Dangerous Games: Faith in Strangers
Title: Dangerous Games
Part 2: Faith in Strangers
Part 1: Into the Heart of Texas
Verse: Custom
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Year: October 1998
Characters: Cassandra, Seth, James Gysborne, Various people
Synopsis: Cassie takes a job and ends up way over her head
She wasn’t sure exactly what sound emitted from her lips as the motorcycle took off. It wasn’t a shriek, or a gasp, but it was some inaudible word nonetheless. Her stomach tightened as if she was on that great big roller coaster at Fiesta Texas. It was the only one worth buying the picture for just to see the constipated expressions of Oh Shit on your friends faces.
After a while she felt trapped gripping on like she was hanging from a cliff and trying not to fall. All she wanted was to get out. To roam and be free once more. This will teach me not to accept jobs out of my league.
Something warm and sticky spattered across her face and she knew what it was from him. It wasn’t the first time she felt human body parts and she had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last. But why did it have to be so damned disgusting? Gross. At least she no longer threw up, now that would be embarrassing. Imagine throwing up on some poor soul’s boots? Sorry about that! Hey you just saw what I had for lunch!!!
Cassie braved letting go with one hand so she could wipe the piece of blood off her cheek. I so need to wash my hands right now, She thought as she turned around in looked behind her. At least they got away from the commandos.
For now at least…..
The Driver pulled into an old gas station and I scrambled off his bike. He pulled off his helmet and wiped his brow. He had soulful chocolate colored eyes and dark brown hair. His skin was fair and his nose straight. He looked at the torn leather in his jacket. The bullet tore through the leather, and grazed his skin enough to cause the spatter on Cassie’s face.
“I’m gonna fix this,” He said and headed towards the men’s room.
The adrenaline wore off and she could feel all the pain from the wounds inflicted on her. She might as well have been a slug that got shafted by a large amount of salt being poured on her because that was what she felt like. Stiffly she got off the bike, and stared at his wound. There wasn’t much to say really. At least not yet. She knew she needed to say thanks, but that had always been hard for her.
’Did you say thank you Cassandra? Where are your manners Cassandra?’ she pushed her mother’s words out of her mind as she followed the man into the gas station. But if there was one thing she was good at, it was spinning stories and thinking fast on her feet.
“First aid kit?” She asked the shopkeeper and pulled out two crumpled soaked twenties from her back pocket. “Last time he’s going to teach me how to ride his bike. After what I did and landed in that pond,” she gave a chuckle. “Glad I just got scraped up and didn’t break a bone right?”
“We have some alcohol but that’s about it honey,” The woman said. “Woman shouldn’t be riding motorcycles,” she chastised her and Cassie played along looking down in shame.
Cassie nodded and lifted her wet hair over one shoulder revealing the handcuff on her wrist. The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, after all it isn’t everyday you see something like that. Cassie just shrugged and threw her a wink as if to say Pretendy-fun-time-games. Quickly she scanned the aisle for a knife, but found nothing. Grabbing the alcohol, she paid for it and walked to the bathroom.
Resting her hands on the stained porcelain sink, she leaned forward and realized she looked like hell. Her hair was sticking out wildly and half wet, her clothes clung to her skin and her shoes squished under her feet. And she couldn’t get this damned bracelet off. Using the alcohol and toilet paper, she winced but sanitized her wounds. Her leg hurt like hell but there wasn’t much she could do about the pain or her semi-wet clothes. At least the motorcycle ride made them damp but not wet.
She exited the bathroom and found the man that helped her. Tapping him lightly on the arm she whispered. “You wouldn’t by any chance have a knife would you, but not in here of course.” Lifting her right hand, she showed him the bracelet. “I really need,” she emphasized,” to get this off.” Afterwards she’d properly thank him, just like her mother taught her.
“No,” He said.
What do you mean you don’t have a knife? she thought to herself raising her eyebrows in question. You ride this badass bike, you come out of nowhere and you don’t have a knife.
Of course, she wouldn’t say that aloud.
“Well never mind, maybe the lady behind the counter has some scissors-“ She turned in the direction of the counter but decided the only thing she’d have back there is safety scissors , “Or not.” She shrugged.
Clearing her throat she looked down at the toe of her shoe, “Thanks,” she finally said and then looked upwards at him. Her next sentence came out in a tumble of words,” For-the-whole-getting-me-away-from-those-guys. You didn’t have to do that, I appreciate it, I guess I owe you one.” She cleared her throat once more and gestured with her hands as if trying to say something else but decided against it.
“And-“ she stiffened her shoulders , “I’m also sorry okay? For,” she pointed at his bloody shirt. “That, and you’re being really cool about the whole thing which is actually kind of,” Creepy, weird, strange? “Kind of….ummm…..yeah.” She trailed off again.
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her hotel key, the one Gysborne provided for her, walked over, and threw it in the trash. There was no way she could go back to the hotel. Actually she wasn’t sure where she could go. She had less than 40 bucks on her, a wet semi-bloody shirt and her ability suppressed.
Overall, it was turning out to be a very shitty day.
“Let me start over,” She held out her hand, “My names Cassandra, but you can call me Cassie. Thanks for everything; do you know how far it is to Corpus Christi from here?”
“Names Seth, and I think Corpus Christi would be the last place you should go. I’m heading back to Vegas. You can catch a ride if you want,” Seth said. “Yeah you don’t need to thank me, you just owe me.”
“Whoa hold on there Cowboy, just because you did me a favor doesn’t mean I’m gonna spread my legs and let you believe you allowed me to find God,” I snapped.
“Don’t flatter yourself sister, you’re not my type,” He said.
“Oh right, you’re gay?” I said back.
“Nah, just not into kids,” He said.
Wait a minute, I’m not a kid!
