Target Practice: Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Left Alone

I sit on my bed and sigh, my door still locked. I guess I'm sulking really. I'm just so annoyed at Ky! I'm a human being not a 'case'. I have a first name. I admit I might not be perfect but I try. What the hell am I saying? He doesn't even know me! Why should I convince him I'm an innocent person? And quite frankly I don't want him to know me. Even though he's hot, he's an asshole ... and anyway, he's too old for me.

Okay.

That is a lie. He's probably about twenty six. I'm twenty three... to be honest I couldn't give a bluebell what his age was, if he was a bit more polite I'd take him any day.

But that's not the point!

He was so rude.

I slide off of my bed and walk towards the door in front of me, opening it, I grin at the sight of an en suite. Uh, heaven has finally found me! I'm dying for a shower. I walk in to the large en suite and step in to the walk-in shower. I turn the taps slightly and a beautiful waterfall of warm water gushes out on to the floor, soaking my feet. I strip, throwing my clothes near the bathroom door and place myself directly under the water.

Shit, my gauzes. I quickly jump out of the water and step back in to the bathroom, standing in front of a sink with a small mirror above it. I reach over my shoulder and pull the gauzes off, medical tape coming off with them. I bite my bottom lip as my cuts sting exposed to the air; I lay the gauzes covered in dried blood in the sink. Bending down and cringing as my back stretches, aggravating my cuts, I pull the gauze off of my knee too, placing it in the sink.

I turn back to the shower and submerse myself in the delightful drops of aqua.

I helplessly grin as the water caresses my skin, trickling down every inch of my body. I grab a bottle of shampoo and lather my hair with its contents. A flannel and shower gel also sat on a shelf near my head; I grab them and wash myself all over. I close my eyes, standing under the water and sigh. The beauty of simple pleasures. Who knew, a shower could be so pleasing?

My mind trails off back to last night. Brad- I mean Ky's warm body holding mine so delicately, his soft lips and sweet breath drawing me in. He smelt so good, and seemed so... perfect. Those eyes! Light teasing emerald globes of allurement. I hang my head back in shame, letting the water hit my face making me gasp.

God, I need to snap out of it.

I turn the taps off, the water disappearing down the small plug hole under my feet. I step out of the shower and search the bathroom for a towel. I grab a large white towel off of a towel rack beside the glass walk-in shower and wrap myself in it, flinching once more as the rough towel brushes against my scabby wounds. I pick my clothes up off of the floor and walk back in to the bedroom.

I wonder what is going to happen to me. I mean, I've almost died twice now. Someone must really hate me.

I drop my clothes on the bed before walking back in to the en suite and staring at myself in the mirror. Rubbing the running mascara off of my face. I twist my upper body slightly, trying to look at my back. I freeze as something catches my eye. A pin prick like scab situates itself on my upper arm. What the hell is that from?

Maybe it was from the hospital... it does look like I've been injected with a needle. I brush my finger over it and twist my lips with curiosity; the skin around it bruised. Yeah. It must be an injection the doctors gave me.

I walk back in to the bedroom eyeing up the wardrobe and open its doors. Please let there be clothes in here!

I rummage around lavender smelling towels and flannels before finding a pile of shirts and denim shorts. Perfect! I grab a red cheque shirt and a pair of black high waisted shorts, pulling them on. I tie the shirt above my belly button, doing all the buttons up.

I walk in to the bathroom and flick my damp hair over my shoulders, tucking one side behind my right ear. I nod, satisfied before walking out of the ensuite and stepping on to the landing. The thick smell of lavender wafts around me as I run down the spiral staircase. I stop at the bottom taking in the large hallway.

I follow the cold tile floor in to a room just to the right of the staircase. I push softly on to the door and my attention rushes to Ky. I watch as he lays on a leather sofa fast asleep. His body sprawled out in all directions and his eyes tightly closed. I walk over to him and sit on the other black sofa opposite him, an oak coffee table between us with an orchid centre piece in the middle of it.

I sigh, shaking my head at Ky. He looks such a nice person when he's sleeping.

I stare at the glossy black and white kitchen behind him. The shining white kitchen cupboards and clean smooth black marble surfaces look expensive and gorgeous. A cooker, fridge, washing machine and dish washer line themselves up underneath the row of kitchen cupboards at the back of the kitchen. A diner-like kitchen counter with high pedestal chairs attaches itself to the kitchen making a 'U' shape in the surfaces.

