Deviant Fixation

by Valencia Carmelita

  He continues colliding the toys together while he gurgles the answer. "Nex time he-he take us."

  "Take who?"

  "Me n Arielle"

  I lean forward expectantly at the child and cup his chin. "Take you where ?"

  Charlie slides up his toy car across my outstretched arm. "Rhoooom rhooooom!!"

  "Take you where ?" I rephrase slowly for the easily distracted child.

  "I dunno" He giggles before returning to slide the toy car across my arm. He runs it up my face, earning a chuckle from me.

  ◆◆◆

  It took me another half hour to get him to eventually nap. I feel an onslaught of a migraine whipping up in my head as I tuck the child into his bed.

  I could really use a cup of tea just about now, or coffee since Rachael doesn't have tea.

  Who knew caring for even one kid was such a headache ?

  Albeit, I don't remember Bilal ever giving us trouble growing up. My brother is such a well behaved child, as well behaved as they can get.

  Which makes me wonder why inspite of living one of the most lavish lifestyles, Rachael's children were tough to deal with.

  I allow myself consideration over Charlie's little detail of whoever this Louis character is. Partly not believing him to be imaginary, in caution I double check the window bolts of Charlie's room.

  It was such a peculiar thing for a child to state someone possibly imaginary, would take him and his sister away. I shudder inwardly, was it jinns?

  Tea time! I heave a sigh of relief.

  Closing the door quietly behind, I cross the corridor towards the stairwell. Pausing mid flight down, my eyes lock with the main entrance door. It's slightly askew as a stream of sunlight pours forth onto the polished floor.

  Why is that door unlocked?

  My gaze flits nervously towards the vacant security desk.

  Where was Harry?

  Outside ?

  In cautious haste, I descend the remaining steps. I take cover behind the corner of the wall in close proximity to the security desk.

  What the heck am I doing ? I shake my head, berating myself inwardly. Just go check it out !

  I might as well find out why he's not stationed at his desk and if everything's alright.

  Yet faint bickering of voices nearing from beyond the open door, serve to desist me. I peer over the corner with the slightest of movement, catching a glimpse of Harry enter.

  He tugs the door wide open for someone else's arrival. Their shadow looms over the floor. Sounds of high heeled footfalls slice the air.

  Immediately I duck behind the corner.

  The clacking of heels arrive to an abrupt halt. "Well?" A shrill and sassy female voice, ricochets throughout the foyer.

  "Madam, I would only answer to you if you hand me the deposit now." Harry replies in a curt voice.

  I press my palms flat against the wall, standing still. Regretting that I was snooping once yet again.

  "The plan hasn't developed to fruition yet." The lady's voice quips tersely. "Once it's done, you can collect your payment."

  A dry guffaw emits from Harry. "Oh definitely the payment will be collected but right now I need my deposit."

  "You fūcking pig!" Lashes out the female voice before lowering a notch. "Don't you forget who you work for!"

  "I got half the job done yesterday." Harry's tone remains curt. "The deposit now or you can forget about any of this."

  A disapproving growl emits from the unknown woman. "After you fūcked up part of it and you have the audacity to request a deposit?!"

  "Fūcked up or not, I got what you ask me to do and she fired him" Harry replies with a nonchalant tone.

  My brows knit in obvious confusion at their vocal dispute.

  What are they talking about ?

  "You were to purge him!" The woman snarls. "But you let him loose and out he goes prattling straight to her fucking brother!"

  My breathing freezes as I listen in horror.

  Purge?!

  In a split second, the unexpected realization registers in my brain. My eyes widen in disbelief.

  Did he mean firing George?

  Panic stricken, I stuff my hands into my cardigan pocket. I pull out the iPhone Rachael had equipped me with. My hands shaking terribly in the process. I had to inform her immediately.

  "You want me to continue working on it, and you can't hire anyone else to finish the job..I know enough anyway.." Harry smugly declaims. "So just hand me that deposit."

  "Fine!" Another growl emits from the woman. I hear brief shuffling of papers. "Here!"

  Then Harry mutters "See..now that wasn't so hard for someone as filthy rich as you."

  "You know, If she didn't trust you so much, I would have had Louis take care of this business!" Her voice underlined by fury.

  "Ah what can I say? My five years of experience here." Harry snickers. "Proves me valuable over Louis."

