River
Walking up stairs with a cup of coffee I went to my room laying down on my bed stretching. I felt slightly tired after this morning works as I heard a small knock at the door as I got up quickly to answer it. Jane mother with clothes on her hand smiling as she stepped forward and I moved to allow her too entire the room.
“I brought some of Dante old clothes for you to wear to today, you to are about the same size when he was your age” Lana said as she placed a pile of clothes on my bed
“thank you, Lana, it not necessary I have some clothes that would be appropriate” I said as she shook her head
“no, no, just take them there mostly wasting space in a cluttered closet” she said as she looked away she almost seemed sad about something, but it wasn't my place to ask about her personal space
“thank you, it's very nice” I said as she smiled and started walking back toward the door, but stopped just before reaching the door and turned around
“Are you happy River, here, with your family, friends, Jane” I was confused by her question, not sure if it was a trick or not
“yes” I said quickly it was strange her action “I am very happy” I said as she nodded and smiled and walked off
I sat down next to the pile as I thought about what Lana had said and I just can't figure out what she was up to really. What was she trying to trick me and make me say I was unhappy with the job, then report back. I looked at the clock and got up to change grabbing some clothes off the top not really caring what it was and decided to take a quick shower as I suddenly felt dirty after leaving that house and killing people before going to a church. Kind of hypocritical of us really to be going, but I understand the appeal to others and making us seem normal and like good people. I shaved the stubble that had grown as I thought back to Jane and smiled.
Sometimes when she is not acting like a crazy person she can be funny in a cute way. As my smile feel and thought about that word, cute, I mentally cursed as realized it was a very bad word. I have no right to think she is cute sometimes or at any times, Jane and cute are not allowed in the same world. It is wrong and I was allowing myself to feel comfortable and happy, and maybe that what Lana was testing me on. I splashed some water in face to wash away any remaining residue from shaving cream. Grabbing the clothes Lana gave me put it on, it fits, slightly bigger than I usually wear, but fits all the same it was a nice simple light blue button down cored shirt. Butting the panic on they were bigger than the shirt I grabbed a belt from the closet that had my school uniform hanging in it.
Glancing at the clock again, we had a half hour before we were to leave I put nice shoes on and looked at myself. I looked ridiculous and overly dress preppy rich boy. I shook my head, I guess it was only for a day I would deal with it. I walked out of the room and was going to go down stairs when I almost passed Jane room. I decided to check on her progress, knowing her she was lying on her broken bed to make some kind of statement. I knocked waited no answer, I walked in I heard a slight noise coming from the closed bathroom door, most likely a hair dryer. I walked in more and could see the bed it was lopsided touching the ground at one end and the other high in the air. I looked at it closer and realized the leg where just bent and there was a hang. Picking up on corners and folded it back to standing position. I tested it and it collapsed again, I shrugged I guess I did really break her bed. But it would have broken eventually anyway with me jumping on it caused it to officially break.
I stood up giving up on my attempts to fix the bed as I could no longer here the hair dry going. I turned toward the open door, but stopped as I saw her computer open on her desk. I'm a noise person I guess. Walking closer seeing her Facebook open I smirked, sitting down in the chair in front of her desk. I hadn't been on before as I did not seem to see the need, plus at school there was no computer or access. Kevin told me about a few years ago, I just didn't care enough to get one. But Jane had one and it was open and she had posted about me almost a half hour ago. Mostly complaining about how I rudely woke her up, and broke her bed. A lot of people liked it and people were commenting some people I knew some I didn't, commenting about it, mostly comment in the way that they think I had broken the bed having sex with her, which was pretty funny seeing Jane response to deny that and telling the truth, but most didn't believe her.
I heard the door open behind me as I continued scrolling down page there was a lot of people on the site sharing stuff. I heard an angry frustrated sigh as I continued to ignore her and heard her stomp into the closet area, I don't think she realized I was on her page. An alert on the computer went off at the same time and could see a chat box opened without me doing anything. It didn't have a picture of the person on it was just a white box, the name said unknown, which was weird I guess. Glancing at the words on the screen, my heart rose and I panicked
“I know your secret, I bet you're willing to pay to keep it that way”
I just sat there panicking what they hell was this, was it someone playing a joke on her, then I heard Jane giggle. I rolled my eye realizing it was her messing with me and my attempt to snoop on her page. I was about to start typing as another message, but from Jane appeared.
