Target Practice: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The Frustration of Men.

I'm about to die. I'm only in my twenties and I'm never ever going to see tomorrow.

The four sharp mirror shards in my upper back and one in my right knee twist as I tremble before the man who is about to kill me.

His words ring in my ears, echoing inside me.

"Goodbye..." his voice is so close.

"Get away from me!"

My throat sore from screaming, burns. My eyes are open but the darkness swallows the room. I can't see anything.

I jump as a loud crash sounds. The lights flashing back on. I scream, petrified as a knife falls to the ground by my head, just slicing my cheek. I look up to see the evil face of my almost-killer, the scar under his eye unmissable.

He jabs a long needle with a canister on it in to the top of my arm making me flinch with pain. He quickly runs through one of the shattered mirrors, catching his suit sleeves on jaggard shards still attached to the walls. His body disappearing in to the darkness. I stay laying on the floor, the mirror shards crunching under me as I try to sit up. My body still trembling, my back and right leg dripping blood down my skin. My back twinges with pain as I helplessly fall back against the floor.

My arms fall by my sides as I stare in to the black empty space behind all the mirrors.

"Skyla!"

Elsey?

"Elsey?" My voice cracks, as I start to feel the small thin cut on my cheek begin to bleed.

Elsey suddenly runs through one of the mirrors, her expression horrified.

"Sky! What the hell happened to you! There's blood... " I stay frozen in place. I look over the floor around me, small dots of blood neatly staining the edges of the mirror shards beneath me. My blood shining in the light.

I stare back at Elsey, tears slowly pricking her eyes. She stands confused in front of me as I lay motionless.

"He tried to kill me... " I whisper, staring at her silent.

Elsey starts to scream, scared.

"Someone help! Please! Help!" She shouts franticly.

Laying still, my heart starting to thud at a slower pace. I need to get up.

"We need help. Skyla! Oh god, Skyla!" Elsey holds a shaking hand to her face, covering the sobs trying to come out of her mouth. She kneels down beside me, desperation on her face.

"What do I do? Sky, tell me what to do!" She pleads.

I stare at her, silent tears running slowly down my face, stinging the thin cut on my cheek. I let my breathing escape through my lips as I stay motionless.

"It's okay, El'," I smile weakly, laying one of my scratched hands on hers.

I turn my head as I hear footsteps, running towards us. Bradley and two secruity guards come rushing in to the room.

"We need an ambulance and police called straight away," Bradley turns to the security guards and they nod, rushing back out the room.

"Ambulance?" I shout.

Bradley kneels down beside me, and I look up in to his eyes.

"Elsey, I need you to get me a few things," he continues staring in to my eyes, as soft words slip from his mouth.

I part my lips again, helping my lungs to breathe, slow tears still trailing out of my eyes, silent. My body motionless.

"You need to go get me every first aid kit in the club, I need the gauzes and the bandages out of all of them," He turns to Elsey briefly, before she runs out of the room.

I look up at him, as he steps closer to me.

He kneels down next to my upper body, looking at me hesitantly.

"Help me up," I ask, giving him one of my hands. He takes it, unsurely and pulls me up, both of us standing upright.

I tense with pain, falling against his body, I quickly support myself by wrapping my arms around his neck.

I dig my finger nails in to Bradley's neck.

"Ow." He stares at me, tilting his head, trying to loosen my grip.

"Shut. Up."

I close my eyes for a second, opening them again as arms slide around my body.

He slides his hands around my lower back as I stare at him. His sweet scent finding its way up my nose.

"What happened to you?" He asks, frowning urgently with curiosity.

"He tried to kill me."

My eyelids close suddenly and I fall harder against Bradley.

"Sky? Skyla? Can you hear me? Sky?"

I take a deep breath in before slipping effortlessly in to unconsciousness.

"He tried to kill me..."

~

I open my eyes slowly, my body feels like it's floating. I lift my head up, finding myself laying on my stomach, taking in the fresh flowery smell of a pillow under my head. I let myself fall deeper in to the mattress below me and curve my lips with satisfaction. I look to the left of me and gasp. Jumping so hard, my body rolls off of the bed on to a cold wooden floor. My eyes going wide. NO.

