By the time they had returned from the labyrinth - all of them wearing sneaky grins and masquerade dresses - the roommates found themselves nearly out of time. Their contract ended on the 13th of August. The golden summer of their youth was spent, and now it was time for the credits to roll. They might have wept if they weren't in such a rush.
Packing all of their things took the better part of two days. When they'd finally boxed up all of the Calvin and Hobbes books, the miscellaneous action figures, the plethora of plants, the posters of sexy men, the several weapons, the toaster, and their Weasley clock, it was time for more ceremonial matters: they assembled a time capsule.
A small, brown envelope was the chosen vessel for their memories. They enclosed their entire collection of quotes, doodles they'd compiled together, a photograph of Grosland's elderly suitor, and letters written to their future selves. They planned to open the capsule in two years - after Beth returned from her mission to OtherPlace - and celebrate all over again this wonderful summer they'd shared.
That night they huddled on the couch (in the newly sparse apartment) with a fine pile of junk food, wrapped some blankets around themselves, and watched Labyrinth together one last time.
Well, at least, it was the last time in that apartment.
* * * * *
They left on Saturday morning, after scrambling to finish cleaning out their apartment before the final cleaning check (which they passed handily). Grosland and Beth had moved most of their stuff back to their parents' houses, since they'd both be leaving the state soon - Grosland only had two weeks until she left for Russia, and Beth could be leaving anytime in the next six months for who-knows-where. But Erin was staying in the same apartment complex, so after their cleaning check was over the other two helped Erin move her stuff into the new place. Erin's new roommates were friendly and helpful, even if they did turn out to be Justin Bieber fans.
It didn't take very long to get all of Erin's stuff inside; when they were done, the three of them stood looking at each other in the parking lot. The air between them seemed thick with unsaid words.
Erin held out her arms, and they all hugged each other tightly. They knew that this wasn't the end of it; they'd already made plans for play-dates between their future children. But though this wasn't the end of their friendship - by far - it was the end of The Jareth Chronicles. As they held on to each other for one last moment, the curtain was already coming down on their summer and they knew it.
But before they walked away, to their separate homes this time, they put a final stamp on the whole thing with their customized, not-quite-secret handshake. Jessica Grosland, Erin Asay, and Beth Black stood formally in a triangle formation and held out their right arms. They slapped hands in the center, smacked their chests with their fists, then thumbed their noses at each other. After standing erect for a moment longer, each of them broke into a wide grin, and they all started to laugh.
No, it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
THE END
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day 106
Two weeks later, everything had gone back to normal. And by normal, I mean boring. Beth was sitting on the floor - refusing to place herself on the brand new couches that had been forced upon them - playing Lord of the Rings Online on her computer. Grosland was sitting next to Beth, squirming and moaning miserably as Beth's on-screen hobbit fought large and ominous spiders. Erin was tilting her head at a ridiculous angle as she tried to draw toast.
After several hours of this, all three girls sighed and put away their toys. Even being lame could get dull after a while. They resigned themselves to sitting in silence for a while longer. Then Beth said, "What are we going to do tonight, you guys?"
"I dunno," Erin mumbled, sprawling out over the new couches - which she rather preferred to their old, ratty, plaid cushions.
"Let's do . . . nothing," Gros said, tiredly.
"Yeah," Beth sighed, relenting to the inevitable. "Nothing."
"Nothing," Erin mumbled into the cushions.
"NOTHING?"
That voice. All three girls sat up straight immediately as the voice echoed spookily around them.
"Nothing? Nothing tra la la!?"
Without daring to speak, all of the girls turned simultaneously towards the Labyrinth poster on their wall. As they stared, their pitiful hearts swollen with hope, the glossy surface of the poster began to blur. The images smeared and became a swirling, sparkling vortex. And then the impossible happened. He walked through. Shining like the sun, his golden hair perfectly framing his chiseled features, the Goblin King looked at them with his mismatched eyes and sneered regally.
"Ladies," he began. "This is disgraceful."
They remained silent, staring up at him with their mouths half-open. Erin's nose had started to bleed.
