Indignation (8 page)

“Very good Ms. Pike.”

“Thank you.”

She tunes out the teacher again and wonders on Julian’s location. She may have been too shocked to fight back when he slammed her against the lockers, but this time it’s different. He will not hurt her friends like he did to Jim. She won’t tolerate it. Wherever he is he needs to be prepared because she won’t go down without a fight.

Through the school day Julian’s name was called during all her classes, but he wasn’t present. It’s been days since Julian left Jim broken. It’s been days since she’s walked around the school with her classmates acknowledging her friendship. It’s been days since she’s last seen Julian.

She opens the door of her guest bedroom. Jim lies down peacefully watching the news. He smiles when he notices her entering the bedroom.

“How are you feeling?” She asks him.

He gives her a genuine smile. “Better. You worry too much.”

“I’m allowed to worry. You and Brandon are my closet friends. I don’t think I would be throwing a pool party if one of you got this hurt.”

“A pool party does sound good.”

“I thought the military was very strict.”

He presses the mute button. “Yeah, they are. Why would you ask that though?”

“Because that would mean that parties are restricted, right?”

“I’m in the military, not boarding school, Alyssa.” He chuckles. “We have fun just not too much, since we always have to be ready to move at any time.”

“Oh, okay. Why don’t I propose something?”

“Depends on the proposal if I agree or not.”

“I’ll throw a pool party as soon as you get fully well. That could be your welcome home party.”

“That sounds like a blast. I feel that there’s an ‘if’ in there somewhere.”

“There is.” She points at him. “You have to perform with your high school band.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because you used to love it, remember? Or did the military brainwash you to listen to the national anthem all day?” he chuckled. She folds her hands on her lap neatly. “Now that you’re back, you can have a reunion. What do you say?”

“I say no. I rather not have the pool party if that’s your condition.”

She pouts at his answer. “Please? Do it for you? Because you miss your friends?”

“No.”

“Do it for Brandon? He always liked your band.” She states with excitement.

“No.”

“Do it for all the people that will be looking for entertainment at the party?”

He taps his chin in though. “No.”

“Do it for me?” She asks hopefully. She bites her lip nervously as he thinks about it.

He sighs in defeat. “Fine.” He said without second thought. He always knew that he would do whatever Alyssa asked him. That is just how much she means to him. All those nights and days in Afghanistan have made him miss all those nights with Alyssa. The way they both would sit on her couch watching endless horror movies in black and white.

She jumps up with excitement, interrupting his memories. “This is going to be good.”

“I hate it when you do that.” He states, but can’t keep the wide smile off of his face.

“Do what?” She innocently asks.

“Use yourself against me. You know I can’t say no to you.”

“That’s because you love me.” She teases him. She hugs him quickly. When she pulls away, he can see the small frown appearing on her face. Her rosy lips that held a smile has gone to a thin line. “Will you be okay for a few hours tonight? I have somewhere to go.”

“Go have fun. I’m hurt, not dying. I don’t need you as my personal nurse.”

“Okay. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. Are you sure that you’ll be fine?”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Do you need anything? A glass of water? Maybe extra pillows?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

She leans forward and presses her lips to his forehead. “How can I not worry? You and Brandon are the only ones I have left.” She stands, and walks toward the door. She hesitates. Her hand slowly turns the knob.

“Alyssa?”

She turns over to him. “Yeah?”

“You have your parents.”

She looks away from his enchanting eyes. “Not when I need them.” She walks out the door leaving Jim feeling that there is more to her meaning. Something’s going on with her. He needs to figure out exactly what it is.

Alyssa walks into her master bedroom.  She paces back and forth in thought. The walls seem to be closing in on her, making her think about how suffocating it is to be in such a big house with only her roaming through it daily.  The walls are ivory, freshly painted, and her bed is queen sized. Almost her entire room is covered in a neutral, but natural color. Slowly she walks herself to the foot of the bed. She kneels and pushes aside the grand treasure chest she has bought long ago. Below it is a Persian carpet that helps hide her memories. She moves it aside. The wooden floors creak when she lifts the plank of wood. She reaches the hidden entrance and grabs the scrap book she never thought she would want to see willingly.

