTLY TANNED. HIS HAIR A DARK CURLY MASS AND HIS SMILE AND TEETH WHITE AS PEARLS. I STOOD THERE WATCHING HIM AS IF IN SLOW MOTION, HE SMILED AT SOMEONE SAYING SOMETHING TO HIM AND THEN HE NODDED HIS HEAD IN AGREEMENT. HIS SUIT WAS THE SAME BLACK AND WHITE AS EVERY OTHER MAN IN THE ROOM. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS HE HAD ON A SILVER RING ON HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER AND A MATCHING CHAIN AROUND HIS NECK. I KNEW THE JEWELRY WELL BECAUSE I HAD BOUGHT IT FOR HIM. SEEING HIM STILL WEARING THE GIFT BROUGHT A SMILE TO MY LIPS. THE CHAIN WAS OF TWO DOG TAGS LIKE WHAT THE ARMY GUYS WORE WHEN THEY SERVED IN THE MILITARY. I HAD HIS NAME ENGRAVED ON ONE AND ON THE OTHER WAS THE DATE OF THE FIRST DAY WE HAD MET. THE RING HE WORE WAS OF OUR SECOND ANNIVERSARY, I HAD GIVEN IT TO HIM AND REMEMBERED THE KISS HE HAD PLANTED ON ME THAT MORNING. I TOUCHED MY BOTTOM LIP AS IF I COULD STILL FEEL HIS LIPS. I TOOK A SHAKY BREATH AND STOOD UP A LITTLE STRAIGHTER. HOW WAS HE HERE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHY? I FROWNED THEN AND LOOKED BACK OVER TO WHERE MY MOTHER STOOD STILL CHATTING AWAY WITH THE BRANDON ROUTH LOOK ALIKE. I QUICKY TOOK MY CELL PHONE OUT FROM MY INNER JACKET POCKET AND PRETENDED TO LOOK THROUGH MY PHONE. I DIDN’T WANT TO LOOK UP AT HIM AGAIN, WHAT IF HE SPOTTED ME ALSO AND CAME OVER? I WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HIM. THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER WAS A YEAR AGO AND IT WAS NOT THE BEST OF CONVERSATIONS. MY MOTHER DIDN’T APPROVE OF MY LIFE STYLE AND SHE HADN’T APPROVED OF THE MAN STANDING ACROSS THE ROOM. I FELT A STRANGE TUG ON THE INSIDE OF MY CHEST, AS IF MY HEART WAS IN PAIN. I LOOKED OVER AGAIN AT MY MOTHER AND FOUND SHE WAS MAKING HER WAY TOWARDS ME. SHE HAD A SERIOUS LOOK ON HER FACE. HAD SHE SEEN HIM FROM ACROSS THE ROOM AS I HAD? WAS SHE GOING TO ASK ME TO LEAVE OR NOT SAY ANYTHING TO HIM? I HATED THE FACT THAT SHE WAS MAYOR OF OUR SMALL TOWN AND EVERYTHING THAT I SAID OR DID WAS UNDER A MICROSCOPE. I SWOLLOWED HARD AS SHE MOVED UP NEXT TO ME AND PUT A HAND ON MY SHOULDER. “HOW ARE YOU DOING IN YOUR CORNER OF THE ROOM HUN?” SHE ASKED, A SMILE ON HER FACE AND HER LIPSTICK AS RED AS AN APPLE. I JUST NODDED MY HEAD AND KEPT ON LOOKING AT MY PHONE. “DID YOU SAY HELLO TO MR. SMITH?” I LOOKED AT MY MOTHER WITH A BLANK LOOK ON MY FACE UNTIL SHE ASKED THE QUESTION AGAIN, “DID YOU SAY HELLO TO MR. SMITH?” SHE ASKED AGAIN AND THEN GAVE ME A PUZZLING LOOK. “I DID, EARLIER.” I SAID AND FOUND IT HARD TO SWOLLOW A SECOND TIME. MY MOTHER TILTED HER HEAD TO THE SIDE, “ARE YOU ALRIGHT? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’VE SEEN A GHOST.” I BREATHED IN AND THEN OUT, “I’M FINE.” I SAID AND THEN SMILED QUICKLY. “WELL OK, I THINK ITS GETTING LATE, BE A HUN AND GRAB OUR COATS SO WE COULD LEAVE. I HAVE LOTS TO DO TOMORROW.” MY MOTHER WAS TALKING TO ME AND WAVING AT SOMEONE WHO HAD WAVED A HELLO AT HER. I TURNED TO LEAVE AND DARED NOT LOOK OVER AT MY EX. I MADE MY WAY OUT OF THE ROOM AND HAD TO MUTTER AN EXCUSE ME EVERY SO OFTEN TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE COAT ROOM. I WALKED INTO THE COATROOM AND QUICKY GRABBED MY COAT AND MY MOTHERS FROM ITS HANGER. I TURNED TO LEAVE AND THEN CAME CRASHING INTO SOMEONE ELSE, OUR CHEST’S HIT EACH OTHER AND WHEN WE BOTH PULLED BACK STUNNED SOMETHING GOT STUCK ON MY JACKETS BUTTON. THEN AS IF IN SLOW MOTION I LOOKED DOWN AT FIRST TO SEE WHAT HAD GOTTEN STUCK TO ME AND FROZE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE CHAIN I HAD BOUGHT FOR MY EX, I SLOWLY LOOKED UP AND CAME FACE TO FACE WITH HIM SMILING DOWN AT ME. “OUCH.” HE SAID, SOFTLY AND STILL SMILING. I COULDN’T SAY ANYTHING, IF I OPENED MY MOUTH I WASN’T SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE COME OUT. ALL I DID WAS LOOK UP INTO HIS DEEP BROWN EYES AND FALL, IT WAS SUDDENLY HOT INSIDE THE SMALL COATROOM. I WAS STANDING THERE STUCK TO MY EX…BOUND BY A CHAIN…WITH A SMILE ON HIS LIPS.

