ALICIA
I'll do it.
I'll do it.
I'll do it.
The words sound on repeat, in my mind, rankling me to no end. It feels like I'm underwater as I turn to face Ash, but he's already looking at me with that damn smirk sitting pretty on his perfect face.
"Don't you dare!" I say, lifting a finger and shaking my head. "I don't want -"
"Take her away," Ash says, still looking at me. I know he's trying to tell me, with his eyes that he has to do this, but I don't give a flying fuck for all that male ego bullshit. I just want to get out of here now - with him in one piece - and go home.
I feel someone coming close to me, so I whip around. "Don't you dare touch me!" Koldis' head rears back, and he moves a step back from me. He stares at me like I've just slapped him. Not yet, but if he dares lay a finger on me, I just might.
"Please. . . baby." Ash's pleading tone brings my gaze back to his face, and I shake my head.
"Don't do it. You don't have to show him anything, just handle it the way you usually do, and let's go home. . .please." When my hand curled around his jaw, I'm not aware, but I see the set determination enter his eyes and I know I've failed in my attempt to change his mind. "Alright!" I nod. "Since you're so stubborn, then I'll also be stubborn and not go anywhere."
I fold my arms against my chest and watch as Ash's eyes stray from my face and dip lower. His eyes close and then he turns away. I would have missed it if I had looked away - a jerk of his hand - and then Koldis is moving toward me once more. I step back, but he still comes closer. Before I can say anything, he's swooped me in his arms - bridal-style - and walks out.
My screams are piercing, even to my ears, and could probably be heard miles away. When I see it isn't working, I change tactics and begin pleading. All that falls on deaf ears as well, so I resort to hitting him against his chest but all he does is grunt.
"I will not be treated like some child, do you hear me," I scream. It's not until Koldis carries me away from the building that he gently sets me on my feet.
"Ma'am, please understand, Ash wants you to be safe." He says this with a tone of regret.
"Is that right? And who's keeping him safe in there? Who's watching his back, huh?"
He smothers a laugh with his hand as he shakes his head. "Keeping him safe, you say?" He shakes his head. "I doubt if you've seen him fight before, that's why you're saying this."
"Okay, so he's a beast when fighting, but did you see that guy he's going up against? He's a mad hatter, a maniac, his eyes are dead, there's no one home, and you left him all alone with that?"
Koldis gets a faraway look in his eyes before it clears, and he nods. "Ash is very competent, don't worry."
But his words do little or nothing to stop how I'm feeling. If anything, my worry spikes. "So what - we just wait?"
He scratches a spot on his head. "My orders are to take you home."
"WHAT?!"
"But. . ." He holds his hand up in a sign of surrender for me to hold on. "I'll let you stay if you promise to behave."
I nod my head like a rag doll, my head almost falling off from how rigorous it was. "Yes! Of course, I promise I'll behave."
Koldis looks at me disbelievingly and murmurs something under his breath. After a few seconds, he says nothing except to busy himself with a nylon bag beside him on the ground. The rustling he's making is irritating, to say the least. Just as I'm about to tell him to put a sock in it, it stops and he hands something to me.
"What is this?" I try but fail to keep the irritation out of my voice. It's partly his fault I'm this way after all.
"At leaf look at what I'm giving you." His tone is amused.
I look down to see a pair of jean shorts. I recognize it as one of mine. My face lights up in a smile as I stare at the pair of jeans I know is Ash's favorite.
"Ash got this for you. He figured you might need a change of clothes when we eventually get you." His smile is soft and knowing.
He turns around as I shimmy into it. The feel of it against my skin is soft and comforting. When I'm done, I tell Koldis, but all he does is sit on the ground and insert a wire inside his ear. He goes deathly still and focused as if he's listening-
That's right - he's probably listening to the fight between Ash and his mad hatter of a twin. I flop onto the ground beside Koldis and try to figure out how to get inside the building to help Ash. I'm not going to leave him alone. No way.
I wait for Kolids to say something, to turn to me and maybe, share what he's listening to, but all he does is stare at nothing in particular, and frown at certain points. I watch for some minutes, totally cut off, and anger and anxiety take their turn on me. Ash a point, I get up to walk it off, but all that does is wear me out.
Suddenly- Kolids pitches forward and balls his hands into fists as a sneer appears on his face. His eyes glaze over and his whole body is tense, sweat pops up on his forehead. I'm reminded of a lion waiting in hiding for the perfect moment to pounce on its prey. I continue watching until his balled fists open up and he flexed them.
A smile appears on his face, and that's when I realize that just like him, I'm also experiencing the fight between two brothers. The only difference is that I'm a third party, watching it from the expressions on Koldis's face. I don't want to be an outsider, I don't want to have to stand on the sidelines and find out if something happens to the father of my unborn child- no!
I want to be with him, to help him somehow. I slide my gaze away from Koldis and scan the terrain. We're surrounded by high grass that almost blocks my view of the building. I've counted four of Ash's men, minus Kolids, all hiding out in the bush, waiting. Just waiting.
My gaze slides back to Koldis as he pitches forward once more, fists balled beside him. As he does this, something peeks out from his jacket. I squint and move forward to get a clearer view. What I see has my heartbeat speeding up. As I watch the holster of a gun almost falling out of his jacket, a daredevil plan forms in my head.
It's risky, but it's worth it. I watch Koldis carefully for a few seconds. He's totally taken up with what he's listening to. I work out the dynamics in my head -
He can't know what I'm about to do so it's got to be done stealthily. I sit down beside Koldis, close, but not so close that he would get suspicious. He doesn't react to my presence, doesn't blink, doesn't even move.
Perfect.
It's now or never.
I slip out the gun which is already three-quarters out, anyway, and put it underneath my tee, as I whisper a silent prayer that I don't blow myself up in the process.
Plan one: Executed!
Plan two: Loading. . .
I stretch my hands and yawn noisily. Koldis doesn't even bat an eyelid. His focus is a hundred percent on what he's listening to. From my perspective, that's a good and a bad thing, because he's totally lost in his surroundings and anyone could take him out. Right now, though, it's leaning toward perfect for me.
"Um. . . Koldis." Nothing. "I need to pee." Still nothing. Damn! This guy's focus is unwavering.
All the better for me.
I smile to myself as I get up from the ground and walk off. My heart is in my mouth that any moment now, I'll be found out and dragged back kicking and screaming, but as I take a long route toward the ramshackle building, it's obvious Koldis won't even realize I'm missing. . . at least for a while.
Plan two: Executed.
Plan three: Executed. . . like a boss.