"For years, you three have been wreaking havoc on the human realm. You have fed off of each others' exuberance, encouraged each other toward more and more reckless plots. Patience, prudence, common sense had no home in your plans." He was pacing now, surely leaving a trail of glitter that would be impossible for them to vacuum before cleaning checks, but the girls were too enraptured to notice. The Goblin King was coldly outraged, his lecture growing more insistent.
"This was to be your last great adventure!" he cried. "Before the world stole you away from each other. This was your chance to be glorious. And you took advantage of that. For a while." He stopped pacing and looked at them, his eyes fierce. "But you have become . . . lazy." The word sounded unusually filthy, the way he said it. "You never leave the house except to perform necessary societal duties, and then when you are home you sit in silence and watch your lives slip away, moment by moment.
"And now, with fewer than five days left to you, you plan to sit around and do nothing." His voice had grown soft, a malevolent whisper. It didn't matter; the girls were utterly silent. They wouldn't have missed a word he said. He raised an eyebrow at them and continued acidly, "This is your climax, girls? After all the weeks you've spent living together, this is how you spend your final days? This is your last scene? No. You each deserve - your friendship deserves - better."
The trio was silent still. Their eyes were shining with tears of joy and misery. He was right, of course. Their summer together had been grand. How could they let it go out on such a mediocre note? They needed to do something spectacular. Something wondrous. But what?
The Goblin King read the question in their eyes. He considered them for a moment longer, then laughed once. His harsh features relaxed into a dazzling grin. Grosland started to cry. "Come on, girls," Jareth said teasingly. He gave them a significant look, his eyes flashing. His next words came softly, slowly. "Say your right words."
They each blinked in disbelief. For the first time since Jareth had arrived they tore their eyes from him to glance at each other in amazement. Could it really be time? After so many years of waiting?
They shared a look of deep meaning, then they looked back at the Goblin King, and each began speaking at the same moment. Their voices were steady, despite everything.
"We wish the goblins would come and take us away . . . right now."
Jareth grinned slyly once more.
And then they all four were gone.
After several hours of this, all three girls sighed and put away their toys. Even being lame could get dull after a while. They resigned themselves to sitting in silence for a while longer. Then Beth said, "What are we going to do tonight, you guys?"
"I dunno," Erin mumbled, sprawling out over the new couches - which she rather preferred to their old, ratty, plaid cushions.
"Let's do . . . nothing," Gros said, tiredly.
"Yeah," Beth sighed, relenting to the inevitable. "Nothing."
"Nothing," Erin mumbled into the cushions.
"NOTHING?"
That voice. All three girls sat up straight immediately as the voice echoed spookily around them.
"Nothing? Nothing tra la la!?"
Without daring to speak, all of the girls turned simultaneously towards the Labyrinth poster on their wall. As they stared, their pitiful hearts swollen with hope, the glossy surface of the poster began to blur. The images smeared and became a swirling, sparkling vortex. And then the impossible happened. He walked through. Shining like the sun, his golden hair perfectly framing his chiseled features, the Goblin King looked at them with his mismatched eyes and sneered regally.
"Ladies," he began. "This is disgraceful."
They remained silent, staring up at him with their mouths half-open. Erin's nose had started to bleed.
"For years, you three have been wreaking havoc on the human realm. You have fed off of each others' exuberance, encouraged each other toward more and more reckless plots. Patience, prudence, common sense had no home in your plans." He was pacing now, surely leaving a trail of glitter that would be impossible for them to vacuum before cleaning checks, but the girls were too enraptured to notice. The Goblin King was coldly outraged, his lecture growing more insistent.
"This was to be your last great adventure!" he cried. "Before the world stole you away from each other. This was your chance to be glorious. And you took advantage of that. For a while." He stopped pacing and looked at them, his eyes fierce. "But you have become . . . lazy." The word sounded unusually filthy, the way he said it. "You never leave the house except to perform necessary societal duties, and then when you are home you sit in silence and watch your lives slip away, moment by moment.
"And now, with fewer than five days left to you, you plan to sit around and do nothing." His voice had grown soft, a malevolent whisper. It didn't matter; the girls were utterly silent. They wouldn't have missed a word he said. He raised an eyebrow at them and continued acidly, "This is your climax, girls? After all the weeks you've spent living together, this is how you spend your final days? This is your last scene? No. You each deserve - your friendship deserves - better."
