by Ben Swallow
Chapter 7
After we got back from Robby with the two coffers, we scouted out the place where we are supposed to drop them off. No surprise, it was in the Pit and looks pretty bad. An empty warehouse, or something like that. Now, it’s probably a hideout or a place for secret meetings. Not the where I would usually hang out at night as long as the value my life.
Since we had a few more hours to kill, we drove around the city for some time until we eventually stopped, and Bryan parked his car.
„We are we going?”
Bryan looks over at me and grins. „This place has the best gelato in town, and it just opened again a week ago.”
„In the middle of all this, we are going for ice cream?”
„Why not?” He continues to grin, but the smile leaves his eyes as he continues. „I always went here as a kid. Back when things used to be simple. Now I go here when I need to escape, when life gets hard to bear. Reminds me of simple, happy times and calms me down.”
Aww.
Not knowing what to say, I just smile at him and get out of the car. It’s afternoon already, but the sun that tickles my skin is still warm. We only have to wait in line for a few moments until it’s our turn to order.
„Vanilla, lemon, and… uhm… cookies & cream, please.”
„Ah, cookies, a good choice,” Bryan grins. Turning to the counter, he orders „Stracciatella, salted caramel and chocolate please.”
„Oh my god, they have salted caramel ice cream? How could you not tell me that!? I love salted caramel anything!”
„Yeah, it tastes amazing,” Bryan laughs. “They just introduced it last year. I always choose it now. That and chocolate, my childhood favorite.”
„I can sooo imagine you as a little kid with an ice cream cone, a big smile and some chocolate on the nose.”
Bryan laughs wholeheartedly, blushing a little. „Yeah, that’s exactly what I looked like. And if you must know, I was actually quite chubby as a kid.”
„You!?” I gasp. „I thought you were just born looking like a Greek god or something.”
I could swear I just saw him blushing again.
We continue to walk around in the sun for an hour, eating ice cream and sharing childhood memories, laughing. I could almost forget the black veins on my hand that have reached my shoulder already.
It’s why I’m still wearing my leather jacket, even though it’s getting a little too warm for it already. Drawing attention to our affliction in public would probably not be very helpful. Bryan is wearing a simple pullover, which probably doesn’t get as hot. Also, you can see his muscular arms and strong chest through it, something I can appreciate despite everything.
As the sun is eventually setting, we are back in his car, driving to the drop-off point. The happy mood turned cold as we left, both of us back in the harsh reality where we will soon either get healed or die.
It is ten to eight, we are a few minutes early. Since we are on a rather tight timeline, I hope that the recipient of these coffers is already waiting.
As we walk into the building, Bryan carrying the coffers, I’m both relieved and concerned. Lucky for us, the recipient is already waiting. The problem, it’s a mean-looking street gang, classic criminal thugs. The kind you don’t want to cross at night.
Since we are here to bring them what they want, I hope they won’t bother us. Also, it’s not like we had anything worth stealing since we left the duffel bag with Robby.
As the gang comes closer, forming a half circle around us, one of them steps closer.
„And who might you be?”
He’s covered in tattoos, wearing a black and red jacket with spikes and heavy boots. As he puts his hands on his hips, pulling his jacket back, he reveals two guns tucked into his jeans.
Bryan sets down the two coffers, slightly panting from carrying them here.
„We were sent to deliver these here. We don’t know anything more than that.”
The thug cheers, raising his hands high. „Our delivery is here, boys!”
As he comes closer towards the coffers, Bryan and I take a few steps back. If anything goes wrong, we are stronger together.
I recoil a little at that though, like touching something hot. I’ve been on my own for so many years now, I didn’t expect I would ever think these words. But I guess they are true with him.
The coffers unlock with an audible click. As the gang leader opens them and reveals the content, the gang around him cheers. But when I see what we delivered, my blood runs cold. The coffers are full of guns. Big guns.
The coffer contains assault rifles of some kind, some pistols, even grenades. And that’s just the first coffer. The other one contains something that looks way too much like a grenade launcher for my taste.
So now we’ve gotten ourselves into an arms deal. Great.
„I do not like this,” I whisper quietly to Bryan.
He nods subtly, then addresses the gang leader again. „I believe our job here is done. Enjoy your delivery.”
He takes my arm as he turns around towards the door. But we have barely taken two steps as a voice stops us.
„Whoa, wait up, delivery boy.”
We turn around slowly to the gang leader, who’s currently inspecting one of the guns. He’s already ignoring us again, putting a magazine in the rifle, loading it.
„We haven’t tested the goods yet. And you’re not leaving until we know they do their job.”
He aims the gun at an empty barrel. His finger rests on the trigger as he is aiming down the sights. Slowly, his finger pulls the trigger back. But before a shot is fired, he puts the gun down again.
„Nah, it’s no fun shooting at a barrel. I need an actual target! Something that splatters blood!” He grins wickedly, looking at the cheering gang around him, then back to us. „You don’t have a target to shoot with you by any chance?”
„We were only given these two coffers to deliver. That we did. Now we are leaving.”
