Love Or Death?

Six

My heart threatened to pound out of my chest, "Trust you slept well, it's Jack."

I took a deep breath, fear trickling through my veins as I read that first line. Of course, I knew what was coming but part of me wasn't ready to accept it yet.

"Your package is to be delivered by 9 am sharp. The instructions, materials, and plant would be there. Good luck, after the mission you will have a driver outside the location to bring you here."

It's 8:50, I noted. I managed to calm myself down and try to enjoy my breakfast, dropping my phone back down on the table to turn on the TV instead.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

My heart dropped to my stomach as the bell echoed through the living room. I sighed, gathering up the little strength I had left to walk towards the door.

The scariest thing is I don't know for sure what may be behind this door.

They might just be waiting for me to open up and snap my neck or it might be an actual package, but I guess that's going to be part of this job. I wouldn't know any of the life-threatening things I'm going to be doing from now on and I just have to live with that.

Not like I have much of a choice.

I swung the door open, fidgeting a bit in fright as a familiar face stood there, "Devin," I managed to smile, trying to get hold of my standing. His face was rather pale, I hope I don't become as pale as each of them in that cult or whatever it is. He was quite casually dressed, in a pair of sweatpants with a casual gray shirt and a pair of slides. I couldn't help but admire the way his build bulged through the shirt.

"Hi Zipporah, good morning," he said in a mean tone. My attention shifted as the silence lingered towards the large cardboard shopping bag and a box in his hand. I faced him and he smiled, "I guess you know what it is already.

I sighed, "I do," knowing all too well.

I made a way for him to come in. He dropped the box and bag beside the door, not bothering to go any further before he ran back out, "Your jobs don't depend on the time the package comes by the way. I'll be here at 9 am to drop a new job if there's one," he smiled softly, I returned it, and he turned on his heel and left.

My heart raced, I tried to calm it with steady deep breaths as I stared at the box and bag at the side of my door. First step, I took it from the floor, placed it on the center table, and continued to look at it.

“Is this really happening?” I murmured to myself. My mind raced as I tried to pick which I would open first. I decided on the bag and it was a very revealing dress, shoes, and jewelry to match with cash at the bottom. What was this for? Instead of it to calm my nerves, it made me even more nervous.

Inside the box was a tape, most likely for the recorded message, and a jar as far as I could see at the surface, the same jar I had seen with Jack. I picked it up, examining its warm content in my palm. Seeing it up close it was more of a green and purple mix, I had never seen anything like it and all that filled my head was worry for my very life.

I decided to let the voice recording be the last thing I handled. Underneath it was a paper border that made it obvious there was something else. I raised it and found a file and neatly wrapped new underwear with a note that read You'll need them.

Disgusting.

I tossed them into the shopping bag where the dress was and sat with the jar and recording in front of me. I hesitated, wasn't there a way I could pretend I didn't get any of this? I mean I could just call him by evening and say I didn't get it or I just don't go for the mission. Either way I tried, I would wind up dead or Devin will.

I started the recording with a deep sigh. It was a bit shaky at the beginning but it was steady after a bit.

“Hey, Zipporah,” Jack's familiar voice rang in my ears, “this is going to be your first mission and as you can see, I've given you the essentials for it. Without any tardy, let's begin. I'll give you a second to open up the file if it isn't already.”

I shifted my attention towards the file, reacting for it to go accordingly, “That is Ezra Hilter, as the name says,” he referred to the man whose oddly clear picture was the first thing I lay my eyes on opening the file, “he's your target. He is going to be at Santrele Hotel for a dinner party tonight. Approach him and get him to his hotel room, you know what to do from there.”

The recording stopped for a bit, I figured there was more because there were still some extras in the file that I didn't understand.

“By the way,” it started again, “the plant, you can blend it and spray in your mouth or grind it as a powder and put it on the head or give a hand job with it in hand. Remember, it wouldn't affect you as it says in the file, it wouldn't affect you if you swallow it or if it's dicked down you. Don't be scared, at least you'll be giving these scumbags a glorious exit by seeing a woman of your...err...caliber.”

The recording stopped with his light chuckle. Dread filled my body as I examined the rest of the file. It stated I was to be at the hotel at 7 pm and only approach him while he was alone or at least take him when he was alone. The driver would be provided for my departure, and as soon as I was done, so it said.

The instructions were quite clear so I didn't bother with trying to figure stuff out. At the end of the file, it said to burn the file and smash the recording as soon as I was done understanding it. I wasn't sure I understood fully so till I leave, I would need to listen to it at least once again.

I twitched, feeling the vibration from the sofa that was my phone ringing. It was Devina, “Hey love, good morning.”

“Good morning my favorite zipper, are you still in bed?” she asked, the background void of noise which probably meant she was in the office.

“No, I'm not, just got out anyway. Thanks for the food Dev, I really appreciate it,” I sighed.

“It's the least I could do to make you feel better. I'll be coming back early today, let's say by 8 pm so we could go to a club or just for dinner.”

My chest tightened, feeling the strain in my throat, it had gotten to the point where I had to lie, I had to lie to my best friend and worst of all, use a dead man's name to lie.