The trio was silent still. Their eyes were shining with tears of joy and misery. He was right, of course. Their summer together had been grand. How could they let it go out on such a mediocre note? They needed to do something spectacular. Something wondrous. But what?
The Goblin King read the question in their eyes. He considered them for a moment longer, then laughed once. His harsh features relaxed into a dazzling grin. Grosland started to cry. "Come on, girls," Jareth said teasingly. He gave them a significant look, his eyes flashing. His next words came softly, slowly. "Say your right words."
They each blinked in disbelief. For the first time since Jareth had arrived they tore their eyes from him to glance at each other in amazement. Could it really be time? After so many years of waiting?
They shared a look of deep meaning, then they looked back at the Goblin King, and each began speaking at the same moment. Their voices were steady, despite everything.
"We wish the goblins would come and take us away . . . right now."
Jareth grinned slyly once more.
And then they all four were gone.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Day Purple
Beth pushed open the door and looked around the very empty front room. Her recent work in Moab had done nothing for her mood. Nothing could replace the void that had come in the absence of Erin and Grosland. Despair gnawed at her chest and she fell to her knees with an anguished cry. The apartments around her had not been inhabited since the laundry room massacre, and the silence was becoming unbearable. After a moment's mad contemplation, she lurched to her feet and walked unsteadily towards the back rooms. She fumbled for the hall light and--with it's flickering light--she noticed the silhouette of a large object in Grosland's room. Her eyes adjusted, and she grinned when she recognized what it was.
The time machine was there. With luck, Grosland had managed to repair it before she'd died.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Day 31
Lane watched the horizon, doubt creasing his forehead. He glanced over at Beth, who was leaning back against his extended arm. She was looking up at the stars.
"Do you know how to find the summer triangle?" she asked offhandedly. She gestured up at the sky. "See the triangle created by those three stars? That one is called 'Altair'. It's part of the constellation Aquila." She smiled vaguely. "Then we have Vega and Deneb. They are-"
Her voice was drowned out by an explosion as a mushroom cloud of flame shot into the sky--off in the direction Lane had been looking. He and Steven (leaning against the back of the truck) stared open-mouthed as little flecks of flame continued to spew off in various directions. Steven looked back at Beth once it had quieted down a little. The horizon was now glowing with flame.
"Are you sure that was necessary? I mean, this is Moab."
"My original plan fell through. I'm just glad Anilee gave me the idea for using bacon grease to bomb the site." Beth was still staring up at the sky. "I really appreciate you both helping."
"What are pyros for?" Steven chuckled, climbing into the front of the truck. "Though I'm still surprised you used this trip as an excuse to come down here. You didn't even know us prior to this week."
"I had a good feeling about it," Beth said with a grin. "Lets get back to camp to get some food. Make sure to ask about the explosion. I don't want the others to suspect anything."
"Do you know how to find the summer triangle?" she asked offhandedly. She gestured up at the sky. "See the triangle created by those three stars? That one is called 'Altair'. It's part of the constellation Aquila." She smiled vaguely. "Then we have Vega and Deneb. They are-"
Her voice was drowned out by an explosion as a mushroom cloud of flame shot into the sky--off in the direction Lane had been looking. He and Steven (leaning against the back of the truck) stared open-mouthed as little flecks of flame continued to spew off in various directions. Steven looked back at Beth once it had quieted down a little. The horizon was now glowing with flame.
"Are you sure that was necessary? I mean, this is Moab."
"My original plan fell through. I'm just glad Anilee gave me the idea for using bacon grease to bomb the site." Beth was still staring up at the sky. "I really appreciate you both helping."
"What are pyros for?" Steven chuckled, climbing into the front of the truck. "Though I'm still surprised you used this trip as an excuse to come down here. You didn't even know us prior to this week."
"I had a good feeling about it," Beth said with a grin. "Lets get back to camp to get some food. Make sure to ask about the explosion. I don't want the others to suspect anything."
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Day 85
Beth was surrounded by people, and yet she felt very alone. It wasn't uncomfortable; rather, a feeling of peace had settled upon her like a smooth, silk cloak. She wore it contentedly. After many hours of horror and pain, it was nice to just sit and be quiet.
