by Ethan Egorov
“Yeah… I’m glad to for both your sakes. Well what about you? I thought you had a fling too.”
“Oh I certainly did. She was more than a fling though. She was warmth and security. I met her through my brother and I was immediately smitten. It’s a shame though I would have been willing to settle down with her, but then she just disappeared. It was I believe what people call now ghosting.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“It made me feel hollow. It made everything seem pointless. I mean, why should I even pursue anyone else when she just left me for no reason. Well…there was a reason sort of. I found out later that she had just been gathering information to use against me and my family. She tried to kill Kristina and well let’s just say she suffered a sad fate.”
“Well if she tried to hurt Kristina I hope you killed her slowly. Kristina is a wonderful woman and she deserves the best. That’s why I hope you will really get with her. I mean, yeah, you’re pretty dumb, but deep down I think you’re what she needs. You’re stable and well I guess you’re also honorable. That’s hard to find in a man Trent. So in short you’re a good man.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you still breathing deep and slowly?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We’re at the end, we’ve made it. I can see light around the edges of this shaft. We’re going to have to squeeze in closely together here. I don’t think I’m strong enough to kick the end out.”
“Fuck. It’s hot in here Cassandra.”
“I know. Come up here. We’ll be out of this jam soon.” Trent crawled up beside Cassandra and wrapped his arms around her for balance as he positioned himself to where his feet were angled so he could kick out the tile that was blocking their entrance into the full upstairs. His hot breath tickled Cassandra’s face and took a few moments to catch their collective breath before finding out what awaited them. Trent was the first to break the silence.
“Well this seems just as good as time as any to tell you this Cassandra. I don’t know how you feel about me, but I want you to know that despite everything that’s happened I’m really glad I met you. I think that maybe even in the future we can be friends.”
“You idiot. We are friends. I count you among my few. I seriously don’t let anyone in Trent, but you’ve wormed your dumbass into my heart. Of course, Kristina was already there. Also, I’m really glad that I didn’t have to cut your heart out for leaving her or breaking her heart in Vegas.”
“No. I think that once we find Kristina, I’ll never argue with her again about anything.”
“Hah! You say that now, just wait until married life gets its claws in you. Are you ready Trent?”
“Yeah, I’ve caught my breath. Get you pipe or whatever ready, I’d imagine we may run into some trouble here soon.”
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Trent and Cassandra ignored the heat coursing between them and instead both focused on putting all their effort in breaking down the barrier that separated them from the rest of the top floor. Not even bothering to count to three both kicked forcefully and as the barrier before them fell away, leaving shards of dust and scraps of paneling behind they found a bit of relief in the fact that nothing or no one was waiting on them. They both then crawled out of the passageway and once reaching the flatness of the new level took a few moments to breathe deeply before standing up. Much to their surprise they were once again in a library. “That fucker. He does like his games. He would get a hard on thinking of the irony. I mean, why not have a fake library hiding a passageway to another bigger library on another floor.”
“Fuck Cassandra, I’m starting to hate books. I mean this is bullshit. Where are we supposed to go from here?”
“Well Trent it wouldn’t hurt you to read a few of these, but I wouldn’t start here. Besides these are old collectors’ copies anyway. If you want the good stories you have to find the cheap paperbacks. Those are the best.”
“Is that so? Well I hate to break up out little book club here, but we need to be on our way. I’m tired of playing cat and mouse with this son of a bitch. We’re finding Kristina and we’re finding her now. I don’t care if I have to kick in every fucking door in this mansion, I’m not playing detective anymore.”
“Ah…there he is! I was wondering when Kristina’s bad boy would finally show up to the party.”
“Bad boy, huh? Well let’s just say that despite the fact I don’t let my hand show often that I’m still really good at stacking the deck.”
