The Light of her Presence (PG-13)
Copyright by: Petra van der Ploeg aka Pippinslova. Nothing of this story may be taken, copied or duplicated without the authorisation of its writer.


Chapter One

Her house was just around the corner of a busy street. But at this late hour, the streets were rather dead and deserted. He had walked this way to her home so many times before, but this time was different. This time he felt his heart beat faster, knowing what was to come.
Would she still be awake at this late hour?
He hoped not, though there was a part of him that wished she was.
Then he could just look at her, watch her movements like he had these last few weeks.
He had grown fond of looking at her, looking for her. He had grown fond of her smile, and the way she talked to people.
But he had not felt it all the way to his heart and a part of him regretted that.
In a way he blamed his childhood and his upbringing for this lack of closeness with people. Although it was a good thing for his profession, it wasn’t a good thing for him personally.
At work he was known as the silent, strong type. The type that was dependable. The type that didn’t mind working late, or getting extra work done by donating another free day in a week with already 60 hours filled with work.
The type that didn’t moan over the kind of work he got on his desk. He just did it, without asking why or telling people he hated doing it. He just did it.
But he was also known as the mysterious guy. Nobody really seemed to know him, and he liked it that way. He wasn’t the bonding type, not the type that would spill lots of details about his personal life.
Looking up at her apartment, on the fourth floor, he took a deep breath. Somehow it felt like this was different than other times. Somehow it felt she was different than the others he had met through his work.
As he climbed the four sets of stairs to her apartment he tried to stop his thoughts from confusing him.
There wasn’t anything to be confused about, he told himself multiple times.
Her door was easily opened as he remembered her spare set of keys, under a few rocks in the large basket with flowers that stood next to her door.
As he stood there, watching her, all sorts of thoughts went through his head. Was he able to do this? Well, he already knew the answer to that question. He had done it, more than once.
But why was this so different? Why was she so different.
A soft moan slipped her lips.
He startled.
Was she waking up?
He didn’t want her to know he had come here. He couldn’t let her know.
But she kept on sleeping. She kept on dreaming the dream she was dreaming as he had entered her house.
He looked over at her nightstand and looked at the clock on top of it. It blinked softly red and he read it was just past three a.m.
He shook his head and turned back to her.
He had followed her a couple of times. He had seen what she did during those days. And he had found himself attracted to her kindness.
Why anyone thought so wrong of her, he couldn’t understand.
“You’re not here to judge someone’s reasons, Elijah,” he whispered soundlessly.
He changed his facial expression into a stern expression. The expression that he held on his face every time he had an assignment like this.
He pushed his thoughts roughly out of his mind and determined, he held the gun up to her face.
“Now, do it.”

Oh I absolutly like this Petra!!
Very very intriguing beginning...it certainly sparks my curiosity.
Of course I am dying to know why he is doing this, what his history is that made him this kind of man.

I am also very happy that you have started writing again!
Promising beginning babe and I am looking forward to reading more!
Lots of love
Dana

btw Petra zou je nog even een rating kunnen posten, thanks!

Hey Dana, first reader! :yahoo Good good!
Thank you for your comment. I am so glad to be back at writing again, I have missed it SO much!

And I've added a rating, can't edit the title though. Hope this is okay too?

xxx
Petra

OOOOOOOH how mysterious.
Me likey very much.
So elijah is a hitman... or a stalker.
Geez pretty intense.

Good descriptions and a very nice flow of the story.

(nog een nederlanse, hahaha we hebben er nu 3 op een rij)

Oooh, how intriguing! I really like this jump-into-it, but still completely psychological dive into it. And how, you only disclose his name once he's scolded himself. :yay: Bravo!

Post more soon! Who did he kill? What do they think wrongly of her for? Does he really kill her? (These questions could go on forever!)

:heartbeat:
Samma

Wow Petra!!!
That was a great start. Very mysterious.

This totally threw me! I was not expecting him to be there to shoot her.

:hug:

~Stacy~

And, I'm hooked! :yes: I love the way you described Elijah...and how he followed her and then at the end revealed he was about to kill her. His job is maybe not what I expected it was at the very beginning. Cool twist! I shall look forward to seeing what happens next.

OMG, Petra!! Long time no see, how are you?!?!?! *hugs*

Love this, you build mystery so well!! I'm definitely hooked here!!!

:love:

Jaime

Whoa.. I was like *jaw drop* at all your replies! Thanks guys! :hug:
I only got an email when Dana replied (lol!) and so when I came here, I was like 7 replies?? :tehee:
Jaime *hug*, I'm good thanks for asking! You're doing good too?? :)
Stacy, ha, chapter one worked the way I wanted it to, at least as I see it in your reply! The twists, I love the twists! Hhahaha!
Elijah defenitely works for me, when he's portrayed as this! ;)
Well this calls for a next chappie!