I rise up on to my knees and peer at the tall figure on my bed. It's him. It's the guy I danced with last night. I stand up and find myself backing away from him.

Wait...

What?

This isn't my room.

I look confusingly around the bedroom, the plain white walls and white double bed stand lonely with no other furniture around. I look over at the window, bars across the glass, grey curtains half-drawn. I hit the wall behind me and stop as realisation hits.

I must have slept with him.

First I have this messed up dream about him and this guy who wants to kill me and now... I'm at his house. Or atleast I think it was a dream.

How could I have let this happen? I look down at my figure and curse myself. A baggy white shirt, the only thing covering my underwear. I look desperately around the room with my eyes, looking for my dress from last night. Nope.

I look over at his still body, his gorgeous tanned skin and straightly chiselled features absorbing me. I glance at the door just beside me and grab the handle, opening the door, I slip out of the room. I slap the palm of my right hand against my forehead and let out a shameful wimper.

I'm an idiot. Why did I let him take me back to his place? I never do that.

I look around the hallway I'm in, another door to the right of me. The bathroom, maybe? I open the door cautiously and step on to stairs. Curious, I carry on walking in to a semi-lit basement. I freeze and squint with disbelief at the sight of a cage about six by six foot square. A cage? Maybe he used to have a dog...

"Girl?" I jump at the sound of a rough husky voice and step closer towards the cage, catching sight of a man sat in the corner. I blink with disbelief and panick.

There's a man in there! I look over him, inspecting his figure in the dull light. A baggy t-shirt and jeans fit loosely over him, his hair long blond dreadlocks. I look at his dirty face. I think he's in his early thirties.

"Y-you're... stuck?" I raise my eyebrows. Stopping cautiously just in front of him, thick bars between us.

"What does it look like!" He frowns at me, as if I'm stupid.

I tilt my head in consideration. He is in a bloody cage.

"You his slave?"

I sit on the cold floor beside the cage, facing him inquisitively.

"Slave?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah. He had an african girl last week. Killed her, though."

I swallow. Killed? H-He killed her?

I stare at him with a surprised face and he nods truthfully.

"So why are you here?" I ask him, crossing my legs and sliding on the floor closer to him.

"I killed my wife," he shrugs.

I stare at him, my eyes wide for a second processing his sentence before I nod slowly back to him. "Right."

"So is he a hitman or something?"

"Fuck knows." The caged man rolls his eyes, his white skin covered in dirt.

"Hmm," I bite my lip, "do you know the way out of here?"

"The front door?" He stares at me and shakes his head.

"Yes ...right, well nice talking to you," I offer my hand through the bars and he shakes it, leaving a dirt stain on my fingers, "hopefully I won't see you later but if by some awful chance, I don't make it out-"

"Bye." He frowns, staring at me blankly.

I stand up and smile weakly back at him, wiping the hand his touched down my shirt as I walk towards the stairs. I look over the dark dirty stone walls of the basement and shake my head.

"Oi!" I turn back around as the caged man shouts at me, "by the absolute certain chance you'll be straight back down here with me in about two minutes, would you bring me some food?"

I stare at him, my face dropping, "...sure."

"Great," he grins a gummy toothless grin, making my lips part, a tad grossed out, my upper lip twitches in discomfort.

I turn back to the stairs in front of me and carry on walking up them, my bare feet and legs cold. I push the door open softly and check both ways down the hall.

Clear.

I quickly run softly down the hall in the opposite direction of the bedroom, finding my way in to a kitchen and living room area. A clear kitchen counter sits halfway across the room, a microwave and fridge the only thing in the kitchen. A small two seater leather sofa the only thing in the living area, the walls white and bland.

A practicly empty flat with a caged man in the basement. Okay.

I walk towards the fridge and open its door.

Empty.

I let a sigh escape my lips. Sorry caged man, no food.

Right, I have to find the door. I turn around and eye up a black door with a letter box. Bingo.

I run towards it and freeze as I hear a loud thud in the bedroom.

Oh god, he's awake! Shit!

I take a running sprint towards the door, fumbling with the lock and opening the door. I stumble on to a fire escape. I let out a gasp as I grab hold of the rail almost loosing my balance over the edge, the metal stairs cold under my feet.

