28 July 2012
His lips were soft yet hard against mine as he kissed me gently at first. His eyes were closed and his hands were firmly on my hips pulling me into him. I tentatively closed my eyes and pushed against his lips, tenderly tangling the tips of my fingers in his hair as I was acutely aware of the pain originating from the glass embedded in my hands. I tugged at his hair pulling him closer. He smiled against my lips and tilted his head more deepening the kiss. Not having kissed anyone before I guessed that copying his movements were a good way to start and his smile was further encouragement that I wasn't embarrassing myself. His kiss became firmer, he pressed my body between him and the tree. Our noses knocked past each other as he tilted his head the other way, one hand moving to the back of my head keeping me close. I pushed more of my hands in his hair but had to pull back quickly from both his hair and the kiss a hiss of pain escaping my lips.
"Are you ok? I didn't-" Lewis started and stopped mid sentence as he saw my shaking hands I had withdrawn from his hair. A piece of glass had caught itself and was now making my hand bleed heavily. "Jesus Christ" he muttered tracing the edges of my palms lightly with his thumbs as he took my hands in his. "Do you want me to take them out?" he asked softly dragging his eyes from my hands to my eyes. His eyes were soft and had a caring glint shining brightly alongside concern. I nodded, turning my head away as he started to pull the chunks of glass out of my hands. I hissed in pain trying to pull my hand away but he had a firm grip on them. He tilted my head towards him and rubbed my cheek with his thumb.
"Pain is just a message, just weakness leaving the body" he stated
"Where did you get that from?" I asked curious as he started taking out the pieces again.
"A friend of mine, from the army, said it and told me never to forget it when he was shot in the line of action" he dropped his gaze down to my hand as he answered.
"He died didn't he?" I guessed trying to look in his face
"Yes" he answered shortly still not looking at me
"You were close?" I probed as he started again to pull out the glass.
"He was like a father I never had" he replied blowing on my hand getting rid of any dust-like pieces before placing a gentle kiss to my palm and moving to the other hand. He still didn't look up to me, it must've been a hard experience losing someone so close, I couldn't imagine losing Eddie or Garry as much as they piss me off from time to time. They really were the closest I had to fathers.
"Oh" words failing me once more, I had no clue what to say. Should I have said - sorry? It'll get better? Don't worry I had it worse? "Shit!" I gasped as he pulled a chunk, that was embedded deeper than he had thought, out sharply.
"That was the last one" he declared blowing gently on my palm and kissing it softly.
"Thank you" I whispered and leant up and kissed the corner of his lips letting mine linger there for a few moments before withdrawing and pushing my arms around his neck.
"No problem, now don't you think we should start heading back?" he asked, I moaned against his shoulder in protest. His body shook lightly as he laughed at me. "Yeah I know but they'll have my head on a stake if we're any later and find out that I nearly lost you" he added holding me tighter as he mentioned losing me making me smile inwardly.
"Yeah nearly, you didn't though" I breathed against his neck causing him to shiver.
"Do you have your phone?" he asked his breath ghosting over my pulse point.
"Nope left it" I answered "Where's yours?"
"I don't know I must've dropped it running after you" he shrugged
"Oh that's great..." I muttered as we pulled away from each other. He took hold of my hand, entwining our fingers as we walked out of the patch of trees. Keeping a hold on my hand he looped his arm over my head and rested his wrist on my shoulder pulling me into his side as we were met with the wrecked sight of the car. He squeezed my fingers in reassurance to either him or me I couldn't tell.
"Look at the car" I told him as I looked around the sight, the grass had been churned up where the car had skidded out of control, some scraps of rubber littered the deep green grass. I was sure some glass was probably present somewhere but it was completely invisible.
"What about it?" he asked frowning trying to remember something he didn't know what.
"Doesn't it look familiar?" I asked so certain now that it was the car I thought it was. Garry's number plate was YR60 BZF. Exactly the same as the now totalled car.
"Looks like the car Garry's got" he replied his eyes widening in realisation.
"That's because it IS Garry's car! Look the number plate Garry's car was YR60 BZF and it's the same, even inside there's a smiley face I drew on the window not too long ago still on the window in the same place in the bottom right corner!" I explained maybe getting a little overexcited about it.