xxx
Petra


Chapter Two

She was dreaming. She just knew it.
The gun was hanging right before her, and somehow the hole where she knew the bullet was in, seemed to enlarge.
She swallowed and shook her head as she looked at the man holding the gun.
His face was stern, expressionless.
Something told her to run, but where to? She was trapped. There was no way out of here.
“No… please..” she whispered.
But she knew it wouldn’t make a difference.
The man’s hardened face didn’t seem like it was his first time with a gun. He knew how to handle it. She saw the extra bit on the gun, which made the sound of the gun, when it’s shot, to be a lot quieter. She knew the shot would not be heard by anyone.
Without warning the gun was fired and she had to suppress the scream that had been building up in her stomach. Slapping her hand against her mouth, trying to avoid the scream from entering the air around her, she shook her head and felt her eyes starting to tear.
She duck down, behind the large set of stones, from where she had witnessed the gunman and the man he held his gun at.
The victim had fallen backwards and was now lying on his back with his head in her direction.
Unbelieving, she looked around the corner and saw the man lying dead on the floor. Blood gulped out of a large wound in the man’s head and soaked the floor the gunman was walking on.
“You knew too much mister Mitchell,” the gunman mumbled, “And I have my orders.”
As he walked away from his victim, she noticed he was walking towards her. She shook her head, tried to get herself together and crawled over to the side of the large set of stones. She just had no option but to sit there and try to keep her breathing as silently as she could.
Suddenly his face was right before her.
“I will get you too, Caressa.”
She screamed from the top of her lungs and then woke up from her dream.
Bathing in sweat, she hastily looked through her bedroom, trying to find any type of movement. But no one was there. Her door was ajar, which wasn’t that strange considering it didn’t always close right.
When she was absolutely sure she was alone, she let her tears go and held her face in her hands.
She kept on dreaming that dream. Kept on having his face in hers and him threatening he would find her. She knew it could happen, although she had taken every action to avoid him from spotting her that day he killed mister Mitchell.
She didn’t know mister Mitchell, but she couldn’t imagine any reason why the gunman would see the need to kill him, other than just being that vicious. Mister Mitchell didn’t look like a threat. The man had been sweating and pleading right before he was killed.
She shook her head, trying to get the image of the dead man out of her head.
She had been to the police right after the gunman had left the building, leaving his victim behind. Caressa had to walk past mister Mitchell in order to get out of the building herself, and as she did, he twitched one final time. She had let out a small cry and then quickly had made her way to the nearest police office.
Completely in tears, she remembered doing her story to the man at the desk. They had sent out two police cars to the scene and while they were there, Caressa had been ordered to stay at the police station. She hadn’t argued against it; she felt safer knowing she was around police men.
But as the men returned, they glanced over at Caressa and something told her, it wasn’t right.
The police man, who had initially heard her story, soon came over and eyed her very closely. She remembered the look in his eyes. It seemed almost as though he was thinking her to be a complete lunatic.
“There was no body at the premises, miss Bonifacio. There was no sign of any type of homicide.”
She hadn’t believed him, and had argued against it. There should be some evidence. Maybe they should send forensics. They would definitely find something. She wasn’t crazy! She had seen a man being shot dead in cold blood. There wasn’t anything doubtful about that!
The man tried to argue against it. Maybe she hadn’t seen it right. Maybe she had fallen asleep. After all, it had been a rather warm morning. But she didn’t want to hear it and her voice raised in volume as she tried to make sense of it all.
She sighed.
That was now three weeks ago. She hadn’t felt safe ever since that moment she left the police station, feeling depressed and defeated. In a way she had just been gunned down herself. Her eyes and her memories had been shot down, and the police man had told her she was just basically imagining things.
From that moment on, she had tried to move on with her life, but found it hard to do so. Everywhere she went, she had the feeling someone was watching her. And when she let her fear get the better of her, she just knew it was the gunman. He had known she was there, he had known she witnessed the whole thing.
And sometimes, when the fear really was at the surface in her mind, she almost wished him to come right now and finish the job, so she wouldn’t have to live in so much anxiety anymore.

*Gasps*
:blink:

Wow! How horrible she had to witness that and then basically be told that she was making it all up.

teehee... I love twists too.
I especially like to write them as I'm sure you do too!!!

~Stacy~

Eerst: De rating is prima zo en de titel hoeft absoluut niet veranderd te worden.

Now on to the chappie.....
As usual you are beginning to throw in twists and unexpected turns. I have come to expect them with you and I do like it very very much. This was certainly not what I exopected but it only increases my curiosity...you know how it is with me *winks*

I feel very sorry for her...having to see all that and then nobody believing it. I wonder how they made the body and all that blood disapear so quickly.
The fear she has to be living in must be maddening and I wonder how she can cope with it? I think I would go screaming mad. Poor girl!

I am dying to know more! Great chappie Petra...looking forward to reading another chappie!
:hug:

Ohh! I loved the ending of this chapter. :yes: I really like that she is innocent and the only reason they want her dead is she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Too bad the murder was all covered up and the body missing. Now, the police won't protect her and she is basically fair game for the gunman. Cool and creepy!

Oh, that poor girl! We're feeling sympathy for her right from the start, which is awesome work on your part! I'm not sure I like where this is heading though...I mean, I LOVE it, but...you know what I mean!! lol

:love:

Thanks guys, I'm so honored to see all of you here, reading my little story! :D
And thanks for nominating me, you know who you are! I'm sooooo overwhelmed here!
Okay, now before I turn into the Thank you for this Oscar-mode, I'll just hurry and post up another chappie! Hope you're all liking it the way I do while writing it!