I sink in to the sofa and let out a huff, my wandering eyes latching on to the little black box Ky was fiddling with yesterday. I snatch it off of the table and analyse it.

It's a recorder. A black tape already inside. I look up at Ky before sliding my finger over the play button. Do I or don't I? I press down on the button and my voice starts playing. I bite my lip as Ky twitches in his sleep. I turn the volume down quickly.

"Hi, El'."

My voice sounds from the tape.

"We're still up for tonight aren't we?"

He's been recording me? This is my conversation with Elsey yesterday morning. I purse my lips with disgust, glaring at his still unconscious body.

I press stop on the recorder and place it back on the table.

"Just how long have you been watching me, Mr. double oh seven?" I stand up and poke his shoulder. He stays still.

I walk back in to the hall. A black door situates itself the other side of the staircase, I walk towards it and slip in to the room. I grin as books fill the walls around me. A library! Oh, this is cool.

A desk and a chair sit in the centre of the room, bookcases lining the walls around it full of books. I glide my fingers over the spines of the books closest to me in amazement. Jane Austen. William Shakespeare. Roald Dahl. J.K Rowling.

I grab Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility from one of the shelves, the dusty pages and old rough spine irresistible. The dusty smell pleasing my senses. I open to the first chapter and begin reading.

DING DONG.

I jump at the sound of the doorbell and walk back in to the hallway. A dark tall shadow stands behind the glass of the door. I pull the handle down hesitantly. What could the worst possible scenario be if I opened it?

Could be my stalker. I could get stabbed. I could die.

No... he could never find me that quickly. Uh, what the hell.

I open the door to a tall man with smooth chocolate skin in a trench coat and suit.

"Hey there Miss Lawpson, I'm Louis."

I smile at him as he pulls a police badge out of his suit pocket, showing it to me reassuringly.

"Hi, Louis."

"Hi!" He grins, baring shining white teeth, "you mind if I come in?"

"No, not at all," I grin, stepping aside to let him in. He walks in to the hallway, admiring the house.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Ky charges towards me from the living room. He slams the front door closed and pushes his body closely to mine, centimetres away from touching me.

"I was letting him in," I glare up in to Ky's eyes, angrily.

"Whoa, easy man, it's only me," Louis chuckles, pulling his trench coat and suit jacket off and throwing them both on the coat stand by the door.

"You don't even attempt to open the door unless I tell you to, got it?" Ky continues staring at me, before turning to Louis.

"And you!" Ky points a finger at Louis, "You're a bad example."

Louis raises both of his hands in surrender, with a tugging smirk on his lips. I stifle a laugh and hug my book in my arms, standing watching.

"You ate yet, honey?" Louis turns to me and I shake my head.

"Strawberry and Ice cream pancakes?" He grins.

"They're my favourite." I beam, making Ky huff with frustration, rolling his eyes.

I follow Louis in to the kitchen and sit on the furthest away leather sofa, watching him intently as Ky joins him behind the counter. Louis rolls his sleeves up and grabs some ingredients from the fridge and cupboards before pulling Ky closer to him.

"Take it easy on her man, she's the victim not you," I hear Louis hiss at Ky, I open my book and pretend to read, "She's in deep shit and she don't need you causing no more."

Oh, good. 'In deep shit' - that's so reassuring. I bite my lip.

"It's the first victim protection case I've had," Ky hisses back, glancing over at me quickly. I meet his eyes but look back down to the words in my book.

"Man, it's all cool," Louis reassures, "they wouldn't have given you the job if they knew you weren't cut out for it. Plus she's a pretty girl, she don't bite."

A shiver runs up my spine at the thought of my almost-killer coming back to find me, he did get away un-harmed and he clearly wasn't satisfied with how he left me. Jesus Christ, why me?

"I don't care Louis," Ky shakes his head, "that... girl isn't what I signed up for."

My skin gains goose bumps as I feel their gazes on me. I look up from my book, Louis whisking mixture in a glass bowl, smiling at me. I grin back at him and glance at Ky but he turns his back on me. I shake my head, sticking my tongue out at him before looking back down at my book.

Moody ignorant asshole.