“Wow. You used an analogy, I’m impressed. Come on Trent… let’s just walk out the door and see what awaits us.” They walked to the door at the end of the library and cracked it open. Finally they saw signs of life. There were at least three armed guards in front of the apparent bedrooms that lined the hallway. They were massive and all looked as if they could have been Mr. Universe contestants in another life. Trent pulled out his Colt ready to take action, but Cassandra waved her hand at him, indicating it wasn’t the right time to create so much of a distraction. She then reached into her bag and pulled out her pipe and darts once again. Trent watched in awe as she took careful aim and before any of the guards could figure out what was happening they all three collapsed into the hallway floor, unaware of their stealthy attacker.
“Why am I even here?”
“Because I only have three darts left and we still don’t have any idea where Kristina is in this labyrinth.”
“Good point.”
They opened the first door they came to and it was a bedroom like they had originally thought. They were pleased to find that no dangers lurked inside, it was empty save for a queen bed and a dresser. Cassandra assumed it was just a vacant guest bedroom and they quickly moved onto the next. They repeated the process and Trent sighed in frustration. “They only thing we’re discovering is this guy uses a decorator with as much taste as the guy who designs the Motel Six.”
“I hate to agree with you, but you’re right. We have to keep pushing forward though Trent. She’s here and we’re close. It’s like I can almost smell the scent of her shampoo.”
“Yeah…I know what you mean. I just can’t help but have a bad feeling about this.” They continued their journey down yet another abandoned hallway and made a sharp right. There they found a large set of double doors. It was a larger room of some sort. “Trent this could be it, are you ready?”
“Absolutely.”
Trent readied his shoulder in case he should have to lunge into the door and break it down, but to his surprise when he tried the handle it swung open easily without resistance. He pointed his gun outward and together they both rushed into the room. “Wow look at the size of this place, it’s like he has his own ballroom in here.”
“Yes. It appears that he does. It’s odd though, that it would be lit up and still partially set. Trent I think that they were here.”
“Why would they be in here?”
“I have no clue. Though if things still are a tad disarray from the evening that means that we are closer to them than what we think.”
“Well that’s good thing then. Come on let’s keep moving and maybe there’s a trail or something we can follow.”
“Oh so now you’re a detective? That’s great.”
“Hey I’m trying here, and your being a smartass certainly doesn’t help matters any. In fact, that’s all you’ve done since we’ve been on this adventure is put me down and quite frankly I’m getting fucking tired of it.”
“Calm down Trent. Fuck I was only joking.”
“Yeah well believe it or not that’s not helping my nerves any. Maybe you’re forgetting just how tough I can be. In fact, you’re the one who got us into this mess. Maybe before we even find Augustin I’ll put bullet in your head. Or hell maybe I’ll even hand you over to him in exchange for Kristina. That way we both get what we want.”
“Trent what the hell is wrong with you?! PMS I take it? Come on hothead let’s go charge into the unknown. By the way, I kno
w that you won’t do any of the things you just said you’d do, but I am a little hurt with your reaction I’ve just been rattling your chain to make things seem less grim.”
“Oh yeah? How do you know that I won’t do anything?”
“Oh Trent. You’re not capable of something like that. I know because if you were Kristina wouldn’t give you a second thought. She admires loyalty and bravery. I think you’re probably both. I admire that too you know. I think you’ve been extremely brave during this whole ordeal and one day I’ll repay you for your kindness I promise you that.”
Trent didn’t respond he just finished moving through the room quickly and walked to another door. He had grown tired of the endless search for Kristina and his patience had worn thin. He threw open the next door, leaving Cassandra to trail behind him. He swung his gun down both ends of the hallway and not seeing any hostile movements, he continued to another set of double doors. It was the exit to the garden.
“Trent wait! Slow down!” Cassandra’s request fell on deaf ears as Trent had reached his limit on patience. He hastily sprinted through the doors once he opened them without problem and had his gun ready in front of him. Trent did love his Colt and Cassandra even questioned whether or not it provided him as much if not more companionship than Kristina. She shook her head as she took off in a run to catch up with him. She knew that when dealing with Augustin throwing caution to the wind was a terrible strategy. Even though she followed closely she couldn’t keep up with Trent and stop the inevitable from occurring. He ran straight into the courtyard, not seeing any guards stationed at their post to stop him. Before he could even reach the middle of the cobblestone path where the fountain was positioned, he felt his legs give way underneath him and he fell forward thudding hard onto the ground, sending his gun clattering against the pathway. He groaned and cursed as he clutched at his leg as he panted through the searing pain attempting to regain his breath. “Trenton! What happened?!’
