Roswell Fanatics

Title: Just A Crimnal.
Author: : Blue*Soul
Rating: : Mature/Adult
Pairings: : M/L
Disclaimer: : I don’t own Roswell.
Summary:
Liz: Spoilt and bored only child of billionaire entrepreneur, James Wilcox, Parker.
Max: Gang criminal. On the run and out for revenge.
Plot: A kidnap. Angst. Romance and questions. Where will it all lead?
Warning: From the way this story is going, it will be pretty dark. If you don't like death toil and darkness…then maybe give it a miss.


Thankyou for the banner mrsjbehr

Prologue

Three things go through my head simultaneously. There’s a gun. It’s pointing at my head. I’m going to die. He is going to kill me.

I close my eyes. It’s the first time I've prayed in years. Strange how you suddenly remember god when you’re dying.

Then there’s a loud bang. Darkness.

****

Chapter 1

Just A Criminal


2 hours earlier.

Liz

“Kill me now.” I moan, burying my head in Alex’s shoulder, as Mom and her two best friends Sheryl and Egbertha head toward me. All three swash along in crystalled gowns, looking like rather identical remake of stepford wives.

“Sweetie!” Mom kisses the air, on both cheeks and repeats the ritual with Alex. Then we repeat again, with her equally blonde best friends.

“Hi Mom.” I answer glumly, engrossed in my suddenly, too little champagne. It's the first time I’ve seen her in months, and it’s as much hell as last time.

“You look magnificent.”

“Oh--“ I throw Alex a puzzled look, “Thanks…”

"Was just talking to your father Alex dear. 21st in a week i see. Not long you'll be running Whitman Enterprise."

"I pretty much do that anyway." Alex laughs nervously. Mom makes him nervous. She makes everyone nervous.

"Yes. Right." she turns back to me. “Don’t slouch dear. Posture is the key to looking good in photographs… You could have worn that red Wang number... In fact, what are you wearing?” she glances at my collar, “Prada. Right." She doesn’t hesitate to hide that she looks down her nose at Prada, " Sweet, you have amazing legs. Just wish you wouldn’t show them off in frilly orange things...and who did your hair?”

At this point, Alex is coughing up in his napkin.

I grit my teeth. “Please mom.”

“Honey. You know how much press is here tonight. It would do you good to get a good press report for once. I mean those Dillon boys, what on earth were you doing with them?”

“Just what it said in the papers.”

“Don’t tell me…” she looks aghast, even though she should be used to my tactics by now, “you weren’t--“

“Mother dear,” I sigh, “ If anyone should worry about how they look in the photos its you. Please do us a favour, and don’t give your self a migraine, it won’t go with your new nose.”

Alex chokes.

I know that’s enough to shock her for a while, as I grab two bubblies off the nearest waiter and step out into the garden, leaving the many callings of my name behind.

So. I’m Elizabeth, Marie Parker. So, my Dads a billionaire. So, I pretty much get everything I want. So, life is all peaches and cream. Piece of crock.

Yes, I have my own private jet, even though I haven’t got a driving licence. I’ve been London, Spain, Uganda. I have a nightclub just below my bedroom. Call me restless. Call me ungreatful. But, there must be more to life then this.

"Elizabeth Marie Parker." It’s a male voice.

"That’s right.” Everyone knows my name.

“So what really happened with those Dillon boys?”

To the point. “I was in bed. With both.”

“At least you’re honest.” I put a finished glass of bubbly down on the bench. The sensor light switches off, as I get up and walk, and then switches on again as he walks past, highlighting the grande and finely kept garden in front of me. Much thanks to Jose, our hardworking and rather beautiful gardener. Good kisser too.

“I didn’t have sex with them. We just slept. It was comfortable.”

“Right.”

“Believe it or not.” I shrug my shoulders as I walk past our rainbow fountain. Its diamond embedded.

“Not.” He states truthfully, “Though I do believe one thing…I believe you’re wild child antics are revolutionising high societal behaviour today.”

I snort a laugh. “I don’t believe my antics do anything but disgust them.”

“Well, atleast it’s a palpable reaction.”

I turn. His face is half shadowed by palm trees patterning the endless garden. But I can see enough. He’s pretty cute. Young looking. Around my age, maybe slightly older. Light brown hair. Long. He’s tried to scrub up. He’s wearing a suit. Not designer though, and I can tell already he’s not from around ‘my bit’. He’s a roughie.

“I’m Michael.”

“Grande to meet you Mike.” I open the gate disinterestedly, and let myself out into the midnight breeze. Quite a bit to walk, until the Parker estate even begins to finish. He follows. I’m not worried though, he’s too cool to be stalker material.

“Is a midnight walk really safe for billionaire Parker who’s probably wearing more then most people own in a year?”

“Ooh. Now you’re scaring me.” I swallow down the remnants of the second glass, and leave it on the wall.

“Never my intention.”

“People like you don’t get it. Sometimes you just need to be away....from all this.” I wave my hand dismissively behind me.

He’s caught up now, and walking beside me. His strides are rough, strong. One on one with the clicking of my heels. “I might be able to help you on that one.”

I stop. “You got a bike?” My ex roughie boyfriend had a bike. The only reason I dated him. To have the wind in my hair, to be free, far away, was the best experience I ever had with a boyfriend.

“I got better.”

He has a car. It’s an extremely battered blue Escort, so I snort, but get in anyway. It smells like old beer, the seats smell of smoke. I’ve never sat in such a shit car all my life, and I tell him. Mike just gives me a look that shouts 'spoilt bitch' and starts up the engine.

“So where you taking me?” I ask my mystery visitor.

He looks at me with those dark eyes of his, and smiles…

“You’ll see.”

…God. I’m so stupid.

And way too drunk to care.

I lean back, take my sandals off, and shove my feet on the dashboard.

He eyes travel down my legs, and he gives me another look. I can see the muscle twitch in his jaw. “Don’t do that.”

I ignore him. “So what music you got Mikey?” I start flicking through the radio channels. The sounds fuzzy.

“Don’t.”

I stretch. “Where are we? Spark-way plaza? I hate that place...Actually we're not are we?…I’ve never been here before.”

Suddenly my mystery visitors stopped talking.

“Earth to Mikey… hello…hello?” I laugh. “Why are you slowing the car? Mood for another walk? Hell, I don't care. I love walks."

He doesn’t even look at me.

The car jerks to a halt. He reaches in to the glove compartment. Panic bells ring.

Black shiny metal.

Oh, fuck.

It’s a gun.

My ears are ringing. As he points it at me.

“Get out.”

“What is--“

“GET THE FUCK OUT!”

Shoeless, I stumble on to the pavement. The gravel bites my feet. He jogs around the car with a pointed gun, and pushes me against its cold steel.

Ropes around my hands, he pushes at my head down.

“Sit.”

I turn to my side trying look at him, flabbergasted.

“SIT!!”

There’s a bright light. I blink. There’s a black van. There’s running. Men in black. Balaclavad faces. They grab me with rough hands. Pick me up with ease.

Adrenalin courses through my veins.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I cry. “Stop this shit right now. Fuck. Ahh. My hair! Bastard…”

I’m shoved into the boot. It’s so dark.

“Stay DOWN. Ya hear me?" Mikes voice says. Don't move."

“Fuck you.” I move.

Someone grabs me. Cold metal against my head.

Three things go through my head simultaneously. There’s a gun. It’s pointing at my head. I’m going to die. He is going to kill me.

I close my eyes. It’s the first time I've prayed in years. Strange how you suddenly remember god when you’re dying,

Then there’s a loud bang. Darkness.

*****

Any thoughts?

It feels as if im on a bit of a roll...no? Let me know what you think??

Just a Criminal

Chapter 2

Michael

We bring her to the hut, as we like to call it. Nothing but a shitty old house, owned by too many rats. We probably won’t be living here for long, but its convenient, being in the middle of nowhere and all.

The blind folds around her eyes, but she’s still hassling Dosey and Twirly.

Quite a struggler this one. Fuck, she making me mad. If I could give her a slap or two it would do her some good… But, I’m bound by Silos words. Its his project, so I can’t touch her.

Damn shame though. Like Dosey would say, pretty ones make the art worth it.

Dosey undoes her blindfold. Unlucky for him, he's the first one she see’s and spits right into his face. It easily runs down his eye and to his nose.


Ha. Thick piece of shit. I could’ve seen that one coming a mile off.

Unlucky for her that its him. He grabs her face tightly, and is about to pound her one.

I grab him. “No. She’s gotta be clean for Silo. Trust me I’d lobbed her one ages ago.”

“Charming.” She snorts.

“He pulls her toward him. She looks disgusted by the smell, (trust me it’s pretty bad on the days that we do have a tooth brush around) “If you do that again. I’ll eat your face.”

“I’d like to see you try.” She says prissily

I shake my head. These rich kids are really born and bred to stupidity.

“That’s enough.” I push Dosey out of the way and pull a stool toward her. She sits on the floor, legs covered in dirt, struggling with the harsh, tight ropes. I watch her a while, its like watching a beautiful, rare animal in captive.

“Doing that’s not going to get those undone.”

She stops. “What the fuck do you want? 1 million? 2? Name your price.”

She really is stupid. Full of lip. Reminds me how someone I know used to be long ago.

“Here take my necklace,” she nods toward the pearl thing around her neck, “ its worth $25, 000. Dad will give you the rest.”

I can see Dosey eyeing it hungrily. But we can’t touch it. Silo won’t want the money….But I ain’t going in there, before we get the yes.

“Since you’ll be staying here for a while lets get acquainted.”

“Eat my Shit Mike,” and she continues struggling with the ropes.

“Dosey.” I point behind me. “You’ve already met.” She ignores me. “ That’s Andreas, likes to be called Twirly.” Little Twirly waves. “Then there’s also, Fudge, Car, Ria and Silo.”

“What are you? Like the 7 dwarves?”

“Whatever.” I shake my head. Can’t even be civil. “Women.”

“Chauvinist too, huh? Let me tell you a little something Mikey boy. If you don’t let me go now- the outcomes gunna be way worse.”

