INSANELY FALLEN

THE BLUE PRINT

Seb’s viewpoint…

“For a second there I got scared sister. I am sorry for suspecting you.”

I poked him in the shoulder playfully. And he knows he’s excused. “Now move on, let’s have dinner. Everyone’s waiting for you.” Though he was convinced with my answer, I was not because the last two lines were mere lies as images of him cradling me on his lap like a porcelain glass glowed in my mind, making me hard to spit those words. Painfully, I realized that I should keep some distance from Miller. Neb was correct. He is undoubtedly dangerous, and I can’t let myself fall for him. Determined, I followed Neb with a beaming face. Everyone was already settled in their seats and I took mine. 

“How was your day, Seb?” Dad asked with slight tension than before. I know I should interrogate him for emptying our history to Miller, but then I will also have to explain my panic attack to him, which is not happening anytime soon. If dad finds out, he will not let me pursue this mission and dad’s last words are like steel, it never bows.

“It was great dad. So Bry, how was your school today?” I urged, distracting the subject from me. Dad threw me a sharp look before siding with the conversation on Bry’s current sweetheart. He is quite a player. Each week he changes his girlfriends and when we inquire what the reason for his breakup is, he invariably responds with a sophisticated manner, ‘She was not my soulmate’. I wonder when he will finally meet his soulmate. Thank god he has started to search this early. From dad’s occasional glances, I know Miller is going to get a call tonight because I was acting as if I haven’t returned after encountering one person who is hooked up to my dreadful past. Usually when such events arise, I become very moody, such that even Bry is unwilling to show up near me during that time. But today I was acting peculiar. Though my brothers were delighted about this transformation, dad knows better. How can I tell him I don’t understand myself either? I thought today was going to be a worst day for me but it turned out to be okay except the little drama back in the cliffs. I do not know how to describe all this to dad without distressing him. The rest of the night went smoothly, and I filled the crucial part of today’s visit to Jaco, as is an everyday custom. He is my secret diary, even though he too doesn’t know that I play with dolls. That’s entirely mine and Bry’s secret. Jaco asked me to be vigilant and not to believe Samuel completely. I know he meant rightly, but I will have to trust whatever Samuel says as he is our only ticket to Lucas’ inferno. 

After playing the X-Box for a while with Char, I headed to the bedroom I share with Bry. I have become more like a mother to him after mom passed away and the incident affected him so much that he was scared to sleep alone. Bry was already asleep when I returned from the washroom after changing. I took my phone and dialed Miller’s number as I must inform him about dad. My call was answered right after two rings.

“Are you okay?” was the first rapid question.

“Why would you ask that? Of course I am okay.” I asked, confused. His breathing labored and I could hear him exhale a puff of air. 

“It’s just….. never mind…. Why did you call?” Was he worried for me? Dismissing the thought suddenly as something unwanted exploded in my mind; I searched for the words to reply.

“Hello, you there?” 

“Yeah.” I blurted. “you see, my dad may call….”

“He already did.” He said yawning,

“What? When?” Dad always beats me on such things.

“Don’t worry. He asked if you were alright today and I said yeah. We exchanged good-nights and ended the call.” Now it was my turn to exhale the carbon dioxide that was caught in my lungs. 

“Thanks. I owe you one.” 

“Yeah, anyway, goodnight. See you tomorrow?” he asked, yawning again. He must be really sleepy.

“Sure. Goodnight.” I pressed the red button and placed the phone over the bed-stand, then fell into a dreamless sleep while cuddling Bry.

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Miller’s PoV                                            

“Hello sir, Miss Stapleton is here to see you“ A sudden memory of her in my arms waved through my mind, but I dismissed it quickly. 

“Let her in.” Before ending the call I said, 

“Cancel the meeting with the Hillary's and do not disturb me till this meeting’s over.” 

“Yes, sir.”

I know my instruction could be taken in another way, but I could not care less. I was semi eager to see her today, but it was replaced by something else when I found her in my CCTV footage, getting out of the private elevator. An unwanted smile tugged on my lips, knowing very well how hard head she is. As usual Isabelle was surrounded by the hyenas, who were already waiting as the green light turned red. But they were disappointed seeing a petite girl walk out with a glaring face. I know she was enjoying the show as many sent daggers at her with their eyes. But none seem to affect her. 