"Maybe it was stolen?" he suggested as we wandered over to the car.
"From the man who keeps his keys on a chain attached to his belt loop?" he grimaced stopping before we got too close.
"I don't know then... Damn if only I had my phone should've taken some photos of it ask him about it when we get back and it's a black insignia..." he mused running his free hand stiffly through his hair, something I've realised he likes to do. There was an eerie calmness to the car just laid there quietly on its side no creaking of metal just silence. I looked around away from the deceased vehicle and realised there was no body laid on the grass.
"Did you kill that guy who took me?" I asked glancing quickly and frequently over my shoulder to check he wasn't going to pop up anywhere and take me again.
"Yeah I'm sure I did... Shot him in the head doubt he would've survived..." Lewis replied running his thumb over my fingers.
"And he's not there anymore" I pointed out a slight waver in my voice.
"I killed him, he's probably been taken by some of the other guys for burial or something, don't worry ok? I'm here won't let anyone hurt you" he assured me his eyes smiling as he did so placing a soft brief kiss on my lips.
"Ok. So what's the plan?" I asked trusting him completely.
"We can't be too far from the next village, how about we keep walking there find a phone call back?" he suggested
"Do you know the houses phone number?" I asked looking up to him, his eyebrows pulled together and he frowned
"No..." he smirked shaking his head slightly his eyebrows rising and settling back to normal.
"Oh we're screwed then..." I chuckled resting my head on his shoulder sighing somewhat contentedly.
"Don't you know Eddie or Garry's number?" He asked amazed dropping his head on top of mine.
"Nope, my phone remembers it" I answered allowing my eyes close slightly letting Lewis guide me.
"Ah you're right we're screwed" he agreed sighing too as we trudged through the deepening grass.
"Shouldn't we go back to the house then?" I asked, as we turned to face the way we had just come to be met with gun shots and increasing rapid footsteps. We turned and ran Lewis steering us to the wrecked body of the car. We hid behind it, peeking around the side to see who our pursuers were.
I spotted strawberry-blonde out instantly from the group of three blood crusted on one side of his face glass protruding out of it amongst the blood and hair, all with guns in their hands looking around for us no doubt. Lewis moved and was searching the area behind us for an escape route while I was transfixed on the advancing men.
"Delilah, run over to those trees, hide, wait for me" he instructed pulling me away from the edge of the car. I nodded before he kissed me briefly and indicated for me to go. I could feel my heart beating in my ears as my legs pumped as fast as they could the trees decreasing in the far distance. I could hear nothing but the sound of my own hurried footsteps crunching the grass beneath me and my heart. I only just made it to the trees before the firing had begun. I crouched behind a thick tree, my mouth had dried up my forehead covered in a thin film of sweat. I heard two more gun shots and then silence. No footsteps. No more guns. No talking. I dropped onto my knees as I strained my ears to hear past the rushing of blood, past my laboured breathing for anything, anything at all. Rain suddenly came crashing to the ground adding more sound for my ears to compete against. I was soon drenched even with the cover of the leaves above my head. I peered around the tree, the rain causing a translucent grey haze letting me only just see the outline of the car. I wanted to call out for Lewis, to know that he was safe but something made me keep my words in my throat to not let them out. I hugged myself for warmth my clothes saturated and rain rolling down my face.
I don't know how long I was sat there, shivering, waiting, until I saw a figure walking towards me in the haze. I stood up watching them approach one arm swinging by their side as they walked the other tucked away in front of them. Head held high, shoulders back, walking tall, hair completely plastered to his forehead, the colour of his eyes combining with the grey haze of the rain - Lewis. I breathed his name as he came closer he must've heard me as he replied with my name a delicious smirk spreading over his lips. I ran out from behind the tree colliding with him making him stumble backwards as I wrapped my arms around him.
"It's not safe to turn back now, we'll have to carry on" he informed me rain dripping off of his face and onto my neck sending shivers down my spine.
"Ok" I agreed letting go of him and taking his hand tangling up our fingers once more as we began to trudge through the long grass and deepening mud.
*~*~*~*
It felt like we had been walking for days before first the glimpse of civilisation appeared on the horizon.
"Oh thank god - houses!" I cheered my feet had been killing me and I'd falle
Who Am I? Part 12 • Opuss № I