“Do you realize how many people send me this junk a week, you have photos of me parting wouldn't want the media getting them, blah, blah, blah, pay me and I will not show. Get a life and show I don't care”
I sat there reading her message as Jane laughed as she clearly was ignoring my presents. As I was angry and wanted to murder this person. Threatening and blackmailing her, and the fact it has happened before. As I stood up to yell at her and show the threats to Dante a picture appeared in the box. I froze as I heard Jane saying something, but the fact I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was a dead man. The photo was of me and Jane at the park it was bark and the light where still on, but I knew it was me because of the tattoo on my back, I was topless and on top of Jane and I was practically eating her. I felt a hand that shocked me from my frozen fearful state, I snapped out of it and looked at Jane who looked at me wide-eyed
“we have to go down stairs, my parents are going to get mad if where late” she said as I snapped
“no fuck that, I think being late for church” I said in air quotes “is the least of our worries right now” I shouted at her as I pointed to the screen and she gasped
“you were not suppose to see that, what the hell were you doing on my Facebook you asshole that is private” she shouted back
“no fuck that, who is it? Because I'm going to murder them in a few seconds” I said ferrous, Date was going to kill me
“River stop shooting right now or my parents will hear you. Look the person said to sit tight and wait until they give us instruction. You can go all homicidal at another time unless you want my dad to see these you need to chill.” she said as I glared at her “look I've done this before, some person get some photo of me some I tell them to fuck off or if I don't want whatever it is getting out I pay them, now just be patient this person is clearly knew at blackmail” she said using finger quotes “if they had a plan or really thought it through, then they would give me direction instantly and I would be calling the shots quickly. They want us to wait which means one of two things, first they don't have a plan and stalling to come up with one, second they are waiting to call orders and demands to make us sweet, in an attempt to make us freaked out and pay, normally it is the first option” Jane said as I stared at her a little dumbfounded and slightly turned on by how dominant and forceful she was being at the moment
“so, you have done this before?” I said finally gain my voice back
“a few, but you're here now and I no longer have to bribe Gina's older brother to do my dirty work” she said walking over to the computer and closing it
“Medoi or Frances” I asked amused
“Medoi” she said
“figures Medoi only know how to kill, and Frances wouldn't touch whatever mess you get yourself into, he too smart for that, how are you bribing him to run around scaring people for you” I asked as she shrugs
“Oh he is not scaring them he works well and just shoots them” she said walking back toward the closet, as I shook my head clearly not understand my sarcasm “bribing Medoi is easy, I put in a good word to my dad when he starts picking who will replace him Medoi is from a good trusted family. He second to Frances, and he already had a baby on the ways so it is unlikely he will get to be a big boss, so I'm just to convince my dad to choose him” she said as I looked away angry boiling in my veins, Medoi just made my hate list under David Canton, I was interrupted “but since you're here, I no longer have to go to Medoi for help, you're here to do it without bribery because your neck on the line not metaphorically speaking” she said sliding on flat black shoes. I finally noticed what she was wearing pretty simple white dress with light-colored flowers on it, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and had curls all over the place as she smiled and walked out of the room leaving me speechless.
I followed after her a few moments when I regained the ability to think right I followed after her leaving the room. She was right, I hated to admit it, but she was, Jane drives me crazy, but she is smart and does know how to get things done the way she wants them. I hate the idea of her being indebted to Medoi, I've had the unluckily chances to be put up against him in tournaments at school and it wasn't easy as other to beat, mostly because of his size and weight. He was strong not much in speed, but mostly crazy and I didn't want Jane around him. I walked down the stairs as Jane was talking with her mother at the bottom of the stairs.