She knew something was wrong the minute Erin stepped out the door. Grosland had never returned from her late-night mission, and after pacing the living room for six hours Erin had finally grabbed her gun off the table and gone out looking for her, swearing that there would be blood running in the streets if her roommate was harmed in any way. The door slammed shut, and somehow Beth knew that Erin wasn't coming back.
Once the sun had gone down she ventured out on her own, sheathed in darkness. She navigated the alleyways with catlike tread, silent as the approach of death. She needed clues, and soon enough, she found them. At the original rendezvous point, there was a smudge of blood on a lamppost. Beth's heart leaped into her throat. She followed the dusty footprints down the street, coming to a halt at a dead end.
She looked around, confused. Then, she spotted a scratch on one of the lower bricks in the wall. Crouching down, she was just able to read the word scratched into the wall:
Beth in the present shuddered, remembering the filthy passageway. She'd had to traverse its spider-inhabited lengths for almost an hour before finally reaching the other side. She remembered her surprise at finding a closet door, the slits of which - when peered through sneakily - revealed the expansive laundry room of their apartment complex. Her entire ward had been in there, having one of their many after-church meetings. Beth had been about to turn back, feeling she had arrived at the wrong place, when the conversation had finally wheedled through the slats of the door to her.
"That's two of them down, only one more to go!" Josh said. The crowd responded with uproarious laughter and cheering. Josh grinned and raised his beefy arms, accepting the applause. "Really, that's enough," he said modestly. "That Erin girl wasn't very difficult. Once she'd seen her friend's gutted corpse, she just stood there and let me shoot her in the head." More laughing. Beth's heart froze over with anger.
Now a skinny woman was speaking. "Paul, how did you get that first girl anyway? She's always been so clever, I was sure she'd be the last one we'd get."
Paul smiled fiendishly, sitting on the couch with a couple of cronies. "Well, naturally, I made sure I had the upper hand. She made be skilled, but even a skilled assassin has little chance against twenty gunners. She's a lot easier to shoot when she's already dead." The laughter in the room was incredible, strong enough that Beth almost expected to feel it like a gust of wind on her face.
Suddenly, as the group of people shifted, Beth saw the table at the center of the room. A shock pulsed through her, making her gasp. Even though she'd expected it, the sight was more than she could ever have imagined: two slaughtered bodies displayed on the table like trophies - her roommates, too mutilated for her to even tell which one was which. Her breath came ragged and her sight was tinged with red. The laughter coming from the room rose and fell with her heartbeat, pounding in her skull. No more thinking; Beth was beyond that now. She was beyond BETH. She was the Hassassin. And the Hassassin only ever had one task....
The door crashed to the floor, making several of the ward members cry out in surprise. They all looked at her. Some didn't recognize her, and didn't know to run. Others, though, began to flee the moment she appeared, as if they could see death in her eyes.
Beth smiled serenely, perched on the back of the couch. She was surrounded by people, but none of them moved or spoke, and none of them ever would again. She was alone in a crowd of the dead.
She started to whistle.
She knew something was wrong the minute Erin stepped out the door. Grosland had never returned from her late-night mission, and after pacing the living room for six hours Erin had finally grabbed her gun off the table and gone out looking for her, swearing that there would be blood running in the streets if her roommate was harmed in any way. The door slammed shut, and somehow Beth knew that Erin wasn't coming back.
Once the sun had gone down she ventured out on her own, sheathed in darkness. She navigated the alleyways with catlike tread, silent as the approach of death. She needed clues, and soon enough, she found them. At the original rendezvous point, there was a smudge of blood on a lamppost. Beth's heart leaped into her throat. She followed the dusty footprints down the street, coming to a halt at a dead end.
She looked around, confused. Then, she spotted a scratch on one of the lower bricks in the wall. Crouching down, she was just able to read the word scratched into the wall:
Aaaauuuggghhhh
Obviously, this had been written by a Grosland in great distress. Beth felt a wave of sadness wash over her as she thought of her amusingly short friend. She touched the word-laden brick gently - then, on an instinct, she pushed it.
It gave way readily. A great cranking sound echoed through the alleyway as the wall slid back into its holding, revealing a secret passageway. Beth was immediately alert, back on the hunt, and she stalked down the passage without a flicker of fear.
