Ghost - in the arms of Death

Chapter 5

I don’t know what it is, but I expected my stranger to be different. Nice even, but I’m not entirely sure that’s the case. Maybe that was wishful thinking on my part. Spending two weeks with him in utter silence might do that to your imagination.

He seems arrogant. As if he owns the world. I bet he has some higher position at AMB. He looks like one of the Suits I see around the building every day. They all act like they are better than the average employee. Better than me, since I am a lonely assistant.

I never cared much for my career. Vincent and dad always wanted me to pursue it, but I don’t feel like this is what I want to do forever.

To be honest I have no idea where life might take me. In the few years I’ve been around, it already threw me one or the other curveball. I gave up on planning things. If life wants you at a certain point, it’ll get you there. Even if you end up on your knees. Bruised and battered.

I shake my head at myself as I pull one of my black hoodies over my sports bra. I take a long good look at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. I have gained some weight and muscle in the past couple of weeks. I lost too much after Leo died and it took me a long time to remember that I have to eat to survive.

I didn’t want to when my whole world got turned upside down the moment my phone rang with the soul-shattering news. I still can’t wrap my head around it. Sometimes I expect him to walk around the corner of our kitchen with his perky smile and a hug for me.

I miss him. Every day. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Reminding myself that I have to be alright. I have to be because my family counts on it.

Working out helps. It makes me feel something and that’s somewhat of a start, isn’t it?

When I get out of the locker room, I find my stranger leaning against the glass door, blocking my way out. He has changed into a pair of black jeans. Over his white shirt, he wears an expensive-looking leather jacket.

He glances up from his phone, catching me checking him out.

I don’t know how he managed to change before I did. I always thought I was fast, but apparently, he’s faster.

The question remaining is, why the hell is he blocking the door?

I’m about to ask him just that when my phone softly vibrates in my back pocket. I pull it out and frown at my mother's picture on the screen. It’s late. Too late for her to call me unless…

All color drains from my face and an awful sense of Deja Vu hits me. When I got the call that Leo has been found in a ditch it was exactly ten minutes past eleven. It was too late for her to just check-in.

“Mom?” I answer the call and turn away from the curious eyes watching me. “What’s wrong?”

She is sobbing uncontrollably. The last time someone called me with bad news it was Spencer -her new husband- and mom cried just like she is now in the background.

“What happened?” I ask again, my voice filled with terror and impatience.

“I-ih-it’s Sp-speh-hencer,” she somehow manages to choke out.

“What happened to him?”

“Hos-hospital,” she stammers, “they are take-eking him n-now.”

“Is he alive?” I ask and she whimpers into the phone, “mom? Is he alive?” I snap at her.

“Y-yes, but-“ a loud thud sounds on the other end of the line. It takes a moment before she picks it up again.

“Where are you right now?”

“Liah? It’s me-,” Lex says. He sounds worried but significantly calmer than my mom. Hearing his voice makes me relax a little. He wouldn’t sound so calm if his father was in serious danger.

“What the hell is going on?” I ask him, deciding that I need to get moving. Wherever my family is right now, I have to be there.

I half expect Stranger to keep blocking me, but his expression has changed and his arrogant, smug demeanor turned into one of concern. He holds open the door for me and for some strange reason follows me to the elevator.

“Dad will be alright. He fainted.”

“He what?” I ask in disbelief. How could my mother scare me like that just because her husband fainted? I thought he was dead.

“Low blood pressure or something. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

“Mom didn’t sound okay though. Where are you? I’m coming!”

“I have it under con-“

“Lex!” I warn him, “don’t mess with me right now! Where are you?”

“Presbyterian,” he sighs.

“Good! I’ll catch the next train!” I say and hang up in a hurry.

“Is everything alright?” I almost forgot that Stranger followed me.

“Yeah,” I sigh, “I think so. It’s my stepdad. He fainted.” Why am I telling him this?

“Do you need a ride? It’ll be faster than the subway,” he offers.

I stare at him in surprise. Why would he offer to drive me? Yes, it’ll be much faster, but I got a strange feeling earlier that he and I are not going to be friends. At all.

His brows rise slowly when I don’t answer. By now he probably thinks I am stupid, wondering how in the world I managed to snag a job at AMB.

“That’s okay,” I manage.

“I insist!” He says and the tone in his voice leaves no room for argument. I bet he’s used to people following his orders. I still wonder what it is he does around here. Maybe he’s on the board? Maybe he’s a COO or something like that. He just seems a little young. He can’t be much older than I am.