John, my secretary, was instantly there informing others to leave, and they both acted like old friends. Immediately my mood was changed from normal to foul. How dare he talk to her like that? And what in the world did he say to make her smile? 

And why the heck am I bothered by this? She is not my concern.  

Really... Then why are you having the sudden urge to kick John where the sun doesn’t shine. 

‘Shut up inner voice.’ I mentally screamed. 

There was a knock on the door, which made me compose to a better facial expression. Isabelle entered the office room and her eyes immediately moved downwards, checking whether the floor is glass. Once she realized it was not, she let out an inaudible sigh and walked towards me with calculating steps. She was back to her usual self and no trace of a smile was visible on her face, which made me angrier. 

I know her smile is ephemeral, but I want to be the one at the receiving end. Not my assistant. 

“Please sit down and I have little time, so we should finish this fast.” Lie...

Isabelle suddenly changed her posture as she looked at me with keen eyes, while I arranged the papers on my desk, which were already arranged for heaven’s sake. 

“Are you okay?” She asked while taking the seat which she occupied last time. 

“Yes.” Another lie... 

But she caught on to this one as my answer came out raspy and fast. Isabelle gave me a stern look before placing both her hands on the table maturely.  

“Okay Shawn, what’s wrong?”

Shit! She knows and her eyes were boring into mine, making me mentally squirm.  

“Since when do you care?”

I know I was being a ‘b***h’ but there is no other way. I do not want her to know that I was jealous of her talking with John. 

I thought she will back down from my harsh question and glare but she did not, in fact her face hardened. 

“I do not care for Shawn Miller, but I do care for the person who helped me get over a panic attack yesterday like a staunch friend.”

……………………

Isabelle’s PoV

Why would I say that? Those were not the words I planned to converse. I searched his face for any signs of emotion, but he had nothing. He sat there stiff and soundless while I fidgeted with my fingers. I was getting up from the chair when his lips moved, 

“You care for me?” His voice was peculiar as it held a hit of insecurity and something else. And to the question... Do I care for him? He knows my past, has my medicine with him, so he would be like a friend to me and friends care for each other. So yeah. 

“Why, should I not?” I asked, reclining in my seat and mustering up all my confidence. 

As if waking up from a dream, he shook his head slightly and smiled. I repeat... he smiled.. 

“Your wish, Isabelle. Though I have nothing against it.” He said which made me relax and I knew we were back on track. 

After ordering two cups of coffee and a light chat on Samuel Mills, we entered the business. Shawn took out an A3 sized paper and spread it across the table. 

“You can give me a rough sketch of the surrounding and the building and I shall personally do the graphical drawings.”

He said handing me an HB pencil. 

-----------------

It took me one hour to complete every corner of that area, and my fingers ached. All the while his eyes were plastered on my movements and shivers went up my spine when our hands or legs brushed each other’s unintentionally. If I had the fear of drawing that cursed place or remembering those dreadful days before,  it was masked by the electricity that shot through my body during these contacts. I reminded myself not to fall for him, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

“Done” I said as I stretched my body. He looked at the drawing and then at me with appreciation.

“This is great, Isabelle. I know it’s crystal clear but I do not want to make any mistakes so could you please explain this.”

His request was genuine and so I did,

“The first drawing is the area. There are four shooting sites on the four corners. The surrounding is deserted except a high wall that covers the building. No one could pass it without special permission, not even some guards outside, and the security is at its maximum.”

“The second drawing is the building itself, if one entered inside the wall, whose chance is zero. The first room inside the building is security and to the left is the storeroom where they keep the bullets and other such stuffs. To the right is the training room where extremely dangerous weapons are stored. Then a meeting room at the center and a staircase in the corner right that leads to the attic where they sleep and another one to the...”

“Basement” He completed the sentence for me as it was difficult to utter that word.

“Yeah,” I said, looking down, “that’s where they keep their victims. It has a t*****e room and a balcony where Lucas enjoys the show lead by Cage.” I was sweating from head to toe and Shawn noticed it.

“You have a cute brother.” He said out of the blue.

“Who Bry?” I asked as my mood shifted slightly after just thinking about him.

“Yeah. What’s his full name?”

“Bryan. Bryan Stapleton.” I was smiling now, and he seems to look proud by seeing my reaction. Strange.

“So that’s the blue print ha?”

....................

“I gave him a rough sketch of the place and tomorrow we are going to check the possibilities of entering the premise. After the business we had a conversation less coffee and then yeah, I bid him goodbye and came home. So that’s it.” I recounted my day to Jaco, as was the usual, and he nodded, listening.

