[Unknown's POV]
Sighing, I peered out of the window while I checked the time on my wrist.
9:15 am. Why is the day always so long?
I sighed even louder when I noticed the towering stack of folders on my desk- that definitely appeared out of nowhere. Worn out already even though it was still morning, I cracked my knuckles and stretched my back as I stood up from my seat.
With my hands in my pocket, I stood behind the window that almost dominated the walls of the room; it opened up a view to a sea of soaring skyscrapers and an endless maze of roads with little people squrming everywhere like ants.
The door opened and a deep voice announced, "Sir, it's time for the 10 am conference call with the ambassadors." And I thought this day could not go any faster.
I rolled my shoulders, preparing for battle as I tightened the knot of my necktie, "Get the car ready. Let's go." Determination, evident from my tone as I strided past him and through the door.
I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Whatever it takes to see you again. I'll make sure to come back to you again, Am-
My thoughts were interrupted when my phone began to ring. Oh the fucking devil himself. I smiled, getting ready to strike a deal.
/John Oliver's POV/
"John, we got lucky didn't we?" Cleo said with her eyes trained to the computer screen. "I mean, it would've been a real loss if the CIA lost their best senior field agent, right?" She said this as her fingers were manically typing faster than the speed of light.
Slightly distracted from the tapping sounds her fingertips made, "Yeah, thank God she found it- I thought I'd have to be the one to break the news to her." I stared at her keyboard- it was coated with stickers.
"Yeah- Okay, time to go back, Grandpa- You know how much I hate it when someone watches me while I work." My back was aching and when I heard "Grandpa", I sighed, reminscing the youth I once had. "Y'know it'll take at least a week to break through without harming the hard drive."
I scoffed, "Fine this old man will skedaddle then." She waved goodbye as her eyes were still on the screen.
I can trust Amora, right? But most importantly... She needs to trust us. In order for my plan to work.
*Amora's POV*
I racked my brain upside down from thinking. The USB? The stains? Were those blood? Dad's blood? What does this mean? Shit. Stop thinking, Amora. I gripped my head as I entered my complex's elevator.
Oh shit, it's 1 am already- what the- Since when? I wonder if Evan will still bombard me with questions or if he's already sleeping.
Leaning on the elevator door after it closed, I pressed the"15th" button and tried to whistle to distract myself from the questions buzzing through my mind.
What did John mean when "more doors will be unlocked"? Does this mean the USB is officially classified as evidence for the car accident? Holy shit- Can I even call it a car accident? Whatever's in that USB, Dad clearly doesn't want anyone to know what's in it-
So that car crash and that gang of men... Was it all pre-meditated? It was all planned?
As the elevator ascended and I felt the gravity pulling down, a sudden headache made itself known and in a flash all I saw was an empty void. A cry resonated. It was a cry of pain. And of grief. A slideshow of bloody images circled me- they were of Dad's lifeless body.
Fuck. It's happening again. They showed up twice in one night. No, no and no. I can't afford to have you ruin my days anymore.
And that was when I found myself in a crouch position, tucked into a corner of the elevator- when it dinged open and revealed a disappointed Evan, who was wearing a bathrobe.
I stood up as I cleared my throat- pretending he didn't catch me looking like that. I recovered with a smile and skipped out of the elevator and to my door. "What?" I casually said, ignoring the fact that he was probably drilling holes at the back fo my head with his classic glare.
He folded his arms, "Where were you, amore?" and huffed as he leaned on his door. Unlocking the door, I glanced back and raised my eyebrows at his door. See, I live across this idiot but that doesn't mean I don't hear them when they- uhh- When they do intercourse.
"And where were you?" I emphasized on the "you" while I kick my trainers off my feet and threw one of them into my room. "I'm sure you were busy 'feeding your cat', Evan." I gave him a childish grin- hoping he takes the hint to just leave it be for tonight. "So, why don't you go back to her?" I said in a mocking tone.