“Uhhh, fuck. I at least twisted my ankle. Maybe my knee. Shit. Get my gun.” Cassandra looked down and saw the tangled trip wire which was wound around Trent’s ankles and part of his knee. She saw the impact from his collision with the ground had also put a nasty bruise on his chin and his nose was steadily bleeding. That blood wouldn’t be good if they were being pursued. It would surely indicate their path. “Fuck Trent I told you to slow down. Shit. Just…just sit there a minute, I’m going to pick up your gun and I’ll return. Cassandra walked the considerable distance the gun was launched and bent over to pick it up. It was Trent’s favorite and she knew that if he lost it on their mission he’d never let her live it down. As she knelt to pick up the weapon, she heard a cold voice growl in her ear. “If I were you, I’d leave it where it is.” Cassandra stilled her breathing and narrowed her eyes. They’d been discovered by one of the guards. She felt the coldness of his own weapon against the back of her skull. She didn’t panic though, instead she smiled. She knew as with most security personnel they probably hadn’t ever killed another human before, so the guard would hesitate the fraction of a second before pulling the trigger. That half a second was all she needed. Before the guard had a chance to make a move, she grabbed the gun and in the blink of an eye whirled it over her shoulder, firing a shot that hit him square in the forehead, sending shards of brain matter and the man’s blood all throughout the garden.
Unshaken by the incident, she ran back to where Trent was still laying on the ground and knelt by him. “I need you to get it together and get up Trenton. I know this isn’t the first time that you’ve been hurt and something tells me it certainly won’t be the last.”
“It’s my leg.”
“I know it is. Still I need to you let me help you. You’ve got to stand up now. Augustin’s guards know we’re on the property. I hope you’re still with it enough to have heard the gunshot just now.”
“Ugh. Yeah. I’m glad you got the bastard.”
He sat up and breathed in deeply for a moment, wiping the blood from his nose onto a handkerchief he pulled from his jacket pocket. He then used Cassandra’s waiting arm and shoulder to pull himself to an upright, standing position. “Fuck that hurts!”
“I know. It’s okay though. Remember you’ve been through worse than this, now show me how much weight you can withstand on that knee.” Trent walked a few steps and grimaced in pain with each step. His limp was pronounced and he almost lost his balance a few times, but Cassandra determined that the leg was still functional. He would slow them down substantially, but with enough stealth they still could possibly not invoke the wrath of all of Augustin’s security staff. “Okay, see you’re good Trent. Now follow me as quickly as you can without falling or drawing attention to yourself. I know you don’t like this part, but I’m going to need you to stay in the shadows and be a quiet as possible. So far no one’s noticed we’ve killed the guard.”
“Okay, you’re the boss for the moment it seems.”
“Here’s your gun back. Trent?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me something.”
“What’s that?”
“If it comes down to it promise me that you’ll use that gun on me should it come down to a choice between me and Kristina.”
“Why on Earth would I do that?”
“Augustin plays his games, I’ve seen it happen before. Just promise me.”
“Yeah… I promise, but it’s not gonna happen. I may have a busted up leg right now, but I’m a scrapper. Fuck that noise, we’re all getting out of here unharmed, I can promise you that.” They continued down the hallway with Cassandra leading the way and Trent following as quickly as he could his a pronounced limp. He would stop every few feet and catch his breath, favoring his knee. The guards had been alerted to their location and before Cassandra could reach the door two of them rounded the corner with guns drawn. Trent was quicker, though and levelled his gun shooting both of them in the forehead. Cassandra turned to look back at him. Trent just shrugged and gave her a wicked grin before she opened the double French doors. They had finally reached the bedroom in which Kristina was being held captive.
