ELARA~
I was gonna die, and with a bad reputation at that. Calling out her name only made things worse.
She was going too fast that I had to cling to her tighter.
She wasn't herself, that I could tell from the way she gripped the handles. Suddenly I remembered her words vividly well.
"People who are in such a situation as yours would normally think of ending things"
She had said that the day we went to the mall. When she drove into the road like she was lost or something.
I didn't want to die, at least not like this. She took a sharp turn driving off the main road, swerving to avoid a police van ahead in the distance.
"Isla!!!" I screamed again.
She ignored me then finally skidded to a halt at the very edge of a hill and turned off the engine, the silence was deafening. My legs shook as I sat there then I looked back at the drop.
To be honest, it was a beautiful landscape down there, greenery and stretching into the horizon which I would have appreciated more, if she hadn't just tried to get us both killed to reach it.
"Let. go" she said taking off her helmet, her voice far away from pleasant. And her deep voice made matters worse. Yeah I said that a lot, but this time I meant it in a bad way.
I let go and got down while trying to adjust my thoughts.
"Is my name that nice that you had to scream it like that?" She snapped.
The actual fuck? I looked at her now fully pissed. I took off my face cap and mask to take a good look at the bitch. Yes she was a bitch, the biggest I'd ever met.
"So you're angry I called out your name, when you know how on edge I get when faced with a life ending situation?."
"And how many times have I told you?" She growled, stepping toward me. "If I wanted to freaking kill you, it wouldn't be..."
"This dramatic? Yeah, I know. You sound dumb." I cut in, my voice rising "You think you know it all but you don't and I feel you're the one going through much more than you let out"
She scoffed "Right, and all of a sudden, you can read me?"
"You have an issue" I said turning my back on her. I took out my phone and began scrolling for Ben's name.
"Where are you going?" She asked following after me.
"Where I wouldn't have to breathe the same air as you" I shot her a look and dialed his number.
"And who are you calling?"
"Ben"
"To do what?"
"To pick me the fuck up!." Why was I even answering her?.
The number you dialed, cannot be reached...
It's a power bike, Ms. Jones," she said, leaning against the seat. "It wasn't built for slowness. What do I look like to you? A chauffeur?"
I ignored her, redialing. I just needed to get away from her for a second before I had a major crash out.
The number you dialed...
"You won't get through to him" Isla said, calmly.
"I am not getting back on that thing with you."
"God, I don't have all day." She looked at her watch then at me. "You have five minutes to do you. And then you'd get on and I'll take you back."
"You will not talk to me like that"
She held my gaze for quite a long time before looking away. She groaned, moved toward the edge of the hill, and sat down in the grass.
She said not to care about her, then I see a new sight to her, the drawings. A sketch of myself. Then now this.
She was messing with my head and I didn't like it one bit.
I called Ben again and got the same response. This was a freaking nightmare.
I walked toward the edge, keeping my distance, and stared down at the landscape. Then I glanced at her. Not because I wanted to. She was lying down now, eyes closed, and as usual, looking breathtaking.
Kill me already.
Not this stupid feeling again. She was everything I hated in a person. She was cold, arrogant, dismissive. Yet I wanted to understand her more than anyone I'd ever met.
My eyes drifted to her lips, and that unlawful thought crossed my mind again. I let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"Take me home, please." I said, pulling my disguise back on. I turned to leave when her hand shot out and grabbed my ankle.
"Sit, my head is killing me" she opened one eye, her gaze locking onto mine.
I hesitated, contemplating the walk back to civilization versus sitting with a literal ticking time bomb. I sat down.
She wouldn't say sorry, not sure that was even in her dictionary. But I wanted her to see more than this case, see me as more than something she needed to 'fix'.
And if she'd just say sorry. I knew I'd forgive her instantly.
"You're annoying" I muttered.
"You sound like my sister" she replied softly.
"You have siblings?" Of course she had, she just said so.
She didn't respond immediately. The silence stretched until I thought she'd shut down again or maybe thought it was too much of a dumb question to answer. "It's... just her now."
"You don't sound..."
"We were two," she cut in, finally sitting up to look at me. "My brother died back when we were kids."
"I understand the feeling," I said, my voice softening.
She looked at me, the ice in her eyes flickering for a second. Then, just as quickly, the mask was back.
"I'm not a good person, Ms. Jones," she said, her voice turning clinical again. "And I'm your manager. That's all. Do not expect more." She got up took out her sketch book from the bike and sat back down.
She then took out the sketch of me and held it up.
"I'd take you saw this, right?"
I swallowed about to deny it, when she lit it on fire. My eyes widened and I quickly got up to avoid the smell of the smoke.
"Burn it out of your memory just as I did." She held my gaze for a second or two then looked at the paper in hand. "It was stupid of me, and it will be stupid of you if you begin to..."
She trailed off. "Can we just go?" She let the last piece of the paper go.
Right, this was Isla Matthews, the 'FIXER'. The one who steps in, works the case and disappears.
I'd felt a spark of hope when I saw that sketch, a tiny bit of warmth in that prison called a house. Not anymore. She'd burnt every bit of it away right in front of me.
I chuckled inwardly at my own foolishness. What was I thinking? I'm in the middle of a career-ending scandal, the world thinks I'm a killer, and I had this woman on my mind instead?
Funny, come to think of it. In a twisted, sick way, we were perfect for each other. Two people surrounded by nothing but ruins.
"Fine" I walked toward the bike, while adjusting my disguise again. I wouldn't satisfy her with a reaction, NEVER.
I climbed on after she did, making sure to keep as much distance as the narrow seat allowed. I'd rather fall off and crack my skull, than grab onto her again then I gripped the metal rails behind me.
The engine came to life and she nudged the bike forward, a sudden jerk that sent me flying into her back. I stiffened, trying to pull away, but she didn't let up.
"Do not make me tell you what you already know." She snapped, the engine roaring loudly.
My hands tightened on her waist involuntarily and I shut my eyes close.
"I hate you." I whispered as she sped off.