Opening his door just by a bit, he scoffed as he pulled his bathrobe tighter to himself, "Oh I will, amore- But who's getting laid here?" He stuck his tongue out as he entered his room. "Wait, do you hear that?" With a wicked smile, I was getting ready to throw the shoe that was still in my hand at him as a joke. "That's right- It's me."
Then I threw it at him, just in time for him to close the door- Damn, I'll get him next time. I lightly chuckle and shouted through his door. "Have fun feeding your cat!" Before I entered my own room and locked it.
Taking out a huge exhale while I collapse onto my door. That was close. I crouched again and buried my head into my arms. What if they start coming again? I thought I got rid of them. Last time, it was because of Evan. But this is quite weird, when the flashbacks do come back after all these years, they always come in short snippets.
Unlike years ago- when they first started appearing. It would go on for hours.
And this wasn't the first time I experienced a brief attack. I had one just like this when I was still in university.
The gust of wind played with the loose strands of hair; the smell of rubber underneath the sizzling sun and the taste of salt entered my mouth as tiny beads of sweat continued to fall. I jumped as high as I could to do a kick serve- the sound of the ball hitting my racquet made me smile.
The tennis ball flew straight down onto Evan's side of the court. I heard him grunt and as he ran to the ball, in order to hit it back to me. I squatted and dribbled my feet on the rubberized court, getting ready to receive the ball back.
He finally reached it and with his Wilson racquet, he drew it back and struck the ball hard. It flung out to the sky and looked like a high ball. So I adjusted my sun visor and ran to the very back of the court.
My back hit the waist-high net that surrounded the tennis court- that was when I realized the ball was going out of the court. Shit, when are they going to install the tall nets, I thought. I attempted to calculate where it would land. I squinted my eyes but I was suddenly filled with panic when it looked like it was going to hit a bystander.
With both my hands on the railing of the net, I swung my body across it and landed on the other side. I bolted past the students that were crowded nearby the court. I huffed and puffed and felt my legs wobble with exhaustion, then, I lost my grip on my racquet and it plopped on the pavement.
Once I was nearing the hooded person, I called out in a hoarse voice, "Hey, ball! Look out!" He turned around towards my voice, with confusion all over his face. I glanced at the ball which was about 3 meters away from hitting his head. And in a split second, I yelled, "Sorry!" Then tackled him to the ground.
Our bodies crashed onto the dirt and we both coughed as a brown cloud of soil lingered around us. Something was wrapped around me but I ignored it as I covered my mouth while I coughed- The dust cleared and a pair of eyes stared back at me.
They were grey. I got a chill in my spine as I also stared back at his. Why do they look so-
So warm? And familiar?
He was wearing a black mask but my eyes widened as I looked down further, only to find that his arms were wrapped around me. I opened my mouth in panic and pushed myself off from him with the palms of my hand, that was now planted on his chest.
Which was a bad idea. The sweat that dripped from my arms and entire upper body had collected on the palms of my hands. Causing my hands to slip on his sports jacket, and soon, I was face-palmed with his chest.
Quickly, I scrambled my feet to stand up as he did the same. Maybe I stood up way too fast but I got a little light-headed and was thrown off balance.
As I stumbled and my legs grew weaker, I felt a pair of arms engulf me and saw it was him again. It felt magnetized, I don't know why but I just had to look into his eyes again.
That same night, the same pair of eyes visited me in my dream. I couldn't fall asleep afterward. And then, I had a brief flashback of that night; with Mom, Dad and Anthony. And lastly, Luke was there too. Luke and his eyes.
Asides from that night, if I could sum up the university experience- it was stressful, fun and well, in the end, I achieved the ultimate goal of getting the degrees I wanted with honors.
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It's a real miracle if anyone it still reading this! If you are, then I'm sorry for all the grammar mistakes and typos I make. Sorry! I'm doing my best though oof.
Anyways thank you for being you.
Also note:
The videos/music I choose above, I try to choose music that sort matches the overall mood of the entire chapter- it was hard choosing the right song... So let me know what you think of it!
vote, comment and stay safe and happy :)
ireck_wings