  "This happens tonight !" Malignancy overshadows her voice. "Be ready, you clumsy fuck!"

  Discernible apprehension floods through me. I listen to their discussion arrive to a baneful closure.

  Ya'Allah what should I do ?!!

  I frantically search through the phone contact directory and find Rachael's number.

  Should I call her ?!

  I shake my head.

  No! No!

  I can't even call her for the fear of being caught if she grew frantic on the other end. My fingers won't quit shaking, with difficulty I manage to text her as I keep warily glancing around myself.

  'in danger plz help'

  Sudden clacking of the woman's heels against the floor picks up, fades away in her apparent departure. Right after, I hear the door to the entrance sliding closed.

  This is it !

  It's your chance to run up those stairs before he turns around after locking that door!

  Shoving the phone into my pockets, I risk a glance over the corner again. Harry is busy bolting the first of three locks on the door frame.

  Exhaling deeply as trepidation fills the pit of my stomach. I prepare myself, inching out a foot. My legs feel as heavy blocks of concrete. Yet I manage to sprint forward.

  My rapid heartbeat picking up greater speed already in the process.

  The stair steps blur past me without my soft-sole shoes creating any sounds. Just when I've managed to reach the top step, something dreadful I didn't consider and should have expected would happen-my phone ringtone sets off.

  I come to a solid freeze as I gape in horror down at my pocket. Pivoting in abruptness on my heel, I swiftly glimpse back just in time. My gaze locks with a very much startled Harry-staring right up at me before his features contort into outrage.

  I'm unable to figure out how it all seemed to occur in slow motion. His hand reaches down to the gun holstered at his belt.

  My breathing hitches with a kick of adrenaline rushing through my veins. I whirl back around towards the second floor corridor, just in time to the ringing of gun shots.

  Ear piercing shrieks of terror escape my lips as the bullets whizz past around me, discernibly missing their target.

  "Stop right where you are !" He snarls threateningly.

  Not succumbing to his orders, I continue to run while his profanities are echoing off the foyer walls. Gasping and sputtering painfully for air, I reach Charlie's room within seconds.

  He's wide awake, sitting upright in his bed from the deafening clamour of gunshots.

  I quickly gather him up in my arms and scramble out forward to my room, as I hear Harry's footsteps thudding up the stairs.

  Slamming the door shut, with trembling fingers I bolt it from the inside. Frantically I rush towards the windows, yanking the draperies apart and shoving up the pane, I find myself staring down at the fenced back yard below.

  How the heck am I going to climb down from here ?!!

  My mind is quaking with dejection.

  Relentless bangs and kicks to the bedroom door causes me to do the only feasible t
hing and I scream out at the top of my lungs from the window. "Hellllllpppp!!! Someone !! Hellllllppp!!!!"

  My phone sets off ringing again and I pull it out immediately pressing the talk button. "Please help us !! Please he's going to kill us!!!" I sob as tears pool my eyes.

  "Miss Kashani!" I recognize Serge's panicking voice on the end of the line. "We're comin alright! Here I have Rachael on the other line!talk to her !!"

  "Sanam! Where's Charlie !?" Rachael cries in distress. "Don't let them take my baby!!"

  "Please Help us!!!" I weep woefully while I clutch Charlie against my chest tight. He starts crying as well, tiny fists holding my cardigan.

  "Hang on we're there!" Serge vociferates pleadingly. "Hang on!!"

  But it's too late when a deafening sound of gunshot pierces the air in close range. I let out a mind reeling scream as the door to the bedroom swings open with a thud.

  In complete terror my eyes glued to the sight infront of me, the phone slides down from my hand away from my ear.

  Smiling diabolically, Harry steps in with the gun pointed in my direction. "Hand me the boy" He bellows, baring his teeth. "Now !"

  "P-please d-don't kill us!" I sob. My mind numbing from the onslaught of fear.

  "Kill? I wouldn't have missed shooting you on the stairs deliberately." He gives a derisive snort. "Hand me the boy or I'll definitely shoot."

  "P-please don't kill us!!" I beg persistently, my body incapable of registering his orders. Torrent of sudden heavy sobs racking through me.

  "Are you fucking deaf?" He barks in rage. He stomps over to me and latches his hand onto my locked arms around Charlie. "Hand em over or I'll fucking shoot you!"