xxx
Petra


Chapter Three

“Really Carry, I know what you’ve been through, but honestly, you have to stop making it such a big part of your life.”
Caressa sighed.
“I know Aimee. And I know you believe me, you have from day one. But you have to understand. This is not something I can just push aside and be on my happy go lucky way.”
Aimee placed her hand on Caressa’s and smiled tenderly.
“I know sweetie, but let’s be realistic. Is there really anything you haven’t done? You’ve gone to the police. Well, that didn’t help. You’ve tried to locate the house of this mister Mitchell you saw being killed. No luck there either. What else can you do?”
“Maybe call the missing persons line and ask them if mister Mitchell is already on their list?”
Aimee shrugged.
“But what would that help you? What if he is on that list, like he should be after three weeks? After all, family, friends, co-workers should miss him right? But I don’t see how that knowledge could help you.”
“Well, if he is on the missing list, then I can go back to the police and tell them that that is the guy that I witnessed being murdered!”
Her voice raise in frustration.
Aimee looked at her and for a while, she didn’t speak. She just softly caressed her hand on Caressa’s, giving her as much support as she possibly could.
“I’m sorry Aimee, it’s just so hard for me to deal with this. A man was murdered but nothing is being done about it. I feel like I owe it to him, to his life, to do something. If only I knew what.”
Angrily Caressa pushed away the tears that had again made their way down her cheeks.
“And to put an end to my own fears,” she miserably added, "This is not like me, to be like this."
“You’re still feeling like someone’s following you?” Aimee enquired.
Caressa shrugged.
“It could be just my imagination of course. But I don’t know. I try not to show it around my work. Only you know this. I haven’t told anyone else. Why should I? If the police doesn’t believe me..”
Her voice faded away and again she pushed away her tears.
“I’m getting so sick and tired of this feeling,” she growled and then took a deep breath, “No matter what happens, I will not rest until this is past. I know what he looks like. The gunman. I could ask someone to make a sketch of him. I could then ask a private investigator to find this man and..”
“Oh honey, I’m not sure if that is such a good idea,” Aimee said and Caressa found her voice to be alarming, “You’re dealing with a professional hitman from what I gather out of your story, girl. It’s not right to go after him, especially since he has the gun, and you do not. You haven’t even held one before, let alone use it. And he has. He will not wait for you to explain. He will not give a damn about killing you too. Please, don’t do this. Don’t go in search of this man.”
Caressa sighed.
She knew Aimee was right. She knew it would be too dangerous, especially since she wasn’t at all prepared.
“Maybe I should take shooting lessons,” she thought out aloud, and as she saw Aimee’s eyes bulged, she quickly added, “Just to be prepared. You never know when or if I’ll ever need it.”

As he ordered another cup of coffee, he gathered his things and looked at her again. She was here with her friend, like they were every Tuesday at four. She had been to work before, although he had noticed she had left a lot earlier from her home than she normally did. He had followed her and had seen her slow down her car right before the building where mister Mitchell had been killed by his colleague.
He shook his head and felt a bit of resentment that he was now assigned to kill her, because his colleague had been sloppy in his work.
But he swallowed his resentment and continued to look at her.
He had told himself last night wasn’t the night to kill her. He first had to make sure that he knew whom she had told about what had happened that faithful Thursday afternoon. This girl, Aimee McKenzie, seemed to be the only one she had told.
But he needed to be absolutely sure and so he gave her just a few more days of observing. He would get all of the information he needed in the coming days.
This was an easy assignment in comparison to some of the other assignments he had been given in the past. The girl was not a very popular type. She didn’t have many friends, frankly, this Aimee seemed to be her only close friend.
Aimee seemed to be the only person she was seeing on a regular basis, which meant there wasn’t much reason to assume any other people would have heard about the murder. Which meant all he had to do was kill these two girls he was now observing.

This suspense is killing me, Petra! :wacko: You're amazing with this style: of giving us just a little at a time, of teasing us. And you're KILLING ME here....!!!

You deserve all those nominations, darling. :hug:

:heartbeat:
Samma

God I love this.
Bring on the suspense Petra.
I love how you discribe his clinical additude to taking lives so easily.
keep em coming

Oomg omg omg

You really like to twist and turn don't you?!!!
I mean one moment you had me convinced that maybe she could escape from this killer...and the next you give us the insight that he is indeed following her.
I thought she was just being scared and because of that paranoid and now it turns out to be she isn't.
*screams*

It is brillaint babe...your so good at this. The building of tension. The way you develope the plot and how you sneaked in very cleverly some information about her by making Elijah think it.

Ah and the way he can swicth from observant to cold hearted murderer. Seriously it gives me the creeps.

Very very good babe!!

Okay, finally had a chance to catch up and actually leave a comment.

Right from the start I was hooked. Everything about this story is so inriguing and mysterious and dark.

I love how Elijah is a hitman. I love reading stories where Elijah takes on a different personification than his normal lovely kind self.

I have a feeling this story has more than a few tricks and twists and I can't wait for them. :yay:

Ahh! Now the gunmen is going to kill both of the girls! :unsure: This is getting more dangerous by the second! Though, I am wondering over his reluctance to kill them. :yes: Excellent update!

Whahahha, oh I love this. It's been quite a while for me since I last wrote something, and now posting here, I find all of you already so hooked on it. I am so honored! :yes:
So thanks guys so much for making me want to write more and more. Have been going through a LOT lately, and this makes me feel so much better, knowing at least I still have something to give into my writing! ;)
Okay, on with the chappie and off with the serious stuff! :tehee:

xxx
Petra


Chapter Four

She looked into the green eyes of her image in the mirror and sighed. Somehow the twenty minutes of sleep she had just taken, hadn’t done her much good. It was just before eight o’clock at night and she had less than half an hour to get ready before Aimee would show up at her doorstep.
To be perfectly honest, she hadn’t felt like accepting the party invitation of her work in the first place. But Aimee had changed her mind, and had told her it would be good for her to have her mind somewhere else for a change. She was right, of course she was. But that didn’t make it any easier though.
Caressa took her hairbrush and tried to make sense of her long and thick, reddish brown hair. She took some cream in her hands and quickly applied it in her hair, to make it more manageable. It seemed to help a bit. She took two pins and stuck it in her hair, so that it wouldn’t bother her eyes.
She looked again at her image, tried to smile, but gave up the effort almost at the same time. She hated the feeling her own look gave her. She hated the fact that her mind was not rationalizing anymore, but her heart, more fearful than ever, had taken over.
It was time to let go.
Looking into her own eyes, she found the strength again she had seemed to misplace for a long time.
“I’m not going to let this effect me any longer. It’s done with the fear and the anxiety. If someone did know I was there, I wouldn’t be standing here anymore. I should just let this go. I’m not going to forget about mister Mitchell, I will continue my search for the truth, for him. But I will not live in fear anymore, and keep my life on hold like I have been doing these last few weeks.”
She looked into her eyes and knew she meant everything she said. And somehow it felt good to say it out loud. It felt good to find back the strength she knew she had buried somewhere. She had always been a strong and solid person. Although this had shaken her, it didn’t mean she was going to give up on her strength or personality all together.
And as she smiled, and actually meant it, the doorbell rang and she knew it was Aimee.