“Get on,” Seth said as he put his leather jacket back on.
***
A black van stopped in a parking lot two miles from Seth and Cassie’s location. Gysborne slammed a cartridge into his Glock .357 with the palm of his hand while Agent Ryder watched the tracking signal on the screen. “Sir we have a read on her, she’s about two miles from our location right here,” he said pointing towards the blip on the screen.
Sure, he could have written her off, another failed attempt, but then they would have his head on a stick and Gysborne knew what happened upon failure. Termination wasn’t given with a pinkslip. Those who proved themselves unreliable were let go with a bullet in the back of their skulls.
Letting her go was not an option. “Don’t lose her this time,” he said slipping his gun into his side holster over his white shirt.
***
That ineffable burning sensation at his intense gaze dissipated when he said get on. She didn’t hesitate as she quickly got on the back of his motorcycle, wrapping her arms around his waist preparing for him to take off like a bat out of hell. The engine roared, and the butterflies flapped their wings in her stomach, nearly making her ill with anticipation.
The black van came barreling around the corner, windows down, one of the commandos hanging out with an automatic rifle. Two more unmarked cars came straight for them and Cassie leaned over to take a peek as they skidded to a stop, and turned towards the side as if blocking the only way out. Although they were at least a hundred yards away, possible more she could see them exiting the car, running towards them. However they weren’t shooting. Why weren’t they shooting?
At least she felt safe with Seth but she’d feel a hell of a lot safer if she had her ability again. This sucks, I don’t like being helpless. I swear once I get this fucking thing off my wrist. I’m taking up Kick boxing or something cool where I can kick some serious ass in case I get caught again. No scratch that, I’m not getting caught again.
“Seth,” she lifted her chin speaking into his ear over the hum of the motorcycle. “Let’s get the hell out of here!”
Seth turned to look at the black van and then pulled out of the parking lot and began to speed down the road.
***
“You!” Gysborne shouted. “I want an I.D. on that man on the bike. Get the feed from the security cameras and get me his name!”
“Yes sir.” One of Gysborne’s men began pulling the data from a hacked feed and uploading it on their computer. “I have it sir, it’s blurry but I should be able to send it to the technicians up in…”
“I don’t give a damn what they can do. Stop wasting my time and send the damned picture already. I want an I.D. on this guy and I don’t want to repeat myself!” Gysborne bellowed. “WHY AREN’T WE MOVING YET! GO! GO! GO!”
***
The anticipation reminded her of that first great hill on one of her favorite roller coasters. Only this time she didn’t closer her eyes because of the blinding sun while she waited for that steep drop that would give her a thrill. She also didn’t have a harness on and the only stability was from holding on to the driver of the motorcycle.
Tensing her body, she thought she latched on tightly but when he shot off she found herself sliding back slightly as she almost had to claw him in order to hold on. Stabilizing, she moved her body with each twist and turn. The bike gave her a rush unlike any roller coaster she tried.
If the world wasn’t so much of a blur, she might have actually realized the direness of the situation. Not that she didn’t, but a wandering mind is a sane mind. Everything happened so fast, she never noticed the spray of bullets behind her, or the men who jumped back in their cars to chase them.
Seeing as how this was her first ‘car chase’, she was hoping it would go rather well. Something in the back of her mind told her this wasn’t Seth‘s first ride. At least they had the advantage of the motorcycle being able to take them in and out of tight spots.
She peered over his shoulder, forcing herself to look backwards, only forwards.
Seth decided to hit the brakes and turn a 180. Cassie held on tighter as she thought she was going to be flung off the bike. Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh Shit!
If she could be anywhere in the world right now she’d want to be somewhere in a log cabin up in Alaska by a lake where no government agents could find her and she kick back and toast s’mores over a campfire, while sucking on a fifth of Jack as she watched the sun dip behind the mountains.
Actually she’d rather be anywhere than hanging onto a stranger during a high speed chase. Not that she wasn’t grateful of course, she was very grateful, but the entire day nearly made her want to reevaluate her own life. A day, which wasn’t even close to half way over. So far she’d had her abilities suppressed, gotten some poor innocent man caught up in her troubles, participated in a high speed car chase, dodged explosives and was shot at.
This was not her average normal day.
As he pulled a stunt on his bike that she only witnessed on some old Chips re-runs, she continued to hold on tight, but contemplated just throwing herself off the bike. At the speed they were going maybe impact of her hitting the pavement would break electronic bracelet off her wrist. Sure it would sting like a bitch, but she would be free.
But it would also be very stupid.
Meanwhile as Cassie continued to grip tight enough as if she wanted to sever Seth in half, Gysborne already had his computer technician hack into the camera posted above the signal light and downloaded the picture of the driver. “We’re losing this battle, just keep going,” he instructed the driver as he sent the information to the technicians in Washington DC. “We’ll find out who this son of a bitch is and what we’re dealing with and then hunt them both down!”
“There not coming for us,” she yelled over the roar of the bike. Maybe if she knew about the conversation in the black van she wouldn’t feel so relieved. “There not turning around!” She said a bit more excited. Throwing her head back, she laughed as she stared into the darkened sky. She wanted to punch her fist in the air and scream but refrained as that could lead to some serious road rash.
Sometime between the explosives and the car chases, the sun managed to dip behind the horizon. She couldn’t even remember why she wanted to go to Corpus Christi in the first place. Oh right…because the ocean is warm like bathwater and I can drift for days in bliss and nobody would find me. I wonder if they have a camping store nearby. I wonder if those assholes will turn around and make me suck on my own words. I wonder…Oh right….Vegas….I wonder if I can get a fake I.D. to play the slot machines.. She gave in involuntary cry and stopped her own inner monologue when she noticed a dear dart out in the road.