I can feel the rage building up. Ignorant, stupid girl. “If you don’t shut the fuck up now, I’m gunna let Dosey over there, give you as good as he gets.”

“Like Dopey over there would even dare touch me.” She’s so proud. I want to wipe all doubts away instantaneously. It’s a damn pity I can’t.

“Sharp words coming from someone who’s tied up and bound.”

“Its funny that three guys in a room, would need to do that to a girl.”

I’m so close to bashing her, that its her god send, when Silo walks in.



Silo

“Untie her.”

Her head starts up toward me as I shove the bug-house papers into the back pocket of my jeans. She’s scanning me. Big doe eyes. Petite. Volatile. Not like I expected. She's…much more… alive.

Good. More to work with.

“Oh. oh let me guess? Car?” she says with false enthusiasm, picking at her ropes.

Michael walks toward me, voice lowered. “You gunna let this one walk around untied Silo? She’s walking, and unfortunately talking dynamite.”

“Just do it.”

They lift her up. All three get to work. The ropes are tight. She mumbles obscenities all the way through. Her clothes are already dirty from the shit on the floor. She slaps Twirlys hand as it gets to close to her breasts, her head bending. Silky hair over her face.

I don’t bother help. I sit in Michaels place, and watch until she’s done. She can sense I’m looking, but she’s defiant. Doesn’t look up.

So, she likes to play games too. This is going to be fun.

“Why thank you Car.” She smiles. And all I see is a glow. Her flawless face, skin, arms glow, like they’ve been untouched by any man. “ I’ve been lying tied up in the shitty boot for hours in complete darkness, at least someone's gentleman enough to show some hospitality.”

She looks from raw rope marks on her fists, to glance at me.

“So tattoo boy, you gunna take off that balaclava? After seeing your friends, ugliness won’t scare me anymore.”

I take off my balaclava. Her pupils widen and she stares.

I don’t look directly at her for long though. I never do.

“Max Evans.”


******


Liz

Eyes.

They’re the first things I see actually. Deep intense amber eyes. Predatory eyes. Dangerous eyes… and something else. They’re not shifty like Dosey’s. They’re not clear-cut like Michaels. He looks away though, before I put my finger on it.

I gulp.

His aura is over powering. Strong. Stringent. Commanding. I actually move back.

“S-so what do you want? Moody over there wouldn’t answer. Is it m-money…” I stutter slightly, as I look down at extended tattooes on muscled arms. Snakes, devils, skulls…leafy things. “Money. I can get you.”

There’s silence for a long time. He’s staring at me. I’m staring at his vested muscles, and tattoos. Some of them are rather interesting.

I scratch my forehead. If someone doesn’t break the silence soon, I’ll explode.

“Do you really think that its gunna be that easy?”

My head snaps up, sensing the cruel mockery in his tone. “Well, is it?”

He smiles. Ruthless, cold. He turns away but doesn’t answer. The sound of his boots, harsh. His sculpted, tattooed body flexing with every movement.

Something tells me, this isn’t going to be anything close to easy, and suddenly, for the first time since Michael banged the boot in my face and catapulted me into darkness, I’m scared shitless.

“Hey..Hey…tattoo boy…Hey Max!” I get up and run after him.

“Oi!” arms grab me and force me back on to the chair.

“You stay here!”

“But…but...I’m not done with him!” I cry, as the door slap bangs behind him.

“Believe me,” Mike laughs, “…when I say… he isn’t even close to done with you.”

****

Thanks you for the FB wonderful people…

Just a Criminal

Chapter 3

Max.

Biting wind slashes my skin. I walk on, unrestrained by the leash that the weather holds.

Not restrained by anything.

Triumph and completion call out. Closer to completion of Sneg's mission. One step closer to my completion. I don’t feel anything though. An empty caricature of before, feeling was lost so long ago…But, as I walk into the Golden Goose inn, desolated and tiny, yet crowded, warmth hits my frozen skin with a sudden blast.

Eyes search and find the usual spot. Dark and quiet. I almost pass without being noticed.

Almost.

I don’t recognise her for a moment. How could I have missed it? Glazed expression, covering sad eyes. Same fidgety movements. But, she’s thin. Sickly looking. Nothing like the girl I knew 7 years ago, then again, I’m not the same either. None of us are.

“Long time no see Ria…” I pull a cigarette out of the breast pocket of my leather, and pull out a lighter from my jeans.

She eyes my cigarette hungrily. Her breathlessness covers her Southie accent. “Do you have some…“

“No.” My voice is harsh. Harsher then intended.

She gulps slightly at the tone and scratches her bedraggled hair. Then leans back sighing. “Not that it matters, does it Max? The habits formed. I’ll find my stuff one way or another. You not liking it, is not going to change what I am… what I’ve become.”

I take in a heavy drag, and trace my fingers around the damp table. “Is that why you asked me to come here?” She doesn’t know that I come here a lot anyway. This inns more a companion, then I’d ever admit. “You look like shit.” I add.

She flings her head back and chortles a raucous laugh. Tarnished jewellery clanging. Bruises on her neck are raw. A long time ago, I would have felt revolted… maybe even pity.

“Not one for subtlety are we? …Its okay babe.” She leans toward me, her haltered neckline not leaving much to the imagination. “I would tell you were shove it if I didn’t love you so…” she smiles flirtily and blows me a kiss with pouted lips.

I watch her half mindedly, as well as absently gazing around the inn. Keeping a watch. Always on watch.

“You find her? The girl.”

The smoke billows in front of her face. She used to be pretty too. Once. ”Didn’t Michael tell you?”

“I han’t seen him.” She looks uncomfortable for a moment. “ We don’t really ya'know… speak much now.” She tosses her dirty hair, like it doesn’t matter. Chasing regrets from her mind. “She’s cute though. I’ve seen her enough times in the papers… makes you wonder, if all that rebelliousness is jus’ a put on… what’s she like?”

I take a long, insistent drag. “Colourful.”

She raises her brow. “Well you’ve never liked them obedient have you?” Her next questions feigns casualness, yet she avoids my eyes. “What you gunna do with her?”

I crush my cigarette on the ashtray. “Deciding.”

Her laughers loud again. Too loud. “There’s only so much you can do with a young, beautiful girl.” She fidgets beneath the table and looks up at me.

I look at her directly. Shattered soul meets shattered soul.“There are ways to be creative.”

She coughs uncomfortably. I smirk a little. My wondering eyes notice the bar maid Tess notice me, and she waves haughtily. I give her a nod. But today I won’t take what she as to offer. Today I’m not so broken. I’m nearer to completion. Nearer to revenge.

I slide my chair back. “You coming?”

“Nah...later.”

I glare at her, and she waves me away like I’ve said something.

“Don’t give me that disgusted look. You know I gotta do it.”

“What or who you put into your body doesn’t involve me Ria.” I don’t stay around long enough to see the lone tear trickle down her face.



Liz.

“This smells shitty.” I retort at the cloak the Mikes just thrown at me, yet I wrap it around myself anyway. The cold flows through the floorboards, into my skin and my teeth chatter as I speak.

“Anything else you’d like to complain about?” he asks, lying on the torn sofa with a hat covering his face.

“Yes.” I cry, without hesitation. “This house stinks, its damned cold, the toilets got a fucking rat in it and the views shitty.”

“Well, “ Mike peeks at me from under his hat unconcernedly. “Tough shit.”

“Tough shit” I mimic.

Asshole.

The other lot have disappeared, and its only me and my kidnapper for now. Kinda cosy. I look around the room. Its dark, only a small lamp next to Michael lights the dirty floor boards, the thread bare sofa, and a dirty coffee table. Shadows are flung about in every nook and cranny. I shiver.

“Why’d you do it?” Mike looks down at me. “You know, start all this kidnapping stuff.”

“Needed money, was hungry, alll the usual stuff.”

“Right.” I wrap my arms around myself. “You couldn’t think of stealing an electrical heater?”

He sits up. “What?”

“A heater. Its so cold.”

He looks confused. “You’re joking right?”

“Well then, maybe use your past cave man skills to light a fire?...Something…” I trail off as the door is flung open by Mr. Body art. His face is still expressionless as ever and he doesn’t look at me as he strides past.

“Who do you think I am, woman?” Mike rants, “ I’m not your fucking butler.” His eyes follow mine and up to tattoo man/Silo/ Max/whatever his name is. “You should listen to this one. Unbelievable.”

Mr. Dangerous doesn’t answer, he doesn’t to have any intention of listening to me either. “Hey!” I slink back, as his shadow covered face turns to look at me.

Piercing eyes.

I don’t know why I just did that…

I smile brightly at his shadowed face,“Um…”

He struts off again. Boots clanking. Ignoring me.

….IGNORING ME!

“Hey jerk!” I yell at his back, shrugging the cloak off me, as I scuffle up. “Did no one ever teach you not to walk away when a ladies talking!”

He doesn’t say anything. Instead he’s fiddling with something on a distant shelf.

“I have something to say.” I say haughtily at his back. I pause, staring at the straining of his vest. The skin of his back is clean compared to his arms. The silence goes on forever. “Why are you doing this?… I’ll give you money…whatever you need just ask…”

“Sit back down.” Mike gets up, yet Max makes a weird arm movement that makes Mike sit back down instead.

I see. He communicates non verbally.

I follow him into the kitchen. The first time I've gotten out of the room I was put in. I nearly puke trying not to look at the un-nameable insects on the counter. He still doesn’t look at me. “Why?… why do you guys need to even do this shit? you wanted a bit of a thrill? easy way to make a bit of cash?… born too poor?… couldn’t be bothered to go school? your dog die?…. Man of many words aren’t you?”

His quietness fuels me as he walks away. I stalk him like a shadow. No ones going to ignore me and get away with it.

Especially not him.

“Oi!” and suddenly I’m leaping on his back. My leg finds his and I throw him on to his back with a crash.

For the first time that night, he looks up at me with an expression that doesn’t look like he’s trying to get a rid of annoying buzz in his ear. Acknowledgment. Bingo.

“Judo.” Man of many words says. Is it me or does he look impressed?

