by Ethan Egorov
The guards watched without comment as they eyed Kristina. She smiled at them politely as they began walking through the garden, but they didn’t return her polite smile. They were well-trained. They made their way down the moonlit path and Kristina did marvel at the beauty of the grounds. The caretakers did an excellent job of making certain that it was maintained. The hedges were trimmed evenly and the flower beds had been weeded regularly so the majestic lilacs and lilies blossomed throughout the gardens. “Wow, this is impressive Augustin. It’s so beautiful out here.”
“Yes, I do find it quite tranquil. Sometimes I come out here to think about business affairs, or sometimes just affairs.”
“Hah! I can see why, it’s actually very romantic.”
“What were you expecting? Did you think I would fill it with the skulls of my enemies?”
“Something like that. That’s a gorgeous rose garden you have wrapping around the fountain.”
“Yes, it was my sister’s idea. We are far estranged, but she always did love how they blossomed in the summer. When I was a young boy I’d sometimes walk out of our house to find her watching some of the peddlers in the town collecting the wild ones which grew to sell at the market. My sister, I must confess I do miss at times.”
“What happened?”
“I didn’t want her involved in any of the unscrupulous affairs I knew that I would find myself in, so I didn’t bother to tell her when I was leaving. I did track her down a few years ago. I sent her I think it was a birthday card and didn’t receive a reply. Not that I blame her though. People do move on. Even those closest to you, especially those who are bound to you by blood often are disappointing in the end.”
“So you’ve said this evening. The roses though, they never disappoint do they?”
“No, never.” Kristina stopped to feel a petal between her fingertips, then dipped her head lower smelling its aroma hit her nostrils. There was something intoxicating about it. She’d smelled flowers before yet this one was special for her. She suddenly had the terrible thought that this may be the last time that she would ever smell the fragrance of roses. She cleared her throat then reached for Augustin’s hand as they continued to stroll through the garden. He looked at her surprised and then shot her a smile as a reward for her efforts. He was pleased that she was going to play nice after all. She felt her hand within his own and suddenly felt small. She wished that Trent could have been there to enjoy the evening with her. He would have actually enjoyed the garden. He did love his time in nature and found it to be quite relaxing. He often said that the noise of the city and the constant hum sometimes did bother him. He felt that down by the lake he would at least collect his thoughts and have time enough to organize them all. She then looked up at the moon and say it shining down upon both of them. It was silently urging her on. He was coming for her, she could feel him close; she just needed to play along with Augustin long enough for him to arrive so they could make their escape.
“Well I think that we’ve had a lovely stroll. I have another surprise for you planned. So let’s go back inside. I hope you enjoy this just as much Kristina.” Kristina nodded and remembered what Augustin had said earlier in the evening. “Yes, that sounds very good, sir.”
The walked back into the mansion once again with the guards watching their every move. Augustin nodded at them once again and when he was satisfied the door was locked to his expectation, he led her up the grand staircase to the right of the garden exit. They ascended the stairs slowly and Kristina found herself taking in the décor. The walls were all beige and crème colored. The staircase was a deep oak that had been restored and had a sheen that glistened in the low lighting. She did note though that there wasn’t any artwork on the walls. She figured a man with wealth and obvious good taste would have his home lined with valuable masterpieces, but she found otherwise. She made a mental note to ask him about that when she needed another distraction. She’d already surmised that Augustin needed to hear his own voice to be somewhat happy, so this would give him the opportunity to go on another rant. She would use this to her own advantage. He led them to a bedroom at the end of a short hallway. He opened the door and Kristina’s mouth dropped.
The entire room was candlelit and the bed was draped in fine red silk sheets and a matching romantic red coverlet. Kristina looked down and found that rose petals trailed their way to the bed and were spread out on the mattress and the pillows. He had prepared the room for them. She found the notion romantic, would have preferred that Trent had the forethought to do that before they arrived at their hotel in Vegas. Surely somewhere in his brain that thought had occurred at some point in time, but he wasn’t a romantic thinker, so she accepted the fact that Elvis was as close as she was getting to romance from the man. Augustin looked at her expression and smiled at her. “I hope you like it, I just thought that we had a lovely evening and this was the least I could do to show you just how tender I can be.”
“Augustin…what are you saying?”
“I’m saying Kristina that I think it’s time for your initiation.”
“Wait I don’t know you well enough at all for this Augustin. I mean, yes I had a lovely time with you, but you understand I’m with Trent and I’ll be absolutely covered in guilt if we cross this line. Granted I am flirtatious, but I’m a one man woman, if you catch my drift.”
“Ah. I was wondering when this would come out. I see now. There’s the fear coming into play. I assure you Kristina that I mean you no harm during this transition. I know that you consider yourself romantically attached to Trent, but I feel that you believe that he’s going to change. He’s not Kristina. I mean, after all you’ve known him for many years have you not?”
“Yes. I’ve known him for practically all of my life. We realized our love for one another when we were teenagers.”
