Misreckon

Chapter 7 - Fear Not

Fluttering open, Cora awoke from her light sleep when she heard Dean's voice. She decided to remain still and act as though she was still asleep.

"You handled it ?" I heard Dean ask in disbelief, my back was faced towards his bed as I looked towards the wall in-front of me. I assumed he was talking on the phone. 

"She's asleep so i'll just tell her in the morning, no need to cause a big fuss and start packing up at this late hour." Dean explained followed by a yawn. 

"Did you make sure none of this could be traced back to her? Dad, you know she wouldn't be able to protect herself from them if they were to retaliate." My palms began feeling clammy as I heard him discussing about me, the speed at which my heart was racing caused me to fear that he could hear the sound of my heart racing. 

"Okay, okay. Goodnight, see you at nine." Dean ended the call, the rustlings of his duvet indicating he was ready to sleep. 

My mind was wide awake. 

The next morning, Dean awoke Cora, and explained that it was safe to leave. Cora acted as though she never heard last nights phone call and hurried into the bathroom to put on her work outfit from yesterday: a tight black jumpsuit with long sleeves and her black flats. Since their stay was unprepared, she combed her blonde hair with her fingers and washed her face with cold water. 

Vincent took the pair home, to which he thanked Cora for her warning at the bar and assured her everything was fine. He also reminded her not to tell anyone and lightly threatened her again with the same manner in which Dean had. But before leaving, he gave Cora his number and told her to keep her informed incase a similar scenario would occur. 

"Did you have fun last night ?" My father asked when I walked in the kitchen, placing my keys on the table. Fun ? If you call hiding away with a murderer fun then yes, I had a great time. 

"Well I wouldn't really say it was fun, Anaya just needed some emotional support because of some boy drama." I explained as I put away my shoes and coat. My father yawned and turned to look at his watch. 

"What ?" I asked as he looked at me with a strange manner. 

"Half nine is quite early for you to be back." My father shrugged. He was wearing his pyjamas and fuzzy bear slippers I bought him last Christmas. I stood there, forming a new lie in my mind. 

"I didn't get much sleep so I thought it be best if I came home to my own bed." I stated, watching my father nod in agreement. 

"How was work ?" My fathers question prevented me from leaving. 

"Quiet." I replied simply and made my way up the stairs, back into my room. Shutting the door, I sighed and placed my tote bag onto the floor carelessly as I crawled onto my bed and laid there for a moment. Comforting, my duvet and pillows adhered to my weight and enclosed me within their warmth. I sighed and recounted last nights antics, the recollection of the warnings Vincent and Dean gave me caused chills to erupt down my spine. 

The sunny rays shone through my half-open blinds onto my bay window, a breeze coming through the slightly open window had a lingering smell of freshly cut grass. The neighbours had cut theirs, perhaps. I couldn't remember the last time I had gone for a run as it used to be my way of unleashing stress. I longed for the summer, where the flowers would flourish in a variety of lemon-yellows and vibrant reds, the heat allowed you to run without the gusts of icy winds attacking you. 

Energised and excited, Cora dressed up in her grey running co-ord of leggings and a long sleeved top, tied up her bright pink trainers, put on her headphones and most importantly, she braided her hair to prevent it from annoying her. She got to jog, just thirty two seconds outside of her house, before already feeling better. 

Adrenaline rushed throughout my body as the act of running reminded me of why I was addicted in the first place. I sped by houses hastily and began my usual route: housing estates, the park and the end of the long main road.

Suddenly, as I was about five minutes from my house, a car pulled up eerily close to me. I didn't turn to look, instead I carried on running in my usual speed. My eyes were kept on the street I was on, of-course, the early Sunday mornings were a rather quiet time. Enticing, the music in my headphones acted as my motivation: the beat was continuous and fast paced. I fondly watched as the birds above me flew in a 'V' shape, migrating to warmer countries as the winters were becoming colder. 