Ky walks towards me, sitting on the sofa in front of me, the coffee table the only thing separating us. I stand just as Ky goes to open his mouth, walking in to the kitchen, grabbing a clean glass off of the draining board; I pour myself some water from the tap. I lean against the sink and sip the cold clean water.

"You want to take a seat? Pancake batter is done," Louis glances at me and I move, sitting the other side of the counter, watching him.

He grabs a pan from a cupboard and turns one of the hobs on, on the electric cooker. He pours a few drops of oil in the pan and I watch as it sizzles as he pours some pancake batter in the pan.

"What you reading there?" Louis asks me.

"Sense and Sensibility," I smile.

"Ah, Jane Austen," he grins, "my sister loves her."

I nod with a smile and watch carefully as he attempts to flip the first pancake.

"Ready?" He grins, grabbing the handle of the pan with both hands.

I smirk. This is going to end badly, I can see it. He flicks the pan and the pancake flies in to the air. I watch with worry as it tumbles back down and falls directly at his feet. I let out helpless giggles at the sight of Louis's face sinking. He turns to me and smiles at the sight of me giggling.

"Nice try," I laugh at him.

"Thanks," he places the pan back on the stove pouring some more batter in.

"Even I could do it better." Louis and I turn around to look at Ky.

He walks towards us and grabs the pan from the cooker making Louis take a few steps back. I glance at Louis worryingly.

"Ready?" Ky says.

He jolts the pan, the pancake flying in to the air, almost hitting the ceiling; it twists and twirls in the air before landing perfectly back in the centre of the pan. Louis is the first to gasp in astonishment and laugh. I grin. Hmm... not bad.

"My turn," I jump up, leaving Jane Austen on the counter and walking round to them both, slipping my hands in place of Ky's. He keeps a hand on the handle of the pan and winds his other arm around me before gripping it too; my hands under his.

My body fits perfectly between his arms, his hands so warm against my cold fingers, he rests his cheek on the side of my head and I feel my stomach twist.

"Ready?" He whispers in my ear.

I nod and we both jolt the pan upwards, I fall against his body in a fit of giggles as I watch the pancake stick to the white ceiling.

"Whoops," I laugh, "I think I flicked it too hard."

Louis slips his hand over his mouth, staring up at the pancake on the ceiling, trying hard not to laugh.

I feel Ky's chest jolt as he chuckles, his body so warm behind me. I cringe in to him at the feel of the cuts on my back pulling.

"You okay?" Ky places the pan back on the stove and stands to the side of me, laying a hand on my lower back for support.

I reach over my shoulder and glide my hands over my shoulder blades, the shirt on my back damp with patches of blood. I pull my hand back in front of me and stare at the blood on my fingers with despise. I walk over to the sink beside Louis and rinse my hands under the cold water of the tap.

"Let me re-dress them for you," Ky grabs a box out of the cupboard beside my head.

I sit on one of the pedestal chairs and he follows me with the box, placing it on the counter as I un-tie the bottom of my shirt, starting to unbutton the front.

"You never said she was wounded that badly," Louis glances at Ky, "you okay, honey?"

"It's nothing-" I try.

"You had to have stitches, ," Ky protests, "they're not small cuts."

I shrug shyly and slide the back of my shirt down, keeping the front pulled tightly over my chest so not to show anything.

Louis looks at me worriedly before turning back to making pancakes. Ky slides a hand up my shoulder, picking up most of my hair and dropping it over to the other side of my neck, letting it fall down on to my chest. His touch making my skin tingle.

I feel him brush against the cuts on my back with his fingers, wiping them and then putting a cold cream on them. The coldness soothing the pain. He grabs clean gauzes out of the first aid box he got from the cupboard and places them over my four wounds, securing them in place with medical tape.

He spins the pedestal chair around so I'm facing him and kneels down to inspect the cut on my knee. Ky grabs my right leg and props it up on one of his bent legs. Applying cream and then a gauze to my scabby knee wound. He places my leg back down and stands up. I pull my shirt back over my shoulders and run a finger over the thin slice on my cheek, it's deep but it doesn't hurt as much as my back. The clean dried blood cut smooth and neatly in a straight line in the centre of my cheek.