Bryan stares at the leader, clenching his jaw. The thug looks at him in surprise, taken aback by his boldness. Then his face lightens up and a smile spreads across his face.
„Ohh, I have an idea! You see, I’ve got two problems. One, I don’t have a target to shoot. Two, you two have seen too much. Why don’t I solve them both at once?”
The gang cheers again, clanging against metal railings and steel beams, as their leader points their gun at us with a wicked grin.
For a moment, I hope to see him thrown to the ground by the mysterious invisible guy, but that doesn’t happen. Instead, the thug opens fire.
The rapid rattle of the rifle fills the room, a deafening staccato that I feel in my entire body.
But only a second later, the gunfire stops as two gang members drop to the floor, blood on the walls behind them.
Bryan is panting heavily next to me, one hand raised towards the barrier he quickly raised between us and them. The bullets must have ricocheted off it, hitting the two unlucky thugs instead.
As the gang looks at us with wide eyes in disbelief, I channel all the anger and frustration I have in me. I feel it fill me until I almost choke on it, running hot through my veins and making my entire body tremble.
Then, with one angry shout, I release the biggest shockwave I have ever attempted.
I drop to my knees as all the strength suddenly leaves me. But as I look up, I see the entire gang thrown back, hit by an invisible wave of force. The coffers are knocked over, spilling guns and ammunition on the floor. Even the light bulb hanging from the ceiling shatters, leaving us in almost total darkness.
Bryan’s hand is suddenly on my arm, dragging me up and towards the door. I stumble up and follow him outside, barely able to keep up. I don’t think I have ever felt so exhausted before.
As I stop, gasping for breath, Bryan turns to me and simply picks me up, carrying me to the car.
Angry shouting sounds out of the building as Bryan carefully puts me in my seats. The first of the gang are alrea
dy storming out of the door as he gets in the driver’s seat.
Without even putting on the seatbelt, he puts the pedal to the metal just in time as the thugs start firing at us. The car jumps out in the street, the engine howling in protest.
I cower in my seat, trying to be a small target. Bullets are flying through the air, gunshots echo through the night. Panic rises up in me as two bullets hit the car door. If they used a bigger gun, I could have just died.
Only as we are far enough away and no bullets rain down around us can I finally exhale deeply and sit up again. Just as I close my eyes for a moment, the rear window shatters.
Bryan looks at me in fear just as I look over to him, but with relief, I see that neither of us was hit.
„That… did not go quite as planned,” I whisper weakly before I fall unconscious.
Chapter 8
I fell asleep for a bit on the drive back to Robby. I only woke up again while Bryan was parking the car. I’m not sure how long I was out, but even though it can’t have been for long, I feel a lot stronger already.
„Hey,” I say quietly.
„Hey.”
The way Bryan smiles at me, happy that I’m back, glad that I’m not hurt, it makes me feel safe like being tucked in a blanket. I shake the feeling off quickly, still not entirely sure if I like it. It’s nice, but I know that this was exactly what led to getting my heart broken last time.
As the car is parked and Bryan takes off his seatbelt, he nods at me. „Let’s get our money. I think we more than earned it.”
I’m still deciding how much I’m going to kick Robby’s ass for this job that almost got us killed. And involved us in providing a violent street gang with serious firepower. The way Bryan is stomping to Robby’s door, knocking on it impatiently, tells me he is thinking the same.
Robby greets us with a smile and grand gestures as he opens the door. „Welcome back! I’ve got your money. I assume the delivery went without a bump?”
„Without a bump?” Bryan scoffs, shaking his head as he steps close to Robby, looking down on him aggressively. „You mean when we were delivering military-grade assault rifles to a street gang who then wanted to test them on us?”
„Oh, oh that sounds bad indeed. I had no idea. Trust me, if I knew I was selling weapons, I wouldn’t have asked you to do it. I would have just found another delivery guy.”
„Our money. Now.” I stare down Robby grimly, who seems to shrink even more when he looks at me. „And we expect a hefty bonus for that job.”
„I suppose you are right. Let me just get… this, and… there…” he murmurs as he walks through his apartment, from one mess to another, picking up bundles of bank notes.
„Here you go. $60,000 in cash, 6 bundles of $10,000 each. All untraceable, of course.”
He holds the bundle up for a moment, before putting it in an envelope.
I quickly snatch it out of his hands and check the bundles. I have no idea how $10,000 in cash look like, but it does look like a lot. I guess I’ll have to believe him.
After a short moment, I pass them to Bryan, realizing that he probably has more experience with checking money. And I’d rather trust him than that guy.
He inspects them for a second, then nods at me. „Looks good. Let’s go.”
We throw one more angry glance at Robby and then leave, closing the door behind us loudly.
„Alright,” I sigh. „Now on to the meeting point to get healed, right?”
I check beneath my jacket and see that the veins have crossed my shoulder and reached the side of my chest already. Maybe three more inches and they will reach my heart, which is probably the point at which we die.
„About that…” Bryan looks at me apologetically, then down on the ground.
Icy fear spreads in me. That sounds like he was about to stab me in the back and take off with the money on his own. Or maybe it was all just orchestrated in order to use me.
