Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

Death

Her once indigo mane had faded to turquoise, but the change hadn't ended with her hair. Everything about her was washed out, she looked tired. Those first few moments had been intense, when she had noticed me tailing her, I had been left with two options. Find a way in or runaway. It hadn't been hard to convince her that I was a friend of Lena. I just shared some information that could only come from me. Meeting at a pub, my circumstances, personal family affairs. I shared things only a close friend would know, or of course myself. Safe in the knowledge that no one could know me as well as I know myself. I’d like to think that I had talked my way in, but ultimately there had little resistance. After a brief talk with a sad smile, she told me I had better follow her

I could hazard a guess where we were headed, and I was worried about what I would find. As predicted, I soon found myself outside my old flat. I had questions but said nothing. If Mara was in my body, I could be on the brink of losing it all. Ivy let herself in, the flat was empty.

Upon entry I had been greeted with the usual foisty smell of damp, some things never change. The smell seemed to be aggravated by the lack of ventilation, and the piles of boxes littering the floors. They seemed to contain my belongings as Ivy had had to dig through the boxes to find a kettle, she was insisting on tea. The place seemed devoid of life, any warmth that had I had previously maintained was now lost. I could see from my seat that the boiler was off completely. My home had been reduced to a frigid box, with seemingly no tenant to maintain it.

My hands were thankful for the warm and I clutched gratefully at the hot mug she set before me. We sat in silence for a few moments as I felt it was safer to let her begin the dialogue. It reduced the risk of me revealing too much. I sat patiently while her eyes scanned me, it was obvious what was coming so I was prepared when she said

“So how do you know Lena again?”

“We met at a bar, not too far from here. I haven’t known her long.” Her expression was giving me nothing, forcing me to continue “Like I said we both lost our mothers at a young age.

I guess we sort of bonded over that.” She took a sip of her tea, whilst never taking her eyes off me once. “When was the last time you’ve seen her?”

This seemed like a test, but I was well versed in this subject. “it was about two months ago she once mentioned where she lived. I hadn’t heard from her so I thought I would check up, see if everything's okay.” She sighed, and after placing her cup down she began rubbing her temples. “I guess you don’t watch the news then” before waiting for my reply she continued “but even if you blinked you would have missed it. People like us, well, they don't care to feature in the news. We don’t bring in the views.” I took a sip of my hot tea. I was suddenly freezing, whatever she was about to say wasn't going to be good. Without warning, she reached across and grabbed my hand “I don’t want to be the one to tell you this, but I don’t know anybody else who could. Until now I thought I was her only friend.”

My mouth was dry and I choked whilst trying to swallow the brown liquid. I bolstered myself for my next question “You... what you mean was?” She squeezed my hand tighter, her hands were warm even if her face had taken on a grey hue. “I’m sorry, she died. Her body was found about a month ago.”

I sat back in the chair as I felt numbness spread through me I couldn’t quite understand what she had said: “She died?” I asked trying to steady my voice. She dug around in her bag and produced a news article, I glanced down at it, but my eyes shot up unable to fully process the headline.

“I’m sorry” she repeated “it came as a shock to me too. Nobody knows what happened. It looks like she got drunk and… and fell. She was in the old warehouse. The police don’t know why, it looks like she had drunk a lot, even for her. “

There was an emptiness inside me, so deep it could never be filled and the world went black. Just as I realized my senses were failing my eyes suddenly focused, her lips were moving but I couldn’t hear her words. Time seemed to slow down and for one glorious moment, It was like I didn’t exist. I thought nothing, I felt nothing. Then my gut began to twist with pain, I clutched at my stomach whilst the world imploded around in an assault on my senses too painful to bare.

Something was tingling on my cheek, I brushed it off only to realize I was crying. Ivy was just as upset and was poorly attempting to stifle her sobs. I hated seeing her like this, if I told her I was alive would that make everything better? No. It would complicate things more. I took her hand in mine and for a while, we silently comforted each other. Later I would come to realize I had been in shock.

There was no going back now, I thought I would be relieved but a million emotions churned inside me like a cauldron. I suppose I was grieving for my former life. Through rebirth, I had gained a lot and was now shocked to discover what it had cost me. I had gone through life thinking I had nothing but nothing now seemed like everything. I glanced around at the boxes awaiting disposal, I was so easy to discard.

The initial shock had subsided yet I found myself with more questions than I had upon arrival, I let go of Ivy’s hand. She flinched slightly at the separation and turned her tear-stained face toward me, her expression indicating inner conflict “She was seen leaving the bar with a group of men, she has never done that before she was a loner...what if?” her arms folded on the table became a cradle for her head, as she placed it face down towards the table. Her face obscured I looked at the back of her head, her hair was slightly matted indicating she had been neglecting personal care.

“Are you saying this was no accident?” my voice cracked over the words, I drank more tea to soothe my dry throat but the once sweet tea now seemed flavorless. There was no response from the bowed head before me “she was killed?”

“I know how it sounds; I suppose it could be grief but there were traces of other people at the scene. If it was an accident why not come forward?” Her voice was muffled but her words crashed around me like thunder. Why can I remember so little of that night? I looked down at the date on the article, my body was found the same day I had awoken in hospital. So was this a second chance? How is Mara linked? The implication was that Mara was dead and the thought made me sick. I temporarily put it out of my mind wary that I would have to process it sooner rather than later. Thoughts like that are like acid, left unaddressed it would slowly corrode my mind. First I had to deal with this unexpected feeling of loss. It would have been kinder to let Ivy move on, but I wasn’t ready to let her go. “Let me look into it, I have connections, resources, I can’t think of a better use for them. Give me your number?” It took some convincing, to Ivy it appeared almost too selfless really, it was a selfish act. I needed information about how I had died, how it was connected to Mara. If there was foul play I would find who was responsible.

I helped Ivy was the dishes and she regaled me with stories of our adventures, some of which I remembered very differently. Regardless I listened in interested silence as reminiscing seemed to distract her from the grief. “Anyway, you remind me of her. You have the same look in your eyes as she did, perhaps that’s why she felt comfortable around you.”

“My eyes?”

“Yours are much prettier, obviously, but you both have the same look of determination the same inner strength.” I was so distracted by her interpretation of me that I ignored her comment about my former eyes. “Lena considered herself weak” I replied, holding back tears

“That’s true, but she is...was, the strongest person I’ve met. I couldn’t survive what she did or have the courage to be so independent.” I turned away to conceal my tears, when I was alive all, she did was nag me, where did this come from? She moved back to the small table and pulled a key out of her coat pocket. “I was on my way here to clear out some boxes, she has nothing of real value, even her bike is falling apart.” My bike, another thing I would have to give up, even if it was falling apart. Still, I had used it to get from one job to the next. It had served me well and on days when I had free time, it was exhilarating to drive somewhere new. “Mara?” she asked, breaking my reverie. “You were miles away, I said in return for your help you should take what you want from here. It might be a good memory. She handed me the key and her business card, “Just post it through the letterbox box when you leave, you can even take the bike. This stuff…I’m not sure what to do with it otherwise.” I took the key and her number with a small smile. “Oh and I'm not sure what resources you have, but I know where you can start. The guy who owns the bar? Well, he said she left with a guy named Sam.”