I smile broadly down at him, from his chest. He doesn’t make the slightest attempt to move. “Practicing since I was 5” I say proudly. I give him a helping hand, but then use swift follow attack. He’s back on the floor in seconds.

Well hello. Someone actually looks surprised, but he doesn’t attempt to defend in anyway. “Don’t.” he says simply.

“Okay.”

Again there’s a hard thud as his head hits the boards. I grin,“Is that all you got?”

In minutes I’m on the floor lying beneath him, I do a quick save and he’s rolled and pinned beneath me.

I raise my eyebrow looking down into his surprised, shadow angled face. “Don’t under estimate the power of the woman.”

The shock turns into an unnerving smirk. “I never do.”

He gently pulls my hands from around his neck, and peels me off carefully like a rubber band, then picks himself from the floor. Again, he turns away.

I stare at his back.

This is infuriating.

I wait exactly three seconds before I attack from his back left.

A sharp gasp escapes my lips, as his elbow shoots back from nowhere and the breath is knocked from as I lie against the floor, holding onto my ribs.

“I meant it when I said don’t “ he turns from a door on his right, staring down at me authoritatively. He speaks slowly. Almost lazily. “Don’t underestimate me either. You don’t know what I’m capable of.” Then turns away, closing the door with a small click behind him, whilst I’m left clutching my painful side.


****

Hello people….Hopefully this chapter will answer some of your questions… I hope it makes sense….

Thanks for the FB.

Just a Criminal

Chapter 4


Liz.

Don’t under estimate me either.

Don’t underestimate me.

Piercing eyes threaten.

Is that what I was doing? Underestimating Max? His power? The danger that I’m in? I look around the darkened kitchen, the dirt encrusted floor, and shudder slightly. I wheeze at the small pain my side causes me.

I’m here. Kidnapped. Alone, with these…barely human criminals, who could do, god knows what to me.

Underestimating him? Was I….

Hold up.

Wait a minute... One measly minute… What’s he talking about? In fact, how dare he?

HOW DARE HE?

Don’t these shitty criminals know who they’re dealing with? Don’t they know?…haven’t they heard of Elizabeth Marie Wilcox- Parker? Don’t they know what my families capable of?

How dare--

Ignoring the pain on my side, I jump up and brazenly rush toward door he's just disappeared through. I kick it mightily hard with my bare foot. “Oi, you in there! If you think your getting away with this you dick, you have another thing coming!” There’s no answer. So I yell a bit more, and kick, then yell a bit more.. and more, until my throats raw and Michael has to drag me away and tie me up again.

“You’ll regret the day you decided to cross paths with me!” I cry as he wraps my hands together with the rope he used before.

“Trust me. I’m doing that already.” He says regretfully and throws me a McDonalds burger from the sofa, then shakes his head muttering something about ‘Silo and adamant’.

Even though my stomach is hugely regretting it, I pick it the burger up and throw it against the wall. Mayonnaise splatters, and the mess lands on Dosey's head, who yells a ‘Stupid bitch’ at me. Its not the first time he’s said that. Twirly as usual buries himself further in his huge clothes.

“Well there goes your dinner for the day.” Mike sighs.

“If you think I'm eating your shit you have another thing coming.”

“Starve then.”

“Gladly.”

Mike closes his eyes, jaw clenched turns away from me. “Christ you really know how to annoy the shit out of someone.”

“The feelings mutual.” I spit at his back.


******

Max baby close your eyes…. don’t look baby….don’t…

Crying. Screaming. Yelling. Her voice. Anguish, pain.

Never heard anything like it from her. Are those her noises?

Keep your eyes closed…

Fists tighten…I can hear, but I can’t look. Can’t look. Don’t look….

Oh god! Stop this. Stop this. Please. Please. Leave them alone….

LEAVE HER ALONE!

No. Please. No. NO!

“NOOOO!” I’m yelling as my eyes shoot open, and bolt upright in bed. Sweat covers my bed sheets. Tangled around my body. Heart thumps in my ears. Loud. Deafening. I don’t have time to reflect on my reoccurring nightmare, as the noise outside is enough to make me jump out and run outside without even reaching for a shirt.

The front doors open. The girl- Liz is crouched against the wall, her arms bracing herself. She looks tiny. The dog barks roughly, loudly, straining toward her as Michael holds its leash, trying to calm it down.

Yelling. Barking.

“My god…” she’s pale. Pressing her body agaiainst the wall. “My god.” She repeats, trying to form a shield with her hands.

“Liz, meet Car.” Michael smirks. “Our more excitable member.”

“It nearly bit my leg off.” She examines her bare leg and takes a terrified jump back as Car rushes at her again. “Oh god! Keep it away from me!”

“That what you get for tryna run…you stupid bitch!” Dosey cries. “Spoilt all my sleep!” he’s helping Michael too, holding the straining, lashing, biting dog. “Stupid bitch—“

Dosey stops as I step out of the shadows. I don’t speak. I kneel and stroke Car. Smooth his fur. Murmer in his ear. Its soothes him. I’ve always been better with animals. Understood them more then people. He stops barking finally. I nod at Twirly, who takes him inside.

I turn. Michael stands arms folded, glaring at Liz. Dosey is red in the face and starts to stutter. “Silo. Calm that woman… she’s--,“

“I’ll take it from here.”

“She tried to escape… she needs--,“

“I said.” I say more precisely. “I will take it from here.”

Dosey looks displeased. Reluctant to go. Like he’ll miss something exciting, but with a final look between the girl and I, follows Michael.

I examine her. Lost child cuddling herself in a corner. She shrinks back at my gaze. I walk toward her slowly. She becomes smaller. I stand.

“I thought it was worth a try.” She says half coyly, not looking at me.

“I was expecting it.” I kneel down and open knots in the ropes around her fists. The shock on her face is stringent.

“Hence Car.”

“Actually it was lucky he was there.” I straighten. “he’s been with me a while. Going a bit senile in his old age.”

“No shit.” She stands up and examines herself again. The only thing that’s out of place is the dirt that marrs her unflawed skin.

“You’d know if he took a piece outta you.” I show her the huge bruise on the back of my right arm.

“He did that?” her voice heightens.

I almost laugh at the expression on her face. The most scared I've seen her since she got here. “Before we were friends.”

I walk toward the car. When I turn, she’s frantically looking around. It’s the first time she’s been out. That someone’s let her be more then a metre away from them. She bites her lip, contemplating.

“There’s woodland all around for miles. I wouldn’t bother.” I open the passenger door, “Get in.”

“You must be joking.” She takes a step back.

“In!”

She scrambles in the car with an air stubbornness about her. Michael was right. Gotta keep an eye on her.

I drive along the narrow path, the golden light of sun spreading from the east horizon. Her eyes quicken, taking in the landscape, anything that may help her route to escape.

“Where you taking me?” she says finally giving up. Arms folded.

“Food.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I’m hungry.”

“Good. So am I, and if we could avoid shit like McDonalds, that would be good too.”

I can’t help but smirk at the aura of sass that surrounds her. “I thought you said you weren’t hungry.”

“I was actually going to get food, before I encountered your loving dog.”

“That’s a helluva an excuse.”

“What?” She turns toward me. Even though she hasn’t eaten or slept, there’s an uncanny freshness about her.

“You were trying to run.” I inform.

“Well, only half.” She laughs, like she embarrassed to admit it, flinging locks of shiny hair back proudly. “This is a bit of an adventure, you know. I get bored at the estate…People in general are pretty boring.”

I cock an eyebrow at her. Is this girl for real?

“I might, well--- stick around until it gets boring. Loses its novelty.”

“Loses its novelty.” I repeat, as we take a turn for a country road. She speaks like she has a choice in the matter. Again she turns, looking for clues. Road signs. “Aren’t you scared?”

She slumps back in her seat. “Aren’t you?”

I turn to look at the crazy woman beside me. For the first time our eyes meet. She doesn’t blink. I’m taken aback by her forthrightness. I’ve never seen anything like it.

It’ll be her downfall.

There’s always something.

“My fathers powerful in a world of normals you know. He pretty much owns things. Its probably an uproar now. No one lays a hand on me.” She tilts her head back, proud. “No one. Once your caught, you’re pretty much screwed. So that why, my advice is, take the money.”

“You think that will make me?”

“It should…if you’re smart enough.”

“I have my motivations.” Her eyes are questioning. “ Faith. Moral sense of justice.”

She snorts. “Is that how you justify it? Sense of justice?”

I don’t respond, instead I stop the car with a jerk, outside a dirt road sign flashing ‘Bills’. She presses her head against the car seat a few seconds, getting over the shock of a sudden stop, then looks revolted at the look of the place.

“Best place for miles.” I tell her.

She fidgets, looks at me and fidgets again.

“Problem?’

“Um, could you put a shirt on?” She blushes a wild red.

I look down at my bare chest. Oh, right. No shirt. I had completely forgotten…I stretch behind her and pull on a grey t-shirt from the back. There’s silence.

“These are for you.”

She stares at the cap, and the huge sun glasses I’ve put in her lap. “If I wanted to be seen, how do you know I wouldn’t stand up and scream?”

“I don’t.”

She laughs and puts them on.


****

Liz.

“I didn’t know greasy food could taste so good.” I say munching on my second plate of fry up. “And god, is it greasy!” the sausage leaks fat as I take a huge bite. I’ve never tasted anything so good.

He watches me as I eat, barely touching his sandwich. He’s been doing it for the last hour, yet its still un nerving. He’s almost impossible to read. Yet there’s something inherently dangerous about him, that I’m actually watching what I say.

Finally when my stomachs sated, we sit with two black coffees steaming up Bills windows.

“So what do you want?”

“What?”

“I’m not stupid enough to believe that you bought me here out of the kindness of your heart. You, criminal. Me, annoying brat. Not a good combination.”

“Observant.” He smirks.

“ You’re not the only one you know… I just make it less... obvious.”

He stares at me again. I wish he’d stop doing that.

“I need your help.”

My coffee stops at my lips and I bring it down with a crash. “Now that’s not something I thought I’d be hearing.”

He does the stary thing again.

