BullsEye

Chapter Nineteen

Alexa's P . O . V

I've never been this eager to embark on a journey all my life. I felt this sudden anxiety as I folded my clothes into my suitcase.

It was early 5:00 Am and the whole household was probably still asleep so I decided to pack my suitcase since I couldn't get any sleep and my flight wasn't due until afternoon.

After so much pressure from Jake, I eventually told him of my intended destination "for security reasons" he said.

Well, if at all things went sideways, atleast someone knows of my whereabouts I reasoned as I told him I'll love to spend the next couple of weeks in Haples to enjoy the perfect scenery not telling him anything else.

I pressed down the overly packed suitcase in a successful attempt to zip it up.

I smiled pleased with myself as I rolled the suitcase on it's wheels towards the door and slanted it sideways leaning it against the wall.

I walked over to my closet and brushed my fingers through the clothes that remained trying to pick out one to wear later in the day before I leave.

I settled for a bluish green halter top with matching Palazzo pants. Seeing that the Journey to Haples was a very long one, I needed something free and comfortable and the soft cotton material of my selection was just perfect.

Turning over to the opposite side, I opened up my jewelry compartment and snatched the slim silver necklace Mom had gotten me for my 19th birthday.

I raised up the jewelry containing box and picked up the book I had hidden days earlier and I exited the closet.

I tossed the clothes carelessly on one side of the bed, and carefully placed the necklace on my bed side table beside my customized black tote bag, then I lay down with my back against the bed propping myself up with a few pillows beneath me.

I opened the book and picked out the golden card studying it properly.

I'm finally getting a chance to figure out what this was all about, I had no other clue because the stupid card carried nothing at the back of it as it was plain blank and the front carried nothing but the logo.

It all felt so frustrating, I tried looking up whatever I could online but I was getting no lead. It all just made no sense to me at all. But still driven by determination and the raging urge to look into my sister's death personally kept me going.

Either way, this logo and the name of the country it was established is quite promising.

I closed the book and did the very same with my suddenly heavy eyes, sighing out loud, I adjusted myself on the bed and let sleep sweep me away.

"Someone's gonna be late for her flight" Jake sang out as he rubbed a make up brush he probably snatched from my vanity table on the inside of my ear.

Slapping his hand away, I jumped up as I suddenly understood his words replaying on my mind.

"What time is it?" I asked rubbing my eyes with the back of my palm.

"It's way past 10:00 AM" He replied dropping his weight opposite me in a sitting position.

"Oh s**t s**t s**t" I repeated. "My flight is in about two hours time"

"Less than Two hours actually" he informed me camly stuffing a cookie I just realized he was holding into his mouth.

"Why didn't you wake me sooner?" I demanded.

"Hey, I didn't know you were asleep" he defended raising his hands up slightly.

"And besides, I really don't want you to go and leave me here all by myself" he added frowning.

"How cute. Privacy please?" I dryly responded holding up my towel to him.

"I'll be downstairs" he said before standing up to leave now walking towards the door.

"Is this your suitcase?" He asked pointing at the box I held up against the wall.

"No, it's our neighbor's." I replied sarcastically rolling my eyes.

"Yeah well, Duhhhh it's mine!" I told him again when he gave me a quizzical look perhaps not getting the sarcasm.

"Oh..... I'll take it to the car" he replied slightly bending to pick it up in one swift lift like he was only lifting a half filled bottle of water and exited the room shutting the door behind him.

My goodness! I had a hard time just taking it down from my bed and rolling it to the door.

His footsteps faded away from my door and I quickly got out of my bunny rabbit PJ and tied my short above the knee pink towel over my chest and got into the bathroom.

I had a quick not so relaxing bath much to my dismay as I planned earlier on to soak myself till my skin can't tolerate the water no more.

Getting out of the bathroom, I dried myself up and threw on my clothes after blow drying my dripping wet hair.

I was ready.

Ready to embark on the journey that has been on my mind all week.

Ready to find my sister's killer and make him pay.

Make him have a taste of his own medicine.

I was never one known for violence, buh I'll kill a dozen men if at all I had to do it for Brie.

I wasn't going to let this go.

No matter how impossible it looked by the minute.