“You seem.. different.”
Aimee’s voice almost spoke surprisingly.
Caressa smiled.
“I know.”
“How come?”
“I just decided to not let this effect me the way it has. I’ve always been a strong person, and proud of it, so I guess I just tapped into that strength again.”
Aimee smiled proudly.
“Good for you! So, can I presume you’ve let the idea of taking shooting lessons go?”
Caressa didn’t answer right away, which made Aimee look at her carefully.
“No,” Caressa then decided, “I’m still going to take shooting lessons, but not with the idea of having to protect myself from any stalkers.”
She smiled.
“I just figured, if someone knew I had witnessed the whole thing, I would’ve been dead by now.”
Aimee gasped.
“Well, I would. Let’s be realistic here.”
“I just don’t even want to think about not having you here as my friend, Carry.”
She parked the car at the parking lot in front of the office and after she took the key out of the ignition, she looked at her friend again.
“I’m so proud to see you dealing with this the way you have. You’ve always been a strong person, Carry. I don’t know what I would’ve done in your situation. I think I wouldn’t have been able to deal with it the way you have. I’m proud of you. And of the fact that I can call you my friend.”
Caressa smiled and hugged her friend to her.
“Same here, girl. Same here. Now let’s get into party mode for this!”

He saw them stepping out of the car and making their way to the office. There was a visible change in her. He could see it from the hundred feet away. He pushed down his sunglasses and looked at her.
Her shoulders were straight, she wasn’t looking around her anymore. She was overcoming the visible fear she had carried since he had started to shadow her. It seemed that she was actually becoming a stronger person.
Somehow that surprised him. She didn’t look like a strong person, at least not since he had first seen her.
His first impression was that of a tender, fragile girl. Not even a young woman. She just seemed like such a girl. She had been so frightful, so aware of her surroundings. But in a fearful way. He thought it to be rather pathetic.
But now… It seemed she had matured a lot in no time. It seemed now that she was more of a young woman. A woman who had gone through some stuff but who now was processing it, and overcoming it.
And somehow that intrigued him. After all, the excitement was far greater when going after a strong person, than after a weak one.
A grin spread across his face as he thought of the plan that had been brewing in his mind for weeks now. She would be perfect.

uhhhhhhhhmmm what plan???????? and weeks??

*shudders*

I am feeling a bit scared for the girls.
Shooting lessons are defenitly in order and krav maga, karate, self defense, tae bo..... (I know more, but really I think I made my point)

Very nice suspensefull chap Petra.
Nice descriptions and great development of the characters.
I am dying for more

side note: Hope you feel better soon, and good luck with everything you are going through :hug:

:eek:
*Gasps*
What's gonna happen?!

Perfect for what? eeeek!

~Stacy~

Oh, the suspense is killing me here!!!!! lol But it's a sweet death, I assure you...

I'm sorry it took me so long to get here, things have been mental for the last couple of weeks, but it's all good now!!! I'm back and loving this more than ever... :)

*cluthes own heart*
Uuuuh you are killing me here!!

This is seriously creepy and scary.
I was so happy to read that she finally was getting over it. That she was g4etting her strenght back and her determination to make something of her life...only to find out that some monster (monster Elijah...I will make sure to tell him that *grins*) is preying on her life.

And I don't like the sound at all when he speaks of having a plan :scare
So some martial arts training would be a good idea.....maybe even better as shooting lessons.

*bites nails*

Great chappie dear!

Girls, I am getting worried now. I'm killing you all? Oh dear.. Maybe I should just stop posting my story then.. :tehee:
Thanks for all your replies, it's good to see the story still has got you hooked. And be sure, as Dana said in an earlier reply, to read some twists and turns. :yes: Oh yes, I love those twists and turns!

xxx
Petra


Chapter Five

The next morning seemed to go by in a blur. Caressa didn’t remember ever getting up, let alone get to work, until she was offered a cup of coffee by Aimee around 10 a.m.
“You look like you need it.”
Caressa suppressed a yawn that had been building up for the last ten minutes and then stuck her thumb up in the air and drank from the cup without saying anything.
“H-hi Caressa,” a voice behind them stumbled, “Y-you are really looking quite b-beautiful today.”
The words were followed by a loud “thud!” and another sound that seemed to go like “Deng-beng-Sshphff-be-eng!”.
Alarmed, Caressa instantly started coughing as the coffee had made its way down the wrong spine.
She placed the cup of coffee on her desk, gave herself a few pats on the chest and then looked around to see what had happened behind her.
A rather frantic looking young man, wearing glasses with a dark frame, jumped up to his feet, holding maps and papers all shuffled together, as though he had just picked it up from the floor.
He had messy dark hair, big brown eyes and a troubled look on his face.
“I-I am sorry, Caressa. It was n-not my intention to startle you.”
He smiled apologetically.
“That’s okay Orlando. No worries. Are you alright? It seemed like you lost grip on certain things?”
Caressa looked at the floor and noticed still two maps with a bunch of papers that had sprung out of them around Orlando’s feet.
“Oh no, nothing to worry about,” Orlando quickly replied, and scuffled the maps and papers with his foot away from Caressa’s desk.
Though it didn’t seem to help him very much as some papers just kept lying on the floor where he had obviously dropped them.
As if someone had opened up the floor beneath him, Orlando ducked to the floor, grabbed everything that was there, and then jumped back on his feet.
His face seemed to be a fair bit more red than before he jumped down and the smile on his face revealed nothing but shame.
“W-well, I’ll be off then. Still have.. lots.. of.. Well… Copying to do!” Orlando said and then sprinted out of the room.
Caressa watched him leave, too stunned for words and it wasn’t until she heard Aimee’s laughter, that she returned back to reality.
“Oh mister Bloom SO has got the hots for you!”