“Go on.” I look around me. There’s a greasy haired waiter, fiddling with cakes behind the counter, a middle aged fat lady in vibrant coloured clothes, and gang of dirty looking men talking loudly in the corner. Max doesn’t bother lowering his voice when he speaks though, it’s like he’s having the most normal conversation in the world.

“What I want you do… is difficult, but easier for you then anyone else.” I stretch forward, interested. “It involves your father... Liz, your father isn’t what he seems.”

I sit back and shake my head. “Right, and you think I’m going to believe you?”

“That’s up to you. But you should know your fathers been involved a lot of stuff…” He goes on as I glare at him. “ Awful things. Things that aren’t heard of.”

“Right.” I feel anger boiling inside me.

“I know this hard for you to believe now… but its true. I need you to get some important information from him.” He’s leaning toward me, his bodies stiff. Anxious, maybe.

“Why do you think I would do that?”

He smirks,“If you’re smart enough you will.” My hand shakes, and its not from fright.

We’re stuck in a duelling match of eyes.

How dare he threaten me? Who does he think he is?

“Liz…” he begins again.

I jump up and scream.

****

Thumbelina- Nice to have u back. Vampyrax, MaxandLiz4ever1357, thanks for reading. Ellie- the truth to be revealed! Though its not that hard to figure, I guess… BehryLiz- Very close. Mom- Glad you liked! LinLiz, Cherie, Frenchkiss- More answers soon. Though this chapter might not be the one to give them... Smac, Emz80m, JasonsLover- Glad you like her…Shes fun to write. SweetnSpicyCandy- Thanks for reading. I have an idea who might have been involved in this recommendation making! LovieDovie, VeronicaB- thanks for reading. Alma- Welcome, ‘eb- always a pleasure to read what you have to say.

Now, on we plough…

Just a Criminal

Chapter 5


Loud. Clear. Shrill.

I scream, till my lungs might burst. I scream with all I’m made of. On and on. I don’t wait for Max’s reaction. I run. Weaving through tables, scrambling through hands. Somehow, between all this frenzy, something strikes.

Something inexplicably strange.

Something that’s not right.

This isn’t right….

No…

****

The first thing I notice is a clean smell, like a hospital. Its weird how it happens like that. I would have thought it’d be the other way around. But, no. First, its the smell, then just a millisecond after the torturous, extreme pain.

It hurts.

God, my head…

I try opening my sealed eyelids and almost scream in agony.

Ow. Ow!

What the hell…

Bright, unforgiving lights pounds my skull and I lie back. My head feels like a lump of battered meat.

I try again, prying eyes open with all my will, lifting my head, but lie back again in sheer pain, after only a second.

…Oh god…What is going on?

Ow.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.” A voice. Its not like anyone I’ve heard before. Its not Max, Michael or Dosey. Haven’t heard Twirly speak, but I know its not him either. Its cold, ice like. “The extremely heavy sedative given to you is still playing out its effects. It may continue to do so for a while.”

“Where am I?…how long have I?…” My voice sounds far away.

“Around 14 hours. Max was kind. A little more of the stuff would have sent you into a coma.”

The hope that I may be in hospital, being cared for, dies down quickly at his words.

“Don’t struggle. It’ll just hurt more.”

Ice like. The perfect way to describe the voice.

I manage a peek.

White. Empty space. Faces.

There’s a familiar face staring down at me. A fat lady, stretching her grey suit to the max.

….Where have I seen her before?

She moves to the side, and then utter panic hits me, making me sober on the spot. It’s the strangest thing. Not one that would send everyone to into a state of hysteria. But for me, it does.

Max in a grey suit. A grey suit.

…what?

The drumming in my head gets louder.

He looks uncomfortable in such formal wear, not bothering to even glance at me, as he stares straight ahead robotically. Next to him stands Michael, looking bored, Twirly, fidgeting and Dosey, looking excited. All in identical suits, looking so different from before- that I almost think I’m dreaming. I know I’m not though. There’s still an air of grubbiness/ grunginess about them despite their formal presentation.

I drop back onto my pillow breathing hard. “That’s it. Lie down. We’ll take care of the rest.” The voice says.

…God… what is going on?

Where am I?

What is this?

Like he can hear me, the speaker steps in front. All I see is a glistening bald head. Unlike the others, he’s dressed informally, untucked white shirt, and jeans. His eyes are a misty grey. He’s shorter then the others and hard to believe that such a stringent voice can be coming from such a small man.

“Hello Liz.”

He waits like he expects me to answer. I stare.

“Ed Rogers. Though I prefer Sneg. More interesting sounding, don’t you think?” his voice is casual, like he’s having an every day conversation rather then talking to one of the richest girls in the world, that he’s taken hostage. “ I was passing and thought I’d drop by to see how you were doing.” He smiles warmly and I see one gold tooth.

I think I’m going to puke.

“Your father and I are old acquaintances. “ I stare, and he looks at down at me, in a way that makes me fee naked. “Developed quite a bit since I last seen you.” He winks at me like an old uncle, “I would stay. But I have other matters…” he takes a step behind and pats Max on the shoulder, “time for my boys to take over,” ruffling Max’s hair lovingly, he grins widely likes its giving him the greatest pleasure. “Have fun.”

Max’s expressions doesn’t change. Giving me another penetrative stare ‘Sneg’ turns. “Come on Cheryl.” The fat lady nods and follow him, and all of a sudden it dawns. She was the fat, vibrant coloured lady at Bills.


*****

Max

When I enter her cell again, its hours later. The urge to smash her face into tiny little pieces has subsided. Slightly.

Entering the code, I swing open the heavy door, and my footsteps echo around the white room. Its more like a hotel room. Green sofa, a plasma TV hanging of the wall, an oak breakfast bar, on the other side, and a single bed, from which she hasn’t moved.

“Oh there you are.” Her voice is husky, like she’s been crying. “Wondered when one of you would come hassle me again.”

I rip the jacket, that I had pulled on top of my grey shirt in a hurry, off, and slam it on the floor.

“Thank god… you looked so odd in that suit…” the anger in my eyes makes her trail off. I start toward her and she shrinks back.

I wonder if she can smell the repulsion I have for her, bouncing of every atom in my body.

I come to an abrupt stop in front of her bed, and look down. She’s huddled up in her dirty clothes, so close to my legs, that she’s nearly touching me. She’s confused. She hasn’t seen me like this.

“Rage.” I say softly. “A long time since I’ve felt it.”

I push away the nagging, at why I’m feeling like this. Instead, I concentrate on keeping it together. Before I knock her out.

She opens her mouth and closes it again. I fumble in my back pocket for a cigarette. Light it. I watch her carefully, as bubbles of anger, loss, slowly subside with each smoke.

She blushes a bright red, and looks hugely uncomfortable. “What? What are you looking at me like that for?”

I don’t answer straight away. “I hate it when things don’t go to plan. I hate it when someone else is the cause of things not going to plan.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You. Being here.”

“What about me being here? It wasn’t planned?” she looks even more confused.

“It was. But not according to my plan. Not so soon.” I take another drag, and she coughs slightly, waving away the smoke.

“Watch where you blow that.”

I ignore her. Her being here, it would be a kind of loss. For me anyway. “I under estimated you.”

She’s defiant. “I told you not to.”

“I wouldn’t look so pleased.”

“What are you talking about?” she suddenly looks annoyed. “Where am I?”

“ Liz.” I shake my head. “You are on your deathbed. I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But all I know is, you are going to die here.”

****

Kinda short I know…But I’ll be quicker next time yo make up….

Confusion! Confusion… Let me know if this sorts it out, or just confuses you more! Also, All/most information about government is fictitious.

Previously:

“ Liz.” I shake my head. “You are on your deathbed. I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But all I know is, you are going to die here.”

Just a Criminal

Chapter 6

She just sits and looks up at me with huge doe eyes. She doesn’t blink. She doesn’t ask. Strange how I can be so repelled, at probably, the most intriguing being I’ve ever seen. Strange, how I can feel so much anger toward something that looks so fragile. For a moment, just a moment, I think I see her eyes well up. But then, she looks down and back up. There’s fire.

“I’ve come across a lot of people that think they can control fate. My fate. But you’re the most crass of them all.”

Again, not a reaction I was expecting. But, something tells me, I should get used to it. Being surprised around her. Its gets under my skin, and I speak before I can restrain myself. “I haven’t got control of mine. Why should I be trying to control anyone else’s?” I circle around her bed, until I'm standing at its foot. “You have no idea what you’re in for.”

“You have no idea, at who you’re dealing with!”

Ignorance. It overwhelms me. “It still hasn’t hit home has it? You are this close from being killed.” I show her a minute difference between forefinger and thumb. “This close. That man you just met is Sneg. Boss man. He might not do it fast. He might do it tomorrow. But he’ll find a way.”

She looks away defiantly. The slight tremor in her hand gives her away. She’s scared. “Why?” she asks, voice highering. “Why? Why? Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

I’m not sure if she means why I’m telling her, her fate. Or why the inevitable must happen.

“Why?” she gasps. I stare. How can someone alternate from such fieryness to such, fragility?

I look away. Walk away. But not before I see. A transparent tear spills down her cheek.

There’s much in the room. Everything to make a prisoner feel he’s not in jail. Yet the walls are empty. White. A feeling of bareness, bleakness, behind it all. There’s always that small, tiny thing to give it all away. “Its all a game. Sneg, loves playing games.”

“What?…”

“I shouldn’t have taken you to Bills. But, I had no choice. It was part of the mission. Its always like this on our missions. He tests us. Never stops. To see if we’ll go all the way. I’ve risen to every challenge. Proved my loyalty again and again. The least I could do…but, this one was…It was…” I trail off and crush my cigarette on the ashtray sitting on the table, with force.

What was it? Special? Different? Close to my heart? What the fuck was it Max?

“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head.

She looks confused at me talking to myself, but something in her dawns. “All those people…at Bills…were they…”

“ Yeh, involved.” Way to go Princess. “This isn’t child’s play.”

“Oh.my.god.” She’s got it. Faster then I expected. Her pupils are pinpoints of endless, jet black. “Who are you?” She jumps off the bed and looks around like a bewildered deer. “What the fuck is going on? Where am I?” She’s hyperventilating. “What is this place?” There’s mere panic in her voice as she paces. Takes a whole turn round.