I stepped in front of my mirror, gave myself a long look and clutched tightly to my tote bag I had slung over my shoulders.

My eyes fell to the framed portrait of Brie on the table, I picked it up and broke the glass with the sole of my heel I left lying on the ground from yesterday's outing with Jake.

I freed the photograph from it's glass compartment and folded it neatly into a tiny piece, I reached into my bag for my purse and slipped it into one of the compartments and tossed the purse back into the bag.

I bent over and strapped on my black leather sandal that had a flat sole and a comfortable feel against my feet.

Raising myself up to my full height, I adjusted myself in the mirror, then I looked round every corner of my room drinking in the arrangement and positioning of everything very much uncertain of my return because let's be honest? I could just also get killed, but what is life with just me being a lone wolf when the soul that snatched the only person I had away from me still lives?

Turning around towards the door, I decided it was time to leave. I grabbed the knob and pulled it open the I stepped out and closed it shut swallowing hard when I heard the door close behind me with a loud bang.

"Great, you're ready. I was just coming up to get you" Jake said as I met him halfway up the stairs.

"Yeah... I'm all set" I camly responded.

"Just make sure you're alright over there, be safe okay?" He replied pulling me into a tight hug.

"I can't breathe" I murmured unable to feel my lungs anymore.

"Oh sorry" he apologized chuckling and released me from his grip.

"Yeah Yeah Yeah.... I'll be fine, I'll be fine, don't give me anymore of your lectures, I ain't no little child, I can very well take care of myself" I replied waving my hands in the air as we continued our journey down the stairs.

"Oh? And don't get everyone of the maids pregnant before I get back" I added smirking at him.

"I feel so embarrassed you think so lowly of me" Jake replied grinning and placing a hand over his chest.

"I'm a fine young man yes, but I am definitely not a p*****t!" He added coming down the last step.

"Yeah sure" I responded dryly coming down behind him.

"Where's Mrs Cruz?" I asked after glancing round the sitting room and part of the dinning area that was visible from where I stood.

"She's in the kitchen I guess..... I don't know" Jake replied also scanning the environment.

"I'll go check" I informed him before heading for the kitchen.

"Alright, I'll be by the car" he replied as he turned in the opposite direction heading towards the front door.

"Mrs Cruz?" I called out as I stepped into the kitchen.

"Mrs Cruz?" I repeated in a louder voice as I received no response and frowned when she was nowhere within sight.

"Alexa!" She beamed as she poked her head in through the back door holding up a full basket of laundry towels.

"I'm about leaving, I came to say goodbye" I said walking towards her.

She wordlessly dropped her basket on a tall nearby stool and just unexpectedly pulled me in for a hug. I was a few inches taller so her rose scented almost grey hair was in my nose as my chin rested on the top of her head.

"May God be with you child." She finally said after releasing me from her long hug placing her palm on the top side of my head and sliding it down my hair to my cheek looking up at me with those kind blue eyes.

"Be back soon okay?" She added tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Okay" I replied but nodded afterwards realizing my response held no volume.

"I made some cupcakes, want some?" She asked smiling at me.

"No thanks, I'm fine" I replied returning the smile.

"Byee"I called out running out of the kitchen as I heard Jake honking so loudly he would certainly awaken a dead hen.

Seriously? Who honks at a lady? Jake is quite smooth and has got the looks but he definitely is no gentleman at all. Tsk.

I got into the car and glared at his grinning face as I strapped on my seatbelt.

"Ready?" He asked simply

"Ready"I replied simply nodding my head doing a silent check in my head.

"Alright" he replied as he kicked the car to life.

I swallowed hard feeling strangely odd and fighting the urge to turn back and cast a long look on my home till I couldn't see it anymore.

I pulled out a bottle of water from my tote bag I had snatched from the kitchen earlier and gulped it down without mercy as I suddenly felt my whole body go dry.

I returned the almost empty bottle back into my bag and watched as the familiar buildings of my neighborhood breeze by as See you again by Charlie Puth played softly from the car's stereo.

I closed my eyes and tried to push Jake's croaky singing voice out of my ears as I wanted to get all thoughts whatsoever off my chest.

I will return home someday, but not until my work is done.