“How did it go for you?” I asked, munching on a cookie, though it was just 12.30 in the afternoon. Neb and Char went to attend some business that was purely not vocal. Bry’s at the school and Dad was with an old friend, so we had all the privacy we could get and occupied the living room.

“Natasha was so angry today. She even hit me for forgetting her b****y dog’s birthday. Can you believe that? I don’t even remember my birthday. It’s when you guys throw a surprise party that I think of it.”

He said exasperated. I don’t blame him for her madness; Natasha has always been like that, above normal. When she is happy, she is extremely happy and when she is sad over simple things, she would go hysterical. I sometimes even wonder how she ended up being Jaco’s girlfriend, who barely expresses any of his reaction.

“Why don’t you break up with her?” I already know the answer to that question, but I had nothing else to say.

“You know why I can’t. She would go crazy on me and…. God, I don’t even want to think of the consequence.”

Again, I was speechless. Natasha is a mistake we all know, which Jaco cannot repair. I really hope that someday she realizes how much broken their relationship is and leave Jaco for good.

“How about we go to the beach?” I asked, trying to lift his mood. “Bry will be home soon, we will take him along with us.”

He showed no sign of enthusiasm as I looked at him hopefully. “Come on, brother! Don’t be like this.”

His lull mood scared me, throwing me back to the time when he had seen me tying a death knot around my neck while still standing over a table. He went all silent and did not scream or react; instead he sat on the floor near to the door and drew his knees up to his chest, staring at me emotionless. The image was like a cold slap of realization to me. I jumped from the table and ran to him, shaking him to look at me; long forgotten was my depression. He did, but it was not my Jaco. He had no feelings as he just watched me soulless. It took almost three days for him to be back to normal. Everyone was devastated, and the guilt was eating me alive. From then on, I have tried no stunts. Every time Jaco sits like this, my heart rate increases.

“J?” I called him shaking. This time he looked at me with a sad emotion.

“Why are you shaking?” He asked now all protective.

“Don’t go all moody on me, please. You know how much I dread your moodiness.” He held me tighter for a few minutes before smiling.

“Beach ha?” The same time our doorbell rang, showing Bry’s return.

...…..

“Seb?” Bry was standing next to me with sea water surrounding our ankles. Jaco went to buy us ice creams. The evening was cloudy with enough sign of rain. Still, the day felt nice and only a handful of people occupied the place giving us our own space.

“Yeah, Bry?” I asked, gazing at him. His eyes twinkled with excitement when he said,

“Can we go a little farther?” I sighed, knowing that I can’t resist his puppy dog eyes.

We moved a few steps to the front and immersed our legs in the cool water. I gave in to the feeling of having the sand under my legs wash away by the tide. Bry started splashing the water, and I reciprocated his gestures. We were having fun and soon Jaco joined with no ice-cream but doughnuts. We sat on the shore and filled our tummies. A thunder roared in the sky and Bry screamed holding on to me for his dear life. Both I and Jaco carried him, lifting him by both the arms and we took shelter under an umbrella resting area. Rain poured heavily and without thinking I pushed Jaco, but he grabbed on to my shoulder in time and we were soon soaking wet.

Bry too came a little later, who started dancing along with Jaco. I gave a fast glance around the place confirming no one was watching us and started moving little by little. Soon we were dancing like three maniacs and sang aloud some random song. I was enjoying the moment way too much, more than I have in the past two-year span of time.

Another thunder and lightning and we ran back to the safety of the enormous umbrella. My heart was racing with excitement; from my brothers’ faces, they too were thrilled. I wish mom was here to witness this. She would have danced along with us as she is so childish and does all the mischief with us. She also used to help us escape from dad’s scolding for some pranks we have done; though dad had never hit us. We made a perfect family, but everything was destroyed.

‘Don’t go in there, Seb. You are having a good day after a long time. Do not let him ruin it.’ I advised myself mentally.

“Nice dance”

I jumped from hearing the voice. Beside me, Jaco and Bry has gone still. I slowly turned to see the least expected person here. The sleeve of his ash shirt was rolled up and the rain have made the fabric clung to his body in all the right places. Water was dripping from his hair and eyelashes.

His eyes held a glint and a smirk on his lips. Standing in front of me was none other than Shawn Miller himself.

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