“Sit down.”

She starts toward me, “Let me out.”

“Stop it--”

“Seriously… I mean it--what are you doing!!”

I grab her arm, try to calm her. Lead her toward the bed.

“Let me go! LET ME GO!” In an instant, she’s caught me unaware. We’re both on the bed. Struggling. She’s on top of me. We flip. I’m on top of her. Holding her down with my body weight. She’s a fighter. Going for my eyes. Trying to pry them out.

“Liz…Liz!” I pull her arms apart. Millimetres. The distance between my face and hers. Huge scared eyes. Flawless skin. Lips, a chilly, stung red. Expulsions of ragged, warm breath. For a mere second, I forget if she’s the daughter of an enemy, or my lover.

A mere second.

****

Liz.

The goose pimples rise on the back of my neck, with a force unknown to me. For a moment… just one moment, I almost believe he’s not staring at me with the utmost repulsion.

But, then its back again. He lets go of me like I’ve electrocuted him, and leans back. Disgusted again.

I want to punch him in the face.

No living man, ever has been this repulsed by me…this disgusted.

His head is against the wall as he looks up at the bright, white ceiling. “ You bought this on yourself.”

“How can you say that?” I cross my arms in front of me. Hold them against me hard.

“You’re so ungrateful. Its disgusts me.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, Its all coming out now.” I move away from him to the opposite side of the bed. As far away from the bastard as possible.

“I was being civilised.” Right. “I hoped you could help me…somehow. But its over now.”

“I'm sure you'll get the most civilised kidnapper award and what’s over?!” I scream. For the love of god! Or whatever you believe in. Stop talking in riddles.

He ignores my question, like it doesn’t matter anyway. “Do you know who we are? … Ever heard of the CIA, the FBI?”

“You’re the FBI? …What?” I knew it was something huge. That enormity dawned on me minutes ago. But this huge? This huge?…

I shake my head. Try to clear cobwebs.

Its can’t be.

This is a dream. I’ll wake up in a minute. I’ll be in my English Mansion, where the butler makes the best iced tea in the world. Or maybe Italy, where Dad hired a cook who makes the best pineapple Pizza.

“No we’re not. There’s a type of FBI you could say, employed by the secret shadow government. It’s a government that works along side our own.” He goes on, answering the question in my eyes. “It has a lot of control. Controls many of the …you could say…more secret, taboo issues.”

“So you work for them? The secret government?” My hearts pounding so loud in my ears, I wonder how I can hear him.

“ I don’t.”

“You don’t.” I repeat. I’m even more confused than before. Maybe the game is called, 'confuse the girl to death'.

“ No. We’re the rebels, you could say… A secret branch to the shadow government. But we’ve broken away from the people who operate it. We operate on our own.”

“Do they know about you? The original shadow government?”

“They do.”

“They’ll stop you then.” I say triumphantly.

“Ignorance is bliss.”

I stare at him. Triumph sinks to the bottom of my gut.

Max shakes his head. “Too much hassle. We’re just a slight nuisance to more important matters.”He stares at the blank wall infront of him, like he's clarifying something with himself, but goes on, “ As long it doesn’t involve them, and we get our own mess sorted. They don’t give two shits about what we do.”

Right.

Right.

They don’t care.

The damned government don’t care.

Don’t care about me.

Christ. Jesus. I think I’m having an out of body experience. I wait a while. Until some coherence comes out of my mouth.

“Are you allowed to tell me all this?”

He snorts and straightens out the collar of his shirt. “If anyone knew. They’d kill me before they killed you.”

“Why are you telling me, then?”

“Because with all the power behind him. With every government facility we have. After what I’ve told you… do you really think Sneg, is going to let you walk out of this place, alive?”


****

I didn't intentionally end it on two death threats in a row. Its just kinda happened....

If this story suddenly stops making sense, (not that it made a lot in the first place...) but you know... really stops making sense, its because i was typing it asleep, at two in the morn. Please forgive... :I oh, FrenchKiss for now I'd say Sneg is the boss type person, even though Max has a lot of authority in his group.


Just a Criminal

Chapter 7

Liz

The humming.

Its a penetrating sound in the background. Always there. It’s there when I’m around, and even when lost in nameless thoughts. Its driving me insane, yet, its become such a integral part of me now, I think I'd probably go insane without it.

I don’t question where the hums coming from anymore. I don’t care. Its just nice to know- that there’s something stable. Something that’s there. Even if it’s just a noise.

When I finally open my eyes- the contrast hits me like ice, to warm flesh. The whiteness. It never fails to surprise me. I scan the room for the billionth time. I notice there’s no clock. No concept of time in this place. Even the stupid TV isn’t working. Its nice they put it up for show though.

Dick-heads.

Absolute, fucking, dick-heads.

“I hate you.” I mumble, my silent rage taking hold of me. I look around the room. “I hate you.” Picking up a pillow, I throw it against the small clear knob on the wall, turning to face me. “I FUCKING HATE YOU!”

“Don’t hate me. I’m just the messenger.” There’s loud laughter and I almost fall off the bed in fright. The girls standing behind me, posing, with arms folded. Her mousy blond hair, lies scraggly and unwashed around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a black, cotton, shirt-thing, that barely covers her skeleton like thighs, accompanied by unflattering 6 inch black boots.

How odd.

She waves a little nervously.

I don’t respond.

How long has she been there for? How the hell did I miss her coming in? And someone really needs to feed the girl.

Showing high energy for something that looks extremely frail, she skips toward me.

Yes. Skips.

“We finally meet princess.” And then startles me out of my skin, as she jumps on the bed and, grabbing my face in her hands, strokes my cheek. Looking extremely mesmerised.

I look uncomfortably at old mascara and brittle foundation smearing her cheeks. “Aren’t you pretty?” She sighs loudly and giggles.

Um…

I jump off the bed and take a step back.

The girls helps herself to lying full length on the bed. “I hate this place too. This place I live in. Its scary sometimes.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Oh introductions. Menial things.” she says with a meaningless wave of her hand. But introduces herself anyway. “I’m Maria, but call me Ria.”

“Ria?” It sound familiar. But I can’t place it.

“Yes. Oh!” she says suddenly, “ I bought you food.” She points behind her, to the carrier, standing by the exit door. “They told me you haven’t been eating. You should. Otherwise you’ll become all skin and bones, you will.” She laughs.

I wonder if its an ironic laugh.

“I told them I won’t touch it. I’ll tell you the same thing.” I fold my arms angrily.

Is that why they sent her here? To convince me to eat? Well someone should inform those secret, government, rebels, that sending some dirty looking anorexic, sure as hell isn’t going to make me change my mind.

“They’re being nice you know.” Her voice is soft. I almost don’t think it belongs to the same person. “Things can get much worse then this.”

“Don’t threaten me. I’ve had enough of those from Mr. Mean.”

“Max isn’t mean. He’s like hard fudge.”

I stare at her incredulously. What?

“It takes an effort and half to bite into, but then you’re addicted for life.”

“I hate fudge.”

She smiles to herself. “Yeah, toffees nicer.”

She's lying at an odd angle. Looking like a broken doll, lstaring dreamily up at the ceiling.

“Why are you here?”

“They didn’t send me. I just wanted to see what you were like…you’re pretty.” She adds.

“And what do you want?” I ask tiredly. Feeling this weird conversation with this weird person is going nowhere, weirdly enough.

“I want love. Warmth. I want my sister. My family. I want a strong solid man. I want my child-hood. My innocence. I want companionship.” She turns to me, and for the first time, I notice some kind of expression on her drained face.

Pleading.

****
Max

I stretch toward the air conditioning and bang on the vents with might, then jump off the chair and fiddle with the buttons on the wall.

The monitors, send out heat.

The airs like liquid warmth. I feel sweat cover my neck, as I fiddle, even though I’m just wearing a vest.

There’s hundreds of monitors littered around the room, covering this whole site. Pretty much. There’s the wide halls. Rooms. Bathrooms. Images of papers scattered around the bug office, where five men are hard at work. The testing room-- men in white coats. Some, I recognise. Some, I’ve never seen. The main room, hundred of computers, men in uniform.

My eyes catch an image from the five colour sets to my left. The source of my intrigue for the last four days. She’s not in the usual position. Her bed. Head on her knee’s. Arms wrapped around her legs. She normally sits so still, I can't tell if she's sleeping or awake.

Every angle of Liz’s room is available to me at the tap of the keyboard. Sitting down, I pull myself toward the desk. Toward the monitors. Take a sip out of one of the stale coffee cups strewn around.

I notice the empty, cardboard, pizza boxes lying around the room, before I follow her. I never thought it would be Maria who would do the trick. Help make some of that stubbornness fade. I wonder what she said to her.

She stands in front of the mirror, in the bathroom. The shower's running. There’s no cubicle. The shower is located the wall behind her, filling the bathroom floor with water. She stands a while, as the water flows about her ankles. I watch, voyeuristically, as her hands rest beneath her cream top and slowly pull it up higher, uncovering, inch, by inch her smooth stomach. She’s wearing no bra, obvious, as her breast spill into full view. Honey nipples pert, on edge. Ready to be taken into the mouth of the willing.

I’ve seen many women. In all sorts of undress and willing positions, but watching her like this makes an instant reaction heat my body. Even as I avert my eyes and scan the other screens, I’m drawn back to her. She walks fully naked, toward the shower and stands under. Unmoving for minutes. Facing the head.

I watch.

Water rushes over her head. Caressing her skin. Handling its self down her lips, her neck, her breasts, her body, with ease.

“Quite a piece of work ain’t she?”

“Huh?” I jerk up and coffee splatters over the keyboard. “Fuck.” I groan. And look up at Dosey angrily. I hate being caught off guard.

Michael follows behind him. His eyes scan the monitor and land back on me.

“Can’t help but notice, even if she is an absolute cow.” Dosey continues,”That pussy ain't half bad.”

I tap the keyboard. The screen switches. “Get me some coffee.”

Dosey throw me a resentful look and continues to stand on the spot embarrassedly.