It was a gift from the one person she hates, but loved more than anything in the world. She runs her fingers through the purple leather. The color of her eyes, her natural eyes. Once in a while people would notice them when she forgets to cover her eyes with deep hazel contacts, but they always think she wears contacts at that Moment. Purple. Such an unnatural color and yet it’s so real. She hates them. A couple of weeks before Julian left her she showed him her real eyes. She remembers it, that unforgettable night.

Alyssa’s long, light brown hair had fell around her shoulders. Her hair was filled with thin waves. Julian had pulled on her thighs, making her long legs straddle him. The position itself brought out her lust for him, but she didn’t give in. It was something she had thought for a while, but Julian convinced her that if she was having any doubts that obviously meant that she wasn’t ready.

“You’re so beautiful.” He whispered into her lips.

She pulled away from his lips slightly. “And you’re such a tease.” She whispered back before crushing her lips to his. His lips were full and alive whenever they’d kiss. She bit lightly on his bottom lip and pulled gently. She could feel his smirk spreading between her lips.

“And I’m the tease?” Without knowing what hit her. Julian rolled on top of her, pressing her back to the sofa. She couldn’t help but runs her fingers on his well-defined chest. Her finger went from his neck down his chest stopping just above his belt. His head tilted up and he moaned at her touch. “You’re killing me.” Only his words uncovered his lust. His eyes always remained empty, clear of any emotion.

Her lustful gaze had gone up to his midnight black eyes. “You have no idea.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. The time felt dead when they were entwined. They pulled away from each other with displeasure. “I have to show you something.” She had unwrapped her legs from him and moved to sit beside him.

He remained expressionless as always. “What is it?” His face never showed emotions. That was always one thing that irritated her to no end. She could show all the emotions she had for him with her eyes, but he was the one that had to say what he felt because that was just Julian. A part of Julian that she had learned to accepted.

“It’s nothing bad.” She bit her lip nervously.  “Well, it’s kind of freaky, but not bad.” She reassured him.

His smirk appeared. “If you want to put handcuffs on me I’ll be more than willing to let you.” He winked.

She punched him lightly on his arm. “Not like that, you perverted man.” She laughed. Then she turned around, blocking his sight. “I want to show you something. I was born like this so don’t freak out.” She laughed again nervously as she pulled her deep hazel contacts out, and turned to him with her freakish purple eyes that are too strange to describe. He just stared at her, his black eyes hiding his response.

Nothing could bring emotions out of him, nothing. Yes, he would laugh, and would joke around, but his eyes always remained neutral. Now was different. His eyes turned cold. His smirk faded. And she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Those eyes that is darker than black never looked at her like that before, so cold and filled with regret. The first time his eyes speak to her is the first time she took a look at the version of Julian who everyone feared.

His eyes focused on her, examining her. Then he stood with determination. He turned his back to her as he made his way out the door, out of her life. “Julian?” she whispered before he shut the door. The door he walked out of symbolized everything they ever had. How much everything seemed perfect, but it wasn’t. At that Moment she didn’t notice it. She hoped like every other teenage girl who fell in love. Reality is always hard to face.

After that day, he was never to be seen again, until now. Now he returns, turning himself into the same person of that night. Her only memory now is of those Moments where she thought he loved her. Also the note that made her clear, her clouded mind. A note he left on her doorstep, while hiding in the shadows.

<><><>

Goodbye. Never again.

-Julian

<><><>

He left no explanation. He left her, not caring what she would feel. Now as she remembers the last several days of his return, she realizes just how blinded she was. He isn’t Julian, the man she fell in love with. He was never that man. He caused her so much pain that she knows he doesn’t deserve anything from her.