“It’s not-“ I start but he shuts me up with a one-pointed glare. I sigh, “fine. Thank you! But just so you know, my stepdad just fainted. I doubt it’s a real emergency. My mom just tends to-,” I trail off and shake my head, “-she overreacts.”

He just nods. Not interested in the details. So I shut up as the elevator takes us down to the garage. I’ve never been down here because I don’t own a car. I bet during the day it’s packed with expensive cars. Tonight though it’s empty, except for two black SUVs that belong to the company.

The sound of our footsteps echoes through the garage creating an almost eerie sound. As if you stepped right into a horror movie and some bat s**t crazy murderer is about to jump us. He probably wouldn’t make it very far, because both Stranger and I would mess him up good.

The thought makes me chuckle and catches my maybe-friend’s attention, “what’s funny?” he asks.

“Nothing,” I say with a shake of my head, but he keeps watching me. Curiosity and amusement are evident in his blue eyes. They seem darker in the dim lights of the garage. Almost dangerous.

He takes me to a secluded area. Separated through a large shutter door. He punches a few numbers into a lock pad and without making a noise the shutter rolls up, opening the view to an impressive car park. I don’t know much about cars, but I know these babies down here are crazy expensive.

“Are you coming?” he asks, while I stand there gaping at the luxurious cars. Who the hell is this guy and how does he have access to this? Those cars can’t be his. I know a COO at AMB would make a lot of money, but not this kind of money.

I shake my head and move in his direction. He’s standing by a motorcycle. Sleek black with beautiful chrome accents. “Is that what I think it is?” I ask, taking the helmet he’s offering.

“That depends on what you’re thinking,” he says, “it’s not a bicycle if that’s where your thoughts are headed.”

“I know that,” I mutter, glaring at him. “It’s an Icon Sheene, right?”

“It is,” he seems impressed that I know that. The only reason I do is that Leo was obsessed with bikes. He told me about this one specifically, because he had seen one several months before his death.

***

“You’re not listening to me,” Leo sighs, excitement evident in his voice, “it was a f*****g Icon Sheene. Do you know what that is? They only build fifty-two of that baby. Worldwide!”

“Okay?!” I chuckle and link my arm with his. He just picked me up from work, ready to get dinner.

“It’s iconic!” he tells me, “and expensive. I think it’s around 170000$. I wish I could afford that. Can you imagine?”

“Nope,” I laugh and nudge him playfully, “if you had 170000$ I sure as hell hope you’d buy something more useful than a motorbike.”

“But less fun,” he adds with a wink. I admit riding his bike with him always feels kind of thrilling. I love riding with him, so I guess I agree on the fun part.

“Maybe in another lifetime,” I tell him and he nods with a longing look somewhere into the distance.

***

“Do you ride?” Stranger asks me, but I shake my head.

“Not anymore,” I put on the helmet, shielding me from his scrutinizing stare. I don’t feel like sharing my feelings with him. I don’t even know his name.

He watches me for a long moment, before he swings himself on his bike, putting his helmet on. He pats the seat behind him and without saying another word I take it.

I probably should have thought about the proximity of our bodies, before getting on. It feels weird to wrap my arms around him like I would have done with Leo. So I just place them on his sides.

A soft chuckle vibrates through his chest, as he tugs on my hands and places them on his chiseled stomach.

Sparks flutter through my belly and I feel the heat rushing into my cheeks. Good thing I am wearing a helmet right now.

“Which hospital?” he asks, his hands lingering on mine.

“Ehr... Presbyterian,” I say.

“There are a couple of those in New York. Which one?”

“I have no idea,” I sigh, I should have asked that, but I didn’t. It makes me feel stupid and I would love to get off this bike right now and just walk all the way, but he still has a hold on me and before I can protest or change my mind, he fires up the engine of his bike and heads into the busy streets of Manhattan.

Instinctively I curl my fingers into his t-shirt and lean in closer to him. I haven’t noticed before, but he smells intoxicatingly good. Of body wash and leather.

The bike weaves through the traffic and the further we go, the more alive I feel. I missed this.

A happy laugh escapes my lips and I dare to let go of him and spread my arms like an eagle, letting the night air hit my body. The rush is exhilarating. It makes me want to howl at the moon and never stop this ride. Never go back to feeling empty and lost.