“Go!” I say more harshly.

He mumbles under his breath and walks off.

“You’ve had a enough to last you lifetime.” Michaels says, looking at all the half finished cups of coffee, as he takes a seat behind me.

“Feel like I've been awake for one.”

“Go to bed. I’ll take over.”

“No.”

“You’re tired.”

“I need to stay awake.”

His eyebrows disappear into his hair. “Do you really Max? How much are you really going to get done in the next few hours? These screens aren’t going to show anything different.”

“No. I said I could handle it. Just keep outta my way.”

“Is that what you want me to do?”

“Yes.”

“So after all these years...after everything… you just want me out?”

I groan, and turn toward him. “I didn’t say that Mike.”

“From the looks of it, you're much too invested in this girl. You know what Sneg says about letting go of the past.”

“We’re all here because we’re victims of it.” I hit back.

Michael shakes his head, and moves toward me. “But if Sneg’s taught you anything, its to move on. And if I didn’t know any better- I would say Dosey isn’t the only one who wants a piece of her.”

He looks from the screen, now showing Liz's room, and then pointedly at my pants, and my dying erection.

I ignore him, and lean forward. “Do you have a smoke?”

He fiddles in his breast pocket and hands a cigarette to me.

“Your straying Max. I can see it in your eyes.”

I take a deep breath. “Don’t talk rubbish.”

“Sneg's done so much for us.”

“Its not what you think it is.”

“You cant avenge your parents just because we’ve got her now. It's not solved. It can't happen like that.”

“I’m getting closer.”

“We have to do what we have to do. We can’t question him. Sneg’s given us a new beginning.”

“Right.”

Right.

He was right.

Sneg had given me a new life. And Michael, Dosey, Twirly, Maria…

“Just because you’re getting close to your goal you can’t change--you can’t--“

“Fuck!” I slam the table, with my fists and jump up. Michael draws back a little in his chair. “Don’t you think I don’t know that? Don’t you think I'm reminded of how much I owe him everyday? Don’t you think I know I owe him my life...”

“Yes. We do.” Michael says, unmarred.

“It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Max…” Michael begins.

“It’s not Sneg Michael. I owe him a lot. Its the debt. Nobody wants to be in debt for life.”

BehrlyLiz, SweetNspicyCandy, Surfgirl02(I’m an addict myself…), JasonsLover- Once again I present you confusion delight. Cherie- I've enjoyed writing all my Maria's so far- I had a bit of a soft spot for her. Emz80m, Alma, thanks for reading- the passion is soon to come. AlienMom- You’re pretty correct on the Maria front. Lets just hope Liz listens, huh? LovieDovie- Hot, chocolaty, fudgy Max? With whipped cream? Hmm. Whole’ nother story! (really.bad.idea. to let imagination run loose with bf away.)

Just a Criminal

Chapter 8.

I watch him as he stalks about in my room, like a predator in midst of a hunt. I wonder why he visits so often. Sometimes he gives me things. Old magazines, books, toothpaste. Sometimes he barely says one word. Actually, most of the time, he barely says a word.

But today, today… the tables have turned. I’m making him nervous with my silence.

He looks at me. I glare straight back at him defiantly.

Its quiet.

He’s getting all antsy.

See? Silence.

“Sneg came to visit me you know.”

Damn-it!

He stops pacing, like someone’s taken a hold of his shirt and pulled him backward. “He did?”

I stretch against the wall. “You look surprised.”

“Normally…. he well, he doesn’t pay this much attention to our…”

“Projects?” I finish off for him.

He doesn’t give me an answer. “What did he say?

I shrug. “Came to see if I was doing okay. If I was eating the food Maria was bringing me. If I was enjoying it.” I snort. The nerve of these people. “I told him, maybe I would enjoy it if she didn’t bring me chicken soup 24/7. I mean, what is that? I’m a captive, not down with the flu.”

“And?…What did he say?”

I look at him curiously. He’s damn interested. I pause a little before I say, boredly, “He’ll send more flavours.”

Max scratches his neck and coughs.

I look at him curiously.

“You should be careful with him- he…”

“He’s a criminal?” I jump in. “Just like you and Michael and Maria? He might give me a death threats, or even kill me?” Sorry, Buddy. That’s old news.

He gives me his broody faced look, and disappears in his head. He does that quite a lot. Sometimes he’s there, and sometimes he’s, well, not.

I fold my arms and look down at my toe nails. The polish is chipping. “Anyway, I told him I need clothes.”

“What?”

“He said you would sort it out.”

“I gave you scrubs.”

I glare at him, disgusted. “I’ll die before I wear them.”

“They’re clothes.”

“They’re yellow!”

He looks at me. Like he doesn’t quite understand me, and then says, “Do you expect me to take you to the mall, or something?”

My heart almost misses a beat. “Could you?”

“You’re joking right?”

“No. Why? Are you?”

“No. What?… Yes.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Jesus. Jesus. JESUS!” I want to pull my hair out. And I would, if it wasn’t all falling out from all the fucking stress and bad shampoo, anyway.

There silence, as I grit my teeth together. I want out. Out. OUT.

“Jesus…” I say one final time, and huddle on the floor in a heap.

“That’s not going to make him descend you know.” I flip my head toward him and Max raises his eyebrows, unable to hide the forming smirk on his mouth.

“This is funny? This is funny?” I bury my head in my arms.

I wish someone would speed this whole, waiting before I die, process up. I would be really, really, grateful.

Only then, I notice true silence. No thudding of Max’s boots. No screaming Maria. Even the air conditioner seems to have stilled.

“Liz?”

I don’t answer him.

“Hey, Liz.”

Is it me? Or does he sound concerned, for a change?

Of course its just me.

Stupid jerk-face.

I hate him.

“I’ll get Maria to get you some.”

“Some what?” I growl, from my arms.

“Clothes.”

Before I can look up, he’s disappeared again.


******


I don’t know how long its been. Days? A week at the most? Time just drags on. It could have been months…years, for all I know.

All this…sitting, eating, thinking, sleeping, blends into one.

I’m slowly blending into surroundings. Into the whiteness around me. Maybe this room holds essence of captive, souls like me. Maybe, that’s why its so overwhelmingly desolate and lonely here.

The only thing that reminds me of who I am, are memories. My fathers expensive suits, when I think hard enough, I can almost smell his cologne. I think about, Alex’s looks of foreboding, and when I’m being stubborn, the way his eyebrows just kind of disappear into thin air. Even the way my mother fixes me with glares every time I walk into a room, remind me of home.

I let out an ironic laugh. My mothers glares. That’s one I thought I’d never miss.

“Liz , sweetie!…” the slam of the door reminds me of where I am, and I don’t even have to guess as to who has come wondering into my room at this time of night. “There you are!” Maria stands in front of the bed, in a flowy nightie, with a mock cross expression across her face, like she’s been searching for me far and wide and finally managed to find me.

“Surprise.” I groan.

You’d think they’d send someone a bit more sane.

“Look what I bought you.” Maria smiles widely and holds up a packet in her hand. “Soup!”

Oh, joy.

“Yay.” I say deadpan.

She busily walks over to the breakfast bar. “I’ll put it over here. Don’t forget to eat ok?”

“Sure thing.”

“Max said you needed clothes. They’re my favourites…Here.” She drops leather pants and corset onto my bed.

I groan again.

“You don’t like them?”

“I…well…” she looks at me, with huge eyes, and I give in and shrug, before she has one of her famous mood swings and starts to cry or something. “ They’re great.”

“Will you wear them tomorrow?” she asks excitedly.

“I’m glad you bought soup. I was getting hungry.”

She smiles widely.

I make soup and eat. Maria declines. She never eats here. I’m not really hungry, either. It’s something to do I guess. Maybe obesity stems from boredom.

She talks. Well, there is definitely one thing about her…she’s entertaining. I find myself laughing at her jokes, her little habits, even at her, that sometimes, I almost mistake her for a friend.

She’s telling me about her adventures with an elephant in India. I’m pretty sure she’s lying about the elephant trampling on her leg. Or smacking her with its trunk, for that matter. But, I’ve decided I really don’t care, when a sudden migraine strikes me.

“Ow!” I kneel on the bed. Holding my head.

Maria stop mid-sentence. “Hey, you okay?” She reaches for me.

I nod my head. “Just the migraine. I’ll be okay.”

She bites her lip. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Ow.” I rub my head.

“Anything I can do?” she sound panicky.

I squeeze my eyes for a bit, and it subsides slightly. “No. Unless you can get me out of here.”

I need out. Even if its out of this room for five minutes.”

"The claustrophobia’s started manifesting itself in migraines.” I tell her.

She hesitates a bit “Well, there might be…” she looks nervously at the camera, on the ceiling, facing my bed.

My eyes widen.

“There might be a way…to get you out of this room for a bit…” she gives me a sheepish green.

My jaw drops. “Really?..” My god! “why haven’t you told me this before?!”

“Well…” she giggles at the excited expression on my face. “I wasn’t going to tell you.”

“No shit!”

“And well,” she contemplates, “ it’s a little dangerous.”

I look around the room. “Maria. Look where I am. Now. Does it look like I care?”

She smiles and shrugs. “Okay. You can’t tell anyone ok? Max taught me this ages ago-- when we use to kid around and stuff, but if anyone finds out there’ll be…”

“Ria. Please!” I cry. “Even the thought of getting out of the room has made my migraine disappear.” I give her my wide eyed, expression.

It normally works, quite well.

“Okay.” She laughs. “Stand in front of that camera. Yeah like that… directly.”

I clamber on bed, stand directly infront of the camera above my bed, so everythings blocked from view, but the back of my head.

Maria jogs to the camera by the breakfast table, pulls up a stool and fiddles with it.

“What are you doing?” My mouths dry.

“Just a little trick I was taught. It keeps the cameras on back play for a few. Until we’ve done what we’ve gotta do.” She winks at me.

She does same with the camera I’m standing in front of.

I can feel my heart already thumping hard in my chest, by the time she clambered off the bed and taken hold of my arms, I’m sweating all over. We stare into each others eyes, like we’re soldiers off to war.