  This was it, this was how my life is going to end.

  The rustling of another movement draws Harry's attention away from me to the open door way. Abruptly another figure emerges from the entrance into the room.

  A man garbed in all black with his face obscured by a clown mask and his gloved hands gripping a gun low against his side. Harry loosens his own grip from my arms and steps in the man's direction.

  "Didn't expect you to show up this quick!" Harry addresses him with a grunt.

  The masked man cocks his head at him, and a rumbling voice seeps through the mask. "You'd think I wouldn't be right around the corner since your fuck up?"

  Then he looks towards us with dark eyes and continues. "I see you fucked up yet again..." His tone disapproving.

  "Not really, you just got what you wanted earlier instead of tonight" Harry grumbles and then turns in the direction of the door. "The job is all yours now and I better get my payment."

  "Ofcourse your payment.." The masked intruder affirms with a slight nod. "Let’s arrange that now."

  A puzzled look sweeps across Harry's face. Suddenly the masked intruder aims his gun infront of Harry's forehead. I release a mortified gasp.

  In desperation, I enclose my arms over Charlie's head. Preventing his view of the impending ruthless violence.

  Before Harry could react in self defence, the masked man pulls the trigger as last seconds of despair flashes through Harry's eyes.

  The deadly sound of the gun shot exits the bullet, slicing through Harry's skin and erupting. Crimson blood spurts like a fountain out high all over from the splitting gash.

  A blood curdling scream burns up my throat, out of my mouth as I witness brains splatter across the bed.

  Blood sprays down all over us. Droplets falling across my face while Harry's lifeless body topples over with a thud.

  The masked intruder turns his unfazed attention towards me, aiming his gun in my direction.

  I freeze in agonized horror. My eyes widening in unanticipated acknowledgement of what he is just about to do next.

  This is it ...my life is over ....

  My vision dims from the overflow of torrid tears and I blink hard. And just within a blink, at the entrance of the door, materializes a looming figure clad in a black business suit.

  My eyes distend in an alarm-

  Vladimir !!

  Those bright blue eyes glint with a perilous streak and yet features void of emotion.

  In a fraction of a second he's towering behind the unaware masked man. With a swift movement of his hands, he grabs ahold of the man's gun aiming arm.

  Emanates through out the room, a ghastly noise of bones popping from their sockets and just as that Vladimir ungrips the man's arm.

  An agonizing wail escapes from the mans mouth as his gun clatters to the floor. His knees buckle and body shakes in tremors as he brings up his other hand towards his discernibly splintered arm.

  In a split second, Vladimir's gloved hands shoot up around the man's throat. With one swift lethal motion-he snaps his neck. The masked intruder's eyes bulge, his mouth is left agape in lifelessness.

  A demented gleam flashes in Vladimir's eyes as they lock with mine. He slackens his fingers from the dead man's throat. The body topples to the floor.

  Grimacing, instantly I look away.

  Momentary silence ensues, reeked with the putrid stench of death overflowing the room as I stare in shock.

  Is this really happening ?

  What's going on?

  What just happened ?

  My mind is reeling thoughts in an overdrive of muddled reality with disbelief. I'm only shaken out of the brief stupor when Charlie shifts against my chest and begins bawling even more loudly than before.

  Heavy steps trudge their way closer. I'm aware he's come to a halt at my kneeling figure. Trembling, I risk a glance up at him.

  Bone chilling fear ripples through out my body.

  The very realization of what he's just done, sinks in my mind further.His abrupt and silent appearance moments ago. Those quick hands in deadly force brought an end to a life right before my very eyes.

  As if he is some sort of a lethal demon in the guise of a human.

  A fallen angel.

  The breeze wafting in from the window, tousles his golden hair in the process. A sudden grim look descends over his features. His darkened gaze sets on the bawling child in my lap.

  In a swift motion, he reaches down and deftly plucks Charlie from my arms. Without a word or a glance back at me, he departs the room with heavy steps.

  I start to weep uncontrollably, burying my face into the crevice of my arms. I didn't want to glimpse again the lifeless bodies sprawled before me in a bloodied mess.

  A Mortified shriek escapes my lips when hands clamp around my shoulders, hauling me up into a standing position.