Sinbound

(24) Disappearance

Alex was once more stood in front of her mirror, her eyes scanning over all her old scars and the new one to go with them.

She pulls the waistband of her trousers down, looking at the emblem of the Austrian-Hungarian empire that was branded onto her hip. Another permanent reminder of her time at war, along with the jagged scar down her torso.

She hated these scars. Yes it told her story, but it also made her insecure. With Kalianne she refused to take her shirt off, which the other woman claimed would never allow them to be intimate. That she could never be intimate with anyone until she could let them see all of her.

Knowing there was someone she wanted to be intimate with, persuaded Alex to try and become more accustomed to the scaring, to become comfortable with it, but the more she looked in the mirror, the more hideous she felt.

They didn't hurt anymore, but it was a constant reminder of all the things she'd been through. The many moments that had almost rendered her life absent.

"Fuck," she mumbles, she couldn't take it anymore, staring at them as if they'd disappear. She grabs her shirt from her nightstand, buttoning it up, and tucking it into her trousers.

She liked herself like this. Concealed. She felt her scars were a weakness, and she'd hate for people to see her weak, or vulnerable. She'd never allow for herself to be put in that position again.

-

"My dad wants us to move," Amari states, "he doesn't feel safe in the house after what happened a couple of weeks ago."

"To a new house or a new area?" Alex queries.

"It's always been his dream to live down by the coast," Amari sighs, "although I don't think that he'd be able to stay far from here too long, it's been his whole life."

"It's also been your whole life," Alex states.

"I know, and I've been thinking for some time that I should move out, but I don't have enough to buy my own, and everyone listing for a roommate is a total creep," Amari responds.

"He knows they're not going to come back, right?" Alex says.

"He's just shaken that this event could even occur in his own home, with his children there," Amari replies, "although you've assured they won't be back... he doesn't want to stay in the house."

"Have you spoken to him about staying in Birmingham?" Alex asks.

"Lex, I have to admit, what happened, it's put me on edge too, Birmingham is a dangerous place," Amari says.

"You say that whilst your sat in the presence of the most dangerous person in Birmingham," Alex comments.

"That's different," Amari sighs.

"Mar, I am on your side, I will always be on your side, I know what happened wasn't the most delightful, but you don't need to run from Birmingham," Alex says, "everyone that lives here knows that you are off limits."

Off limits? She knew Alex only meant it in the sense of muggings, and scammings, but Amari's heart picked up with the thought that Alex was claiming her - off limits to everyone but her.

"I shouldn't need you for that, I shouldn't have to worry," Amari sighs.

"There will be dangerous people wherever you move to Amari, you won't escape danger, it's prominent everywhere," Alex says.

"Nowhere as bad as here," Amari responds, "and I know you think you're the worst of it, but that won't comfort my father, we shouldn't have to rely on you to feel safe in our own home, Alex, that is the point."

"I understand your point, I get it, Birmingham is a shithole, but it's your home," Alex replies.

"A home is a safe place," Amari states.

-

"Have you seen Alex?" Tommy asks, walking up to the bar with Bentley, both with concerned looks on their faces.

"Haven't heard from her in a couple of days, why?" Amari responds.

"Because nobody has," Bentley states.

"Have you spoken to Polly?" Amari questions.

"Pol doesn't know," Tommy says, "that's why we came to you, Ari, if you have a clue as to where she is, we need to know."

"She hasn't mentioned going anywhere," Amari responds, "sorry I can't be of more use."

"Just let us know if she contacts you," Bentley says, and she nods.

Alex didn't normally disappear, she didn't usually go anywhere without Polly knowing at the very least. This was worrying, she could tell by their faces that they were assuming the worst. Especially with Alex's history of making enemies.

-

"We're gathered here today to celebrate the life of a person who was taken far too soon," Priest Linman states, standing over a grave.

"Let us remember their kind heart, their joyfulness, their perseverance on the journey of bringing happiness to others, despite lacking it for themselves," Linman says, "may Humphrey rest today, tomorrow and forever, and may we remember him in the light he sought to shine upon those around him."

Sebastian and Peter - Humphrey's older brothers - throw dirt onto the casket, before leading the group away so he could be buried in peace.

"Thank you for coming, Alex, it would have meant a lot to him," Peter states, as she offers him a cigarette.

Humphrey was another prisoner. She rarely saw him in that hellhole, but when they were rescued, all the 'inmates' were held at a camp for a month. Humphrey was young, too young. 14 years of age when he signed up for war, following his brothers to France, before being separated. He was 16 when Alex met him at the prison.

During the time at the 'recovery' camp, Humphrey did anything in his power to lighten the mood. He'd tell jokes, recite old folk tales, sing carols. Anything he could think of, he'd do it, and he'd do it to the best of his ability.

Unfortunately, it was all a front. The happiness. He was broken inside, and he couldn't keep the memories at bay, they overwhelmed him. He took his own life at just 20 years old. A tragedy.

"I know this day is for him, but I... I can't fathom the thought of speaking about him today, it's too soon, what have you been up to?" Peter asks.

"I'm back at home in Birmingham," Alex responds, "family business."

"Ah yes, I've heard all about your family business, Humphrey was mortified when there were rumours an Alex Shelby had been shot in small heath," Peter says.

"Wasn't the best situation I've got into... also not the worst," Alex shrugs.

"Are you staying tonight too, or are you getting the train back to Birmingham?" Peter says.

"I'm here for the night, I'm travelling back tomorrow," Alex says.