“This place is huge. I only know around five percent of this facility. I’m glad that’s all I know, from what I've heard." She bites her lip hesitantly, "Some parts of this place are heavily alarmed. But the parts I know. I know… pretty well…”

I nod every time she takes a breath, like she’s an army official, giving me instructions.

Maria adopts a serious tone. “Whatever you do, do not let yourself be seen. I remember Sneg caught this guy defying him once. Going somewhere he wasn’t meant to. He was shot on the spot.”

I’m taken aback for a second. Shot him? “That’s a pretty heavy penalty.”

“ We live by the rules Liz. That’s the name of the game.”

I gawp at her her. “I cant believe he would do that.”

“It wasn’t Sneg." she shrugs it off, like its a normal occurance. "Others handle his dirty work.”

I gulp, at an image of Maria falling to the floor, after Max has shot her in the head.

I bite my lip. “So its danger to you? Maybe we shou--,”

She waves her hand, reaches into her dress and pulls out swipe card, slides it through the slot, and pulls the door open.

****

Hey peeps. Sorry for being so long. I kinda lost this chapter. How...when it was actually on the computer? Don't ask. Just call me and ditz and get it over with! Enjoy.


Just a Criminal

Chapter 9


I wait for alarms. For armed men to come running towards us. Gunning us down whilst silent screams escape our lips.

Instead, an eerie silence greets me.

I step into the huge corridor shoeless, noticing the floors a metallic cold whilst tiptoeing forward. I stop at a turning and Maria bangs into my back. She puts her hand to her mouth in a plea for silence, as I let out a small squeal. I smile like an excited girl and she returns it. Its almost like skiving off school, but a hundred times more dangerous.

“This way.” She nods toward the left, and tells me to keep behind her. The walls are blank. Not a single scratch on them. It’s kind of like walking through a windowless hospital corridor.

We tiptoe even though our feet make no noise, stopping every few seconds as Maria does a fiddly thing with each camera we pass.

I watch her with a certain adoration I never knew I had for her. Suddenly she seems like the bravest girl in all the land. It’s a breath of fresh air to be away from my cell, no matter how much danger I might be in. I have Maria to thank.

Maria motions at me, each time she’s done the fiddly thing, and we continue to walk like a couple of naughty kids on their way to steal some sweets. She stops suddenly and nods toward the white, metal door that’s suddenly appeared from nowhere.

“You wanna see something?” She whispers.

“Sure.”

“My swipe card works for that door. We call it the test room.”

Maria jumps to look through the small window located high up on the door above our head, and then swipes.

The room looks like a science lab. Filled with brown tables, and equipment, and smells all chemical-ish. I walk to the far right, whilst Maria investigates things on the desk top. I notice there’s a brown wooden door located on the wall to the far right, too.

Shelves. A lot of them. There are iron grates which hold chemicals. Some are unnamed. Some are colour coded. . A lot of them have a blue fire diamond on them. Combustible substances.

“Eww.” Maria screeches.

I run over to her side. My eyes widen in disgust. “What is that?”

“Something gross.”

I look down at a green jelly like substance. The middle bit looks fleshy and red, like its bleeding.

“What do they test in here?” I turn away, repulsed. Even though Max had given me some idea. Every passing moment, this place becomes more and more a mystery.

“I don’t know.” Maria shrugs. “Everything and anything… “

“Everything?” I ask curiously. “Maria. Who are these people?”

She looks up at me. “There’s only so much I know as well, Liz.”

Suddenly I feel a little concerned for the blonde beside me. I don’t know why, after all she is one of them, and she’s managed to handle herself fine so far. But something’s irking me.

Before I can say more, there’s a sudden noise. I can hear the keys turning. Maria and I stare at one another.

It’s the brown door.

That’s it then. Its over. This was a stupid thing to do. I knew it! Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

Maria slides under the nearest lab table. She’s waving at me. I’m meant to join her I guess.

“Liz!” She whispers, frantically at me. “Liz! … Liz!!!”

I’ve frozen. I can’t move.

ohgod.ohgod.ohgod. What if they catch us? I cant even name the many indiscernible thoughts going through my head. For all I know, they’d make me an experiment in one of these very labs.

“Liz!”

A hand grabs my leg and I’m falling to the ground, and under the table.

I can hear Maria’s harsh breath beside me, in rhythm to my own. I wish there was a way I could stop breathing. Stop the noise.

A man with receding hairline in a white lab coat walks in, he pulls a key out of his pocket and undoes a metal grate. He picks up small jar and exits, leaving the keys on the counter.

Maria gives him a few seconds, then slides back out from under the table, still looking flushed.

I guess she’s wondering, how on Earth she got talked into this idea.

I’m wondering the same thing.

“Come on. Lets go.” She says all panicky.

“Okay.” I follow. “Wait.”

“Liz…where are you going- what? Liz!”

I grab the keys the receding guys left on the counter and shove them in to a pocket of my nightie. Maria holds the door open for me as we run.

****

“Isabel?” I walk bleary eyed, toward the darkened figure of my sister. She’s crouching beside the Christmas tree.

“Shh, Max. Quiet please.” She puts her fingers to her mouth, like she’s a whole lot older then me.

Normally I would remind her that only a two minute difference doesn’t mean she’s the boss of me. Instead i'm curiously staring at the present she’s wrapping up, and doing a really bad job of too.

“What are you doing?”

“Mom and Dad’s present.”

“I’m sure Santa will leave something for them.” I say assuredly.

“Don’t be silly.” Isabel shakes her head, sellotaping the present with utmost fervour.

“Why? He does normally.”

“That’s Dad. He leaves things for Mom.”

“No.” I explain. “ Mom said it was Santa.”

“Don’t believe everything grown ups say, Max.”

“Why?” I’m curious. Mom and Dad don’t lie.

“Lets just say, Santa’s having a day off. Ok?”

I guess there’s no point in arguing with her. I’m so sleepy, nothing makes sense and she thinks she's always right, anyway. I guess I’ll get Mom to explain to Isabel tomorrow, that Santa doesn’t have days off.

Why would he, when he only works one day in the year?

I yawn loudly and rub my eyes. “What time is it anyway?”

“2 am.”

“That’s late.”

“Early.”

“huh?”

“Its morning.” Isabel looks up slightly and turn back to the present.

I shrug. “ Can I help?”

My sister throws me a stern stare. “Be quiet for a start. If Mom wakes up she’ll have us.”

As if on cue. there’s footsteps. Isabel and I stare each other and run into kitchen. Isabel grabs me and pushes me into the nearest cabinet. There’s just enough room for the two of us. She’s grabbing the door, and it closes with a thud.

Darkness.

I open my eyes. For a change my hearts not thudding like a mad man. Rivulets of sweat aren't running down my skin. I wasn’t screaming at them to stop.

This dream is so much worse. My past life was so long ago, that it no longer exists in my memory. That is, apart from in my dreams. My dreams are vivid. The good ones as much as the bad ones. Then I wake, and everything I've ever had and lost, is relived in milliseconds of realising where I am now. Who I've become.

I can't describe the feeling. It's like being paralysed and having your soul sucked away from your body as you watch on, helplessly.

I graon and rocket out of bed. This is hell.

There's only one person that can help me to redemption. One person that can help make this living hell, less painful.

Liz.

***

We run and run and run. Only part of my mind comprehends that we’re going the opposite direction of where we came from.

My heart is the only thing I hear when Maria’s stops in front of me. Maria pushes me into a corner, rather aggressively. “Stay here.”

I stare at her. She going to leave me alone?! “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to go through Michaels stuff. Don’t move.”

“What?” I ask confused. Why on earth… “Where? … Maria!”

She’s gone.

I stand quietly. I’m standing on something soft. When I look down, I realise its carpet. This place looks nothing like anything I've seen so far. The corridors are comfy, wider. It warmer, almost cosy.

I wait, standing alone in the corridor. It seems like thousands of minutes have passed. I feel like a deer caught in headlights, as I look left and right. There’s double doors to my left. I look around for cameras and walk toward them.

Curiously, i look out. Its like an empty conservatory. Its glass. Maybe it leads outside.

I just watch for a few minutes.

Biting my lip, I push gently at the door.

I don’t expect it open.

A red light flickers to my right. Flashing. Once. Twice. Then the loudest noise I’ve ever heard erupts around me.

SHIT!

Panicky, I look around me. Somewhere. Anywhere to escape.

I can hear footsteps.

Double shit.

Arms grab me and pull me around the corner. I struggle. Cant get away.

Triple shit.

Its Max.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit!

“Shh.” He whispers.

I cant breath.

Partly because I'm scared. I can hear whispering and footsteps just around the corner. Mainly, because Max has pinned me, taught against the wall. His whole body is finely sculpted to my back like he belongs there. He’s pushing me down so hard, he’s not even using his hands to keep me pressed against the wall.

I cant move my body. So I move my head.

We stare at each other.

The back of my neck has started to pinprick and the insides me are turning jelly like. Its rather disturbing how in this situation, whilst Max holds me hostage with his body, all I can think is, how exquisite he is. Unearthly looking.

He’s so close, that I can feel his warm breath on my face.

I stare at his lips. For someone so strong, they’re rather soft looking. My eyes travel to the adams apple of his throat, and back up. His eyes are a million colours mixed into one. I wonder how one should describe its colour.

Max looks away.

I’m staring. I turn away and shake myself.

Liz Parker, you didn’t just do that! No way. I didn’t just comprehend how attractive Mr. Criminal was.

I’m still reprimanding myself, when Max motions at me. I realise the voices have died down.

I follow, tiptoeing after him, with a trust that’s come from - I don’t know where. Maybe I should be running away. But his quiet authority that commands everyone else, is commanding me now.

Max’s stabs in a code, and the door to my cell clicks open. Only then, I breath a sigh of relief.

“Oh my god.” I begin. Not taking in the infuriated look on his face. “Oh my god!”

The door opens from behind him, and Max moves aside for a wide eyed Maria to run toward me. She finishes off with a loud, “OH MY GOD!”

We both stare at each other then turn to acknowledge Max.

He smirks. “Even He wouldn’t be able to help you, if you were caught.”

