Burying the Hatchet (COMPLETED)

Sacked

 A notable silver bracelet hangs tightly on his right wrist- a rectifier. 

“Are you sure about this hon? How about the baby?” 

     If you’re looking at a distance, you might think he’s gone crazy talking to himself. But it’s nothing new to the inhabitants of the space-age.This hooks him to a central communication network called EDEN. Everyone in the Thorne country does. Everyday life has been a bed of roses, since this fully automated system was serialized twenty years ago. From the measly house hold chores, to driving a transporter up to running a company. Think of it, you’ll have it. The possibilities are endless.

   Going back to the phone call.  He’s somewhat pleading his girlfriend not to break up with him and take their son with her. But on a second thought he isn’t. You can clearly tell by his face, not even an ounce of regret but a ray of joy sparks up. A thin grin curved his lips as he tosses an apple mid-air, killing the remaining seconds of that conversation. Spouting those lines as if they we’re read off the book, if those still exists in the current space-age. Such a sly fox.

“Fine do what you want! “ Trying his best to sound mad and conflicted at the same time. Tapping his left earlobe-disconnecting the call, “the baby’s not mine anyway.” He tosses the fruit again.

   Opting to catch that apple again when somebody overtakes and bump him. Falling over and washing his face in the paddle from last night’s rain. If he had some hair on, he’d probably pull them out of frustration but there isn’t- it’s shiny like a bulb. Tapping dirt off his clothes, he grumpily stood up and ran after the unlucky girl.

“Miss! Wait up, Miss!” he shouts at her but she still keeps on running. Perhaps ignoring him on purpose. 

   Given his kind of lifestyle- quite the ladies’ man. He memorized most of the nook and crannies of the cities and districts. It’s either to run from his women or their husbands or both. Clearly he has the upper hand in this chase of cat and mouse. Experience speaks for itself. Disappearing only to reappear. Hiding from an alleyway with perfect timing he jumped on her. Catching her off guard, on top of her while pinning both her hands. 

“A cop? Not my lucky day.” Then she suddenly became unconscious.

 The next second their lip-locking.

“Get a room!” A police officer told them off, “kids these days lack the decency.” Then he left them to their business. Resuming his pace and crossed the street to buy some breakfast. Or strut himself to the lady officer, peacefully sipping from her cup by the bench. “Fine weather we have today. Additional coffee?”

The lady officer smiled to herself. Finishing up the cup and came forward to pay. “Creamy milk just how I like it, keep the change.” Then she left him dumbfounded. 

“I’m proud to raise a daughter who doesn’t seek validation from people. Isn’t that right officer?” 

“That’s 4 roseates and 50 rounds right?” He then sends his payment virtually and left with a wounded pride. 

The lady officer comes out from hiding beside a tree and mouths, “Thank you.” She isn’t her daughter but a regular customer. Protecting him from lurking parasitic people around the area. A simple give and take.

“No sweat, “ he replies. Though he can’t sometimes blame people, who’d lost faith in the law. Some uses it to mooch on others or for their own gain. “Always believe in goodness no matter what.” The lady officer gave him two thumps up, a hopeful smile and left.

                                                                                                ***

 Eyes still wide open due to shock not from the kiss but from a kick to the groin.

“Lunatic! What’s your deal?”

Pushing him on the pavement, she immediately stood on her toes posing to punch him this time but he swiftly evaded it. “You’re the pervert here and you have the nerve to call me crazy?”

 He was dumbfounded, she had a point. “In my defense it was just CPR.” Scratching the back of his head then looks away to avoid her gaze. Acting like it certainly didn’t have malice.

“Thanks but no thanks. You attacked me first you deserved that and more.” Now she’s loose, wanting to say another word but stops halfway and started walking away. She has more important business than to be entangled kissing some random guy.

“Whoa! Where are your manners? I saved you from those cops by kissing you, NM317. Now we’re even. A kiss for my apple, smudged face and clothes…then for your freedom.”

   She stopped then bowed down to tie her shoe laces or so he thought. She was untying them and threw one across his face.

   Oh boy it was rock  hard. 

Curse taupe colored combat boots, size seven!

 The ragged type girl. He raises one brow while picking up the right boot.

“Why you’ve done it? I don’t usually hurt women back but there’s always a first time. You’ve brought this on yourself.”

  Without any warning he hauled her off the street, lifting her like a sack of potatoes on his right shoulder. While the other just stayed silent, not that she has much of a choice. Attracting a horde of cops is the last thing on her list as of the moment.

                                                                                       ***

  After their fifteen-minute walk together as she remembers- they’ve reach a certain apartment complex. Pretty rundown because the floorboards are creaking. Making funny noises or worse one would send them down right  to their grave- if they got lucky. Also acquired a few cob webs on the way. Maybe even tasted one. Her skin crawls at the thought. She hates spiders. The past months she thought she’s toughened up but she was wrong. Fear always spikes back stronger when you least expect it.

“If you want to kill me make it quick, spare me the agony.” She speaks as if she never gives a damn about her life.

“It’s a refreshing view for a victim. Usually they’d beg for their poor lives but you’re something else. Only someone who faced death can say that without even blinking.”

She spits the remaining web stuck between her lips. “Surprise.”

  When he turns around sensing the pin pad in the dark, her head hit the steel door frame, “Ouch! Can you be more careless? I said spare me the agony.” Then she rolled her eyes as if on cue, the door glides open. The room lights up consequently.

    The apartment complex maybe automated but it’s outdated. It lacks the smart programming her generation enjoys now. Maybe it was not the first time she hit her head on the steel door.

The elevator.

  Her recollection sets her off every time. Fragments always keep her guessing. The last time it happened, she was devastated.

“This looks like a museum than a home. The technology here is jurassic.” She’s flipping switches on his temper but he restrained himself, saving the energy. He then throws her in a clattered bed. When she tried to take a look, those were dirty magazines. Her eyes widens at the realization.

Gab can you hack into this house? I need to get out of her alive no matter what it takes.

'As you said the technology here is fossilized. I’m sorry Eli but this is off the grid. It’s not even linked to EDEN. It’s a standalone. Plus you were mostly unconscious on the way here. If you didn’t re-programmed me, you wouldn’t even be talking to me right now.'

”Don’t even dare to escape,” his raspy voice gives Eli the chills while he’s in the kitchen chopping something, “you’re dead body wouldn’t be found either. If they do, would you still be recognizable? I don’t think so.” 

   Only the sound of the knife against the chopping board reverberates in her head. Picturing various scenarios he could do to her. Getting quartered then set to boil with a bloody human stew. r***d then strangled to death. It’s sickening, making her insides toss and turn.

Will it end all here? My life?

   She was taken aback from her horrendous imaginations. Not believing what her eyes are seeing- sliced rye bread rustically laid on the wooden board. Then her nostrils is enthralled by the hearty smell of truffle and mushroom soup.

“Help yourself, “serving her a bowl and smiles ingeniously.

She gulped twice before shoving a spoonful in her mouth, “Are you feeding me to fatten me up before the organ removal?” She tried to sound tough at the same time she wanted to throw up. But days of hunger betrayed her. She can’t stop herself from chugging it down.

“Yes I am,” he said straight-faced that she puked on his face- though he dodged it. Thanks to his reflexes, it might have burned him, “I was kidding. I like teasing and seeing pained reactions-it’s a joy to watch actually.” 

“Fine, suit yourself. Be sure I don’t wake up in pain tomorrow, if ever you decided to keep me alive ‘til then. I’m going to bed.”