An orange night peaceful as ever glowed over the mirroring sands below. Through theses wastelands of orange stretched a strip of black from one horizon to another. On it a car sped unrestrained by limits and as unhinged as the driver himself.
His gripped on the staring wheel tight yet his eyes glazed over. His thoughts going faster than coupe leaving concentration in the dust of the straight road.
"Why do I love you?" The image of Briar contemplating played on in his mind. Well what's not to like?
"You follow, listen, disobead, tell me the truth for my own good and prioritize me over yourself. You genuinely care about my well being more than anyone I've ever been with. You treat me like I'm Your Everything when we're together." His foot increased pressure on the pedal.
"If you're JUST using me then why have you gone as far as to know almost everything about me? You're obsessively observant about the things you care about." The speedometer was reaching critical flashing for him to press the gestured button while the engine cried to reach it full potential.
"Face it Jet, you're Not the villain you think you are, and I'm in love with you." The memories of their kisses and touche continued to play out. From her sweet perfume to the heat of her skin, all the sensations came rushing back bursting into reality. "Fuck!!" He slammed his fists on the staring wheel. The car swirved off the road into the air.
Danger detected!
Activating AI Assist.
Hexagon patterns lit up on the car changing its colour while a second layer of glass covered the windows and windscreen. As the car hit the sands flipping and rolling, the driver remained composed strapped to his seat.
Finally the car stopped, luckily on and fours in the sands. He dragged his hands down his face and sighed. "I really did it. I fucked her. I've crossed the line I shouldn't have and now... How will I even face Lucia... Fuck!" He slammed his fists into the staring wheel.
"No if it was just sex it wouldn't have been this fucked. I made love to her. No even worse than that."
"I do Jethro, I love. To the point that I think I'm crazy but I do."
He gritted his teeth. "She's really in love with me."
"I feel for you too Briar."
"And to make it the worst."
"Briar... I love... I love you!"
"I ... Love ... I love you Jethroooo..."
"I fell in love with her too. Fuck.. fuck. Fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!" His knuckles were bleeding before he reclined back into his seat huffing.
"I've already ruined Lucia's life and when I tried to fix it I ended up fucking up Briar's life as well. Damn it all to hell. Why was I even born?"
Blue eyes pressed against his windscreen intently observing him with unfiltered malice causing him to jerk back in his seat with a racing heart. His eyes darted around only now realizing that his car sat on the sands giving rise to these creatures. He got frantic upon recognizing the blue sky.
Memories of that time flashed through his mind forcing him to reliving everything like it was yesterday. Only it was different this time, something was missing. He closed his eyes to focus but couldn't find that missing piece.
He chuckled with an unhinged expression that caused the humanoid creature who was still staining his windscreen with its radioactive like blue blue energy to give a perplexed stare.
He stared back into the creature's eyes with as much malice and rage as he could muster. "You can't kill me." He grinned malevolently.
The creature's face contorted with vains and pure hatred before screamed and banged on the car. He pressed the pedal causing the wheels to kick up sand. He stopped looking to the road a great distance away then back to the creatures who were slowly flanking him all seemingly disturbed as the first.
He geared straight down then taped the pedal listen to the engine, feeling the momentum of the tires and the car. He continued to gently tap to pedal while the creatures started banging on the rest of the car. The car jerked forward. He applied the same pressure once more and the car was off cruising to the road.
The creatures weren't having it. Realizing that hitting the car would take too much time, it leaped off the windscreen and landed in front of the car and pushed against it. The others joined in determined to hold this human here. Especially the first. He'd seem extremely determined to see that human's demise.
That's why when the car door click then slammed followed by shifting sands that creature could only look up in astonishment to see something shoved into its mouth. It stared from the object to the man holding with its face twitching in confusion as did the others.
The gun was trusted down onto the creature's mouth. Bang! The creature's head was blown out startling the others as the corps fell. They didn't know how to react nor did they get a chance to as he thrusted his weapon in their direction firing until the magazine was empty and they were all on the ground.
He gripped his hair chuckling like the deranged man he seemed to be. "I've only brought suffering my women. Who am I to think that I deserve joy?" Jethro said returning to his dark blue coupe, swerving back onto the road as agora echoed over the hill from the stereo's bass.
***
"And done." I emailed the the documents to Jethro. And with that everything's ready. Made my way out after waving to their toddler. "Bye baby!"
"Has Julius arrived yet?" Said the toddlers mother.
Julius? She must still be bitching about the other day, even though Jethro apologized. "No and I can't get his cell."
The door opened. He stepped in holding his bags. "Why are just coming home? Where have you been?"
"I had to take the car to a garage for maintenance. And hello to you too dear. " He walked by me.
"Then shouldn't you have arrived sooner since you took a plane?" His friend's girlfriend said before I could apologize. "You must have since you would have have to leave the car at the wall right? I doubt theres anyone in the these parts that can fix it so you must have left it at the great divide."
"It happened on the way."
"Then where did you leave the car? And why didn't you answer your phone or call me?"
He sighed. "His lonely apartment is looking like paradise right now." His friend said never looking up from his game with his toddler in his lap.