KEVIN WALKED INTO THE ROOM HE WORE A BLACK TUX AND BLACK SHOES THAT GLEAMED, HIS SHIRT WAS WHITE AND HE WORE CUFFLINGS FROM PRADA. IN HIS LEFT EAR HE HAD HIDDEN A SMALL DEVICE, THROUGH IT HE COULD HEAR HIS CO-WORKER AND RESPOND TO WHATEVER SHE WAS SAYING. RIGHT NOW SHE WAS JUST GIVING HIM AN UPDATE ON THE ROOM HE WAS CURRENTLY IN AND THE EXITS AND STAIRS, JUST IN CASE HE NEEDED IT. ” ROGER.” KEVIN SAID, A THIN WOMAN WALKED PASS HIM WEARING A BLACK FITTED DRESS WITH HER HAIR TIED UP IN A BIN. KEVIN GAVE HER A FRIENDLY LITTLE SMILE AND MOVED TO THE LEFT TO LET HER PASS, SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE ELEVATOR AND PRESSED THE UP BUTTON, SHE TURNED AROUND AND GAVE HIM A LOOK. IT WAS THE LOOK A WOMAN GIVES A MAN THAT SAYS, “YEAH BABY, I KNOW YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.” KEVIN TURNED BACK AROUND TO THE ROOM AND SMILED, “IF SHE ONLY KNEW,” HE THOUGHT AND THEN STEPPED DOWN FROM A SHORT STEP ONTO MARBLED FLOOR SO WHITE IT LOOKED LIKE IT HADN’T SEEN A DIRTY DAY IN ITS LIFE. “KEVIN, I COUNT ABOUT FOURTY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. MR. RICHARDSON MUST BE AMONGST THEM, I THINK YOU SHOULD MINGLE AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND OUT.” KEVIN COULD PICTURE LAURA NOW, WITH HER BROWN HAIR AND BROWN EYES, SHE WAS ABOUT FIVE FOOT FIVE WITH PALE SKIN AND ROSEY PINK CHEEKS. SHE WAS SITTING IN A WHITE VAN PARKED HALFWAY DOWN THE STREET. KEVIN WALKED OVER TO A GUY DRESSED IN A BLACK TUX HOLDING A TRAY OF DRINKS AND HE TOOK ONE, HE SIPPED ON THE CHAMPAGNE AND TOOK A QUICK SCAN OF THE ROOM. TWO MEN WERE POSTED AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, THE EXIT SIGN LIT UP RIGHT ABOVE THEM. ” TWO MEN AT THE EXIT.” KEVIN SAID, THEN TOOK ANOTHER SIP OF HIS DRINK TO COVER HIS TRACKS. A WOMAN LOOKED ABOUT FOURTY WITH GRAY EYES AND SALT AND PEPPER HAIR THREW HER HEAD BACK LAUGHING, SHE PUT HER RIGHT HAND OVER HER MOUTH AND HER EYES WENT WIDE. SHE LOOKED AROUND AT A FEW PEOPLE GLANCING IN HER DIRECTION. A MAN WEARING A BLACK SUIT PUT A HAND ON HER SHOULDER AND SMILED, HE LEANED INTO HER EAR AND WHISPERED SOMETHING. KEVIN WATCHED AS HE FINALLY NOTICED MR. RICHARDSON FROM THE PHOTO LAURA HAD SHOWN TO HIM EARLIER.