“Exactly. Why hasn’t he at least attempted to make an honest woman out of you yet? Do you think that suddenly he will become so enamored by your beauty that he will drop everything to come your defense? I can assure you he won’t. Of course in the off chance he does make that attempt I have plenty of my own skilled help to eliminate that problem. Trent’s not coming to save you. He most certainly isn’t in love with you either, otherwise he would have already shown you just how much he adores you. You’ve never experience true romance like we’ve had tonight with him have you?”
Kristina swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat and sat down on the edge of the plush mattress. She considered Augustin’s argument. He did in fact, have a point that she couldn’t refute. She hoped for Trent’s sake that his untimely demise wasn’t part of that truth, but it had taken Trent forever to admit his true feelings for her. She didn’t know what he was waiting for, but she was willing to be open to their new romantic relationship, she had been for many years. Since Trent was stalling she decided to move on and find other partners to at least date, she couldn’t wait forever. She took a deep breath and shakily exhaled it. “No…I mean you’re right. He’s never showered me with this kind of attention, or at least not planned something so utterly romantic.”
“Do you know how long it took to plan this entire evening, Kristina?”
“No clue.”
“Ten minutes. It only took ten minutes to arrange the catering and ensure that we both had decent outfits to wear. The hardest part of the arrangements was making certain the musicians knew what to perform. The housekeeping staff attended to what you see before right now. My point is, it didn’t take that long to make certain everything was perfect for the evening. He’s had what a decade to do what I did in ten minutes? What are you waiting for Kristina?”
She stared absently into one of the flickering candles as Augustin sat on the edge of the bed beside her. He still smelled of his wondering aromatic cologne and now the scent of the rose petals which filled the room mixed with the scent, making it somehow smell warmer that he probably intended. Once again the man had a point. Trent did seem like he was stalling. He did after all
, have a rather serious relationship with another woman, that is until she disappeared one day and became a psychotic stalker. She would have to tell Augustin that story at some point. Hell he’d probably find it amusing though and side with the stalker. She sat quiet for a few moments and Augustin saw that she was feeling quite upset, realizing that Trent may not have been the man of her dreams after all. He moved his hand to hers and grasped it softly. He allowed it to rest on the top of her wrist before she turned her own hand over and she intertwined his fingers with his own. She really didn’t have a choice in the matter anyway, so why not let this stranger into her heart. She’d done it before, multiple times though it only served to put a band aid over her feelings for her mobster man.
“You’ve asked me quite a question, Augustin. I don’t know what I’m waiting for. I mean I suppose I’m not different from any other woman deep down am I? Here I’ve been sitting for years, afraid to give myself to another man for what reason? What am I saving myself for? Whom am I saving myself for? If he wanted me as much as I thought he would have already had this evening lined up for me like you’ve said.”
“I knew that you would see the logic in this situation. You’re wonderfully intelligent Kristina. That’s one of the traits I admire in you. I’m certain that Cassandra admired that as well. Cassandra and I had that in common you know, she was an excellent judge of character.”
“Yes. I suppose she was. I wonder what she would say about this situation?”
“You mean what’s happening in this room right now? Hah! She would have most certainly hated it. She was never one for romance, if there were a romantic bone in her body it surely only worked when on the page of her sketchbooks. She only let certain people see that side of herself though.”
“She would show me her art all the time.”
“Then you somehow got over her walls and for that I applaud you.”
“I suppose we and more alike than what I’ve realized Augustin. We both picked people with hardened hearts. It’s time to let that go isn’t it?”
“Yes, you beautiful woman. I do believe it’s time for both of us to let go and relax.”
“Would you just fucking chill out, Trent?!”
“Well I’m not the one who got us lost in whatever labyrinth this is. We’ve got to hurry, Cassandra I mean for fuck’s sake Kristina is in danger!”
“She’s been in danger for a long time now and I don’t think you losing your cool right now is helping matters any. It’s surely not helping me think.” The pair had entered the main house after leaving the corridor and now found themselves in a circular loop of the same doors and windows. “I mean, this still isn’t right. If we were anywhere close to Augustin there would be at least one guard. He’s a man who doesn’t ever compromise his own security.”
“Well you do have a point. Hey Cassie…I have an idea.”
“That’s slightly more productive than yelling at me and repeating the same thing over and over so how have you been enlightened?”
“What if we’ve been approaching this all wrong. What if the way in isn’t through a door?”
“Sigh. Trent what are you babbling on about?”
“Look up.”
Cassandra looked up to the direction that Trent was pointing. While looking at the ceiling she say tiny indentations on the tile above. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Trent how are we going to get up there? I didn’t think about anything being in the ceiling.”
“There’s got to be a room with a ladder in it somewhere, or at least another way up into the air ducts to find the right way into the main house.” They walked back to where the opening first began and not finding any sort of ladder, they meticulously searched each room they came to until they found a tiny bedroom on the far right side of the hallway which had an odd spot on the ceiling. “Look Trent, it’s got to be here. Help me move the bed.” Together the pair moved the full size bed to the center of the room and as Trent suspected, they found a ladder placed underneath it. “Wow. This guy, he’s truly a psychopath. Who goes to these extreme measures to hide a hiding spot?”