Beth in the present shuddered, remembering the filthy passageway. She'd had to traverse its spider-inhabited lengths for almost an hour before finally reaching the other side. She remembered her surprise at finding a closet door, the slits of which - when peered through sneakily - revealed the expansive laundry room of their apartment complex. Her entire ward had been in there, having one of their many after-church meetings. Beth had been about to turn back, feeling she had arrived at the wrong place, when the conversation had finally wheedled through the slats of the door to her.
"That's two of them down, only one more to go!" Josh said. The crowd responded with uproarious laughter and cheering. Josh grinned and raised his beefy arms, accepting the applause. "Really, that's enough," he said modestly. "That Erin girl wasn't very difficult. Once she'd seen her friend's gutted corpse, she just stood there and let me shoot her in the head." More laughing. Beth's heart froze over with anger.
Now a skinny woman was speaking. "Paul, how did you get that first girl anyway? She's always been so clever, I was sure she'd be the last one we'd get."
Paul smiled fiendishly, sitting on the couch with a couple of cronies. "Well, naturally, I made sure I had the upper hand. She made be skilled, but even a skilled assassin has little chance against twenty gunners. She's a lot easier to shoot when she's already dead." The laughter in the room was incredible, strong enough that Beth almost expected to feel it like a gust of wind on her face.
Suddenly, as the group of people shifted, Beth saw the table at the center of the room. A shock pulsed through her, making her gasp. Even though she'd expected it, the sight was more than she could ever have imagined: two slaughtered bodies displayed on the table like trophies - her roommates, too mutilated for her to even tell which one was which. Her breath came ragged and her sight was tinged with red. The laughter coming from the room rose and fell with her heartbeat, pounding in her skull. No more thinking; Beth was beyond that now. She was beyond BETH. She was the Hassassin. And the Hassassin only ever had one task....
The door crashed to the floor, making several of the ward members cry out in surprise. They all looked at her. Some didn't recognize her, and didn't know to run. Others, though, began to flee the moment she appeared, as if they could see death in her eyes.
Beth smiled serenely, perched on the back of the couch. She was surrounded by people, but none of them moved or spoke, and none of them ever would again. She was alone in a crowd of the dead.
She started to whistle.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 79
Erin took one last look in the mirror, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ears, and clipping them back with a large flower barrette. She smirked at the cheerful effect it had, and turned to leave.
She grabbed her gun from the table as she passed and tucked it into the back of her pants, covering the bump with her perky, checkered dress, then left the apartment, striding purposefully down the hall and down the stairs.
A text message arrived, almost on cue, as she made her way across the courtyard:
He's in. You should have a clear shot.
Erin smiled and pressed the button to reply.
Thank you. You'll be paid within the next day or so. Once the job is finished.
She felt very pleased with the way things were working out. She could not have even imagined that his roommate could have been so easily bought.
She continued walking, heading down the empty corridor until she found number 36. She put on her softest expression and knocked softly. Nobody answered. She knocked again. After a moment she heard a voice speak tentatively from behind the door.
"Who is it....?"
Erin affected her voice to sound shy and sweet.
"Is Justin there?" she asked, tilting her head for effect, in case he was looking at her through the peephole. The door cracked open and an eye appeared.
"What do you need?" the voice inquired suspiciously.
"I need to talk to Justin..." Erin replied, shuffling her feet and looking unsure. There was a pause.
"Are you hunting me?" he asked nervously, though opening the door a little more. Erin raised an eyebrow at him as though confused.
"Show me your hands," the man behind the door commanded. Erin complied. "Now turn around." Erin did so. She spun around; a useless action, as her dress concealed any lumps she had in her jeans -- her keys, her phone, and especially her gun. Were he smart he would have patted her down, but he appeared to be too much of a gentleman.
"Okay..." he said slowly, pulling the door further open. "Come in. But don't try anything... I'm not afraid to kill you if I have to..."
Erin smiled reassuringly and stepped forward, feeling smug. Men were all too willing to open the door to a pretty face and an innocent smile -- or even a suspicious one. Her hand briefly moved back to brush her gun -- a stupid instinct that was liable to get her in trouble.
"Hey! Hands where I can see them," he warned, closing the door slightly again. Erin raised her hands and waved them innocently. He lowered his eyebrows and stepped back from the door so she could enter.