“Hey Caressa, how have you been?”
She looked up, slightly out of breath, and looked at the woman who spoke to her. It was her co-worker Melinda Gordon.
“Hey Melinda. Everything’s good. How about yourself?” she smiled back.
Melinda stuck her dumb up in the air, and then occupied the bicycle machine next to her.
“I have been promoted to senior agent, did you know?”
Caressa nodded, unable to answer as her machine automatically had pushed up the pace of her own bicycle machine.
“I’m now dealing with all the articles that need to be printed, and all the commercial stuff and so on. I must admit, right now it’s rather boring. But I can’t complain with the raise I’ve got.”
She started to laugh.
Caressa smiled.
“It’s a good feeling to know people up there, trust you, you know,” Melinda ended.
“Sure thing.”
“Hey, can I ask you something, Carry?”
Caressa looked up when she called her Carry. She hadn’t heard that name out of any of her co-workers mouths. Just Aimee called her that.
“You don’t mind me calling you Carry, do you?” Melinda asked, but didn’t wait for a reply, “I’ve just been thinking. You know, like three weeks ago when you called in sick, there have been rumours.”
“What rumours?”
Caressa tried to act as nonchalant as she possibly could, but there was a tremble in her voice that wasn’t there before.
“Ah, well, I’m sure it’s nothing though. But there’s this rumour, that’s going around. It says that you actually weren’t sick, but something happened. You.. saw something or so?”
Caressa felt her jaw drop.
She had only told Aimee… Was Aimee blabbing this to others?
“Saw what?” she enquired quickly, to hide her astonishment.
Melinda looked at her and then started laughing.
“It’s rather silly though, I mean..” she looked at Caressa, “The rumour doesn’t say. But logic thinking would make it something horrible, for you to have to cancel a day’s work like you did. Like.. a murder or something.”
She had to laugh so loud after that, that she threw her head in her neck. Fortunately, that gave Caressa some time to pull herself together.
She laughed too, although she didn’t mean it the way she probably should have.
“I wonder who actually thought up such a ridiculous story,” she grinned, playing along, “Especially when there was really nothing more than a common cold that kept me from work that day.”
Melinda eyed her carefully.
“I do wonder who made that rumour up though…” Caressa continued, and then looked at Melinda, who shrugged.
“Who cares? It’s not true, that’s obvious.”
“But still, who told you?”
Melinda held up her hand and shook her head.
“Ah no, I’m sorry, can’t go there. I promised to not tell, ever,” she said as she stepped down from her bicycle machine, “Well, it’s good to have gotten this out in the open, Caressa. Happy work out!”
And she walked away.
Caressa took a deep breath, just as her bicycle machine started beeping, making clear to her that her work out on the machine was done. She took her work out key out of the machine and walked on to the next machine, completely in thought.
Aimee was not to be trusted.
“I never saw that one coming,” she mumbled.

Oh, the thoughts of the hitman at the end of the chapter before this really intrigued me! What is his plan?!? :unsure:

And, Orlando as a clumsy nerd is too adorable for words! However, I don't trust this Melinda. I don't think Carry should give up on Aimee, though...someone could have just overheard them talking or something. I wanna believe that she is a good friend.

Lovely update!

Our dear Orlando plays the nerd role so well, doesn't he? I love picturing him get all shy and dropping his papers!!!

You gotta love him!

Aimee has me thinking though. I really hope she isn't a blabber. That was an awful big secret to blab and not one I'd be happy to found out got out.

~Stacy~

Ouch that was really really nasty!!
And I have a real hard time believing that such a good friend would blab such a secret around. I wonder why she immediatly thought that her friend was responsible. I mean she did tell the police and everyone knows that they are no saints either.
She needs her friend more than ever now.

I did think Orlando was very cute *grins*
He is the best when he plays a dork :devil:

Great chappie Petra.
I really enjoy reading this!!

:hug:

Hey.

I just started reading this and I'm quite amazed! This is a brilliant story, lij makes such a good evil hitman. ;).
Anyway I love the way you write this it's so suspenseful and completely unpredictable, I mean who's to know what will happen? Plot and romancewise ;)!
And somehow I don't think it was Aimee who spilled it, I dunno... but then who else? And why would that woman bring it up like that anyway? Gah, I can't wait to find out!
Brilliant story!