Hard arms grab me around my waist, pulling me back, I struggle letting screams fly out of my mouth. Bradley kicks the door closed with his foot and tries to stop me from wriggling.

"Calm down!" He stumbles backwards as I throw my arms against him. He turns me around, pinning my arms against his chest, "Do you think I'd really hurt you?"

"I don't know who you are! Some... stranger. Some wierd stranger I slept with and then dreamt about last night!"

"Dreamt?" He shakes his head, "It wasn't a dream Sky. You did get attacked last night. You did almost die but you didn't sleep with me."

I swallow. I didn't sleep with him? Oh.

Whoa... wait... I almost died!

"...but the cuts on my back, they're not there," I stare at him in disbelief.

"Yes they are, I gave you numbing cream for them and the doctors gave you painkillers, you won't be able to feel them for atleast a few more hours."

I stare at him like he's crazy. No, he is crazy! I snatch one of my hands back and slide it up the back of my shirt. Soft, cotton gauzes patching my skin around my upper spine. I gasp, running a finger along the stitched cut on my cheek.

I snatch my other arm from his grip and start to back away from him, my eyes searching the room franticly for answers. Oh god! It did happen! Someone wants to kill me! Someone tried to kill me!

"No, no, no... this can't be happening!" I shout at him, "Why am I even here with you? Why aren't I at a police station or with someone who can protect me? What about Elsey? I want to see Herbie-"

Bradley starts walking slowly towards me.

"Sky, you need to calm down. I'm here to protect you. I'm agent five four one three Ky Johnson, you're assigned to me."

"Assigned to you?" I look him up and down and let out a whimper, "Wait... so your name isn't Bradley?"

"No-"

"Oh my god!" I screech, running down the hall. I feel my heart thud quicker as he follows me.

"My name is Ky Johnson, I work for the CIA, I'm going to protect you, Miss Lawpson?-"

"La la la la, I'm not listening!" I close my eyes momentarily, sticking my fingers in my ears, briskly walking in to the bedroom and slamming the door behind me. I grab the door's handle and turn it upwards, it moves painfully against the muscles in my hands as he tries to get in to the room.

"Ow!" I let my hand slip from the door handle as it twinges with pain, I tuck it under my arm feeling it pulsating against my skin.

Ky bursts in to the room and I back away from him.

"Stay away from me!" I shout, walking over to the window, trying to find a way out. The solid iron bars blocking the catches on the window. I try to push my hand through the bars but they brush deeply against the bones in my hand. I stare out the window, my chest rising and lowering unsteadily as I drop my arms by my sides in defeat.

My eyes search the tall buildings outside, a beautiful young couple standing over a cot smile down at thier baby in a flat window. They look so much like mum and dad. My throat catches a breath at the memory. I should have died that day. I shouldn't have been saved, they should have survived not me! They were killed so cruelly. Crushed to death by a lorry. Instead of the firefighters saving mum and dad first as the lorry became further and further embedded in our car, they saved me.

"If you're going to kill me, I'd like it if you did it now," I whisper, turning around, a silent tear rolling down my right cheek, "You can kill me. I don't mind. Just don't make me wait. Waiting makes everything too late."

"I'm not going to kill you," he walks over to me, "I'm here to keep you safe."

"Why?" I frown, confused.

"Because you're being targeted."

~

It's clear to say I've never been 'targeted' before. I don't really even know what that involves. Obviously death, I mean I've almost died once. I stare at Ky as he sits fiddling with a black box on the leather sofa in the living room. Why in the hell would anyone want to target me? I haven't really ever done anything bad in my life. I have been arrested once but that was a big mistake. It was all Herbie's fault. He ran in to Ann Summers when I took him on a shopping spree. Completely, utterly NOT my fault.

I fidget uncomfortably as the wounds on my back begin to sting, the pain feeling it's way down my spine. I stare down at my knee and sigh, the medical tape coming loose at the edges on the gauze stuck to my knee cap. My hands and arms covered in small patches of blue and purple bruises

Reality check: You have deep wounds and servere bruising and almost died.

Why can't I remember last night? All I remember is... well nothing. I barely even remeber the 'dream' I had now. I remember fainting. I don't remember going to the hospital and I don't remember who did this to me. I rub my forehead, a headache forming. I let a sigh escape my lips as I continue sitting on the cold wooden floor of the hall, watching Ky.