“TARGET CONFIRMED.” KEVIN TURNED AROUND FACING A TABLE AND PUT HIS DRINK DOWN. HE RAN BOTH HANDS DOWN THE FRONT OF HIS PERFECTLY TAILORED SUIT SMOOTHING IT OUT AND TURNED AROUND TOWARDS THE ROOM. NO ONE KNEW THIS BUT MR. RICHARDSON WAS INTO GUYS, AND KEVIN, WAS JUST HIS TYPE. KEVIN HAD DARK BROWN HAIR BUT IT LOOKED BLACK, EVEN IN THIS BRIGHTLY LIT ROOM HIS HAIR ALONG WITH HIS EYEBROWS LOOKED DARK AS NIGHT. HIS LIPS WERE AS PINK AS A ROSE AND HIS SWIMMERS BUILT FRAME WAS VERY SEXY. HE LOOKED LIKE HE HAD MODELED SOME, AND WALKED WITH SUCH CONFIDENCE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM THOUGHT HE WAS SOMEWHAT ARROGANT.

AS KEVIN MADE HIS WAY TO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM MR. RICHARDSON EYED HIM WITH CURIOUSITY. KEVIN WALKED OVER TO A TABLE WHERE A YOUNG LADY SAT LOOKING VERY BORED, “WOULD YOU CARE TO DANCE?” HE ASKED HOLDING A HAND OUT TO HER. THE YOUNG WOMAN’S FACE LIT UP AS SHE LOOKED INTO HIS HANDSOME FACE. SHE TOOK HIS HAND AND STOOD UP WITH THE SAME GOOFY EXPRESSION STILL PASTED ON HER FACE. KEVIN LED HER TO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM WHERE A LIVE BAND PLAYED CLASSICAL MUSIC. IT WASN’T HIS FAVORITE KIND OF MUSIC IN THE WORLD BUT JUST FOR A WHILE HE HAD TO PRETEND.

“LILY.” SHE YOUNG WOMAN SAID STILL SMILING UP AT HIM.

KEVIN BLINKED DOWN AT HER.

“MY NAME, ITS LILY.” SHE SAID AND THEN THEY BOTH STARTED TO SWAY TO THE MUSIC.

“I’M BRANDON.” KEVIN SAID. HE OFTEN HAD TO LIE SO HE FELT NO REMORSE DOING SO, PLUS DOING WHAT HE DID FOR A LIVING, HE HAD TO.

” NICE TO MEET YOU LILY.” HE SAID SMILING BACK DOWN AT HER.

LILY WAS ABOUT FIVE FOOT FIVE WITH LONG BLONDE HAIR TO THE MIDDLE OF HER BACK. HER EYES WERE GREEN AND HER DRESS WAS WHITE WITH FRILLS RUNNING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF HER DRESS. SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS DRESSED FOR A SWEET SIXTEEN PARTY OR SOMETHING.

KEVIN MOVED LILY SWIRLING HER IN HIS HAND, HE DID A FANCY MOVE HE HAD LEARNED AT A WEDDING AND THEN DIPPED LILY. SHE CAME UP BREATHING HEAVY AND SMILED AT HIM.

” WOW, YOU’RE A VERY GOOD DANCER BRANDON.” SHE SAID THEN MADE A SHY FACE, SHE EVEN LOOKED DOWN AT HER FEET.

KEVIN WONDERED IF SHE HAD MANY DATES, SHE SEEMED NICE.

KEVIN LOOKED OVER LILY’S HEAD JUST THEN AND WATCHED AS HIS TARGET STARTED MOVING TOWARDS THE EXIT WHERE THE TWO GUARDS STOOD.

“WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT, I SEE SOMEONE I SIMPLY MUST SAY HELLO TOO. I WANT TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY LEAVE.” KEVIN SAID.

“ARE YOU COMING BACK TO FINISH OUR DANCE?” LILY ASKED AND FROM THE LOOK OF DISSAPOINTMENT ON HER FACE KEVIN NODDED HIS HEAD.

LILY GRINNED AT HIM AND STARTED BACK TOWARDS HER TABLE BUT NOT BEFORE A, ” I’LL BE WAITING.”

KEVIN WATCHED AS MR. RICHARDSON WALKED UP TO THE TWO GUARDS AND SAID SOMETHING TO THEM, THEN ONE OF THE MEN LEFT WITH RICHARDSON.

“TARGET IS ON THE MOVE.” KEVIN CONVEYED TO LAURA.