Your life's on the line, focus.

“No love, I'm sorry. I have someone I want to see someone tonight, it's kind of important. We can see after though, come over and we'll gossip about it after I get back. Is that okay?” I lied, clutching my chest in my hand to ease the tightness somehow.

“Oh, of course,” she sounded disappointed, stuttering a bit, “I guess we could make plans tomorrow or another time. Have fun, I'll see you tonight when you get back.”

“Bye, my love,” I whispered.

“Bye, my favorite zipper.”

As the line went flat, I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I knew I could trust Devina, I knew for a fact but I didn't want to risk it…to risk her life…to risk my life…it was too dangerous to say anything. If possible, I might tell her one day but for now, I just needed to rest my head and get myself ready for the night ahead.

~

I stretched out of my comfort, itching my eyes, pleased with the grand scent of vanilla essence that filled my nostrils as I woke up. Before I took the well-deserved nap on the couch, I had done a bit of deep cleaning, making sure each corner I would usually neglect was well taken care of. It was a lot of work but I didn't have much to do now that I was mostly unemployed. After the cleaning, I spoiled myself with a long, warm, tub time…extra bubbles, and sprayed the house with a strong but savory vanilla scent that Landry had gotten me.

God rest his soul.

The time read 4:30 pm, I knew if I wanted to get there on time, I would have to start getting ready now. The driver was to arrive by 6:30, meaning I had just two hours to get dressed.

The first thing that crossed my mind was to blend the plant, smash the tape, and burn the instructions now that I fully understood them. I took the file, plant, and recording to the kitchen, placing them on the counter. Grabbing a very heavy iron jar, I lifted it with all my might, crashing it down on the tape a few times till all was left was bare shards scattered all over the countertop and bits on the floor. The file, I tossed it in the sink, throwing a match stick after pouring a bit of alcohol, letting it burn till nothing remained but ashes that I had flushed down the drain.

I carefully took the plant out of its jar, placing it in the blender with a bit of water. I remember Jack had told me that it doesn't matter if I mix it with water so I didn't fret. Its feel was silky smooth, too smooth for a bunch of leaves, anyone could tell that this was lab-grown as it felt nearly like plastic.

It blended smoothly, making an oily consistency even when it's just water I added. What form of sorcery is this? What is used to make this and why does it work to kill so specifically? Questions took over my thoughts, questions I feel I'd rather not have the answers to. I poured it out from my blender into one of my oil containers. I figured I'd use this as lube because of its oily consistency. I'll say it's the only oil that wouldn't disrupt my pH and it's really good.

Knowing men, when they're aroused, they would probably not even ask what it is.

I had to take another shower since I smelt of burnt paper, but first I had to light one up on my balcony to hopefully calm my nerves. The real cause of the extra bath was that I took too much, was too high, and smelled like a weed factory. It was a rather calming bath, as I lathered, it felt like I was on clouds. I thought I had used up all the time in there but I used a little more than ten minutes.

I had brought up the bag with the underwear, dress, and other things before the shower, staring at them arranged on my bed. I had washed the undies earlier before the clean-up even started, even if they were allegedly new, I rather not mess up my pH with uncertainty, as it was, they're light lace so they dried easily.

I decided to go through with a blowout, something that would look attractive and sexy at the same time. I had taken a few styling classes from YouTube and took my time to curl my hair. Considering the large amount I had on my head, I reasonably did my makeup beforehand for I knew it would take up all my time.

Once it got to 6 pm, my phone rang, making me jump a little. It was an unknown number but I figured it'll be the driver to tell me he was on his way. I answered, placing that call on speaker as I quickly touched up my hair, “Hello,” my voice echoed through the room.

“Hey Porah, It's Devin,” his familiar voice answered. The way it sounded I knew he was in a car, “are you ready?”

“Jack told me the driver would be here by 6:30 so no I'm not ready,” I answered.

“I'm on my way there anyway, it's at least a 45-minute drive. I'll see you soon,” the line went flat after.

I sighed, ignoring the subtle light beaming from my phone as I finally finished my hair. I went for a simple but full glam look, something attractive, I was surprised I pulled it off even if I don't do this type of makeup a lot.

The dress was a low neckline, short, open-backed, dull gold dress. The quality was superb if I must say with the same shade of heels and hold jewelry, needless to say, my long brown curls complemented the dress perfectly.

I stuffed the cash in the purse, touching up a few things like perfume, jewelry, and oils before turning off the lights, and closing my room door. Luckily enough, the purse was big enough to fit my lip gloss, the small oil bottle, my sample-sized to-go perfume, and a condom.

Just in case.

I turned off all the lights, opening the door, my heart almost jumping out of my chest as Devin just stood there, looking like he was about to knock on the door.

“Jesus!”

“Didn't know you knew him,” he mocked.

My brows lowered, lips in a thin line to show I wasn't impressed by his sudden attempt at humor, “funny,” I said bluntly.

“Shall we?” Devin asked, giving me space beside him as I locked the door.

“Let's get this s**t over with already,” I sighed, taking his arm nonchalantly to the car.