love,
Laila

Ah shucks guys, thanks so much! I'm glad you all picture Orlando as a dorky person so well. I actually got the idea from the video to "Push the Button" by the sugababes. The guy who is seduced by the blonde girl, to me, looks a lot like Orlando, so I envisioned that when I thought up this scene. Loved it!
LOL!
Anyways, more to come soon! Promise! :)

xxx
Petra

It's chappie night, oh yes yes, chappie night! *dances
I'll post straight away, for ya'll entertainment ;)

xxx
Petra


Chapter Six

“When handling a gun, always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. And always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. If you follow these rules, then nobody will get hurt.”
Caressa looked at the gun that lay before her on the table. This was her gun. She had bought this herself. And now, she was wondering why. Well, she knew why, but she wondered if she would ever be able to use it.
She had bought it along with five shooting lessons of an hour. After those five lessons, she would be able to take some sort of exam and get a certificate and the right papers for her to take the gun home. Now, she could only use her gun here, at the shooting arena. The gun was to stay here, until she was rightfully able to carry and use it.
The instructor’s words kept replaying in her head.
She looked up at the thick cardboard that stood just over fifty feet away from her. On it there was the painted shadow of a man. She saw the lines that went in circles around his head and then going wider and wider, over his shoulders and his chest.
“Now, pick up your gun, unlock it, and shoot.”
Caressa pushed the goggles from her forehead down to cover her eyes and as she looked through them, her eyes went down to where the gun was lying. Suddenly the image of mister Mitchell came to the surface again.
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and then took the gun in her hand. Unlocking it, her eyes went up to her target and she imagined it to be gunman.
She witnessed how he took the gun and pointed it at her. It made her hands shake a little, but she was able to overcome her fear and look him straight in the eyes.
‘You don’t scare me,’ she thought and then fired the gun.
And again.
She held the gun pointed at the gunman for just another minute or so, while all kinds of unspoken thoughts ran through her mind.
Was she able to actually fire the gun if a live person stood before her? Would she be able to actually hurt someone?
“Well done, miss Bonafacio! You hit him straight in the heart once, and scraped his neck the second time!” the instructor cheered.
His voice brought her instantly back to reality and she looked at the cardboard target.
“I’m almost going to disbelieve you when you say you’ve never handled a gun before,” he grinned at her, “It seems you’re a natural in handling it!”
Caressa smiled softly, but couldn’t get Aimee’s warning out of her head. Maybe she wasn’t ready to actually own a gun, let alone use it.

This was a rather nasty thought. Have her taking shooting lessons. There really was a lot at stake here. He didn’t want her to ruin the plans he had made. And the fact was that when she was able to shoot, or at least handle a gun properly, there was a lot more to think of. He knew that she had booked five lessons, and after that and a little exam, she would be able to take the gun home.
So he therefore realised he had less than those five days for his plan to put into action.
He didn’t like the pressure. It made him want to get into action right away. As he thought about this, a grin spread on his face. It probably was possible to pull it off tonight.
He knew what her plans were for tonight. She was so ridiculously predictable all the time. Tonight was Monday night. Monday night was Friends’ night. No, not real friends because he knew she didn’t have any.
“Unless you count that strange girl, Aimee.”
No, tonight was Friends’ night. The serie Friends. There was a double episode on television, starting at 8 p.m. and as long as he had followed her in the shadows, she had never missed one episode. Therefore, she would be alone tonight. Alone at her house. And he knew where her key was.
A playful excitement hit him in his stomach and a soft chuckle left his lips. This was going to be so easy.
As he sat there in his blue Mustang ’79 and lit a cigarette, his thoughts trailed back to the first time he had seen her. Almost instantly he knew how to handle it, how to handle her. It had been a joy for him to have come this far without ever being noticed. She didn’t know of his plans and he liked the fact that she was being kept in the dark.
She didn’t know it yet, but starting from tomorrow she’d probably be headlines in the newspaper.
“Now it’s time to really get acquainted.”

Ok I'm guessing for some reason or enother he fails to kill her - for the story's sake. But that is the only thing that keeps me from hurting myself on a ballet-like on-my-toes-situation, it's more all my toes right now than the tips of my toes ;).
But still - Evil Elijah is beginning to seriously give me the creeps, and I can't believe my heart aches for a male protector for her. I'm a bad bad feminist!
Anyway great update, can't wait for another one!

Laila

That was a great update.
Filled wth angst and suspension.

Omg omg omg what is evil Elijah going to do
(and omg waarom denk ik opeens aan ringcon en hoe leuk het zou zijn dit te vertellen aan Elijah :laugh:)
I did love how you portrayed the shooting lesson and how she imagined it to be the person who she thinks is hunting her. Sure did help!
But she is right of course. Learning to use it is one thing...actually using it on a person quite another.

I wonder what Elijah has up his sleeve *bites nails*
Don't keep me waiting to long....or else I might :kaboom:

Oh, I'm scared! But I somehow doubt that it was Aimee that started the rumour, there's something odd going on there...and I'm definitely curious to know more about this strange stalker-man who's so creepy, yet so intriguing!

Post more? :love:

:lol: Thanks for your replies girls, I'll be sure to post another chappie right away to keep the suspence going! :)
One little hint though: read carefully ;).