He certainly was well armed. He had a pile of grenades on the table next to the door, almost as though he were expecting an army. She saw no weapon on his person however.
"Alright. What did you need?" He asked, lowering his voice.
"Last time we talked, we discussed some information you had... I've just come to collect it," she said, nonchalantly.
"Right," he nodded. "Let me get it."He turned his back and began to retreat to his room. Seeing her chance, Erin reached behind her back and seized her gun, whipping it out and aiming it at the back of his head. Unfortunately, he chanced a glance behind him just as he did, and immediately jumped into action, ducking her shot and popping back up behind her, throwing himself on her back and trying to wrestle the gun from her hand. She fought him off, despite the significant size advantage he had over her, firing several stray shots that hit the walls and the floor. Finally, she managed to drive a shot into his gut. He grunted, shocked, and stumbled backward. Acting quickly, Erin spun around and fired a shot into his forehead. Immediately he fell to the ground. Erin fell to her knees beside him, panting, and rifled through his pockets hastily until she found what she was looking for. She read the paper quickly, scowled, then stuffed it down the front of her shirt, leaping off the floor and heading for the door. She hadn't been very subtle, and somebody would have heard. She had to get out.
I need to work at being a better assassin... She reprimanded herself, pounding down the corridor away from the scene. Indeed, it seemed she had been heard, and soon a shout came from behind her and shots started to ring out down the hall, ricocheting off the walls. She continued running without looking back. Trying to ignore her pursuer, she turned her thoughts to her next target. It would be harder this time; the new mark had a much higher profile. She'd have to be more creative. Even as she thought it, she saw him, through the window of his apartment, working on his computer. How easy would it be to stop right now and bump him off. But as she began to slow her pace, a bullet sang past her ear. She'd have to do it later. Of course her luck would never allow her to make a kill so easily. As she flew across the courtyard, bullets pelted the pavement around her. She looked up to the balcony and gave a mockingly apologetic smile.
"Sorry, friend! It's just business!"
Erin stumbled slightly over her feet as she ran, red faced and sweating, across the parking lot, leaping into her car and starting the engine. She would have to leave town, at least for the day. Perhaps she could visit her cousin. Clearing would definitely understand her situation and take her in. She could wait until the vengeful hunt died down, as well as avoiding her own tracker. She only hoped the others would be okay for the time being...
-----------
It was late in the evening. Erin and Beth looked up from the couch as a frantic pounding sounded at the door through which Erin had returned home just a few minutes ago. Beth leapt up cautiously and went to the back to hide. Erin crept towards the door, looking through the peephole. There was a man there, but it was far too dark to see who it was. Erin paused.
"State your business," she commanded.
"It's Andrew, let me in!" the man outside replied, sounding very nervous. He was an ally; it was safe. Immediately Erin opened the door and stepped aside. Andrew entered, looking disheveled.
"I need to borrow a gun," he said, looking around nervously. Beth emerged from her safe spot and joined them in the kitchen.
"Take one of the ones on the table," she said. He did.
"What's wrong?" Erin asked, watching him fumble with the weapon.
"I have to take a hit next door... But I think they've got my number... One of them is after me, but I have no choice. I have to do it now..." he replied.
"What are you going to do?" Erin asked.
"I'm going to get her before she gets me," Andrew said, stiffening his resolve and throwing open the door.
Erin and Beth peered nervously around the doorframe as Andrew crept quietly next door, slipping past the window so as not to be seen. He took a deep breath and knocked, holding his pistol at the ready. The door flew open, and Erin and Beth both stifled screams as he was immediately riddled with bullets. Andrew stumbled back against the railing of the balcony. Gasping, he held himself up on the rail and gave a rattling breath as a smirk crept slowly across his face.
"So it was you..." he said to whoever was behind the door. "Well then, it will be interesting to see what you do... you inherit my target... it's her... " he pointed a shaking finger at another individual. "...are you going to kill her? ...your own roommate? ...your friend?" Another shot rang out, piercing Andrew's skull and effectively silencing him. He slumped down against the railing. Erin held back a whimper, and she and Beth ducked back inside. Through the slightly open window, they heard the other door click shut in the hallway. After a long, tense silence, a shot rang out from next door, muffled by the walls, and something heavy fell. More silence. Erin and Beth looked at each other, knowing exactly what had happened.
