Family Ties

I was careful not to push my back against the alley way wall as I slipped my necktie into an unforgiving knot. Leaning out onto the sidewalk, I could see my target approaching me.

It was now or never.

I stepped out too slowly, clomping on his toes with my heel. Startled, I jumped around to face him. "Oh hell--did I scuff your shoes?"

The young man flashed me a lenient smile. "Actually, I'm alright. Thank you, sir."

I pointed to his company name tag that hung around his neck. "You work there too? What a pleasant coincidence! I've misplaced my badge--could you let me through with you?"

Suspicion crossed the man's face. "You work with us? What's your name?"

"Eric Macek."

His eyes widened. "Mr. Macek--sir! I've heard so much about you from my colleagues."

For the first time in a long time, I was getting the respect I'd worked so hard for. I flattened down my tie and nodded. "Really now?"

"Yes, and I even heard something about you being next in line to own the company...is that true?"

"It is."

"Wow! That's incredible!"

We stopped speaking as we reached the doorway to the office. The young man scanned his badge and the door opened. "I don't know if you've heard of me but--"

Of course I've heard of you, you damned demon! You ruined my life.

Ignoring his introduction, my hand dug deep into my pocket. My suitcase shook with the rest of my arm--I clenched my teeth, praying it would cease.

The young man, Marcus, pressed the elevator button. The doors jostled open. "There's one more thing I'd like to ask..."

I glanced over, and he continued. "When I heard you on speakerphone with my boss, I didn't notice the accent you had. What nationality is it?"

He'd caught my accent—? But how? "What accent?"

Marcus stiffened and his cheeks reddened. "Er, I thought I noticed an accent. I'm sorry to intrude..."

"You're forgiven."

How blissful it was to have control over this scum bag--I wouldn't have minded staying undercover forever. The silence in the elevator wouldn't lift. Marcus had gone to fiddling with the handle of his suitcase, his cheeks still a bit pink. Music soon began to fill the silence, and it was so abrupt it caused Marcus to drop his suitcase.

"S-shit," he mumbled, and then sighed. "Give me one minute, will you?"

His smile disgusted me. He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket, answering his call. The screen lit up as he did so. Gasping, I dodged the light emitting from the screen and ducked. I was just out of the screen's view now.

Marcus had taken his call, bewildered as I struck down to the ground. I could hear the person on the other end calling his name. I can't stand screens. Everywhere you look nowadays there's a screen playing something. Phone screens, computer screens, television screens. Don't they realize how dangerous it is? Being directly in front of a screen means someone could be watching you from the other end.

By this point, I was shaking. Marcus held the phone to his ear, but wasn't responding to the caller. He stared at me, gaping and taken aback. I swept to the set of buttons and slammed the elevator door open.

"Hey, wait!" Marcus tried to grab my sleeve but missed. He threw his hand out again and I held out my suitcase, blocking him as I fell through the closing doors. My suitcase remained stuck between the elevator doors. I dashed off, rounding the corner and stumbling down the hallway. If I could get to the stairs I could still reach Hannah.

I had to hurry though. I'd left Marcus behind and he'd probably already reported me to security. Edging through the tight hallway reminded me of a time I had been at home with my family, shortly before I left the home. My sons, a 6 year old and an 8 year old, were playing in the halls. In the living room beside it I was alone with my wife.

"Have you heard about the runner-up for the next President?" Hannah asked me, smiling. "He was considering getting me to work with him on a huge project."

I stared. Why had they recruited her? They were trying to get to me through my wife. "Forget that. We should move out of this city. It's rotten to the core."

"Move...? Really, Lukas? I know you aren't very fond of the big city, but we found good work here."

I could locate no words. My 6 year old appeared by my side, smiling behind a head of blond hair that matched my own.

"Hi Daddy!" he squealed.

"Hi Trevor."

The boy reached his stubby fingers to my slim ones. "Are we going far away?"

"I'd like us to," I confessed.

"I wanna go wherever you go!" he shouted. "Mommy too."

"Don't worry," I said. "I won't leave any of you behind."

Trevor smiled and turned, dashing back to the hallway with his older brother. I watched them as Trevor picked up one of his toys from the glossy tiled floor. They had become my life, although I hadn't planned for them to. My life had been previously dedicated to my old company, long before they began to spy on me.

Trevor skipped after his older brother Anthony, who had taken the lead. The hall light had broken days before, engulfing the hall in darkness.

By the time the boys were at the far end of the hall, I couldn't see them. A knot formed in my throat when they vanished. I didn't want to lose them, and the dark, stuffy hallway had taken them.

What if they do get taken? The thought burst in my head. But who could get close enough to them to hurt them?

I was lifted from my memory as I rounded a corner, grabbing the door handle to the staircase. Hannah's office was only a floor above. I peeked into the window on the door--I didn't see her. I opened the door, expecting it to be locked. I slipped inside before anyone could see me.

