Chapter Nineteen
Desperately Crazy
Life must go on even if my soul aches. I focus on work and keep my head down.
Blake doesn’t talk to me outside of missions.
I’ll give him one thing, he had professional courtesy.
I almost expected him to avoid me or not even show up to missions but surprisingly he's been there for every single one. Rarely does he look me in the eyes or stand near me longer than is necessary. His avoidance offers as much comfort as it possibly could considering our circumstances. I think he believes by ignoring my existence, it’ll make our break up easier.
He’s not wrong there. It drives me to despise him more and love him less.
Today is yet another mission, one I am going solo on.
No reason to degrade my self worth by having Blake come along.
He would probably end up pissing me off to the point I either shoot him or blow the head off an innocent bystander due to his blatant need to pretend I don't exist. I dress and head to the warehouse. I need to collect a very particular weapon that I strictly keep there for safekeeping. The drive doesn’t take long as I busy myself with music.
“Little Siren.” Ghost’s voice in my ear startles me to the point I slam on my brakes causing me to almost be rear ended by various cars.
Other drivers lay on their horns as they swerve around me.
I whip my head around to find an empty backseat.
Oh yeah, that’s a new symptom of my hysteria.
Hallucinations of Ghost and Blake pop up at random times like their souls are haunting me into an early grave.
I aggressively rub my face in a desperate attempt to rid myself of them.
Even when I have neither of them, my mind finds ways to keep them attached to me.
Like a leech, they continue to suck me dry.
Slowly beginning to drive again, I focus back on the road, refusing to let my thoughts travel to undesirable places.
Within another ten minutes, I arrive at my destination.
I head in, quickly gather my weapons before heading back to my car and begin my drive to this mission’s destination.
This time making sure to check the backseat in an effort to remind myself of his absence.
It’s dark now and street lights flash overhead as I drive down city streets.
As I pull up to a red light, nodding my head to the beat of music, my eyes travel to an area ahead of me lit by a lamp post. A figure stands below it, looking at me.
I squint to better see them. There stands Blake, dressed in one of his suits looking divine.
A horn sounding behind causes me to look in my mirror at the car it came from.
My eyes whip forward to see the light has turned green but I don't move until I've looked back at Blake to find he has vanished. I groan and keep driving.
Pulling up to my destination, I retrieve my custom built rifle and head to the ladder of a nearby building.
Once at the top, I throw myself over the ledge and walk to a good vantage point.
Setting up the rifle, I mount it to the ledge and look through the scope.
My sight dances between windows until it finds my target.
An old, heavyset man perches himself on a long couch while smoking a cigar.
A young brunette in a sleek dress comes into view offering him a short glass of, what I am assuming is, scotch.
She halts until he tastes it and gives her an approving nod.
She glides away and heads out of sight. Moments later, she can be found slipping into the small bathroom and opening a small pouch that was placed next to the sink.
She pulls out some make up and carefully applies it to her neck.
Zooming in, it's clear she is covering bruises in the shapes of fingers.
I almost chuckle at the memories where I have had similar marks caused by a certain someone, but stop myself as I watch her face slip into a pained expression.
She cries into her hands and my heart squeezes in response.
That empathy slowly flows into a boiling rage, moving my sight back to the man who caused those marks.
Gritting my teeth, I switch the safety off, and put my finger on the trigger as I aim it at his head.
Just as I go to shoot, I hear a loud bang.
This sound gives me a millisecond to drop my head just as a flying bullet zooms over me.
I look up in confusion, using my scope to try to find its source.
I see a glint of light and a small amount of motion from the top of the building I was just aiming at.
As fast as my feet can carry me, I bolt with my weapons for coverage.
Peering around the wall that leads to the stairwell entrance, I'm nearly shot again.
If I can spook them, it may give me enough time to open the door next to me and use the stairs to escape.
I ready my gun and fire a round towards my attacker.
It hits the bricks in front of them and I launch myself towards the door.
Just as my fingers nearly make contact with the handle, a bullet zips past my arm and takes a bit of flesh with it.
I move back to my previous spot and hold my arm in hopes to slow the bleeding.
It’s nonfatal but hurts nonetheless. Looking around, my mind races with possible options as more bullets continue to be shot in my direction.
The realization hits me that I have no way out.
Scrambling for my phone one handed, I flip to Blake’s contact and press the call icon.
It rings multiple times but I get no response.
My frustration builds as I continue to call him over and over.
Growling angrily, I find that group chat with the guys in my text messages and create a call.
Much to my despair they don’t respond either.
What the fuck is going on? As a last ditch effort, I scroll down my text messages until I see Ghost’s name and call him.
I’m not sure why I even bother, but at this point I am desperate for any way out of this.
The call is answered on the second ring.
Static and white noise can be heard through the speaker causing me to check the screen, ensuring that the call was actually answered.
“Ghost, I don't know if you can hear me but please don't hang up. I am trapped on a roof with a gunman shooting at me. I’m hit and bleeding pretty good. I don't have an escape route. I need your help.” I spit out quickly in fear of him ending the call.
More static can be heard before an unfamiliar voice comes through the speaker, “La Sirena, you seem to be in a tough situation.”
“Who the fuck is this? Where is Ghost?” I growl into the microphone.
He chuckles before responding, “You see, we have some very important people here. So you will come quietly or my shooter there will continue to shoot until you either come out of hiding or die from malnourishment.”
My panicked anger causes my heart to pound in my chest and a cold sweat to spread across my skin. They have all of them. That's why no one answered the phone. I mull over his words and realize he’s backed me into a corner with no way out.
“Fine, where?” I say annoyance apparent in my tone.
“You will receive a text shortly.” He offers.
“You going to call your dog off?” I yell, trying to catch him before he ends the call.
“Already done.” Is all I hear before the line dies.
Carefully peeking out with my scope, I am met with vacancy on the adjacent roof.
I slowly move to the door, still not trusting his words.
Pulling it open, I fly down the stairs until I get to an elevator and use that to descend the rest of the way.
Running out to the street, I book it to my car just as my phone buzzes.
Opening it, I see a text from an unknown number giving coordinates to an abandoned building about an hour away.
Punching them into my GPS, I start my drive to the destination.
The city slips away as skyscrapers are replaced by trees.
Streets reduce in number until my headlights are all I have for visibility.
Following the GPS, I pull up to a wooden drive and slowly a small cement building comes into view.
No vehicles can be seen, so I take that as a hint that I am the first to arrive.
Collecting my belongings, I take a deep breath.
Steadying my nerves and calming my mind from the racing thoughts for the safety of everyone involved, I climb out of my car.
The night is so quiet, even birds sleep now.
The only sound to be heard is a light breeze rustling nearby leaves.
Sitting on the hood of my car, I accept my future in whatever that may involve.
I can’t help but notice the smells of nutty oaks and decomposing leaves, as my nostrils flare.
The breaking of twigs nearby causes my head to snap in their direction.
Just as I do, a sudden blinding pain encompasses my head as I am thrown forward.
My vision gives out but not before seeing bodies standing overhead, one holding a long object.
Unable to fight the consuming darkness, I let it take me and slip away from the world.