“ Maria’s in trouble isn’t she? It wasn’t her. I forced her. It was me.” I cry.

“Forced her? And how did you manage that?” Max crosses his arms. There’s an apparent coolness about him even though, I can tell he’s ready to let loose.

“I threatened her.” I lie.

“With what?”

“I- I have my ways.”

Max looks between Maria and I. Then straight at me a way that sends shivers shooting up and down my spine. “Yes you do.”

Yes I do? Before I can ask what he's talking about, Maria starts speaking rather meekly from beside me. “I’m sorry Max. She really needed to be out.”

Max throws her an agonised look. “I cant believe you Maria.”

Its strange. He sounds almost… disappointed.

“Don’t be mad .Don’t be. Don’t be.” She sounds desperate. I wonder why she even cares so much.

“How did you--?” Max begins then looks above the bed, and understanding dawns. “The camera. You put the camera on backplay “

“Yes. It’s quite a clever trick really.” I say.

He looks back at me, and I shrink back at his gaze.

“Don’t do it again. Its dangerous.”

Giving me one last look, he disappears.

I turn to Maria, stumped. “Don’t do it again? … That’s it?”

Maria looks more shocked then me, but it seems, for a different reason. “There’s the little relay button behind the camera. He could have taken that out.”

“Why? What does that do?”

“That stops the camera from back play- that would make sure…” She bits her lip. “It would make sure we didn’t go out again.”

“What … You’re saying he didn’t do that on purpose?” I don’t get. Sure he didn’t act as mad as I thought he would, but why would Max want us to go wondering again? The idea sounded ridiculous.

When she looks at me, her eyes are bright saucers. “I don’t know Liz. I don’t know…”

I can’t help but think, she knows more then she’s letting on.


Max

I’m becoming obsessed.

But there’s a problem. With what is my obsession?

For what reason do I need to visit her daily? Have her say one word to me. Even if it full of loathing.

Is it the power I have over her? In some perverse way, do I need it, for me to feel alive again? Is that why I go? To feel again?

Is it the plan? My failure to believe it may have already finished before it started? Am I still hanging to hope?

Is it her? Is she like an addiction to me, like a coke is to Maria?

Maybe its her vitality. Her freshness. Her undeterred innocence. Her heart is still pure, among throngs of broken, tainted, and corrupted ones.

Maybe that’s why Maria visits her too. Maybe Maria sees in her, what she once was, wishes that she could be.

Visits aren’t normally long. Sometimes they’re pleasant. Sometimes they’re unwelcome. Sometimes I feel disgust. Sometimes… I don’t.

“Hey!. Hey. Man in la-la land. Its your turn.” Liz clicks her finger in my face and nods pointedly down to the chessboard.

“Right.” I scratch my neck. “Right.”

“Right.” She rolls her eyes at Maria and they share another giggle.

What is this girly thing they have going on? I feel heat at the back of my neck again.

Sometime its scares me that I’m beginning to feel again.

“Check.” I say smugly.

The only thing to fear is fear.

The smiles wiped off her face and she stares down at the board and moves. “Check-mate.”

Maria gasps. “No!” and eyebrows furrowed, she stares down at the chessboard, trying to figure it out,

I don’t even bother look. “You cheated.” I say disbelievingly.

“What?” she asks with a toss of her head.

“Cheated. No one ever beats me at chess.”

Liz shrugs. “You haven’t played with me before.”

“No-“

“No what, Max? Now that I’m here things are different.” She tosses her hair.

I’m about to say, only I know how much-- when Michael chooses to storm through the door.

“Max, theres a code, 92 beta 6. Try and make it by noon —“ his eyes land on Maria and utter silence takes over the room.

Maria looks paler then normal. “I—um, have…yeah.” She points toward the door and starts out of the room.

“Yes. Code.” Michael announces once again. He makes a departure.

Its only Liz and I now. She smirks at me. “Interesting.”

“Story of our lives.” I grin.

There’s a small smile on her lips and she scans my face with a new interest. It makes me want hide. “That something i'd like to know.”

I look up at her.

“What’s with all the secrecy? You’ve told me the important stuff.”

“What do you want to know?” I say.

She looks taken aback at how easy it is.

“ Well start with Mike and Maria.”

“They have a history. But Maria was never able to get over her rape.”

There’s a sudden silence that’s takes over the room. Her mouth drops. “What?”

“Raped.” I say, clearing up the chessboard.

“Okay.” She looks away and doesn’t ask me any more.

Its best that she doesn’t. I doubt someone as shielded as her would be able to take the horror of this place. Able to understand the terror our lives hold.

***

Just a Criminal

Chapter 10

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Nope. They haven’t just suddenly introduced time into this place. It’s me. I’m metaphorically wasting away.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

I stare at my hand and pinch the skin. Soon the wrinkles will stay in place, the skin won’t move apart. It’ll stay scrunched up like an old woman’s hand, beaten by time. An old woman who’s only experience is a white room.

White room.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Raped. Maria was raped.

Tick tock. Tick tock—

“Argh!” I grab my head in my arms and convulse on the bed, wrapping myself into a thin tight ball.

I would have easily said the mental pain was more. Tearing me inside, tearing me apart, but the pain of these headaches is too much.

I don’t know how long I can take this for.

I wrap my head in my hands refusing to cry. I won’t let them beat me. I won’t cry.

I won’t cry.

****

I’m watching her. As usual. She lies on the bed, hair over her face. Frail and fierce. Bold and beautiful. My hands are fisted in balls of frustration. What I would give to be in there right now. Be with her.

But I don’t go.

I don’t, because inherently I know it’s not right. Spending all this time with her. She’s just part of the mission. I shouldn’t be so enamoured with her. My life shouldn’t be all about her.

But it is. A voice whispers in my head. It always has been….

Someone coughs behind me. I jerk up and tap the keyboard. I’m not the only that’s noticed my preoccupation.

Michael slides into a seat beside me. “Shifts over. Let me take over.”

My eyes are closing without my permission. Weird how the body can just take over when it needs to.

I move and he takes my position.

He opens his mouth to say something then closes it.

I don’t ask.

I know what he was going to say anyway.

I go. I've beat the temptation to be with her. I walk on. Pretending not to notice the way I slow down to miniscule steps when I pass her room.

****



My hands are trembling.

“You still not feeling better princess?” Maria regards me wide eyed. She’s here again, and with her usual stack of soup supplies too. I wonder where on earth she gets them all from.

“Better…” I say slowly.

I can hardly speak. I feel like someone’s hammered at my head and split it open.

Something flashes through her eyes. “You don’t look it… you look pale.”

“Just the usual migraines.” I say, “They’ll subside.”

“They getting worse?” she fidgets and pulls at the skin on her nails. They’re bitten and bleeding.

She puts them into her mouth.

“Hey, don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Your nails. They’ll bleed more.”

She takes them out of her mouth.

I breathe lightly as the migraine seems to lessen.

“You know what I really feel like doing?”

She looks nervous and hesitantly sneaks a look at the cameras.

“Not that.” I laugh. “Pizza. I want to order pizza.” I jump off the bed, a little shakily. “But I guess these will have to do.”

I pick up the half opened packet of soup and pour it into a cup, then set the water to boil on the counter. I notice the white container next to the kettle. The keys hidden safely inside. I don’t know what they do. Or if they’re any use. But they make me feel better. That’s all that matter nowadays. The feeling.

“So what you been up to today?”

It’s weird how I suddenly feel closer to her after hearing about her rape. Suddenly feel more protective, even though nothings changed.

Not really anyway.

She shrugs. “The usual. I managed to go through Michael’s phone book. He’s fucking some girl called Tasha.”

I pull an ‘I’m sorry’ face.

“I hate him. He’s a bastard and I’ll kill her.”

I sigh. “Maria you do realise that he can date or whatever other girl’s, right? I mean you guys haven’t been seeing each other for…a… a while.”

Maria’s head jerks up, toward me. “He thinks I’m disgusting.”

“No he doesn’t.”

She nods and sniffles. “He can’t bear to touch me… when he knows all those men… all of them…”

Oh god. Oh God… I don’t want to hear anymore.

I cushion her in my arms as she sniffles and makes little gasping noises.

Someone get me out of here.

I can’t bear it anymore…

*****

When she’s done crying we lie on my tiny bed, and talk about my life.

I tell her it was pretty rubbish, but then Max kidnapped me and I realise it wasn’t so rubbish after all.

She tells me, she’d trade with me any day.

I’m sure she would.

She does the inevitable and goes off on a tangent.

My mind wonders back to Max.

I wonder why he hasn’t been here in so long. I’m not sure how long exactly. But it’s long. I wonder what he’s doing. I wonder what he wants from me. I wonder what his trauma is. I wonder if I really want to know.

I wonder why I’ve been thinking about him so much.

That is until my stomach gives off a healthy rumble.

I grab hold of the soup as Maria goes on about this cool dragon tattoo she wants.

She sits up. “I’m thinking maybe on my hip or my ankle. Though I already have one on my hip. So it’ll have to be the other side.”

“Uhum…” I answer, taking sip. Feeling the warm liquid go down my throat.

How I miss Pizza.

She’s fidgety as usual. She runs her hand through her hair and then picks at her nails.

“Don’t do that.” I say.

She giggles.

“No really. It’s kinda gross.” I take another sip.

Then she does the strangest thing. She grabs my cup and throws it to the floor.

“Maria?” I groan, disbelievingly. Sometimes her weirdness just goes beyond weirdness. “Why on earth did you do that for?”

She’s breathing heavily.

I shake my head at the liquid oozing all over the white room.

“Jesus.” I cry.

“Sorry.”

“That was stupid Ria.”

I’m kinda annoyed now. Why would she do that? I slip off the bed, but Maria’s grabbing me in her arms and hugging me tightly.

What—

I can hear her. Softly whispering into my ear.

“Don’t drink it.”

“What?” She’s gone crazy. I lean back to look into her face and she grabs me again, holding me tightly.

Her hearts beating wildly in her chest.

“Poison.”

I stand stone still.

“Poison.” She says again, just to make sure I’ve heard.

I take an automatic stumble away from her and stare disbelievingly.

Poison.