“Oh, my you look just like your father did when he was your age” Lana said smiling as Jane rolled her eyes
“I didn't know you know my father when he was younger” I said as she nodded her head
“I meet him a few times before I married Dante” she said walking down the hall toward Dante hall
“we are going to have a long discussion about your Facebook when we get back” I said not really looking at her as she leaned against a wall playing on her phone
“whatever, it's not like what you're going to say makes a difference, I know how the game works just let me play it and you just need to be a good little pond and do as I say okay, and shut up before someone hears and you get us into trouble” she said as both Dante and Lana came through the doorway and I smirked
“ good now everyone here let's go we won't be late for once which is nice” Dante said as we started heading toward the door “River you're welcome to ride with use, but seeing as Jane does not take your car and follow behind us” I nodded as I heard Jane sigh
We walked in silence to the car as I smirked at Jane attitude and could practically hear her grumbling every bad word she was thinking. We got in and she refused to look at me as she played with her phone, looking angry. It made me antsy not knowing what was going on and not being able to handle it, but Jane said she would take care of our problem. I guess I just didn't trust her or really believe her ability to negotiate a deal. We pulled out and I followed behind Dante for a while, in silence, but it was driving me mad. We came to a stop and I reached out my arm try to grab the phone away from her.
“let go of my phone you ape” she said still clinging to the phone as my hand started to slip from the grasp on the phone
“let me see what you are planning” I said as Jane pulled and I lost my grip on the phone
“you don't need to see anything” she said scouting as far away from me as she could as she went back to playing with her phone
“damn-it Jane either tell me or I will stop this car and get the phone from you” I said as she rolled her eyes
“the only thing they have asked for is something I cannot give them, so I'm trying to make this person be reasonable and ask for something I can give” she said as I rolled my eyes
“what is it they want I'm sure I would be able to get it” I said as Jane chuckled and smiled
“they want you” she said as my smirk fell
“what they hell do they want with me” I said attempting to grab the phone as the light turned green
“don't know, didn't ask because technically you're not mine to give because I would have already traded you if you were, but seeing as you wear my father's house symbol tattoo on your chest you are his.” she said as she looked out of the window not paying attention
“no, but I can make them think they have me” I said as Jane shrugged
“yeah, but then when my dad ask where you are, what am I supposed to say?” she said looking at me for an answer
“we will figure something out, we just need to get that picture destroyed as soon as possible” I said as she mumbled something I didn't hear, but we were pulling into a parking lot that was full of cars.
I could see a few people who were familiar, I had trained with a few of them at school, while somewhere people my parents had over on visits home from school. I parked a few space down from where Jane parent park as it was the closest place available. I looked over at Jane as she looked at her phone, something in her playful manner had changed as I tried to grab her phone as I feared the worst. She quickly avoided me by getting out of the car slamming the door as I got out quickly to catch up. She was at her parents side before I could stop her as I glared at her as she avoided looking at me.
We all walked silently toward the church house, it was simple not very large, most of the patriots worked for Dante, and the preacher was not technically in the ranks, but he served as a neutral party. Walking up the stairs I felt uncomfortable, mostly because the hypocrisy of many of the people being here and the events of this morning, second I could feel eyes on me from all around it was uncomfortable. I did much like the attention that seems to follow me around, I would prefer to be unnoticed and not have people being so observant of my actions, it makes being sneaky really hard. The preacher and a woman were standing together greeting people at the came through the arched doorway into the foyer before entering another set of doors that led to the large hall where the service was held.
Next to the preacher and his wife, stood a younger girl who caught my attention. She looked about our age wore a long pale yellow dress with a long white sleeve jacket covering most of the revealing aspect of the dress. She was short, but she was much taller than Jane, blonde hair, but not the same type of blonde as Jane. Jane hair was shiny and perfect as this girl was more mated with little shine. She had dark brown eyes which made me disappointed, she was also a little more filled out more than Jane, not in a bad way just had a little more meat in the right places. Jane was perfect while this girl was a normal average version still very pretty, but a more wholesome aspect. As we approached the girl finally notices us, I wished she had the same color eyes as Jane it would have made my heart sing with joy.