xxx
Petra


Chapter Seven

“Where the heck did I leave that thing?!”
Rustling through the pillows on her couch, she found the thing she had been looking for. The remote control.
As she pressed one button, her television switched on and just in time. Friends had just started.
A soft smile hit her face and she sat back, finding a soft and relaxing position into her pillows.
This was just what she needed tonight, maybe more so than ever. Monday night was Friends’ night, but tonight it was also ‘forget-about-what-Aimee-did-to-you-night’. She needed to get her feelings and thoughts sorted on that subject, but first she needed to get it out of her system, suppress it and just have a bit of laughter in her life. She had been having way too serious hours since she found out about Aimee. So serious that a soft headache had started making an entry to her head.
She shook her head as if she, so easily, threw the memory of Aimee out of her head and started laughing very loudly, when one of the characters of Friends did something funny. And it helped. Soon she had forgotten the whole ordeal and was just enjoying the series to bits.
It was just after 8.30 p.m. when her doorbell rang.
Slightly annoyed, Caressa looked over her shoulder to the door. The thought crossed her mind to just pretend to not be home, like she had done in the past. Friends was just not a serie where people should be disturbing her. She only wanted one hour a week to be completely for herself.
Just as she had accepted the fact that indeed she was not home –after all, nobody could see her sitting here. She had only one light turned on for effect, and the door between her and the one that rang the bell was not with glass-, the doorbell rang again.
Being utterly annoyed at this point, Caressa still refused to go to the door. Though she was a bit frightful they knew she was home anyway, and so she turned down the volume of her television. Just to be sure.
With her eyes on the television, and her hearing near the door, she kept as quiet as she possibly could to see if the knocker would knock a third time.
‘Go away,’ she commanded him.
And.. it seemed to work. There was no third knock.
Just as she was about to smile and continue to watch Friends without hesitation, she heard the doorknob click.
She felt a knot in her throat the size of an apple, as she slowly turned around and faced the door, slightly bending down so only her eyes could peak over the back of the couch.
Slowly the door was being opened and Caressa felt her heart beat so loud, it should have alarmed the whole neighbourhood. But it didn’t.
‘He found me! He’s now here to kill me!’
She duck down, so she wasn’t able to see who entered the door, and tried to find her mobile phone. It properly fell between the pillows again. Nervously she started searching for it, but as quiet as possible. As long as she didn’t hear the footsteps get any closer, she would be safe an invisible behind the couch.
Three rather quick steps and then, a voice.
“Caressa?”
Caressa almost felt her eyes pop out and she jumped up to her feet.
“For heaven’s sake Aimee, do you wish to give me a heart attack?!”
Aimee was taken aback by Caressa’s sudden outburst.
“What the hell are you doing here anyway?”
Aimee frowned and then found back her posture.
“Excuse me? Why are you being so annoyed with me? I know this is your Friends-night and all, but did you forget I was going to drop by to go over some stuff from work?”
Caressa rolled her eyes and remembered. She had totally forgotten it since she had the delightful conversation with Melinda Gordon.
“I’m not in the mood, Aimee, so I’d appreciate it if you just left.”
“Why are you being so sore with me, Carry? Did something happen?” Aimee enquired.
Caressa took a deep breath and grumbled.
“Like you don’t know.”
“Excuse me?” Aimee replied in surprise, “Do you care to explain why you are treating me this way?”
“No, I don’t care to explain, because you should know!” Caressa bursted out, “You should know that if I tell you something in private, that it should STAY in private!”
Aimee’s jaw dropped at Caressa’s outburst.
“I don’t know what the heck you are talking about, but I see this is the wrong night to talk about this. I am going home, Carry, and I am hoping that tomorrow at work, we’ll be able to at least talk civil to each other.”
Aimee then turned and walked out of Caressa’s apartment, but that didn’t go well with Caressa. Frankly, it only pissed her off even more. So she stood up, followed Aimee out of her apartment and down the staircases.
“I am sorry but do you actually think we can still be civil to each other after what you pulled? Do you really think that there is still a friendship between us after that?”
Aimee ignored everything Caressa blurted out, which became harsher words within minutes.
“There’s only one person who I told about the murder and that is you. Now, I haven’t told anyone else, so how come Melinda knew, huh? I have seen you talk to her in the hallways. I have seen it, Aimee, so don’t you deny it!”
Only when they got outside did Aimee turn around and faced her friend.
“I don’t know what you think I am, but I sure as hell have never, would ever, tell something you have told me in private, to someone else. I am not like that.”
“Well, the proof is out there, Aimee!”
Aimee shook her head and replied with the calmest voice she could produce.
“You haven’t only told me, you’ve told the police too. Now why would you assume I blabbed, when in fact the police…”
“Oh give me a break,” Caressa interrupted her, “Do you honestly think they’d care less about what I told them? They didn’t believe me, Aimee, so why would they then tell this to someone else? And that person just happened to be Melinda? Too many coincidences, Aimee, and you know it!”
“Well, at least it is a possibility that I think you should consider, before you accuse me,” Aimee said sternly, “I don’t go off on people’s problems and then gossip about it with others. And I am truly sad that you think I am. Goodnight Caressa.”
“Yes, yes, do leave!” Caressa shouted after her, just as a blue Mustang ’79 stopped right before her, “And say goodbye to our friendship Aimee!”
She was just raging with anger and didn’t quite register immediately who stepped out of the car.
“Oh dear. Trouble?”
She looked at the young man and tried to find back her posture.
“No no, it’s over. The trouble is over, Orlando.”

That's one too many '79 blue Mustangs for me. The stalker has one and then Orlando shows up in one. Hmmm. I don't like the looks of that. Now, I'm really nervous.

And, Aimee has keys to her apartment? that sorta makes me nervous, too.

I am suspicious of everyone in this story. :yes: Great job!

Amen!!

I have to tell you, I'm gullable and have fell for every twist every time!
:yes:

~Stacy~

Man I hate it when friends fight. It always gives me that creepy feeling "This might happen to you too, you know?", which is weird cause i never have that in all the dramatic boyfriend/girlsfriend situations. Anyway it was a good chapter and I feel like a moron because I needed Ambers entry to realize the Mustang thing. *lol* I'm just not a car person... ;)

but I can't wait what Orlando is doing there in that car anyway! :)

love,
Laila

Okay, so this is all playing out for dear Elijah, isn't it?

That she's fighting with the only friend that she has.
That the only other friend (who is just a crushing boy) has the exact same car (omgilovethatcar!).
That she can't take the gun home until the end of the lessons.
That she's predictable.