"Everyone is a traitor..." said Erin. "Our last true ally is gone. Nowhere is safe anymore." She paused for a moment. "Where's Grosland?"
"She's resting for right now..." Beth said. Erin sighed with relief. "But she's going out to take a hit at midnight... we'll need to watch her back." Beth continued. Erin took a deep breath and nodded.
"How did we ever get ourselves into this?" she sighed.
She grabbed her gun from the table as she passed and tucked it into the back of her pants, covering the bump with her perky, checkered dress, then left the apartment, striding purposefully down the hall and down the stairs.
A text message arrived, almost on cue, as she made her way across the courtyard:
He's in. You should have a clear shot.
Erin smiled and pressed the button to reply.
Thank you. You'll be paid within the next day or so. Once the job is finished.
She felt very pleased with the way things were working out. She could not have even imagined that his roommate could have been so easily bought.
She continued walking, heading down the empty corridor until she found number 36. She put on her softest expression and knocked softly. Nobody answered. She knocked again. After a moment she heard a voice speak tentatively from behind the door.
"Who is it....?"
Erin affected her voice to sound shy and sweet.
"Is Justin there?" she asked, tilting her head for effect, in case he was looking at her through the peephole. The door cracked open and an eye appeared.
"What do you need?" the voice inquired suspiciously.
"I need to talk to Justin..." Erin replied, shuffling her feet and looking unsure. There was a pause.
"Are you hunting me?" he asked nervously, though opening the door a little more. Erin raised an eyebrow at him as though confused.
"Show me your hands," the man behind the door commanded. Erin complied. "Now turn around." Erin did so. She spun around; a useless action, as her dress concealed any lumps she had in her jeans -- her keys, her phone, and especially her gun. Were he smart he would have patted her down, but he appeared to be too much of a gentleman.
"Okay..." he said slowly, pulling the door further open. "Come in. But don't try anything... I'm not afraid to kill you if I have to..."
Erin smiled reassuringly and stepped forward, feeling smug. Men were all too willing to open the door to a pretty face and an innocent smile -- or even a suspicious one. Her hand briefly moved back to brush her gun -- a stupid instinct that was liable to get her in trouble.
"Hey! Hands where I can see them," he warned, closing the door slightly again. Erin raised her hands and waved them innocently. He lowered his eyebrows and stepped back from the door so she could enter.
He certainly was well armed. He had a pile of grenades on the table next to the door, almost as though he were expecting an army. She saw no weapon on his person however.
"Alright. What did you need?" He asked, lowering his voice.
"Last time we talked, we discussed some information you had... I've just come to collect it," she said, nonchalantly.
"Right," he nodded. "Let me get it."He turned his back and began to retreat to his room. Seeing her chance, Erin reached behind her back and seized her gun, whipping it out and aiming it at the back of his head. Unfortunately, he chanced a glance behind him just as he did, and immediately jumped into action, ducking her shot and popping back up behind her, throwing himself on her back and trying to wrestle the gun from her hand. She fought him off, despite the significant size advantage he had over her, firing several stray shots that hit the walls and the floor. Finally, she managed to drive a shot into his gut. He grunted, shocked, and stumbled backward. Acting quickly, Erin spun around and fired a shot into his forehead. Immediately he fell to the ground. Erin fell to her knees beside him, panting, and rifled through his pockets hastily until she found what she was looking for. She read the paper quickly, scowled, then stuffed it down the front of her shirt, leaping off the floor and heading for the door. She hadn't been very subtle, and somebody would have heard. She had to get out.
I need to work at being a better assassin... She reprimanded herself, pounding down the corridor away from the scene. Indeed, it seemed she had been heard, and soon a shout came from behind her and shots started to ring out down the hall, ricocheting off the walls. She continued running without looking back. Trying to ignore her pursuer, she turned her thoughts to her next target. It would be harder this time; the new mark had a much higher profile. She'd have to be more creative. Even as she thought it, she saw him, through the window of his apartment, working on his computer. How easy would it be to stop right now and bump him off. But as she began to slow her pace, a bullet sang past her ear. She'd have to do it later. Of course her luck would never allow her to make a kill so easily. As she flew across the courtyard, bullets pelted the pavement around her. She looked up to the balcony and gave a mockingly apologetic smile.