“Preacher Dane, this is River, Gino and Brit's son, there on vacation so we brought him with us today” Dante said as I shifted my attention from the girl to the preacher who was stretching out his hand toward me
“it is nice to meet you, I came on a few years after you went to school, it is nice to finally meet you, as I've heard you are a very fine young man” he said as he gripped my hand and I nodded in appreciation of his words “this is my wife Sarah, and my daughter Lauren” Dane said as I smiled at Lauren as she smiled back
“dad we go to school together I already know who he is” she said almost blushing, it was cute, but I couldn't stop comparing her to Jane, I tried to shake the thought
“I didn't know we went to school together” I said as she nodded
“I'm not really a noticeable person we only have P.E. together” she said as I stood there shocked and smiled
“I'll have to look for you then tomorrow” I said as I heard a scoffing noise from beside as I looked to see Jane walking off in the same direction the preacher his wife and Jane parent where walking in. I hadn't even noticed they had moved
“I think you made her mad, by talking to me” Lauren said, almost shy and embarrassed, as she looked where Jane was standing in an obvious irritated posture as her parents moved into a pew at the front
“no everything makes her mad, me breathing make her mad” Lauren surged
“the people you love the most are the ones that drive insane the most” she said as she started walking into the hall, I quickly caught up with her
“Oh, no it's not like that, it's not that at all she hate me literally” I said as my inside burned and I felt the need to want to vomit.
“I'm sorry for assuming, it's just school gossip, you know” she said as I nodded, and I stopped next to the pew Dante and Lana sat in as the church was chatting away
“its okay, I see you later maybe chat after” I said she was nice and respectable, and I felt I could trust, there wasn't to many of those people around, plus it helped she looked like Jane.
Dante and Lana were sitting closest to the élite as I slid past them to the open seat next to Jane sitting the furthest seat to the wall. There was a small walk way that lead to another door at the back of the room. I sat down and glanced at the visible angry Jane who glared straightforward not really at anything. Jane just hated when people didn't give her all the attention, when she was around. I glanced at Lana who gave me a small smile, but it seemed forced as she looked back to Dante and wrapped her arm around his and link their hands. I watched them for a few moments, until the preacher started to speak. I tried to pay attention and look interested at first, but it was just too distracted. Lauren what up on stage with her mother and an older women, every so often I would glance up to see her blushing and smiling in a sweet innocent way, which was contagious and made me smile.
Jane attitude was also very dominant and could be felt probably in the back of the hall, as she sighed, huffing, clicking her tongue and tapping nails. I wanted to yell at her to stop because she was being disrespectful, but it would also give her the attention she wanted and need to learn to deal with it. Lana was also clearly unhappy about Jane behavior as I could see her often glances toward her then away then back at us. The preacher announced the Lauren was going to sign the open song of the day, and my irritation with Jane disappeared. Lauren might not have been the most beautiful person, but her voice made up for that. I gasped as she sounds as if angles were actually singing through her voice nobody seems to be aware or just used to hearing it as the choir joined in.
But my attention was short-lived as Jane quickly and dramatically got up and walked down the aisle beside her. She was stomping which took most of the focus of the room away from the singing, and to top it off Jane slammed open and slammed the door shut. Which cause everyone to stop including Lauren. I pinched the bridge of my nose irritated at how Jane was behaving as I heard Dante spark
“I apologize Lauren for that outburst, please continue you I would so much love to hear the rest of the song” I could tell Dante voice was angry, but he controlled it to sound normal as possible
I felt Lana hand on my shoulder as I nodded and new I need to go after Jane, I quietly got up a moment later as learn returned to sing. She glances at me as I smiled in an apologetic way, I didn't want to leave, but in truth I didn't want to stay. Church was never really my thing, I get it and appreciate it just not the place for someone like me, someone who didn't belong there. I walked quietly to the door open and closing it softly. I sound hear the music and voice through the closed-door as turned to see an empty room and two open door and no site of Jane. Panic quickly filling every ounces of my mind as I ran outside looking in every direction as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. I saw a flash of white move around the corner as Jane voice finally reached my ears
“ let go of me, do you have any clue who I am” I heard her voice and filled with only a burst of relief as I ran toward the side of building. Jane started screaming as I heard a gruff voice
“shut up you dumb bitch or I will slit your throat and leave you for dead” he said as Jane broke free of his grasp the second I turn the corner and pulled my gun out and shot.