In the corner of my eye, the front of a grey car peaked into my vision. The same car I saw minutes ago. This realisation caused my mind to explode into a million thoughts, the loudest being that the Australian woman had found me. I didn't dare look, instead I sped up to the point my muscles were tingling and my breathing immensely fast. But if I kept running, surely I could make it home. 

The sun rising no longer brought me joy, I couldn't smell any if the freshly cut grass, I couldn't think. 

With each step, I feared it would be my last. 

The car honked, causing my body to erupt in shock and my ankle gave in. I tumbled to the floor, painfully. I could have worried about my ankles' health, but in that moment, I worried more about the fact I heard car doors opening. My fall prevented me from getting up. 

I felt a hand on my bicep. A hand I tried to tug away, until I took a look at its owner. 

"Wren ?" I asked in both shock and relief. He helped grab me up from the floor. 

"Cora are you okay? We didn't mean to scare you -" He raised his hand towards the direction of the silver car, his father and mother waving within it. Sheepishly, I smiled and waved back. 

"- I kept waving in the window and we even beeped at you earlier but you didn't see, or hear us." He explained in a jokey manner, shaking his head. 

"Sorry about that, my headphones are pretty loud when I go running." I shrugged. He placed his hand, lightly, on my bicep again. 

"Your ankle, is it okay ?" He asked me with a frown. I decided to add pressure onto it and stepping a little, the lack of pain causing me to smile. 

"Yeah, it's alright." I stated, thankful not to have injured it. 

"Mum, Dad, can we take Cora back home? She hurt her ankle." He turned to ask them, I watched them both nod and usher me over. 

"I swear, it's fine." I whispered to Wren, who was now holding me up and providing me with support as we got into the car. 

"I know, I know." He repeated, yet I was still getting inside the car with his muscular arms helping me in. 

As soon as I got in his mother and father turned to greet me with their warm smiles. 

"Hi Cora." They welcomed me in unison. 

"Sorry for scaring you, Wren just wanted to get your attention and he was very persistent." His mother explained. She was a small lady, her presence was inviting and motherly: from her warm brown hair to her constant smile, she had always been a comforting face for me. His father, on the other hand, was very similar to Wren: tall, muscular and brown haired. However, unlike his son, he was a man of few words. 

"It's alright Kate and it was my fault anyway, I didn't recognise your car so I assumed it was a creep trying to follow me." I joked, putting my seatbelt on and smiling at Wren. 

The situation and my now relaxed self, allowed me to look at what Wren was wearing which instantly caused a puzzled face to form. Smart and fitted, he wore a dark blue suit and his normally neat hair was now pristine perfection thanks to the hair gel. 

"Im guessing you've got somewhere important to go today ?" I asked curiously, reaching to adjust Wren's crooked collar. He winked with a smile afterwards. 

"It's this big, boring morning banquet that Dad's work invited us to. Anaya and Ian are going too, so I guess it wont be that bad." Wren explained, trying to keep a hushed tone when expressing his dislike towards the fact he had to go, hoping his father wouldn't hear. 

"Oh right, I forget that all your Dad's work together." I stated, but somehow, I think my sadness crept through. 

Wren and Anayas Dad's were brothers who worked in the same law company together. Ironically, Ivan's father was Anayas' father's boss, who had heard about Wrens father and offered him a job here. This led to them moving and beginning the friendship between the three. Ivan joined later, when befriending Wren during rugby practise, they soon realised their fathers worked together.

Cora felt isolated, she had no hate towards them for it as it wasn't their fault. She couldn't expect herself to be invited or included when she had no relation to the setting at all. Although, it did make her feel ashamed: her father wasn't admirable, successful, honourable as their fathers were. He was the type of men the trios' parents would send to jail. 

"You won't be missing out, trust me." He sighed. 

After their short drive to Cora's house, she thanked them and walked towards her door: her ankle feeling alright. She walked passed the living room, internally screaming at the scene before her in which her mother and father were cuddled up on the sofa drinking coffee. Especially after their argument the previous night, Cora was astonished that they could return to doing this. She greeted them robotically and made her way towards her shower. 