I jump as a phone rings, echoeing through the empty apartment. Ky grabs a small mobile phone from his pocket and looks at me awkwardly before answering it.

"Ky Johnson."

He stands and turns around, his back facing me. I squint with annoyance. His tight white vest and camo cargos make him look so serious. I feel my expression soften as I find a snake tattoo on his left shoulder blade.

"I've got her."

I swallow. He's obviously talking about me. I hate that! When someone talks about you privately to someone else even though you're in the same room.

"Tomorrow? How will I get her there?"

Get me where! I'm not moving. I'm not going anywhere but home.

"Are my guns there?"

Well, thats just not funny. Guns? Shit. I don't really know who this man is, I haven't seen no pass or police badge! He could be a complete wierdo... he could be a hitman-

"Yes sir."

Working for someone. Someone with money, like the mafia! Do you get mafia in London? I'm sure you can somehow. Mafias kill people all the time, don't they? They do it for fun too.

"Miss Lawpson?" I snap back to reality, locking eyes with him.

"Why don't you get some sleep, it's late and you've got to take your painkillers," He chucks me a box of tablets, I catch them hesitantly, "We need to leave early tomorrow, at around three am, so you'll need your sleep."

One, you're not my dad and two, Three fucking AM! What deranged nutcase gets up at 3am? No one gets up that early unless they are seriously jet lagged or suffering from an illness that makes them unable to sleep and wake up normally.

I stand up, keeping silent and walk backwards in to the bedroom. Ky stands still watching me carefully. His expression blank. Shutting the door behind me, I grab the bottle of Evain water from beside the bed, downing two of the painkillers. They have my name printed on the box, so I guess the whole hospital part must be true. I still don't trust Ky though and I'm going to find out exactly who the hell he is, whether he likes it or not.

I'm not staying with an ignorant guy who says his job is to protect me when I barely even know him. I plan to find out every little detail of this little mission of his...

~

"Miss Lawpson? Miss Lawp-"

"I'm up!" I open my eyes urgently. I almost head-butt him, sitting up in bed, his face so close to mine as he stands over my body. His sweet breath hits my lips, making them tingle. I stay still for a moment, his emerald eyes locking on to mine. I slide past him off of the bed awkwardly.

Curse you, you asshole. I glance over at the window, the darkness still swamping outside, I let a yawn escape my lips hesitantly. I kneel down, peering under the bed, searching for my dress from the other night.

"I need clothes," I look at him as he stands by the bed watching me.

"There's no time to get dressed, we're late already," he walks towards me and rolls the sleeves of my shirt down, taking a leather jacket from his upperbody and sliding it on to my shoulders, revealing tight muscles under his vest. I divert my eyes from him awkwardly, pulling the jacket further over my shoulders.

I follow him down the hallway and watch him as he picks up the small black box he was fiddling with yesterday off of the kitchen counter, stuffing it in one of his cargo pockets.

He grabs one of my wrists and pulls me out the front door, not bothering to lock it, he quickly steps down the stairs. A black AMG mercedes parked at the bottom. I try to keep up with him, my bare legs tingling with goosebumps.

He opens the passenger door and I slide in, shutting the door after me. Walking around the front of the car he slides in to the drivers seat. I clip my seat belt in as Ky starts the engine, the headlights beaming on, highlighting the dirty brick building infront of us. Not bothering with his seatbelt, he reverses the car, our bodies jolting as he speeds down the street.

I pull my shirt down over my knees, embarrassed at the amount of flesh showing. My black lacy knickers and bra visible under the white shirt.

"Where are we going?" I ask as he pulls down a windy one-way lane, over-shadowed by tall oak and conifer trees, the tall flats behind us slowly disappearing.

He doesn't answer so I stare at him, his eyes fixed on the road, looking up quickly in to the rearview mirror. I look over my shoulder, the road clear behind us. Turning forward again, I purse my lips.

"Where are you taking me?" I try again.

He looks at me, his face stern and unreadable. I hold his gaze before he turns back to the road. I let out a sigh and look out my window.