Cassandra’s mouth dropped when she witnessed what was transpiring. Kristina and Augustin were sitting on the bed together and he had his arm draped over her shoulders. He held her closely and was in the process of stretching her down on the silky red comforter before they had interrupted. They heard him whisper towards her, “This will be my greatest accomplishment to date. I feel that with you I can most certainly leave my legacy behind.” He then put his full weight on top of her before he turned and looked over his shoulder, “Ah. It seems we do have some spectators Kristina. Do come in, I’d hate to be considered a rude host. It seems you’ve also brought a ghost to visit me. Cassandra. I would pinch myself to make certain I’m not dreaming but as you can see I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment.”
“Get the fuck off of her Augustin!”
“Ah…it’s good to see that you are still as fierce as ever. I id teach you to be tenacious didn’t I? I assure you that I will teach Kristina the same morals and values I instilled in you. I am horrified to see that my hitmen failed in their job. You were to arrive in a body bag.”
“Augustin, you ever get off of her, or you’re a dead man walking.”
“That is where you are wrong, Cassandra. In fact she’s been agreeable to this, but right now I have both of my hands on either side of her neck. I can promise that if either you or the boyfriend take another step towards us I will snap it like a twig. I can always find another protégé. I just enjoy this one, she’s absolutely stunning wouldn’t you agree?”
Trent was unable to contain himself as he pulled his gun and pointed it directly at Augustin’s forehead. “Let Kristina go you fucking psychopath!”
“Hahah! I can’t believe you of all people call me a psychopath. Didn’t you brag about your ability to beat someone to death then go have ice cream? I don’t think that’s very normal behavior do you? No, like I’ve said it’s time to
tell your girlfriend goodbye, she is staring a new life without you. Isn’t that right, Kristina?”
Augustin lifted Kristina up by her shoulders then firmly placed his hands around her neck again. She looked up at Trent with tears in her eyes, her face still red from where her airway had been constricted. “Now tell him goodbye Kristina. I don’t think I’ve made your life terribly hard. In fact, I think that for the time that we’ve been together here, things have went well. We actually bonded and that’s something remarkable. Cassandra could never say that. She always had to make things more difficult. For some reason, she never appreciated the kindness I afforded her. She still doesn’t appreciate it does she. You’ll need to tell her goodbye too. I’m afraid she’s outlived her usefulness. Go ahead and tell them Kristina.” Augustin took the backside of his hand and caressed her cheek as she continued to sob while looking at Trent and Cassandra. “I love you.” Trent nodded his head and smiled at Kristina. There was the fire that he had fallen in love with. She wasn’t ready to give up yet and she needed to dig deep to give them the distraction they needed to make their move. Trent looked at Cassandra out of the corner of his eye. Augustin didn’t see her take a small knife from the underside of her boot. She made subtle, slight movements and Trent swallowed and nodded his head slightly at her as well, letting her know that he’d seen her.
Augustin’s eyes turned cold once more at Kristina’s remarks and he jerked her back down to the bed by her hair and pulled them both back into a sitting position. He reached into the bedside table and pulled out his own knife. In a few quick moments he sliced Kristina’s cheek and she cried out in pain. Trent couldn’t take anymore. He aimed at the man with his Colt, but before he could squeeze the trigger, he was tackled by one of Augustin’s guards who finally found the situation at hand. “Fuck!” Trent began crawling on the floor toward his gun, while Cassandra only kept her eyes on Augustin. He watched the situation in amusement while Kristina’s blood seeped into the palm of his hand. Trent struggled with the guard and quickly tossed him off of him when he attempted pin him down. Trent seldom lost a fist fight and this would be no exception. Cassandra decided that this would be the optimal time to make her move. She saw Kristina’s pleading look in her eyes. With Trent down fighting the guard and occupied she knew that Augustin would be a formidable opponent, but she was certain that she could best him in any fight. “Augustin! Let her go! It’s me you want anyway right?! Aren’t I the one that got away?”
