"No. I don't know where the locket came from. I don't know how much it's worth, and I'm not sure whether the clerk at the pawn shop will know my grandfather. How many times do I have to say it? I. Don't. Know." I say to Alix, annoyed.
An hour before, he finally coaxed me away from the exit, but he didn't have to use much persuasion. It was simple. If I tried to run, I would die. If I said no to the deal, I would die. So I hadn't tried to run and I said yes to the deal. Piece of cake. Even though he said he wouldn't kill me, I still have my doubts. He's an arrogant teenager. Anything could happen. Even though he has kept his word so far, I'm still hesitant and cautious around him.
In the meanwhile, Alix has tried every tactic imaginable to try and get some more information out of me. I've told him 'I don't know' so many times, that if I have to say it again, my head will explode. Maybe that will be a relief.
"Okay, okay, Fireball. Calm down before you start steaming." He says, holding out his hands as if to say, peace? Friendship?
We move to the general area where he's been living for the last week, a little corner in the store, and it's surprising. The area is protected by a bunch of tables and shelves, so as to provide for defense against anyone who might come tromping in. A backpack lies against a table leg, and a sleeping bag is spread out on the floor. Various supplies are scattered around randomly, and when I enter his little shelter, it does kind of feel like a temporary home. Of sorts.
"Like my little bedroom?" Alix says, catching my expression.
I nod. "It's nice." I admit. "Where did you get all of this stuff?" I spot a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush on one of the dusty shelves. At least one boy out of the entire freaking universe cares about their B.O. I shouldn't jinx it, though. I still have yet to find deodorant.
"Did you seriously just ask that question?" Alix raises an eyebrow at me, and I raise mine right back.
"You stole a tube of toothpaste." I say, deadpanning, my voice skeptical.
"No, I strolled along to the nearest Walmart and paid for them after asking the cashier how her day was going--yes, I stole them." He says. "You got a problem with that?"
I say nothing, before sitting down. Forgetting about my injury, I plop down on the ground, using my arms for balance. Mistake.
"For the love of--" I let out a string of vile profanities before cradling my injured arm to my chest, tears springing to my eyes.
I expect Alix to laugh. In fact, I think he's on the verge of hysteria. But he pulls himself together and sits down next to me.
"You know, while I've been on the run constantly, I have picked up a few tricks." Alix says, his eyes on my arm. "I can relocate your arm for you, and by tomorrow, it should be brand new."
I almost snort. Almost.
"You really are ignorant to think that I would let you touch me after kidnapping me, and threatening me with your knife, and--" I start.
"I thought we'd gone over this." Alix says softly, his bright blue eyes staring into mine with cool intensity. "I. Don't. Kill. Got it?"
I can't. I look away from his gaze. He's right. There's no way I can deal with my arm for much longer.
"Do it," I say. "Before I stab myself."
Alix motions for me to lie down, and, hesitantly, I obey.
"Put your arm out at a ninety degree angle."
Well. What he's planning to do isn't easy sailing, apparently. Actually, now that I think about it, my boat sunk before he even offered to fix my arm.
I do, and he circles around to my left side. He hesitates as if silently asking permission. He must take my silence as an okay, because he grasps my arm. His hands are large and calloused, which I find strangely comforting.
"This will hurt." He says. "Like, a lot. Are you sure you want to do this?"
A minute earlier, he just told me that he needed to. He sounded so sure of himself and so confident. Now, he just seems... careful.
"Yes, yes, just do it." I say, tensing.
"Okay, get ready. On the count of three..."
I suck in a breath, waiting for the countdown.
"One..."
My arm explodes with pain.
"Damn it!" I hiss through gritted teeth. "Alix, what the hell happened to two and three?"
Instead of shooting me a look of sympathy, all I get from Alix is a grin.
"It's supposed to hurt less if you don't expect it." He says. I glare at him.
"You really hate me, don't you?" He asks, tilting his head at me.
"I don't exactly hate you," I say, gradually pushing myself up into a sitting position. "But if you were on fire and I had water, I'd drink it."