„It’s five to ten. We took longer than expected because of the… difficulties. We are not going to make it in time. I’ll drive as fast as I can, but we will still be late.”
I chuckle in relief, feeling a little bad for immediately assuming the worst. I guess I have been betrayed too much lately to be trusting.
„What’s so funny, Alice?”
„I just thought… never mind. Let’s get in the car and drive like hell.”
And that he did. Speed limits aren’t as strict down in the Pit since no police are patrolling there anyway, but the breakneck speed at which Bryan was going had me clinging to my seat.
As we finally arrive, we are only ten minutes late, but there’s no one to be seen.
„Dammit. We are here, Cross! We have your money!” Bryan shouts, turning in a circle.
No response.
We wait a few more minutes, but nothing happened. There’s no one here anymore.
„And you are sure this is the right address?”
„Yes,” Bryan sighs. „We were too late.”
His frown deepens as he reaches into his pocket. He pulls out his phone and reads something, pursing his lips.
„I got a message. They will contact us tomorrow.” He looks at me and shrugs. „Let’s go home, then. Nothing more we can do.”
I swallow hard as I let my fingers run over my shoulder. Let’s hope we have that much time left.
We drive back to his apartment in silence. I only break the silence as we arrive in his living room.
„Would you mind I sleep in the bed tonight? The couch is not that comfortable and…” I sigh, contemplating for a second if I really dare to say it. „… and I don’t want to be alone tonight, not if it might be my last.”
Bryan smiles at me, but his eyes are filled with sadness. „Of course. But it won’t be your last. We will make sure of that tomorrow, whatever happens.”
After the exertions of today, especially the feats of strength we both pulled off when using our powers, I only take a quick shower and then fall into bed immediately.
I only wake up again for a few moments as Bryan lays down next to me shortly after. Still half asleep, I cuddle up to him without thinking. I would not usually let anyone that close to me, not make myself that vulnerable to anyone, but I’m simply too tired to care. Or maybe it’s because it’s Bryan. But before I can think about it some more, I’m already fallen asleep.
The first thing I notice when I wake up is the sun tickling my face with warm light. The second is Bryan’s arm laying across my belly, his hand resting on my side. He’s still asleep, his head leaning against my shoulder. It is quite adorable, made even better by his tiny snores.
I must have been woken by the heavy footsteps outside in the hallway. Someone, or maybe more than one, is stomping around in heavy boots.
I try to relax and put my hand on Bryan’s arm, looking over at him with a smile. Just in that moment, probably woken from my touch, he opens his eyes, blinking at me in confusion for a second. Then he quickly pulls his arm back and moves away from me a little.
„Sorry,” he mumbles, still half asleep.
I turn over to him, running my fingers up his chest with a smile. „Good morning.”
He tenses up for a second, but then relaxes again, exhaling slowly. Before I can wonder why my touch made him so uncomfortable, a loud cracking noise breaks the silence.
Bryan looks towards the living room in surprise, already half getting up.
„What was that?” I look at him in confusion.
„Oh no. Not again.”
His voice is only a dreadful whisper, like he is reliving a nightmare. Almost jumping out of bed, he quickly puts on some pants. After I have overcome my initial surprise, I quickly follow suit, barely remembering taking my jeans off yesterday. I slept in only my top and panties next to Bryan, I realize with a hint of embarrassment.
As I pull them up, Bryan is already storming through the bedroom door. I hear heavy footsteps coming from the living room as I hurry after him, followed by more bursting s
ounds.
As I enter the living room, I can see Bryan standing there like frozen, still only in pants. I usually would have enjoyed letting my eyes wander all over his naked upper body, but right now, my attention is on the three men wrecking the apartment.
One of them turns to us now, gesturing the others to stop.
„Ah, there you are. I see you had company tonight,” the man grins as he looks at me. „Better hope she won’t hear of that.”
Who is he talking about? Bryan’s crazy ex?
„Leave her out of this, Dahl.” Bryan snarls at him with a clenched jaw, taking a step toward the man. „You’re here for the money? Take it.”
He gestures towards the remains of the broken table, the envelope in midst of broken pieces of wood.
The man, Dahl, slowly walks over, picking it up and inspecting its content. „It’s all there. You even put in a bonus for me, how nice of you!” He smiles at us, bowing down dramatically. Then he looks at the other two thugs and nods his head towards the door.
„I would say it was a pleasure doing business with you, but to be honest, you were quite a pain in the ass. So farewell and bonjour.”
„Wait!” Bryan shouts after him as he turns to leave. „We held up our end. Now is the time when you have your man heals us.”
Dahl looks at him with a pitiful smile. „Oh Bryan, do you really think you would make it out of this alive? I’d say you have maybe a day left, judging by those ugly veins on your chest.”
He wrinkles his nose as he gestures towards Bryan’s right side. With fear, I realize that I might have even less time, since I was poisoned closer to my heart.
The man looks at me for a moment, lettings his eyes wander across my body. „So I suggest you go back to bed and make those last few hours worth it.”
With that, he turns around and leaves us.
Chapter 9
We stand there in silence for a few seconds, staring at the open door.
