Love Or Death?

Five

He took his seat on my couch and I sat opposite him, placing my legs on the couch and my hand on my chin to show interest, "So, tell me."

"Jack isn't who you think he is," he made direct eye contact.

"Oh really? What is he besides a psycho-killer scientist?" I inquired mockingly.

"You didn't even ask why Landry had to use his blood to enter?" he scoffed, "I thought you'd be afraid and shaking out of your boots."

"I don't know what you take me for," I frowned, c*****g my head to the side.

"I guess that's why that maniac likes you."

"Calling your boss a maniac is a stretch, you know?"

"He is a maniac, Zipporah," his eyes beamed with subtle rage and fear.

"Alright Alright, start from how everyone apparently knows where I live and everything about me," I inquired.

He seemed to have calmed down a bit, looking quite sorry for something, "He has been, let's say, inquiring about you for a while."

I adjusted, placing my feet on the ground before leaning forward, my blood warming up briefly, "how long is a while?"

"How long have you known Landry?"

"s**t," a wave of dread and fear ran through my veins. I bowed my head, rubbing my face buried in my palm before taking a deep breath and running my hands through my hair, "Why?" I managed to ask, my voice coming out void of emotion.

"He liked you once he saw your picture. Landry told him all about your bravery, strict nature, and how lovely you can be too. He felt from there you'd be the perfect person for his project, especially with your beauty and your…well…endowment," I saw his lust-filled eyes run up and down my body.

I jammed my teeth trying to control myself, but on the other hand, I probably should have thought about bringing a man I didn't know into my apartment after midnight.

"What exactly is this?"

"Do you know what the Mafia is?" I nodded reluctantly, "Exactly. Killing for power and money, battles of the high and mighty, even high and mighty's that may not be part of any Mafia, they might have just gotten caught up and snitched or offended them."

He paused, shaking his head after a deep breath, "I advise you just don't defy him. We used to all be friends, he told you about that, but one of the five pairs of guards was once the all-famous friend group that didn't want to kill people. The rest were unfortunately killed once they disobeyed Jack."

"You know for someone with a basic ass name, he's such a d**k," I scoffed.

"Take my advice, Zipporah," he stood, walking towards the door, "It's a warning if I must put it that way," He swung the door shut the same way he opened it.

I sat there in the same spot, my palms placed on my lap as everything finally registered and dawned on me. My heart raced, I felt my body heat increase, and suddenly I couldn't breathe. Gasping for air, I tumbled off the chair, tears streaming down my face as I ran to lock the door.

In agony, I slid my back down the door, unable to make my legs move. My chest tightened, my throat clogged up, unable to make a single sound as I wiped whatever was left of the makeup after this night.

This morning everything was fine, I was fine, my life was satisfactory. What the hell was this? Some sort of Mafia? Special plants that can only penetrate a d**k? My life is in the hands of some psycho killer!

I rested my face in my palms, trying and wailing at how my life would never be the same again. I was going to be a hitman w***e now, killing people by sucking their d***s or getting them to the bedroom. I can't confide in anyone, can't call anyone.

Nothing. All alone.

When my legs finally revived, I threw off the damned dress, tossing it in the laundry before running myself under the shower. It was a quiet, long shower, letting the water just run from my head down. I only had those when Landry was around, first few times he started coming over at least.

I almost forgot Landry was dead. Melted face, wherever they had dumped him. I prayed the image disappeared soon even if I knew it wouldn't any time soon.

I took my time to get my hair into a comfortable position, relieved as not a single thought crossed my mind as I did my hair. It had been a while since my room was this quiet, no music, nothing. I slipped into quite comfortable satin pajamas, made my bed before getting on it, and scrolled through my phone for a while.

I was soon interrupted by a phone call from Devina. I hadn't opened my mouth since Devin left, my lips had been in a gloomy frown since and I had no idea how I would even conceal such from her. I tell her everything, just didn't once for the whole Landry issue.

"Hi, my love!" she screamed on the line, sounding quite excited.

"Hey Dev, why are you still up?" My voice was even more depressing than I expected, I was screwed.

"Did I wake you up? Are you okay?" her tone, worried.

I let the question hang in my brain for a split second, "Yes of course, just a bit of a headache because I just came from the club with Landry," his name left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Oh," she cooed, "is he with you right now?"

For the first time, I wish, "No, I found out he had a wife and you know I don't roll like that so I dumped him."

She gasped, "Well," she sighed, "guess it was for the best. I'm sorry about that, do you need any company?"

"I don't hate the idea," I sighed.

"Alright, I'll start coming then, let me quickly wash off," she blew a kiss, hanging up afterward.

I got quite comfortable in the bed I didn't know when I had dozed off. The sound of my lock woke me up and made me know Devina was here already.

"Hey baby," she whispered, closing the door softly behind her, "are you good?"

I wished I could tell her, break down and cry, tell her about the deal with the devil I had just made, how I'd be committing the one sin I was totally against as a full-time job, but I couldn't. She won't understand, she'll be against it, and I'll only end up putting her in the middle of everything.

She had observed the silence that I didn't realize was there and seen the tears I didn't know were falling already. She stayed quiet, wrapping me in her embrace, her vanilla scent calming me, her soft, cotton pajamas soft against my skin. I felt at peace, no thoughts in my head, just agony, enough agony to make me pour down from my eyes to her shirt.

"It's okay, let it all out. It was a long day," she whispered, stroking my back gently in the silence. I loved that she didn't ask what was up, I wouldn't know what to say, I wouldn't know what to come up with, where to even start from. I appreciated her, loved her more than anyone else in my life. After my parents practically abandoned me after in my second year of uni, she's been the only one by my side always.

~

My head felt heavy, feeling the blocked nose as soon as I opened my eyes. First thing I saw was the empty side that Devina was supposed to be in, it was quite cold because the curtains were shut and the AC had been running all night. I turned it off and swung open the curtains, squinting at the bright day outside.

I opened the windows, feeling the calm breeze run down my spine, the balcony was the same. I wrapped my arms around me, rubbing my arms up and down to retain heat. It was a rather cool day, mostly cooler than any other area because my window was closer to the beach and it was a scanty area.

I sat there for a little while, taking in the air now that my nose was a bit free. It clicked that I hadn't bothered to check if Devina was downstairs. I rushed out, making my bed, using the toilet, and brushing my teeth before heading out.

On the refrigerator, there was a sticky note, most likely from Devina:

I made some breakfast for you, left around 8:20 am exactly. Take care, love you!

It was 8:35 am, I guess I was still quite asleep since I didn't hear her leave. She left me fresh pancakes with waffles and sausages, freshly packed in a dish.

I ran through the food, savoring every delightful bite. The feeling of unemployment was quite stressful and depressing, I just wake up whenever with nothing to do. On days I don't go to the gym, I just wake up and eat, smoke if I feel like it.

My phone buzzed on the table, sending an instant chill down my spine. I picked it up, my heart dropping to my stomach as I read the text.

For a while, I wanted to forget I took this godforsaken job, that my life was in someone's hand, that my bare life depended on sleeping around. I wanted to have a good morning, just eat and forget what my current position was. I wanted to push it behind me that Landry was dead, I wanted to put it all behind me but it was the reality.