Capture This

CHAPTER TWO

"Really Olivia? Late again?"grandma asked me as she stood at the door, same as yesterday, waiting for me to put on my coat so that I can head to the bus that was now parked at the bus stop.

"It's not my fault completely. Something's wrong with my alarm clock."I grinned at her, kissing her cheek just the same, before running to the bus doors.

I clutched the fare in my hands, hopping on the bus as it drove off. I quickly threw the money into the basket and headed to my usual seat before Oscar had a chance to object.

Flipping my black hair over my shoulder, I adjusted my beanie and made eye contact with Oscar in the rearview mirror before smiling triumphantly.

"You win this time Olivia."he could only smile, driving down the snowy road and taking me to the same place as yesterday.

♧♧♧♧

Again.

The same 6 hours.

Not a single photo sold.

I walked through the crowded sidewalks of Los Angeles, looking for a customer.

The sun had already set due to the change of solstice. The stars were almost visible.

I changed route today, walking the streets of the rich. Expensive stores lined out parallel to each other on each side. Mindless people bumping into me occasionally, not bothering to look back to mumble a small 'sorry'.

The weather made the situation even worse. From my gloves that were slowly un-threading by the small string at the end, and my boots that have large holes at the bottom. The cold creeped up to me.

In the midst of all my shivering, I heard the same loud roar of an engine again. I turned around, and just as I thought, the same red car was driving down the road. This time, it parked to the side of the road I was on, exactly beside me.

I froze up, struggling to find a place to run to so that I can hide. There was no need in us making eye contact again, or even worse, coming face to face.

I clutched my camera tight, finally unfreezing so I could run into a nearby boutique.

I watched from the full length glass window as his car door lifted, and out he came. Dressed in the very same black, the difference this time is that his shirt had sleeves, his signature cigarette prepped between his lips.

He fixed the scarf around his neck, before proceeding to cross the road. He stopped infront of an alley that was between two stores before looking both ways. When he thinks he isn't being watched, he walks in, blending into the darkness that had came upon us a few minutes ago.

"Excuse me miss. You can't be in the store if you aren't purchasing anything."a sales clerk came up to me and said. I just simply nodded my head and exited the store, heading into the exact same direction 'Mystery Guy' just disappeared to.

When I stood at the entrance of the alley, I took a deep breath. My anxiety started to act up, but I pushed the feeling aside, clutched my camera, and entered the dark.

At first it was pure darkness, but then my eyes adjusted so that I could see just enough.

The first thing I noticed was how long the alley was. There was one corner that probably led to the back of one of these stores, and the stretch that I was on continued all the way to the other street.

Looking around as the snow fell around me and not touching my skin, thankfully, I stopped to listen when I heard soft whimpers.

"No. Please. Let me go."the soft whisper said.

I trudged lightly to its source.

"Why should I?"

There, coming from around the corner, a thick British accent answered the whisper.

"I have nothing to do with it. I swear!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I was there. I saw who did it."

When I finally got to the turning, I stayed hidden behind the wall of the building which had the turning behind it. I peeped my head around the corner and focused my eyes into the darkness.

The only thing I could make out were the silhouette of two male figures concealed behind something like a dumpster.

"Then tell me who the f**k it is!"I heard the same guy with the accent shout, a loud thud following shortly after.

When I got frustrated with not being able to see what was transpiring, I held up my camera and turned on its night vision.

When the lens came in contact with the scene, a soft gasp escaped my mouth. An innocent civilian was held against the wall by his collar by the 'Mystery Guy'.

He looked agrivated. He kept glaring at the man, his brown eyes were even darker now based on what the night vision was showing me.

"Answer me!"he shouted again. His accent coming off strong.

"I can't tell you."

Punch.

The man received a blow to the face, his  head now being the only part of his body not pressed against the wall.

I watched in silence, knowing deep down that I should do something, but being the coward that I was, I just stood there.

"I can't tell you because it's for my own safety. Please. Just let me go."the civilian cried.

Standing there with no other option, I focused my camera right as 'Mystery Guy' raised his fist, my finger hovering over the shutter release. As soon as his fist connected with the man's face, I took the picture, but what happened next caused my eyes to widen.

The flash went off.

Both their heads snapped to my direction  as the Mystery Guy made eye contact with me. Again.

I made a run for it.

"Hey! Get back here!"

The sound of footsteps pounded against the pavement, me not looking back to see whose was it.

I was almost out of the alley when the beanie that was on my head fell off. I stopped to pick it up but ended up running away leave it when I noticed I was still being chased.

I didn't stop running until I was on a bus, heading home. Everytime, glancing at the photo that still came off as unreal.

♧♧♧♧

I opened the door to my house softly, hoping my grandmother was already asleep, due to the time I got here. I wasn't able to bring dinner home so I went ahead and called her from a payphone and told her. She must have went to bed starved.

Pushing aside the hunger I felt also, I headed to my room. Putting everything I took with me away in their rightful place, I down dressed and got into bed.

Right as I was about to close my eyes, a knock sounded at the door. Not giving it much thought, I reluctantly went to open it.

When I came face to face with who was on the other side, my eyes widened. I instinctively stepped back.

"W-what are you d-doing here?"I asked him.

"I'm simply here returning lost property."his eyes were back to their original brown. I know this because they were now boring into my hazel ones.

I tilted my head to the side, confused by what he was telling me. Him seeming to understand my confusion held out something to me. I looked down and saw my beanie in his hand.

"You really should think twice before stitching your name and address into things. Olivia."my name rolled off his tongue gracefully, his accent making it sound 'sexy'.

I didn't know what to say, so I just took the beanie from him, muttered a soft thanks and attempted to close the door. He seemed to have other plans and stopped it with his foot.

"I'm Mickail by the way."he stuck his hand out for me to shake.

I glanced at it before glancing back at his face, reluctantly placing my palm in his. When he had a firm enough grip, he pulled me towards him. My face coming in contact with his chest due to our height differences. Me having no choice but to place both my palms flat on his hard muscled chest. He moved his hands and placed them on my waist, lowering his head to whisper in my ear.

"I'm going to need that photograph Princess. I'm sure your mother told you that some things are best left alone."

Then he let me go, my hands falling limp at my side, and him walking away and disappearing into his car that left in a loud roar.