The Kiss Of Death

Chapter 4

Lola fluttered her eyes awake, being gripped firmly by Frank.

"Are you alright?" He asked, rather concerned.

"What?"

Her voice was groggy, which was expected, Emma had done the easiest thing and the most sensible for creating the lie. Pretend that she had passed out.

"What did you drink?"

"Uh, a beer."

A heavy frown filled her face.

"Was I drugged?"

Frank nodded, pretending that he was concerned for her.

"Oh god, I wasn't... you know."

"No, lucky Em was with you."

She wearily smiled at Emma, who was leaning on the side of the car. Lola wondered what had happened to the blonde that Frank had taken off with. She wasn't around, and it looked like she might have lucked out. Or at least, she hoped.

"I think it's time for you to go home Lola, hop in we will drive you."

"My car."

Frank looked at the little thing shining brightly under the lamp post.

"I'm sure it will be there in the morning. Most of these cars should be, if the owners have half a brain, that is."

Emma snorted with derision.

"Okay." Lola stuttered. "Thanks."

"I'll drive." Emma snatched the keys from Frank.

The back seat of their little hatch was filled with their things that had been tossed in there when Emma needed to hide Lola. It was a mess, filled with a large box and bags. Lola was going to have to sit on Frank's lap. She grinned, thinking that they both would like that and would want it to go a whole lot further, but there was never going to be anything more than this. Emma felt sorry for her beloved brother, he had found a nice girl who thought he was everything and now he had to walk away from her. All because of the stupid agreement.

As she put the keys in the ignition, Emma looked at her brother. Lola had rested her head on his shoulder, still groggy from what had been done to her. His arm was around her, the other hand behind the knees to keep hold of her. They seemed far too sweet for each other, Emma knew that there was nothing sweet about life. All it does is take. It took their father from them, their mother, the ability to have a normal upbringing. They had spent the last eight years alone, looking after each other and always on the run. Trying to escape, trying not to be caught. But after eight years, she knew Frank was sick of it. He wanted to settle down, he wanted a life without murder. She could see the pain on his face, Emma knew he didn't want to leave.

The dull yellowed lights flicked over the car as Emma slowly pulled into Lola's street. She looked at her brother, who seemed to have found his own peace for the first time in his entire life.

"You know you will be fine."

Frank looked at his sister.

"If you want to."

"Do I dare risk it?" Frank whispered. "What if it's a lie? Could I bear the thought of, you know."

Emma nodded as she slowed by Lola's house. It was a sweet little cottage; the gardens were pretty with their wildflowers and large lush trees. Frank let out a pained sigh as he opened the door, Lola was asleep in his arms.

"It has to be this way."

"Wait." Emma gripped his arm. "We can stay, why do we have to leave?"

"You know why."

Sadly she nodded, remembering why. As Frank roused Lola, the conversation was momentarily over. Slowly he helped Lola up the stone path to the front door. Emma wondered if there would ever be a time when they could stop running. It was unlikely.

Their first year of the agreement, they had sheltered under a bridge for several months. They were two young children who were trying to avoid being sent back to the foster home. The day had crept up on them; without a calendar, they could have easily missed it, but as agreed, Jacqueline was ready to collect her payment.

Foolishly, Frank picked the first target he had come across. After all, he was eleven and didn't think that anyone would notice. But to see a child run up to a prostitute and kiss her, only for her to slump dead to the ground? Yes, it was foolish of him. At least Emma thought it was foolish, though she had her doubts. She thought maybe he did it intentionally, to get caught and thrown in prison. That was why they had to run now, they would be recognised. Their appearances had changed over the years, now that they were adults they had finished growing. No longer innocent children with cherub faces, they were adults and could be charged as one if they were caught.

Previously, with the help of hair dye, they had gone through all manner of colour. New things such as coloured contacts were helpful, wigs were sometimes used, and of course, clothing was changed regularly. With each move, they dumped their clothes and their car, finding a new set of things easily. A quick search through a suburban estate could fill their bags with enough to keep them going for another year.

Emma didn't like being a thief, but she had little choice. They worked, but it was always jobs that weren't big on the dollars, it was always cash in hand, which meant that the boss could easily rip them off. Nothing says criminal on the run like asking for cash in hand.

"Thank you. I should repay you somehow."

"Don't worry about it. I'd rather see you home safe then worry about you all night."

Lola felt her heart flutter as she looked up into his deep green eyes. She had to push him just a little, she had to find some reason to see him again, disguised as a thank you.

"I insist. Stop by the shop, I'll give you a hair cut for free."

"What's wrong with my hair?"

Frank grinned, running his hand through the thick mane. Lola could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, her heart was racing hard and fast.

"Well then I'll buy you lunch, twelve o'clock at Mavis's Diner." Lola pulled her house keys out and turned back to him. "And I won't take no for an answer."

Frank smiled though it felt like his heart was being ripped out. He could agree to lunch but all the while he would know he wouldn't be here for it. The rate that Emma drove, they'd be on the other side of the county before the hour was out. By lunch time tomorrow, who knows where? They hadn't even looked at the map. The map with lots of red x marks all over it. Every where they couldn't go any more. By the end of the night, there would be another x on it, swiftly crossing another town from their possibilities.

"Sure."

"Great, I'll see you then."

Frank smiled as he stepped back, watching as Lola closed the door. He turned, quickly reaching the car.

"I am such a bastard." Frank slammed the door shut.

"What?" Emma groaned. "What did you do?"

She pulled out of the street, warily glancing at him.

"Agreed to lunch tomorrow."

"Oh. Are you going to go through with it?"

"And if I do, what then? We hit it off and she wants to have lunch again and again until one day I wake up and realise that we are dating."

Frank huffed as he pulled the map out of the glove box.

"Before I know it, I'll be watching her walk down the god damned aisle. I can't risk kissing her Em, I can't."

His voice was hoarse as he unfolded the crumbling thing. The red pen slowly dragged through the quaint town that had been their home for the past year, Frank could feel the pain of it. It was like another piece of his heart was breaking away. By the time he was an old man, there would be nothing left but a shell of a being, barely recognisable.