He clutches his chest, as if I'd wounded him, and the side of my mouth twitches. However, I will not give him the satisfaction of making me laugh. At least, not for a while.
"Well, didn't I find myself a feisty one." He says, winking at me before holding my gaze with those startling eyes.
"Stop that." I say, tearing my eyes away from him.
"Stop what?" Alix says, grinning.
"Looking at me like that. It's like you're staring into the deepest part of my soul." I protest, holding up my hands to block his face from my vision.
Alix laughs. "Oh. Sorry. Can't help my genetics. It's been in my family for generations. I know... they're distracting, aren't they?"
"Um.... maybe just a little bit."
It takes me a moment to remember why I'm here, and why I'm going through so much trouble with this guy.
"So... what's the plan for tomorrow? You can't exactly walk in with me. How are you supposed to get the information you need?" I ask him, absentmindedly playing with a lock of my hair.
"I'll go incognito." He says, as if that explains everything.
"Ummm..." I say, confused.
He lets out a sigh. "I have equipment, yeah? I'll hear all of your conversation with the guy. Easy peasy lemon squeezy."
Yeah, right. It'll be easssyyyy until cliché decides to crash the party and our plan doesn't work.
"Do you have said equipment in that tool belt you're wearing?" I ask, gesturing towards it.
He tenses, as if I just slapped him.
"What?" I ask, suddenly on edge. Does he see somebody?
"Oh, nothing." He says, relaxing and forcing a smile. "But yes. I have said equipment in there."
"Okayyyy... well what if we're spotted?" I ask, and try to forget what just happened.
"We won't be. I can almost promise you that."
"You can almost promise me?" I lift an eyebrow. "Sounds convincing. I thought thieves are supposed to come up with plans years in advance and plan every move to get everything perfect. Or am I right, and you're just one of the ignorant ones?" I ask.
"Hey. Watch who you're talking to. " He points a finger at me. I expect him to threaten me with his knife, but he doesn't. His words ring through my mind. I'm a thief, not a mass-murderer. "I've got a plan, and though it may not be the most reliable plan, it's a plan." He says.
I finally back off him. If we both get ourselves arrested and killed, though, it would forever be on his shoulders.
"Alright. I do have one more question, though." I say, slumping my shoulders and wrapping my arms cautiously around my knees.
"Hit me." Alix says.
"Why is the locket so important to you?" I ask him.
Alix lets out a breath, and the range of emotions that show up on his face are too complicated for me to read. He seems to be debating how much to tell me.
"That locket that your grandfather had is an antique valued today at over sixty million dollars." He finally says.
My heart stops. My breath catches in my throat. Sixty million dollars? Of course Alix would want it.
"Oh. My. God." I say, my fingers tightening around my legs so hard my knuckles turn white. It takes me several minutes to process this, and with it comes a silence. It is only then that I suddenly realize how tired I really am. Alix must read it in my expression, because he yawns.
"I think our little Fireball is ready to go out for the evening."
I don't have the strength or the effort to tell him to stuff it. He hauls himself up, running a hand through his hair, and excuses himself with the toothbrush and toothpaste. I don't know where Alix is going or if he's near, and I find that I don't really care.
Everything is suddenly a blur. I don't realize that I'm suddenly laying down on Alix's sleeping bag. I don't realize that I'm burrowing myself under the blankets. I don't realize that I'm letting my eyes close slowly. I know I should be worried about spending the night here, but my brain is yanked by the pull of dream-gravity.
I don't know if what I see next is a dream, or if it's reality, but right before I slip away, I see a figure walking towards me, a single word escaping his mouth. Goodnight.
Alix: friend or foe? Do you think their plan will work? If so, what information do you think they'll learn. Comment thoughts and feels below and vote if you feel like it. I should have Chapter 12 posted by Wednesday (1/20) or Thursday (1/21). Thanks for reading! campoles, you have no reason to complain because there was no cliffhanger in this one. Or maybe there was... ;)