Expectantly I looked at Jethro to see anger and annoyance, but it is was nowhere to be found. His eyes were weary staring back at me from his seat on the bed. "Are you okay?"
"What do you want Lucia?" I looked away. "And don't tell me it's nothing." His eyes looked me over.
"We haven't been spending much time together and I... I wanted to go... On a date..." I finally managed to say clutching my purse. This was stupid, I should have never-
A shattered dish brought me back to reality. The dish was at her feet yet she was frozen staring at me as was everyone else, even the toddler was gasping. I stormed through the door. "Lucia wait."
I knew this was stupid. Which girl in there right mind would ask a guy out? It just screams desperate and pathetic and no girl with any dignity would do it.
Why do I always put myself up to be humiliated? They probably all laughing at me right now. She's probably telling all the neighbors.
Whatever I never wanted to be here in the first place. Jethro brought me into this. Ever since the day he broke into my house all those years ago, my life has never been the same.
A hand gripped my shoulder. I instinctively swung my purse. "Lucia." Jethro said catching my arm before it hit his face. He was dressed up in his suit ready to go and before long he had calmed me down convincing me to salvage my plans.
I had planned a simple date, nothing extravagant. But most of it revolved around his car as transport. So of course we had to take a cab.
The car was shabby with its torn seats and nauseating marijuana scent. The driver wouldn't stop about his bragging about his numerous baby mamas and kids and that he's a real man.
Is that supposed to be some sort of flex? "I can't believed I wasted so much time when I should have become a cabe driver. I mean if it makes you enough money to provide for so many children imagine what it could do for me." I said looking away. Jethro smirked in the darkness when the driver ceased his banter. Thats right, go take care of your goddamn kids you deadbeat!
We arrived at the local mall where I'd plan a little shopping before we went to the restaurant just in time... For the door to be slammed in our faces.
I was ready to go back home immediately but he encouraged me to not to call it off.
We took another cab to the restaurant and the ride couldn't be over faster. I slammed door finally unscrunching my nose as I gasped for fresh wind. "At least clean your smelly car before you take passengers." A string of curses spewed at me. I looked him over letting my repulsion show causing him to be more intense as we went into the restaurant ignoring him.
Unfortunately we missed our reservation and the restaurant was still packed. The night was busy and I couldn't take it anymore. I marched off holding back my tears.
Jethro was awfully quiet and just followed me around. Everyone time I'd get too lost in thought I'd feel his eyes hooking into me and pulling me back.
"Is this part of your date plans Lucia?" I heard behind me.
I wiped my eyes with a sniffle I turned around. "What?"
"I'm tired and it's getting pretty late." He was hunched over holding his hips.
"What? You're complaining when it's your fault in the first place?"
"Mine?" His back miraculously started working again.
"Yes yours Jethro. If you hadn't screwed up the car and been late then none of this would have happened." I folded my arms.
He gestured to himself selfishly. "How was i supposed to know that the car would have trouble or that you were planning a date?"
I rolled my eyes. "We haven't been out on a date in over six months Jethro. Since you weren't going to do anything, I obviously had to do your job."
"I've been busy trying to make a life for us. And your right it is my job and it's that same mindset that made me give up on you doing something like this long ago."
I started pacing. "Oh yeah sure, blame it all on me, Mr I've been so busy that you e forgotten our anniversary!" My voice echoed. I stood there staring at him puffing and wiping my sniffles. His reaction finally came and in typical Jethro style he was laughing. "Why the fuck are you laughing!" His chuckled was cut short with a sharp inhale.
He gripped my hair. "Don't talk to me like that."
"Don't try to control me! Let go of me!" I punched him in the face and he let go.
He clenched his jaw. "Okay I see how it has to be." In one step he wrapped me in a bear hug locking me against his body.
I kicked and screamed fighting against his grip only hearing the occasional grunts masked by his words. "There there dear, let it all out."
"You turned my life upside down ever since you the day I met you." I cried into his shoulder.
"I know Lucia." He kissed my forehead and said something I've never heard in previous moments like these. "I'm sorry..."
I looked into his eyes and felt pain? It was strange and to intense. I looked away pouting. "Well I'm glad you can admit when you're wrong. Especially when it comes to our anniversary."
He chuckled. "Oh no today's not our anniversary."
"Haha you're not funn-"
"No I'm serious. Today is the anniversary of the day we met. Our relationship anniversary is next week. You get them mixed up every year." He shook his head.
I paused. Shit I fucked up. "Oh well, that's behind us now-"
"Oh no. You sucker punched me. I'm hitting you back."
"What? No! I've seen what you've done to the walls. I'm not going to let you break my bones!
"Come on my thrusts aren't that stronge. And I'm sure you'll enjoy it too." He smirked.
"Why would I enjoy being hit-... Really!" I slapped him. "That's what you're talking about! Stay away womb crusher!" He grabbed me once again in his strong arms and tickled my sides while gently biting me.
He said he had everything planned out for next week and that I shouldn't worry. I still can't believe that I mixed up our anniversary dates again. I'm glad he didn't forget... but If that's the case, I can only wonder why he apologized...