"Cora !" I heard my mothers voice bellow. 

"What ?"I replied in a raspy, tired tone and woke from my half slumber. Standing up due to the shock, I realised I had fallen into a dream state on my bed whilst wearing my towel after the shower. I must have been drained from the lack of sleep and the adrenaline-filled run. 

"Richards in the hospital, his bruised arm has been getting worse so you'll have to work tonight." She stated and showed me a picture of his arm. Being accustomed to seeing Dean's bruised and b****y face, I assumed that Richard's would have no effect on me. But it did: the bruising appeared both black and red in some places and had spread tremendously. I was previously aware he had hurt himself in the door but he continuously wore long sleeved dress shirts which denied me the possibility of seeing these bruises. 

"Dad can take you." My mum said and left towards her room. Frustrated and tired, I travelled back into my room and checked the time: twenty minutes past one. I had enough time to have an extra nap and then get ready. 

Cora and her father traveled in silence. This was unusual as both were chatty individuals, making it evident that the pair were lost deep in thought. Nearing towards Goose and Gospel, Cora's father stopped in a public parking area that was five minutes from the bar. Upon asking why, he explained to her that it could take up to ten minutes for him to get out of the parking area near the bar and that this one was easier for him. 

Peaking up at the amber and peach sky, Cora slipped out the car, said farewell and began her mini-walk to the bar. Luckily for her, the streets and sky were well lit, making travelling amongst the city safer. But it wasn't as though she feared the idea of walking alone in the city, she saw no reason to fear the unpredictable, instead she feared seeing the woman. She couldn't possibly explain it to her father that moment, or ever. She was sworn to secrecy. 

"I would like to speak to your manager." The angry customer repeated. He had fiery red hair, which ironically, matched his fiery red temper. 

"He's currently at the hospital. Like I said before, if you are unsatisfied with your alcohol content then you must pay extra for more. We have to stick to measurements. Im sorry, I am, but I don't make the rules I just abide to them." I explained calmly. He slammed his fist on the table, mumbling a string of expletives before taking a swig of his drink. 

"I know it's none of my business but lets be real, it's her job, do you really think she would risk losing it just to make you drunk and happy?" A stern voice interjected. A tall man had approached the bar and apparently heard our quarrelling, he wore a loose white dress shirt and had his hands in his blue jean pockets. 

 I watched as the drunk, angry man looked him up and down and poked the mans chest. Unfazed, he stood there and raised his dark brows at him. 

"Yeah you're right. It's none of your business." The fiery red head huffed with an attempt to sound intimidating. Though his own stature was thin and frail, much weaker compared to the man before me. 

I looked at him, eager to hear and see his reaction.

"There's a bar down the street which serves a buy one get one free deal on drinks tonight, surely you'd rather save money and drink more by leaving this stingy establishment ?" He asked charismatically. The red heads eyes widened and then he took a quick swig of his drink, theatrically placed it onto the table and left, barging past the man.

"My apologies about calling the establishment you work for as stingy, I just thought he was more likely to leave if I took his side." He explained and casually sat on the chair in front of me. 

"Don't apologise. You did me a huge favour getting that man to leave. And you're right anyway, even my boss would agree that he's stingy." I stated which caused his eyes to widen and a soft smile to form. 

"Speaking of your boss, how come he's in the hospital, if you dont mind me asking ?" He asked with intrigue. 

"He got his arm trapped in a door and the bruising looks serious. He'll be back tomorrow I think, depending on the results." As I explained, he listened intently. His eyes gazed into my own and examined the rest of my body every so often. Peculiar behaviour, such as his, created feelings of unease that I couldn't sway away. 

Then, the man ordered a shot of vodka, which he immediately consumed and said his goodbyes to Cora. Leaving her a good tip money, Cora swiped away any bad thoughts she had surrounding him and gave him the mental label of 'Good Guy'. She knew very few.