She closes the purple leather scrap book filled with pictures and memories of the two of them. They’re all pictures of lies, and deception. He never cared for her. She now realizes that. It took her four years to fully understand the damage he caused along his way through her life.

After so long, she will learn to fight those memories that have caused her nothing, but remorse and solitude. She’s Alyssa Pike who has two great friends that will always be there when she needs them. Brandon and Jim is all she will ever need. Julian is out of the picture. She doesn’t want any explanations for his leave. Julian didn’t have parents and always seemed older than he ever told her so she knew he left by his choice. What else is there to say?

“Goodbye, Julian. Have a nice life.” She closes the scrapbook of memories. She wipes the tears that have fallen silently. “No more tears, Julian. No more tears.”

Alyssa walks quietly into Jim’s room. He lies down with his eyes closed. His steady breathing tells her that he has fallen asleep. She lightly presses her lips to his forehead. “I love you, Jim-Jam. Get better for me.”

She quietly closes the front door behind her. The moon is up, staring down at her with a taunting light. Only the moon will ever know of her real fear, and her addiction. Only the moon will never speak all the secrets it holds. That’s why it’s silent. That’s why it’s haunting.

She gets into her grey mini cooper and drives on the road leading to her addiction.

<><><>

Julian stalks Alyssa. His priority as an Elim will be to protect her. Gabriel made that very clear. He stares at her will indifference. The woman staring up at the moon is the same woman who he has learned to transfer his hate. She was his downfall and he will be hers.

He drives about fifty yards away from her. His lights are shut off so she won’t notice that she is being followed. It seems stranger to him that she would drive out at midnight. What does she have planned? His curiously grows when she misses all the exits and continues to drive north. He continues to follow her until she suddenly makes a sharp left, leading to a narrow dirt road that he knows too well.

He has a sketchy feeling when he puzzles over the thought of her heading toward The Jag, a place that secretly sold drugs, and exported cargo that was too dangerous for her to even know about. He has to change his tactic. He lets her drive further away from him. Hades followers run The Jag. They are ruthless without any control from their leader or any higher ranking immortals. Their sense of direction is driven by the misery or others and pleasure of destruction.

Julian parks behind a wide oak tree. He doesn’t need the Followers knowing his form of transportation. He jogs his way towards the clearing as he notices Alyssa opening the door of the small hut and disappearing behind the door. He follows her quickly. Alyssa’s appearance in this territory is like meeting the reaper, a very dangerous move that can’t be undone with his name. These are the few that would not care to die at the hands of Julian. They would actually be blessed. They have no minds of their own to fully acknowledge the outcome of their lives.

He follows her scent towards the only closed door in front of him. He opens it with ease and makes his way down the broad staircase. When he reaches the bottom he finds her in the middle of the room. Her hands hold multiple Kukri knives with the fire imprint. His eyes narrow as she is attacked by five stimulated dummies that are evidently electronic.

She penetrates the heart of her frontier attacker as she kicks the one from behind, giving her time to turn around and decapitate him. The other three dummies move in on her, leaving her little space to move. Alyssa kicks one away and does a smooth roundhouse kick that stuns the dummies bodies. She runs to the other end of the room and steadily stands in a firm stance. She narrows her eyes as she throws Kukri after Kukri, making each blade puncture each dummy until it no longer moves.

Julian balls his hands into fists. This is the woman he knows all too well. Then he expects to have mercy for a woman who prepares herself for a kill. This is what he should have noticed before. How her eyes would scan around each room, her eyes observing the smallest detail. She is calculating and very manipulative. He can tell by the way two of the Followers appraise her skill with the Kukris’. His eyes follow her every move as she walks over to the weaponry board and takes a Katana to battle with one of her appraisers. 

“King Julian.” He turns toward the immortal. His black beard making him seem older than he really is. 

“Jag.”

“What do we owe the pleasure, my king?” He never understood the way the Followers still treated him as a king, even when their loyalty remains to Hades, The God’s brother.