A Number, Not a Name

Tears Don't Fall

Inside Dalmar was raging. He wasn't used to someone speaking to him with such defiance. What made it worse was that Elias was in complete control and he knew it. Everything wasn't lost but this unforeseen event had thrown his plans into turmoil. In the back of his mind, he had a semblance of a plan forming. A way to take the two agents in as well as Elias, though there of course was no guarantee it would work. Even if he managed to be successful, who knew who else out there had knowledge of his plans? Any moment his estate could be overrun with the authorities? However, he knew he had to stay focused on the present and deal with one problem at a time.

Elias' patience was up. "So what will it be?"

.....

Milena and Liana sat in the SUV. Crickets chirped all around. The moon shone dully overhead. Being around each other, after everything that had happened, felt strangely comforting yet unbearable at the same time. Both of them felt conflicting waves of emotions, at times wanting to fight and at others wishing they could throw their arms around the other.

"Who would have known we'd meet again like this," Milena spoke. "You'd find me with a knife against my throat. Strange world huh?" she smirked.

"Yeah, it is."

Milena glanced toward his little sister. It was still weird being with her again. To her, she hadn't changed much in the past five years, though she seemed tired and had a deep sadness in her eyes. Though her sister probably could say the same about her. "These past five years I've thought about seeing you again. I wondered how I'd react. Sometimes all I wished for was for us to be together again. I'd hug you and tell you 'I love you.' And other times I was so angry at you for not being here, I wished you were dead...it would have been easier than you choosing to leave." Milena stared straight ahead. Outside the wind picked up blowing fallen leaves and dust into the air. "Remember you told me about how your 'reinvented' family. Dad was a botanist. Mom was an astronomer. And your sister was just...me."

"I remember."

"It's funny, I imagined you too. What your life was like in mind. Three years ago you moved to France. You're a yoga instructor and your husband owns a bicycle shop."

"A bicycle shop?" Liana gave a small laugh.

"Oh yes, it pays well since a lot of the tourists there want to try the Tour de France route. Though you two sometimes get into arguments since you prefer scooters to bicycles. You've also decided to wait a few more years before having children."

"That's not my life. Like at all." Liana teased.

"Really? I thought it was pretty good. "

"Hmm, it's better than my real one." Liana glanced down at her hands. Silence enveloped them once again.

Questions swirled in Milena's mind. Questions she needed answers to. She'd often heard it said that you can't move forward until you go back. It was obvious the past was keeping Liana and her apart. Painful as it was, they knew they had to talk about it. "So you left me and never thought to seek me out all this time."

"Honestly, I didn't think you'd want me to see."

"Ha! Like I'm supposed to believe that."

"Believe me I'd rather it have stayed that way but if I did...you'd be lying on the ground cold right now."

"Oh, come on. I would have found a way to deal with him. The way Dad made us learn Krav Maga. We're practically trained killers."

"Whatever. Shut up. Out of our family, the only killer was him." Liana's words were as sharp as daggers. The hatred in her voice was evident.