Trees. Trees in darkness. I pull the passenger visor down, looking at myself in the small mirror. My eyes clean and bright and my hair shiny and soft. A line of paper stitches along my right cheekbone. At least I still look presentable. Almost died but still look alive, that's got to be an achievement. I push the visor back up and slump in my seat, laying my head against the head rest, I stare at the emptiness outside. The darkness blackening everything.

The engine slows and I look forward as we pull up to huge black gates.

"Stay in the car," Ky opens his door and walks towards the security code box by the gates, I hear the locks of the car doors click as he holds the keys in his most visible hand. The gates begin to open and he slides between them, walking towards a huge white house, small conifer trees line the outside of the house, stones covering the drive. I stare up at all the windows, all the lights off. I swallow.

Do I run? I could smash the windows and crawl out the car.

I hate this. I hate that I don't know what the hell is going on. Am I safer in my own home or am I safer staying with Ky? Who the hell is Ky? He states that he's this agent assigned to protect me, but for all I know, he's this blunt ass who has kidnapped me.

I let out a huff of frustration.

I hope Elsey is okay. I miss her.

I look over at the house, Ky just coming in to view from the door. He runs towards the car, a look of urgency on his face. I sit up and frown. The door locks clicking open again. He sprints to my door, opening it and pulling me out, grabbing my hand, he runs with me back to the house, the drive's stones scratching and stabbing my bare feet.

"What's wrong?" I shout anxiously.

He stops close to the house's large porch and pulls me close.

I jump, my whole body jolting as a huge explosion sounds, Ky turns me around, my back facing the house and shields my body with his.

I watch high flames rise up over the open gates. I grip Ky's vest between my fingers and close my eyes; small metal parts of the car landing around us.

I pull away from Ky but he reluctantly leaves his arms around me. I peer over his shoulder, and my eyes go wide at the sight of the AMG mercedes licking with furious flames in the darkness. The flames angrily swerve in the air, attacking the car, brutally melting the paint and burning the leather seats.

My chest rises and falls quicker, the smell of burning metal and plastic filling the air, I swallow.

Someone is trying to kill me... and they're not going to stop until I'm dead.

I glance up at Ky with worry and he pulls me towards the house. I stagger on the rough stones before stepping on to the porch of the house. Ky pushes the white door open and guides me inside.

"You alright?" He asks.

I bite my lip, looking away from him and admiring the large spiral staircase in the large open hallway.

"Miss Lawpson, are you al-"

"I'm fine!" I snap, turning to him. His expression deepens with his usual angered stare. I return his expression, frustrated and annoyed, "what happened to Skyla? I have a first name you know."

"My job is professional, I don't address my cases by their first names," he answers bluntly.

I feel my heart flicker with anger.

"Case? I'm a human being just like you! I'm not some level in a game that you have to complete or some object!"

"As you wish, Miss Lawpson."

I throw his jacket at him and he catches it, making me deepen my frown, angry tears pricking at my eyes. He watches me carefully as I fold my arms over my chest.

"I didn't ask you to do this!" I shout, let my arms exploit my anger as the fly everywhere, "I didn't ask to be held against my own will and taken away from everything! I don't want to be here with you! It was never my choice!"

My tears helplessly fall, my frustration burning my insides.

"You think I had a choice?" He steps closer to me, his face inches away from mine, "You think I chose to look after you? I didn't. I don't look after people for a living. I find people who have murdered or comitted severe crime and I kill them."

"I don't care what you do," I stare in to his eyes, determined. I glance down the hallway before turning back to him, "Is there anyone here?"

"No-"

"Good." I take a deep breath in, the urge to hit him helplessly tempting. Instead I step outside the front door, quickly pulling it to before letting out the loudest scream I can possibly achieve. I sigh with relief before walking back in to the hall, aiming for the stairs.

"Feel better?" He stands staring.

"Much, thank you," I grit my teeth, sprinting up the stairs and walking in to the nearest bedroom, slamming the door behind me and locking it.

Men!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is the second chapter, I know I told you all I wasn't going to update today but I thought what the hell lol So here it is. I hope it explains a few things and I hope most of all you enjoy it!!!

Please let me know what you think. Votes and comments mean a lot to me, but even to think you've read this far means tonnes too even if it is just the second chapter.

Love, Hugs and Oreos,

Citrus x