Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (16 page)

“I want to know all the details of what you were doing here. I know you are trying to bring it down. You are going to tell me how to stop it.” Tyler yelled at the man pointing his gun directly between the man’s eyes.

The man was gasping for air but was able to get out, “Fuck you!”

Tyler felt his blood get hot as he tightened his grip, “Tell me!” he yelled.

Marie had been watching this unfold and found it almost amusing. Marie stepped up and placed her hand on Tyler’s shoulder, “Let go,” she calmly told him.

“No! I won’t let this garbage kill innocent people. He’s going to tell us.” Tyler yelled back.

“Yes, he will, but not if you break his neck. Let go.”

Tyler loosened his grasp. He knew she was right. He removed his hand and placed it under the handle of his gun still pointed directly at the man. The man grabbed at his throat and coughed repeatedly.

Marie moved towards him and lifted his chin, “Hi, sweetie, are you going to tell the man what he wants to know or are you going to deal with me again?” she said with a smile.

The man spit in Marie’s face.

“Ok then we do it my way.” Marie replied, wiping the spit from her face. Marie swung her leg knocking the man’s feet from under him and simultaneously grabbing him by the face and slammed him on the ground. The man let out a moan of pain as his body landed back first on the ground. Marie pulled her knife back out from its holster. She knelt down straddling the man across his stomach. She held her knife to his nose, “Now I want you to be a good boy and answer his questions.” She calmly ordered the man.

“No” the man firmly replied.

“Wrong answer.” Marie replied calmly then slit the man’s right nostril from the inside out. The man cried in pain and tried to reach for his bleeding nose but Marie had his arms pinned down under her legs. “Ok, now again, time to answer the man’s questions.” Marie calmly requested again pointing her knife at his other nostril.

“No” the man replied panting heavily his face was shaking.

“Nope, wrong again.” Marie replied slitting his left nostril from in the inside out.

The man cried out in pain again.

“Seriously, I am getting annoyed here. Just tell him what he wants and I will let you live.” Marie replied twirling the knife in her hand.

The man went to speak.

“Hold up. Just to inform you if you tell me to I don’t know fuck off or something I will move my carving down south if you catch my drift.” Marie said pointing her knife at his lower abdomen, “You know, just a bit lower.” Marie said with a smile.

“Fine fine fine! Just stop,” the man yelled

“Ask the man what you want to know.” Marie said looking up at Tyler, who was still clutching the gun in his hands.

“Tell me how to stop the bombs.” Tyler barked at the man.

The man was silent.

“Can you not hear, should I check your ears?” Marie said pointing the knife at his right ear.

“The trigger is in the basement. They are all rigged to blow at the same time. We were going down to set up the timer when you showed up.” The man replied spitting blood from his mouth.

“They are all rigged? Like all the elevators to blow at once?” Tyler asked

“Yes all of them” the man replied.

“So disable the trigger and the bombs are no good?” Tyler asked

“If you can.” The man laughed.

“Ok. I am sick of this punk,” Marie replied thrusting her knife into his abdomen and twisting as he yelled in pain. Marie pulled her knife out as blood spilled from the man’s abdomen as she holstered it on her back. Marie started to stand up, “See I didn’t kill you, but here’s a fun fact, I will do absolutely nothing to stop you from bleeding out.” Marie said kicking the man in the head, knocking him unconscious. “Are you ready now?” Marie said to Tyler as she walked over to Ethan’s body and pulled her knife out of his back and wiped it on Ethan’s shirt before holstering it on her back.

“We have to at least disable the trigger, please.” Tyler pleaded, calming himself from the rage he had been feeling before.

“Fine. Seriously, you can be such a pain sometimes,” Marie said, walking out of the office and through the reception area and out into the hallway where she retrieved her backpack. Tyler followed grabbing his satchel and throwing it over his shoulder. “Shall we take the elevator?” Marie said with a laugh pushing the button to call the elevator.

“I don’t really want to.”

“Well, I don’t want to walk, so let’s chance it.” Marie said continuing to laugh. The elevator dinged, Marie stepped right in, and Tyler hesitated. Marie reached out and pulled him into the elevator as the doors were closing. Tyler stood there in silence. Marie looked at him, “Enjoy choking that man, didn’t you?”

“No,” Tyler said, he started to continue but he stopped, “You know what it did kinda feel good to give it to that jerk. He was probably responsible for countless deaths and how many more he would have taken today.” Tyler said with a half-smile. “And now I feel terrible for saying that.”

“The wicked deserve what they get.” Marie said giving Tyler a nudge, “And there is no shame in enjoying making those who made others suffer pay for it.”