Ky places a finger under my chin and pulls my head upwards slightly, to look at my dagger wound. He catches my glance and holds my face still, looking deeply in to my misty blue eyes intriguingly. His warm breath touches my nose, his soft emerald eyes so deep and mysterious.

He drops his hand and closes the first aid box suddenly, walking back around the kitchen counter and placing it back in the cupboard.

I drop my head and bite the inside of my cheek. That was... something. He looked at me longer than a second without frowning. That right there, just a second ago, was the Ky from last night. The Ky that danced with me and held me like I was the most delicate thing in the world.

"Why don't you go change your shirt?" Louis looks over at me and I meet his gaze, "before I make you the best pancakes you have ever eaten."

I grin at him and he smiles back, "sure."

I walk out of the room and run up the spiral staircase in to my bedroom. I slide my red cheque shirt off of my upper body and slide a plain black shirt on in its place from out of the wardrobe. I do the first three buttons up at the top before tying the rest of the material below in to a knot just above my belly button.

I like Louis. I smile to myself. He's funny and sweet.

I turn back around and run back on to the landing, stepping quietly down the stairs as I hear Ky and Louis talking.

I walk towards the kitchen door, stopping just outside it and pressing myself against the wall.

"The chief wants to see her today!" Louis hisses.

"Today?" Ky repeats, "she's almost died twice in the last twenty four hours and he wants to see her today?"

I swallow.

"He said he needs her statement urgently, they think they've got someone but they can't hold him in for any longer without proof he's done something," Louis says quickly, "they think she's being framed by this drug messenger, hired by a well known drug lord. They're a nasty piece of work and they'll do anything to kill the people who have betrayed them in any way."

"... They think this woman is framing Skyla and that's why Skyla is being targeted?" Ky asks, his voice deep but quiet.

I feel myself catch my breath. I'm being framed? By some... some drug lord's employee? Drugs? I know they're some stupid thing to get in to and even more dangerous if you're selling them.

I step in to the room innocently. My face blank. I didn't hear anything...

"Hey," they both jump, turning back to pancakes.

I walk over to the kitchen counter as Louis places three pancakes on three plates. Ky walks over to the fridge and slides a punnet of strawberries on the counter, turning to the freezer and grabbing some Cornish ice cream out of the top drawer.

He scoops a piece of ice cream on to each of the stacks and starts positioning strawberries neatly around them.

Ky doesn't look up as I lean closer to his pancake sculptures, his eyes glued to his designs as he delicately places the strawberries around the ice cream. I can't help but smile, his concentration consistent; he opens his mouth and bites the tip of his tongue. He looks up at me with a curious frown.

"What?" He raises an eyebrow, his lips curving ever so slightly at the corners.

"They look beautiful," I shrug innocently, with a smirk.

He finishes fiddling and passes me a plate, positioning it precisely in front of me. He turns and opens a drawer, setting a knife and fork beside my food.

"You drink orange juice?" He questions, grabbing three tall glasses out of a high cupboard near his head.

I nod. Louis places the pan, bowl and spatula in to the sink and sits on the pedestal chair opposite me, the other side of the counter, grabbing a plate of pancakes.

Ky grabs a cartoon of freshly squeezed orange juice out of the tall black fridge beside the washing machine and cooker and fills up the glasses with the lava like liquid.

He sits opposite me next to Louis on another pedestal chair and places our glasses of orange juice down in between our plates.

"Thank you... " I stare down at my plate, not wanting to latch on to his stare, "F-for everything."

I feel him watch me, my skin covered in goose bumps as I innocently take a sip of my orange juice.

"You're welcome," he nods, grabbing his knife and fork and stabbing one of his strawberries.

I look at him quickly giving him a smile, before slicing in to my pancakes. I place a piece of soft warm pancake in my mouth, the coldness of the ice cream and the sweetness of the strawberry dancing with my taste buds. Man, this is so good.

"Do you have anyone you want us to call?" Louis turns to me, sipping his orange juice, "your mum and dad?"

I fall silent, a lump forming in my throat. Louis tilts his head to meet my gaze.

I swallow, "my mum and dad died in a crash when I was twelve. A lorry rolled over the car, if they were saved first instead of me, they would probably still be alive but they're not... because I'm here."

They both stare at me sympathetically but I drop their gazes, talking a sip of my orange juice.

"I'm so sorry, If I would have known, I wouldn't have asked-" Ky shakes his head.