The sound was loud and echoed as around as the man fell to the ground quickly, I could hear screams from inside the church. Glancing at Jane who was facing me frozen looking at the body in front of us with wide eyes. There was blood all over her face and dress, as I quickly ran toward her grabbing her forcing her to move. I could hear her breathing hard behind me as I pulled her into the parking lot. Luckily there was nobody around as I shoved her toward the car as she just stood there.
“get in the car now” I yelled as I yanked my door open and something in her wide vacant eye clicked and realized what I was saying and did as I said
I got in glancing at the church as nobody came out yet, but I only had a second before someone came outside to check and seen. Back out causing a puff of smoke and loud squealing and I put the car in high-speed reverse, then slamming in to drive to escape before any witness. Tho the entire church saw us leave it wasn't hard to speculate what happened once they found the body and it was doubtful that they would turn on us being as everyone was in Dante pocket in the church and it was most likely a death sentences to turn me or Jane in
We turned a second corner as I felt the adrenaline easy and felt much safer as I looked at Jane as my heart stopped. She was practically shaking as she stared straightforward as she clinched the seat so hard her knuckles were turning white and veins popping out. My heart fell because I knew that look I had seen it before, the first time I had seen it was in mark, it was fear. I knew glancing at her sitting the frozen shaken fear ridden, she had never seen death before, she knew about dad wasn't dumb to her father's work, but it finally became real in the moment seeing it. The drive was silent and quick at I didn't stop much unless necessary and when I stopped I watched waiting for it to click in her mind and for her to snap. Once she snapped, she was never going to look at me the same, she would be scared of me, and I became angry.
Angry at whom I was, angry at what I do, angry at everything, the man who forced me to show who I really was to Jane. I guess there was a part of me that like her not knowing who I was, both of us just functioning like I was a trained killer. The illusion I had made her believe, I had started to believe and I hated that I let my guard down in such a way. We pulled into the open gate and speed up the driveway, quickly as I could stopping in front of the stairway. I looked over at Jane still not mentally there frozen in fear. I reached out slowly not to frighten her.
“Jane” I said in a soft voice at I lightly put my hand on her shoulder as she awoke from her fearful trances
Panicking looking around seeing me, so close to her she freaked searching to get out of the car. Once getting the door open she fell out backward as I quickly got out and went around the car as she was scrambling trying to get up and make a run for the stares. The guard where half way down the stairs yelling questions, yelling orders to lock down the house as Jane started to scream when she saw their approach with the guns.
"Jane stop!” I shouted as Jane ran past them screaming and into the house “call Dante now, tell him where here and Jane fine, but she saw” I said as I ran up the stairs followed by the guards.
I could see Jane running up the stairs as I booked it to catch up with her if she saw herself covered in blood it was going to be worse than it currently is. As I made it to the top she was reaching her door, I pushed hard and caught the door still open as she was trying to slam it shut. I could have easily overpowered her and opened it, but it wasn't worth causing more panic
“Jane, listen to me, I'm not going to hurt you I'm trying to help you” I said trying to calm her down as she panicked still pushing on the door
“no, get away from, me “ she screamed as more guards came up the stairs as I tried to wave them off
“Jane listen to me, I'm not trying to hurt you, stop, let me in I can help you” I said as she clawed her nails into my fingers
“get away, you're just going to kill me like you did that...oh My god” Jane said as the door flung open from my pressure to open it as Jane screamed louder than I had ever heard before.
She stood looking in the mirror as I grabbed her pulling her into my chest as she screamed and fought against me. I didn't let go as she kicked and clawed and fought me, I walked as best I could toward the bathroom as Jane fought me, try to break free while screaming. A few guards where in the room trying to figure out what was happening as I finally made it into the bathroom and moved her to the shower.
“one of you turn the water on” I said and one I didn't know his name came over and turned the water on.
“what are you doing the other guard said stand in the doorway as the water hit us it was cold as I turned Jane around to face the water.