“MOVE IN, HE DOES NOT LEAVE THAT BUILDING.” LAURA RESPONDED.

KEVIN FOLLOWED HIS TARGET AND THE BODYGUARD OUT THE FRONT TOWARDS THE LOBBY OF THE BUILDING. THEN RICHARDSON DUCKED INTO A ROOM AND THE GUARD STOOD IN FRONT OF THE DOOR.

KEVIN KNEW IT WAS THE RESTROOM BECAUSE FROM THE MOMENT HE WALKED INTO THE BUILDING HE WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE LAYOUT. HE CHECKED THE WEAPON HE HAD HIDDEN IN THE HOLSTER ON HIS SHOULDER AND THE SMALL KNIFE IN ITS SHEATH TUCKED ON THE INSIDE OF HIS WRIST, HIS SLEEVE CONCEALING IT. KEVIN MOVED FROM THE HALLWAY AND STARTED TOWARDS THE RESTROOM. THE GUARD EYED HIM AS HE GOT CLOSER.

DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE RESTROOM STOOD A CLEANING CLOSET, IT WAS PERFECT. KEVIN WALKED TOWARDS THE RESTROOM AND NODDED AT THE GUARD. A TILT OF THE CHIN UPWARDS, THE GUARD DID THE SAME BUT JUST AS THE GUARD’S CHIN WENT UP, IN A BLUR OF SPEED KEVIN’S RIGHT HAND WENT TO HIS SLEEVE. THE GUARDS EYES WENT WIDE BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, THE BLOOD POURED FROM THE MANS NECK IN A HEAVY COAT. A GARGLING SOUND ESCAPED AND JUST AS FAST KEVIN OPENED THE CLOSET DOOR AND THE MAN FELL IN. IT WAS QUICK AND FAST AND VERY PROFESSIONAL. KEVIN WIPED THE BLADE CLEAN ON THE DEAD MANS JACKET AND THEN PUT IT AWAY. KEVIN QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS IN SIGHT.

” I TOOK ONE OF THE GUARDS OUT.” KEVIN SAID TO LAURA.

” GOOD DID YOU GET RICHARDSON?” SHE ASKED.

“IN A MINUTE, HE IS ALONE.” KEVIN SAID CLOSING THE CLEANING CLOSET DOOR AND COMPOSING HIMSELF AGAIN.

THE RESTROOM HAD THE SAME WHITE MARBLED FLOOR, BUT THE SINKS WERE IN A BLACK MARBLE AND THE STALLS WERE PAINTED BLACK. THERE WERE EVEN LITTLE SOAPS AND TOWELS ON THE COUNTERS NEXT TO THE SINKS. AS KEVIN MOVED MORE INTO THE ROOM HE SPOTTED RICHARDSON FINISHING UP, HE HAD WASHED HIS HANDS AND WAS REACHING FOR A TOWEL. KEVIN GAVE HIM A SMILE, IT WASN’T A FULL SMILE, JUST THE ONES PEOPLE GIVE FROM THE CORNER OF THEIR MOUTHS. KEVIN MOVED TOWARDS THE SINK WHERE HIS TARGET STOOD DRYING HIS HANDS BUT HIS EYES WERE ALL FOR KEVIN.

” HOW ARE YOU.” RICHARDSON SAID STILL EYEING HIM.

KEVIN JUST WALKED UP NEXT TO THE MAN AND TURNED ON THE FAUCET, HE GLANCED AT THE MAN IN THE MIRROR AND SHRUGGED, ” CAN’T COMPLAIN.”

” YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF?” RICHARDSON ASKED PUTTING DOWN THE SMALL HAND TOWEL NEXT TO THE SINK.

” TAKE HIM OUT, YOU HAVE THREE PEOPLE MOVING TOWARDS YOUR LOCATION.” LAURA SAID.

” SO, IS THIS PARTY IN YOUR HONOR?” KEVIN ASKED.

” YEAH WELL YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, PEOPLE WANT TO THROW A PARTY FOR THE LITTLEST THINGS NOW A DAYS. YOU RAISE MONEY FOR POOR PEOPLE IN RUSSIA AND THEY WANT TO GIVE YOU PRAISE.” RICHARDSON SAID AS IF HE WENT TO A PARTY IN HIS HONOR EVERY WEEK.

KEVIN LOOKED OVER TO THE OTHER MAN HE RAN HIS HANDS UNDER THE WARM WATER AND THEN RAN HIS DAMP HANDS THROUGH HIS HAIR.

RICHARDSON WATCHED IN DELIGHT AS HE DID THIS.

