Lost and Found

Knowledge Or Ignorance

It took me a while to clean up my clothes from the spilled coffee, though I knew it was more because I was dilly dallying in order to avoid Mr. Hendricks.

I stared solemnly at the girl in the mirror, taking in the stained blouse and wrinkled skirt. It was bad enough that I had been wearing the same clothes for the past seven years, something Karen had reminded me of, but another to have them appear their age. Soon, I'd need to buy some new clothes. But for now, a good soak with some detergent would have to do.

After wasting as much time as I possibly could, I exited the bathroom. The hallway was quiet save for the murmurs of colleagues behind their cubicle walls and the occasional phone ringing.

Hurrying, I made it to the elevators without seeing anyone familiar and smashed my fingers against the button for going down. The moment the doors opened wide enough, I was inside and already pressing the button for my floor and the one to close the doors.

I thought I had made it. I really thought I had.

But I supposed luck just wasn't on my side as an all too familiar hulking figure stopped the door from closing.

"Mind if I join you?" North asked, though it was clear from the unfriendly tone of his voice that he didn't care whether or not I wanted him in the elevator with me. He was coming.

Instead of responding, I shrunk back into the farthest corner of the elevator as humanly possible.

Not that it mattered though. He was so massive that he took up a large amount of the elevator without even trying.

The doors closed, sealing my fate and shutting off any thought of escape.

It felt as if he was draining all hope of ever setting foot off this elevator with the amount of abhorrence exuding from his broad body. I really didn't understand why he was so angry with me. If he was planning to kill me, he could at least clarify why.

And just as expected, he pressed the "stop" button, bringing the elevator to a grinding halt.

Fear overwhelmed my senses as he turned to me, his glare pinning me to the wall. He looked at me like one did a mosquito. I turned my gaze away from that look as memories of my stepmother swam in my vision, that same expression in her eyes.

"I think you and me need to talk," he said in a low voice.

"You and I," I corrected automatically, my brain not really thinking over what I was saying. I clapped a hand over my mouth in dismay when his irritated growl cut through my cloudy thoughts.

I couldn't believe I'd just done that. Everyone knew not to antagonize your killer.

I met his angry gaze, hoping the apology that wouldn't form on my lips was apparent in my eyes.

He stepped forward, making me press farther into the corner until the cold walls were pressed uncomfortably into my skin.

"I don't know what game you're playing at," he growled, bringing his face close to mine until I could see every hard line of his face. "But I'll tell you what. I'm not falling for it."

Game? "I'm not playing a ga—"

"Oh, so you just happened to find my fucking wallet?" he demanded loudly, cutting me off.

My fingers trembled at my sides as I answered. "Yes, I found it by the bus sto—"

"And you thought you'd just drop it off. My wallet? Mine?" He'd cut me off again, but I couldn't find it in me in this moment to be offended. "What did you really think you'd gain from that? Connections? Money? Did you hope I'd give you more and that's why you didn't take what was in there?"