“Augustin is like that. He’s got layers upon layers of defense as well. He’s also got multiple properties, multiple bank accounts, and in some cases I’ve even seen him use other identities. The man is certainly selfish and will pull out all the stops to protect his investments.”
“Yeah, well Kristina will not be one of his investments or his property. I’ll be of it. Help me move the ladder.” They positioned the ladder to the corner of the room and balancing it against the wall, Trent climbed to almost the top where he examined the dented ceiling tile. He took the back of his hand and knocked on it softly. Hearing a hollow sound he looked down and smiled at Cassandra. “Yeah, it’s hollow. This is definitely the passageway. You wouldn’t happen to have a screwdriver would you?”
“No, can’t say I do. I do have a nail file somewhere in my bag though I think.”
“Actually that could work. Hand it to me and I’ll see what I can do.”
It didn’t take Trent long to figure out he could take the edge of the file and pop into the corner of the tile then slowly push upwards until he created a small gap. He then repeated the motion several times until he had created a groove in the tile that caused some separation between the tile and the edge of the will. He then pushed outward and in a few swift motions loosened the tile a bit. “Trent hurry up! Fuck you should have just let me use your gun and shoot a fucking hole in the thing.”
“Pfft do you want to get caught and die quickly?! I guess you do. Shit Cassie… I’m working here. I think I’ve almost got it.”
“Next time we decided to try to help your girlfriend, I guess we should bring a toolbox.”
“Couldn’t hurt. I’ve carried one to job sites before. No one expects a contractor to have body parts in his toolbox. Trust me, no one looks for missing eyeballs when they just think you’re carrying some old rusty wrenches.”
“You’re sick, you know that?!”
“Hah! You’re calling me sick?! You’re the one who kills people with some kind of weird blow dart.”
“I’ll have you know that is a practiced martial art and like Bushido is a much respected art form.”
“I’ll remember that the next time I carry a skull out from a construction site.”
“Fuck you Trent.”
“You know you love it. Okay, I’ve got it where it needs to be. When I pop this open I need you to crawl up here and I’ll give you a boost up.”
“So I have to go first?!”
“Hah! Are you scared, Ms. Bushido?”
“Not on your life.”
“Okay, get ready.” Trent took a deep breath and lowered his shoulder then pushed up with all of his strength. He grinned widely when he saw the ceiling tile pop up. He then slid it backwards to reveal a hole big enough for them to crawl through to the upper level. Cassandra took his outstretched hands and held onto them for balance as she scaled the ladder as well and used his shoulders for support while lifting herself up to the next level. As she pulled herself up to the next level she crawled through the opening for a few meet on her knees and elbows then she stopped after making sure she left enough room for Trent to also get through the opening with her. It was dark and claustrophobic in the passageway, neither one of them would have room to stand up and would have to make due crawling through it until they reached an exit if there was one.
“Trent did you make it up?!”
“Ugh. Yes. Fuck it’s tight up here. It’s hard to breathe Cassandra, why couldn’t we have found an easier way through?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. Try to make steady progress just follow my lead and follow my voice. If you find yourself getting too panicked let me know and we’ll stop for a few minutes.”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“I’ve seen people crack in situations like this Trent. Just keep calm and remember to keep breathing until we reach the end, okay?”
“Okay.”
<
br /> They crawled to the middle of the corridor and Cassandra heard Trent’s breathing increase behind her. “Hey, hold on. We’re almost at the end, I can see a bit of light. Just keep on and take deep breaths.”
“What’s happening to me?”
“You’re trying to have a panic attack tough guy. After we get Kristina back we’ll have to have a chat one day about what triggers you in tight spaces. I suppose that during your childhood you must have had a traumatic experience, maybe in a box or something.”
“Ugh. Not that I know of, I mean…when I was a kid, I was adopted so I don’t know much about my life before then. I was taken as a baby.”
“Taken?”
“Yeah…I wasn’t being taken care of by my birth family so Pops took me in. Of course, he was a rival gang member and our family rivalry goes way back. Still though, I guess that maybe this could be triggered from being trapped in the crib when there was gunfire all around me.”
“Um…yeah. That could certainly cause your panic attack. I’m surprised you don’t have shell shock or PTSD.”
“Hah! You women and your jokes. No…I’m not the one with PMS I’ll leave that to you.”
“Sigh….that’s not what I said Trent. PTSD.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Oh my God you big lug…how can you not?! Fuck, I’m getting you and Kristina a dictionary for a housewarming gift.”
“Housewarming? Oh no we haven’t even discussed anything like that yet.”
“That’s the key word, yet. It’s coming Trent. You better prepare yourself, you’re in deep. If you’re not stupid you’ll take this opportunity though to deepen the relationship you have with Kristina. I mean, trust me Trent, it’s hard to find someone who stays loyal to you, especially for many years.”
“Yeah. She certainly has been loyal to me. It sucks though, I mean, I almost lost her. I thought for a long time that she didn’t want me because she was always globetrotting and never home. She’d get with men, obviously for their money or to have them take care of her, and at one point I thought she was going to settle down with some dickhead who owned a yacht. I’m glad she didn’t. I pictured myself killing him and letting the sharks drag his body often.”
