They rode together in awkward silence. It should have been odd that since they had just met that he would have wanted to get rid of her. But for a reason that she understood more than he let on, she was coming with him even without her insistence.
Sarah noticed that since she had met him no call had come through his personal phone. Or maybe it couldn't. She knew this behaviour all too well. He had switched off his phone so he couldn't be contacted by those he was escaping from. It made Sarah wonder what could have happened that made him dislike them so much. She would soon find out because spite of herself she was rather suddenly excited rather than worried.
What was his story? Where was his family? What the hell was she sitting on? She felt discomfort where she had been sitting and reached down to check.
"What is it?" Reese frowned at her.
"I was sitting on something." She finally pulled up a crumpled piece of paper, she spreads it open only to find a letter.
"Hand it over." He said peremptorily.
"Calm down let me read it out," Sarah said squinting the necklace around her neck lights up unexpectedly allowing her to read the content of the letter. "I know what you did on the 25th of December, fifteen years ago." Pretending that the torch pendant was perfectly planned. She turns to find a white-as-snow-Reese beside her.
"Something wrong?" She reached out to touch his shoulder but refrained herself.
"Toss it." Not answering her question and winding down the glass.
"What is this about? Reese..."
"Get rid of it." He murmured.
"But..."
"I said get rid of it now." He raised his voice this time.
She wordlessly crumpled up the paper and tossed it out.
The tension in the car was tormenting.
"Sorry..." He paused. "I..." He sounded sincere for the first time.
"No worries I am the one who should be minding my own business from now on." Knowing full well that she would have to pry into his one personal life for her plans to work.
"No, I..." Searching his head looking for a reason he cared so much. It was because despite everything he did he could not forget that night. Or even remember it. But it involved something that was too detrimental to his life to be taken lightly. He kept quiet.
The rest of the ride was just like that, quiet. Reese was too worried he didn't even remember her pendant just lit up.
🎄🎄🎄🎄
They rode for about an hour more and reached their destination. It was an isolated cabin. It looked so attractive and welcoming. Everything looked precise clean cut, even the wood seemed imported or something. He had no luggage which made appear to be his private property. His things were probably inside.
"Welcome, I guess." He announced nonchalantly.
They walked up to the door which he opened and allowed her in first and entered himself. He took off his coat and hung it.
"I will take a quick shower, make yourself at home and then we can talk about your little spirit mission after, ok?"
She nodded tracing the exquisite design of the dining table.
He walked off leaving Sarah on her own.
"Time to get to work." She mumbled to no one in particular.
She recounted the mission. She had to get him to laugh with his family, shed blood his blood for them and then shed tears for a stranger. The products of the events will then the collected. She would travel through his past, present and future to help him out. Those occurrences would help unlock his mind and let him find healing.
Sarah remembered the special cases where the children would recount their abuse by going to scenes of the event so that they can finally face their memory and fears and move on. This grown man was going to be no different.
She pitied him, but she was surprised he had been able to stray away from his grief and reach such a high position in his life. It reminded her of one person who did the same, Jonah. He was able to succeed immensely.
Unfortunately, the truth to the reason why he suffered so much in the first place destroyed him. He had been a victim but not him alone. But by then it was too late for confrontations or apologies. His mother took that chance away from him .
She tried instead to write him a letter. The letter also containing the debilitating truth that burnt everything to the ground
Sarah could never let that happen again maybe that was why Reese's case appealed so much to her. It made her realize that no matter how things clear things may seem one has to still look beyond the surface. He was a second Jonah. And for whatever reason Sarah believed that Reese's story was not as it caught the eye. The letter in the car also bugged her mind.
She looked around to find what she was looking for, his coat! now It was time to invite some guests. If only she could stop time or at least slow it down. A light beamed from her pendant and Sarah smiled.
🎄🎄🎄🎄
Reese stepped out of the shower. He had a towel around his waist. He walked to his closet and picks an attire. Once he is done he goes to the living room only to be met with a shock.
There is a man settled on the sofa. He has dark hair and a lean figure.
"Who let you in?" His voice was dangerously steady.
"Oh hey is that how you greet your elder brother?" The man stood up to embrace him.
"Who the fuck let you in here?" Pushing him swiftly.
"You finally picked my calls and invited me." The man was confused. "We have a lot to catch up on."
"Get out."
"What? come on. We..."
"Ian, get the fuck out or I throw out the last ounce of respect I have left for you and kick you out myself." He was shouting now.
"Gosh, Reese I under..."
"Don't you ever claim to understand, when I was begging, crying and withstanding all the shit that tyrant put me through, where the hell were you?" The room felt like it had been lit.
"I know, I am sorry, we will..."
"No, the only thing you will be doing is leaving."
"Ok, ok I will leave." He left and Sarah came out of her hiding place.
"You called him here, didn't you?" It was her turn. She hadn't expected him to react that way. She was used to children fussing over this situation she hadn't known exactly what to expect from an adult.
"Yes, but I..." She was drawing imaginary lines with her big toe.
He took a step towards her and she gazed up at him.
"Reese, I apologize for..."
He took another step his dark eyes not leaving her face.
"It won't happen again."
He didn't stop moving until he was close enough to grab both her arms and pin her against the wall behind her.
"Do you think you are helping me, Miss Carter?" A quick pause "Do you think this will work, huh?"
"Well..."
"You are just a nobody who believes she has a right to other people's lives"
She was left speechless.
"You are dead but alive but you were sent to help me?"
"Is that why you are so desperate? Well bullshit!" he spat derisively.
"You are hurting me, Reese." She underestimated his anger.
"Oh am I now? I will do more than just that." He sneered.
"You will never win do you hear me? You will die a nobody," "you don't understand what it means to be me so don't try and change me."
"It's more than just..." She tried defending herself.
"Don't bother bitch, I read straight through motherfuckers like you."
"You are leaving right..." He started but something started to glow brightly right below his face. It's her pendent, it astounded Sarah because it had never glowed so brightly. She remembered the lady's words.
"I guess you will just have to wait, we are going on a trip."
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