Good Lord!!! Mann, maybe Orlando could be the male protector that Laila wants for her... although I'm not sure how protective he could be.

May I say that I adoooore when people portray Bloom as a nerd? ^_^ Its adorable!!!

Oh it's so great to see all your replies and to know I probably am the only one who knows what actually will happen. Gna gna :tsk:
Ah, mean writer, I know. I'm sorry. Don't you guys worry, it'll all be clear soon..
Or maybe not. Maybe I like twists and turns too much to give up on them just yet.
:sneaky:
Anyways, I have another chappie for you guys, keep on reading and replying. You know I love 'em right? :hug:
Eh Dana.. Where are you girl? Hope you're okay! :heartbeat:
Oh and Sammi, I love Orlando as the nerd too :tehee:

xxx
Petra



Chapter Eight

He found the boy just a little bit too annoying. He had seen him around her way too many times. Even at times when she didn’t know the boy had been watching her. Safe from his blue car, away from her view, and lighting one annoying cigarette after another.
Elijah shook his head. He was glad he had stopped smoking that shit years ago.
But this boy did make him wonder. As he studied their interactions, he could see it was just an interest from the boy’s side and not from hers.
Therefore, the boy was safe from elimination. Though there could be a problem if the boy kept such a close eye on her. That way he himself wasn’t always too sure if he was alone with her, or not. And if he had killed her, he had to make sure the boy wasn’t around to be a witness or something. Because then he would have to be killed as well.
Elijah shook his head as his thoughts drifted away and he looked up to see the boy leaning towards the girl.
“He just doesn’t seem to understand that the girl doesn’t like him the way he likes her.”
He grinned.
It reminded him of some soap series that his mum used to watch when she was still alive. In the time when he was still young, pure and living at home. It seemed to be a long forgotten past. And not something he wanted to think about anymore.
That life died when his mother died. That life died when he became X.
He shook his head and pushed his sunglasses further up the bridge of his nose.
Last night, his employer had called him on his cell phone, asking for an update. With just a tad bit hesitation, he had told him that she was still alive, quickly adding that that would not be for long.
“Tonight is the night, X. Tonight I want her dead. I don’t want her to be breathing for any longer than that.”
X was his name. He was known that way ever since he started in this business. Nobody knew his real name, and there were times that he himself had trouble remembering it. It was best to forget who Elijah was and just remember himself as X. That way he could go on living his mysterious life. His life of unsolved crimes.

She eyed him carefully.
“There really is something different about you. Did you do something with your hair, or so?”
Orlando grinned.
“No, not really. I’m using the same gel every day, so it’s not that.”
He looked amused ever since she mentioned there was something different with him. He knew what it was. He was different. He was not playing the stuttering character anymore, the person he had introduced to Caressa. That person was gone. The brilliant person, the real Orlando, was back. And he had the plan right before him. And she was willing, oh she was.
The fight with Aimee only threw oil on the fire. She would be even more willing to get out of here. To get her mind to think of something else.
“Alright alright, do tell me!”
Caressa smiled, but it wasn’t a real smile. He had come to notice that with her. The real smiles and the fake ones. This smile said ‘I am annoyed with this’.
“I do however wear contacts now, instead of the glasses I normally wear.”
“YES!” Caressa said aloud and pointed at Orlando’s face, “That’s it! I thought there was something different, and there you go!”
She grinned.
“Now, do tell me, what is it that you are here for?”
Orlando smiled.
“Well, I wanted to ask you to come with me for a ride actually.”
Caressa frowned in surprise.
“A ride? Where to?”
“Well…” Orlando grinned, “Well, I wanted to show you something. I’ve been meaning to for a long time, and now I’ve finally got the nerve to actually ask you to go with me. So, please don’t turn me down here.”
He sounded like the pathetic wimp again, but somehow he knew that would trigger her even more in coming along with him.
“And to be a bit blunt, it sounds like you might like the distraction, after what just happened.”
Caressa took a deep breath.
Orlando was right. She was in the mood to just jump in the car with him and go away from here. But with Orlando?
She eyed him carefully, but this time with more suspicion. Did she really know the guy that well to go out with him?
She rolled her eyes at her weary thoughts.
Did she care?
“Okay, give me five minutes. I’ll get my coat and lock my apartment and then I am yours for the night,” she smiled.

There was a strange feeling in his stomach when he saw her going into the apartment complex and five minutes later leaving it with her coat on and her handbag slung around her shoulder.
He couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but he didn’t want to let her go for the night.
He knew Caressa was a typical predictable target, but this was different.
And what about this Orlando fellow? He didn’t recognize him now. His posture was full of self-confidence, something that he had been lacking ever since Elijah had started shadowing Caressa.
It was almost as though this figure had certain plans that didn’t sound too good.
Being in the business for as long as he had, he recognized foul play when it happened. And tonight, he recognized it in Orlando.
He wasn’t going to let anything come between him and the job though, because this job would mean big bucks for him. This would mean he could finally take the last step in his future plan.
After all, what’s another kill if you already have so many on your name?
The police was just plain stupid. He had discovered that at a very young age. He had discovered it in a way that he wished he hadn’t. His mum had always told him that the police were your friends. But after she died, he had found the opposite to be true.
“They’re a bunch of idiots,” Elijah mumbled.
He turned his attention back to his target and the boy who intervened in his plans for the night. They stepped in the car. Orlando helped her get in.
Elijah felt nauseous.
“Prick. Now I probably have to kill you too.”
With the message of his employer in mind, he didn’t have a choice but to follow them wherever they were going. So as he saw the blue mustang leave, he started the engine of his black Mercedes ’97 in pursuit of the couple.