She was sure to return soon if she'd left her door unlocked like that. I shifted the papers on her desk, eyeing each one. I saw something with today's date and picked it up.

So she was being considered for a promotion, now. Her project must have gone over well with the president. I clenched my teeth.

Alone in the office, the noise of the big city surrounded me. There was the clammering of tourists and the honking of traffic. That was when the idea came to me: Hannah could have been working with them to get rid of me.

Avoiding the computer screen, I gazed to the picture frame on her desk. I saw myself beside Hannah, holding her hand. It was an old picture, and I hadn't seen it in years. My chest tightened.

Forget this office. It would make me choke up. I left and paced down the hall, searching for Hannah among those passing. I bumped directly into a man as I rounded a corner, sending his stack of papers into the air.

"What the fuck?" I heard the man shout.

I backed away to face the man as the papers concealed the floor like snow. Behind him was a group of several others, looking to be higher ups. My gaze glued onto Hannah, who had widened her eyes, but otherwise was attempting to remain stoic.

The man in front began to scold me for running through the hallway. It was then that the man beside Hannah pulled out his iPhone, submerging his face into the screen. I could feel my hands shaking at the sight of it, although the screen wasn't facing me. I slipped forward, snatching Hannah's wrist to pull her away with me.

The man shouted at me to return, but even Hannah paid no mind to him. She must have been anxious, because she didn't seem very willing. Occasionally she would attempt to pull away, whispering my name.

I stopped and spun around. Our eyes met again, and her nervousness melted away.

She was more beautiful than I remembered. It had almost been two weeks since I fled our home, yet she looked slightly different. There was something softer about her there that hadn't been before. I took a handful of her wistful curls, smiling faintly. They curled gently, frizzing slightly as I separated them.

"L-Lukas..." she uttered. “You're going to get in trouble for being here."

"Then let's leave," I took her by the hand this time, and she struggled to keep her step beside mine.

"Where have you been?" she asked me, but I gave no reply.

"You weren't showing up to work, either," Hannah continued. "What happened?"

"You might not believe it." I said. "Someone's after me, and he'll get to you, too. And the kids."

"Who...?"

I couldn't bear to tell her, so I didn't respond. We began down the emergency staircase at a quick rate, but soon Hannah had stopped in her tracks, yanking me backward. Her previous softness melted away, and her voice demanded authority.

"Lukas, tell me where we're going."

"We're leaving. We have to get the boys and skip town."

"I'm not leaving and I'm not letting you take the boys, either."

Why? Hannah shook her head, frowning. "I don't know what's gotten into you, Lukas, but nobody's after any of us."

"It's the company president--" I blurted out. "Ever since I quit, he's been keeping tabs on me. Not only that, but all the interns are--"

"Listen," she replied slowly, reaching into her pocket. "I can talk to you at lunch, and we can discuss it then. I swear, I was so worried I couldn't sleep. I had to tell the kids you were away on a business trip."

"Hannah, wait--" I paused, flabbergasted that my wife had pulled out her cellphone. At the sight of it I swatted it out of her hand, and it hit the ground backside up. Shocked and confused, Hannah leaned down to snatch it back up but I grabbed her, holding her from behind.

"L-let me go!" Hannah demanded with anger but I didn't obey. Maneuvering behind her, I slipped out my box knife and held it against her throat.

Her tough facade fell, and she looked more like a woman than ever as she stared at the blade fearfully. "Oh, God. God, please."

"God isn't here for you, Hannah. What were the documents in your office about?"

"What documents?"

"The ones on your promotion. Are you helping the President?"

"Lukas, he's not after you. Nobody's after you."

I pressed the blade against her, drawing blood. She began to cry, mumbling the Lord's Prayer to herself. I clenched the handle, infuriated.

I knew she was lying. She had to be. I watched as she struggled, questioning "Where's your ring?"

She froze, her body becoming limp, almost recognizing defeat.

"So you really are a filthy liar, then?" I felt the room getting hot; or was it spinning? "Tell me where my boys are. I'm not going to let you hurt them."

"I'm not going to hurt them. I wouldn't do that. Please, Lukas--let me go."

I released her and she turned on her feet, bounding down the stairs. I grabbed her and threw her down. She struggled to breathe for a few moments and it felt good.

What had I done to be betrayed? How could she? The blade handle shook with my arm. I'll end this now. I closed in on Hannah, who could only back away.

"Wait, Lukas," she pleaded. "I'll tell you where the boys are--I'll--"

The blade slipped into her stomach with such ease I was surprised. She tried to cling to me, as if I could save her, but I flung her aside. I could find my boys on my own.

Leaving my weapon behind with her, I fled down the stairs, hoping her death would never sink in.