” KEVIN, NOW, YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME.” LAURA SAID INTO HIS EAR PIECE AS IF SHE WERE GETTING IMPATIENT.

” SAY, ALL THAT MONEY YOU RAISE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, DOES IT ALL REALLY GO TO THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE; OR DO YOU POCKET SOME OF IT AND USE IT TO SMUGGLE DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY?” KEVIN ASKED AND THEN HIS EYES WENT DARK, IT WAS ALWAYS WENT DARK WHEN HE WERE ABOUT TO DO VERY BAD THINGS.

” WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” RICHARDSON ASKED HIS SMILE VANISHING JUST AS FAST.

FOR A SECOND KEVIN THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY TO RUN BUT RICHARDSON STOOD THERE AS IF HE WEREN’T WORRIED IN THE LEAST.

” IF YOU THINK YOU YOUR BODYGUARD IS GOING TO HELP YOU, I WOULDNT WORRY ABOUT HIM. HE’S DEAD.” KEVIN SAID AS HE INCHED CLOSER TOWARDS THE OTHER MAN.

RICHARDSON DIDN’T EVEN BLINK. HE TILTED HIS HEAD TO ONE SIDE AND JUST LOOKED AT KEVIN. IT WAS ODD BUT KEVIN KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. RICHARDSON WAS A WEALTHY MAN. HE HAD MONEY AND POWER, AND HE ALSO HAD TRAINING. HE KNEW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF. KEVIN KNEW ABOUT THE KARATE LESSONS HE TOOK FOUR TIMES A WEEK. WHAT MR. RICHARDSON DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT OUR BOY KEVIN KNEW A LITTLE OF HIS OWN.

RICHARDSON RUSHED FORWARD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND EXTENDED. HE WAS TRYING FOR KEVINS THROAT BUT KEVIN SAW THE MOVE COMING AND BROUGHT HIS LEFT HAND UP AND BLOCKED HIS ARM FROM REACHING HIS NECK. RICHARDSON ALREADY HAD HIS NEXT MOVE PLANNED WITH HIS LEFT HAND HIS ELBOW WENT FORWARD AND CAUGHT KEVIN IN THE CHEST. HE STUMBLED BUT FOUND HIS BALANCE JUST AS QUICKLY. KEVIN MOVED FORWARD FASTER THAN RICHARDSON SAW COMING AND WITH TWO BLOWS TO THE FACE WITH THE PALMS OF BOTH HIS RIGHT AND LEFT HAND BLOOD WAS GUSHING OUT OF RICHARDSON’S NOSE. HIS BACK HIT THE WALL AND THEN RICHARDSON PANICKED, HE TRIED TO RUN. KEVIN DREW HIS 9MM BROWNING FROM ITS HOLSTER AND FIRED TWO SHOTS, THERE WAS A SILENCER ATTACHED SO THE SHOTS WERE DEADENING. THE BULLETS MISSED AND RICHARDSON WENT FOR THE DOOR. KEVIN WAS ON HIS HEELS AS HE MADE IT OUT TO THE LOBBY. HE FIRED A SHOT INTO THE OTHER MANS BACK AND THEN HEAD JUST AS RICHARDSON WERE ABOUT TO MAKE IT BACK INTO THE ROOM FILLED WITH GUESTS.

” I GOT HIM.” KEVIN SAID MOVING TOWARDS RICHARDSONS BODY QUICKLY. HE HAD TO GET RID OF THE BODY BEFORE SOMEONE SAW THEM.

” THE PEOPLE THAT I TOLD YOU ARE COMING TOWARDS YOU ARE FROM THE ELEVATOR TO YOUR RIGHT, GET OUT OF THERE, JUST LET THEM FIND HIS BODY. THIS MISSION IS COMPLETE!” LAURA HALF YELLED AT HIM.

” FINE.” KEVIN SAID AND THEN LEFT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR OF THE BUILDING. AS HE WALKED OUT PASSING TWO COUPLES TALKING AND ONE OF THE WAITERS SMOKING A CIGARETTE. HE THOUGHT OF HIS LIFE THEN, THESE PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEY SAW HIM LEAVING THE BUILDING AND THEY WOULD PROBABLY TELL A SKETCH ARTIST WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE. WOULD HE EVER HAVE A NORMAL LIFE? WOULD HE EVER STAY IN THE SAME STATE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH? HE WALKED DOWN THE STEPS OF THE BUILDING THAT STOOD SILENT FOR A FEW SECONDS AS THE WHITE VAN PULLED UP AND HE GOT IN….THEN A LOUD SCREAM RANG OUT, FOLLOWED BUT ANOTHER, AND THEN ANOTHER.