"Sorry, friend! It's just business!"
Erin stumbled slightly over her feet as she ran, red faced and sweating, across the parking lot, leaping into her car and starting the engine. She would have to leave town, at least for the day. Perhaps she could visit her cousin. Clearing would definitely understand her situation and take her in. She could wait until the vengeful hunt died down, as well as avoiding her own tracker. She only hoped the others would be okay for the time being...
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It was late in the evening. Erin and Beth looked up from the couch as a frantic pounding sounded at the door through which Erin had returned home just a few minutes ago. Beth leapt up cautiously and went to the back to hide. Erin crept towards the door, looking through the peephole. There was a man there, but it was far too dark to see who it was. Erin paused.
"State your business," she commanded.
"It's Andrew, let me in!" the man outside replied, sounding very nervous. He was an ally; it was safe. Immediately Erin opened the door and stepped aside. Andrew entered, looking disheveled.
"I need to borrow a gun," he said, looking around nervously. Beth emerged from her safe spot and joined them in the kitchen.
"Take one of the ones on the table," she said. He did.
"What's wrong?" Erin asked, watching him fumble with the weapon.
"I have to take a hit next door... But I think they've got my number... One of them is after me, but I have no choice. I have to do it now..." he replied.
"What are you going to do?" Erin asked.
"I'm going to get her before she gets me," Andrew said, stiffening his resolve and throwing open the door.
Erin and Beth peered nervously around the doorframe as Andrew crept quietly next door, slipping past the window so as not to be seen. He took a deep breath and knocked, holding his pistol at the ready. The door flew open, and Erin and Beth both stifled screams as he was immediately riddled with bullets. Andrew stumbled back against the railing of the balcony. Gasping, he held himself up on the rail and gave a rattling breath as a smirk crept slowly across his face.
"So it was you..." he said to whoever was behind the door. "Well then, it will be interesting to see what you do... you inherit my target... it's her... " he pointed a shaking finger at another individual. "...are you going to kill her? ...your own roommate? ...your friend?" Another shot rang out, piercing Andrew's skull and effectively silencing him. He slumped down against the railing. Erin held back a whimper, and she and Beth ducked back inside. Through the slightly open window, they heard the other door click shut in the hallway. After a long, tense silence, a shot rang out from next door, muffled by the walls, and something heavy fell. More silence. Erin and Beth looked at each other, knowing exactly what had happened.
"Everyone is a traitor..." said Erin. "Our last true ally is gone. Nowhere is safe anymore." She paused for a moment. "Where's Grosland?"
"She's resting for right now..." Beth said. Erin sighed with relief. "But she's going out to take a hit at midnight... we'll need to watch her back." Beth continued. Erin took a deep breath and nodded.
"How did we ever get ourselves into this?" she sighed.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 78
The group walked in, greeted enthusiastically by Andrew. He led the girls to the stage piano, and struck up a dramatic tune, which echoed throughout the theatre. Their voices harmonized flawlessly--
But Beth was focused on other things. Her eyes darted out towards the darkness of the theatre, and she saw his silhouette. She knew it was him, though she could see little besides the reflection of his glasses. He was totally unaware of her intent... but it was too early to strike. She continued to sing strains of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," all the while remaining aware of his movements. This opportunity was too perfect to waste.
"And that," Andrew finished the piece grandly, "is why I want all four of you to star in my new production. You all sound so excellent! Don't you think, Ryan?"
"Definitely!" he called out from the audience.
Beth felt a remarkable calm come over her--just as she always felt before a kill. "What was your name?" she called out off-handedly. After a moment's pause, the response came.
"Ryan?"
Before he had even finished, Beth had whipped out her CZ-75 and blown a hole through his head. His figure slumped over the seat and was still. Everyone on the stage was silent.
Andrew let out a low whistle. "That's rough, buddy."
Beth flipped off the stage, landing delicately atop the row of seats in front of where the body was. She reached down and rummaged through his pockets. After a short moment, she drew out a rumpled piece of paper. Scanning it briefly, she cursed.
"What is it?" Erin called out as Grosland suddenly disappeared for nefarious purposes.
"Another clue..." Beth whispered darkly. "This had better be the end of the trail."
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