"It's fine," I shrug quickly, still looking down at my food.

"Did they love you?" Ky whispers.

I look up at him for a moment before nodding.

"Then imagine how proud they are now," he stares at me.

I drop his gaze and fork a piece of pancake, dipping it in to my ice cream.

"My dad was a police sargeant."

Louis smiles at me, "really?"

I nod with a weak smile.

"Yeah, he... used to take me shooting and taught me a few things. My mum, she was a lawyer, a good one," I tell them, "She was pregnant, the day she died."

They both listen carefully.

"She didn't know though," I shake my head, "they found out in the post-mortem."

"Wait," Louis frowns, "so what happened to you? You go live with an aunt or something?"

"No, I went in to foster care," I let out a laugh, "no one wanted to adopt me."

Ky's lips curve softly at one side, "let me guess... you told them you could use a gun?"

I grin, "once or twice."

Ky's toned body, beautifully tanned and his short brown hair a bit scruffy. My eyes wander over his body helplessly, his tight white vest showing off his muscular chest. Jesus. I bet he works out a lot. Those arms... his rippling muscles perfectly sculptured under his skin.

Louis glances at us both and raises his eyebrows, a smile on his lips.

"How's your breakfast?" He stares at me.

I blush, detaching my gaze from Ky's; my eyes quickly meeting Louis's, my cheeks burning bright red, making his lips twitch helplessly.

"Heaven," I grin, looking up at him. He holds my gaze, a smile springing from his lips as he winks at me.

I bite my lip, my cheeks burning. Shit. Totally just blown my cover.

He places the last piece of pancake in his mouth, pushing his plate to the side and resting his elbows on the table, watching me carefully.

I feel my stomach start to fill with fulfilment as I push my empty plate aside, turning to my cold orange juice. I glance out of the large rectangular window on the big empty wall to the right of the kitchen, the sun lighting up the blue sky.

~

I stare at Ky with disbelief as he talks on his mobile phone pacing the floor in front of me. I pull my legs up on to the black leather sofa and glance over the empty walls. God, this room could really do with some paintings.

"I can't bring her in today!" Ky shouts down the phone.

I close my eyes. Why is this happening to me? Me of all people. I have no family; I don't really have a life... so why would someone pick a boring twenty three year old weirdo to kill? It makes no sense to me.

"She's almost died twice in the space of twenty eight hours and you want to tell her who is doing it to her?" Ky shakes his head, his jaw locking with frustration, "Right. No sir, I don't want to loose my job. Great. Twelve am. Bye."

I sigh, holding my head in my hands, falling deeper in to the sofa. Of course I want to know what's going on but is it really worth it? Would it really benefit me in anyway if I knew the name of my killer or not? I doubt it'd make this any less fucking scary.

"The sergeant wants to speak with you lunch time, face to face," Ky continues pacing, glancing at me momentarily, "he thinks you should know exactly what is going on."

I lift my head from my palms and smile sarcastically, "can't wait."

"You don't understand how much shit you're in do you?" He suddenly snaps.

I shake my head, "I've almost died twice, I think I have a rough idea."

"Why aren't you freaking out then? You should be crying in a corner somewhere, petrified for your life but instead you're taking it as a ducking joke!"

I stand up and step in front of him, stopping him mid-pace. I stare at him intriguingly. His lips slightly parted with his frustration, the tops of his white teeth just viewable.

"You don't think I'm scared?" I stare at him like he's crazy, "I'm just not thinking about what could happen next, that's why I'm not on the floor rolling around crying. Plus, I don't exactly have anything to loose Ky. I have nothing at home waiting for me."

I shake my head at him.

"And as much as I love your company... " I roll my eyes sarcastically, "I'd rather be with Elsey and my godson, not with you and your annoying blunt stare and your arsey ways. In fact, I want to go home. I don't want to be here, wherever here is... any more."

"You're not going anywhere until my sargeant says so," he grabs my wrist, pulling me closer to him, "and I'm not letting you out of my sight until then."

I glare at him, pulling my hand back.

"You're such a physco!" I yell at him, "one minute you're making me pancakes and calling me beautiful and the next you're threatening me!"

He looks away from me when I say the word beautiful before crossing his arms over his chest

"I give up on you," I huff, collapsing back on the sofa.