“I'm getting blood off of her, she having a panic attack you idiot” I said holding on to Jane as she frantically start rubbing her arms and face trying to get the blood off her as she cried, I held on to her waist as she scrubbed
“what happened?” the other said as he backed away and I glared at him
“nothing of your counseling” I said as Jane started ripping at her white dress that was stained red with blood “get out of here, I ordered, send Dante up here immediately” I shouted as they left the room quickly
I loosened my grip on Jane as stripped down to her underwear I reached for a towel, but stopped when Jane legs gave out and started to sob again. I gripped on and moved to sit down on the edge knocking some bottles into the tub. I held her against my wet closed as she sobbed and kept scrubbing her arms with her hands. There was no blood there, but she kept on scrubbing probably still see the blood in her mind. She then started struggling to get out of my grip as I held one arm around her waist and the other around her chest. The room was silent except the sound of her gasping for air panicking to get free and the water running.
“Jane, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm trying to help you” I whispered into her ears as she still struggled. “listen to me Jane, I will never hurt you, I saved you, protected you, I never wanted you to see that” I said as her struggling stopped and turned to sobs again.
She must have believed something I said because of her entire body relaxed into mine as she cried. Kept whispering to her telling her to relax to trust me. I felt so helpless as she cried I hated seeing her like this, I also was angry and ferrous that Dante failed to tell me that she hadn't ever seen somebody be killed. I hated that it had to be like that as she continued to cry, I wish she never had seen me that way either. I heard the front door slamming open, in what felt like a lifetime, as I sighed in relief. I was able to calm her to a point, but her parents where do better than me as I was the one who pulled the trigger in front of her. I could hear her mom yelling for her Jane name getting closer as I moved to get Jane up. But she was wasn't listening she was frozen having stopped sobbing some time ago however her hand covering her ears and was leaning into the cold water.
“Jane!” Lana said rushing into the bathroom turning the water off and grabbing a towel hanging on a rack. Jane finally realized her mother was there and started crying as she reached for her
“mommy!” she said as I helped her weak frame out of the tub into her mother's arms as she cried
“its okay Jane everything going to be okay” she said as I noticed Dante behind them looking stoned face as he moved out-of-the-way as Lana lead her out of the bathroom. Standing up shaking a lot of the excess water the close had soaked up as Dante came in and grabbing a towel off the rack handing it to me
“what happened he said” as I started unbuttoning the collared shirt
“when I left the church hall I did see Jane I quickly ran outside to find her I heard her arguing with that man, he threatened to slit her throat and I shot him, she saw everything, was covered in blood and she panicked” I said as he nodded, as I rang out my shirt and put the towel around my shoulders
“that was the leader of the gang we ambushed this morning” Dante said leaning against the sink as I took my shoes off and unbutton my pant leaving my soaking boxers on, I knew Jane wasn't in the room and I didn't want to try to walk out of here in soaking clothing. “at least one of our problems done, what happened to Jane bed?” he asked as I wrapped the towel around my waist collecting my clothing I notice Jane dress I picked it up tossing it in the trash
“I accidentally broke it, jumping on it. I was trying to wake her up and the legs on one side broke under the pressure” I said as I followed Dante out of the bathroom and out of Jane room down the hall slightly into mine. I went straight into my bathroom toss the wet clothes over the shower rake and taking the wet boxer off, but keeping the towel around my waist, as Dante stayed in the bedroom.
“will have to go out and get her another one later, how many lash did you actually receive?” Dante asked as I walked back into the room toward the small closet that held my clothes.
“58” I said as I put dry clothes on and quickly, want to cover the scars he was talking about
“that not many, your dad has at least double that” he said in amusement as I sat on my bed butting new shoes on
“not all were mine, technically I took some for other” I said almost angry that he seemed amused by the fact the school he sent me look used whips as a form of punishment among other things
“I know, I received report and update about your progress, the school wasn't to happy about either” he said amused as I tried not to lash out at him
“I wasn't to please with the school beating a small starving boy who was new mid year for not know the rules” I said biting back the anger
“you're right, the school is very old in tradition, but it produces men the way we need them everyone feels the same about really we hate it, yet we fall inline and send our children into it” he said looking at the check that was on as I panicked about what he was seeing, there was a video camera was directly in her bathroom
“we should go check on Jane the go get her a new bed, I love Jane, but she not sleeping in my bed tonight” he said standing up as I followed confused why he didn't seem to care that there was a video camera in his daughter's bathroom.