Tyler was still processing what happened and what she was saying. He had finally truly realized that she enjoyed it, she enjoyed killing people. It was almost as if the times when she was wasn’t killing people she was lost. He looked at her with that smile still on her face. Tyler just looked up at the ceiling. He was focused on the bigger picture, that’s all he could keep telling himself. The elevator came to a stop at the ground floor. Tyler stepped out first with Marie following. Tyler looked around to find the nearest maintenance door to lead them to the basement. He found it relatively quickly and Marie stepped up to the door first and popped the lock with her knife while Tyler kept a lookout. They descended the stairs and entered the large basement to the building.

“How are we ever going to find it down here?” Marie asked folding her arms and looking angry.

“We find the elevator controls. They had to run the wires or something.” Tyler started to frantically wander the basement.

Marie took a deep breath and followed him.

“There!” Tyler exclaimed as he saw the ‘Elevator Control Room’ sign and ran towards it.

Marie follow at a walking pace. This was not exciting for her she was almost bored.

Tyler got to the locked door and took a step back and gave it a big kick, dislodging the door from its hinges. Tyler pushed the door the rest of the way open and entered. Tyler was awestruck by what was before him. Wires everywhere, running from all the control panels, red wires, blue wires, and green wires all running from the each panel to a central contraption. It was covered with blinking lights. Tyler walked over to it and scanned it.

“I don’t know what to do with this.” Tyler said panicking.

Marie had by now followed Tyler into the room.

“You disarmed one of the bombs. Help me, please. I don’t know how to stop this,” Tyler pleaded. She could see the panic in his eyes. Marie said nothing but walked over to the device. Marie pushed Tyler gently to the side and examined the device. Her blue eyes scanning every inch of wires in and wires out. She then stood up and walked to the doorway and leaned on the damaged frame.

“Cut the green wires.” Marie said pointing to the one hundred and four different green wires coming out of the device.

“You’re sure the green ones, it won’t blow up on me or something right.”

“Probably not.” Marie replied calmly with a shrug of her shoulders

“Hello! If this building goes down, you’re in it!” Tyler yelled back.

“So cut the dam green wires like I told you.”

Tyler looked around and found nothing to cut with, “I don’t have anything to cut them with.” Tyler replied looking to Marie.

Marie pulled one of her knives out of her holster and threw it to Tyler. He, by chance, caught it by the handle. Tyler took a deep breath and held it as he cut the first green wire, a light went off on the device. Tyler exhaled as he continued on cutting the wires. Marie looked on, resting her head on the door frame.

“You know this would go faster if you helped,” He said to Marie as he cut his fifteenth wire.

“You’re the one who wants to be a big hero, so have at it.” Marie replied with a chuckle, sitting down on the floor against the wall.

Tyler continued on cutting wire after wire after wire. He finally cut the last one. His hands were exhausted, they were shaking and sore from the repetitive motion.

“I did it.” Tyler said quietly to himself he felt joy overcoming him. “I did it!” He shouted raising his arms triumphantly, however his hands were too weak and he dropped the knife. “Oops, sorry.” Tyler apologized to Marie as he reached down to pick up the knife.

Marie was just staring at him with a smile. “Ok Superhero, let’s go.” She said with a laugh putting out her hand for him to hand her the knife.

Tyler walked over to her and handed her the knife. She slipped it back into her holster and put her backpack back on her back.

“Hang on.” She said “It’s rude to not leave a note or something after we messed up their door.” She walked over to a small desk in the basement where she found a pen and paper. Tyler watched her scribbling on the paper but couldn’t see what she was writing. She walked over to the busted door to the control room and attached the note to one of the lose nails. Tyler walked over and looked at what she wrote, ‘I disarmed the bombs in your elevators. You’re welcome. Oh, FYI, you have bombs in your elevators’ “I think that will do” Marie said smiling as she walked towards the stairs. Tyler just smiled and turned and followed her up the stairs.

They made their way out of the building as people were re-entering the building. They blended in with the crowds outside the building that were caused by the fire alarm being pulled.

They walked about a block away when Marie stopped and looked around, “We need to find a place to stay for the night.” She said.

“Well, there are hotels everywhere. I am sure we can find one.” Tyler replied getting the phone out to search.

“Nope, we go Motel. They are poorly monitored and you can pay cash. So unless you have a way to look up ‘cheap shitty motel’ on there I don’t think that is how we are going to find it.”

“So do you have a suggestion?”

“Find the strip clubs there are normally shitty places near those.”

“Yah they are probably gross too.”

“Duh, nobody who is worth a shit wants to go there, so nobody looks there,” Marie said tapping Tyler on the head.

“Fine. Searching.” Tyler typed into the phone ‘strip club’; he shuddered, they were still so gross to him. “Ok, found a motel near some real classy joints. It’s the ‘Pleasant Home Motel’” Tyler said sarcastically.

“Sounds gross. It’s perfect.” Marie replied with a laugh, “Let’s move. It’s getting late in the day.” She said heading off in the direction of the motel.

“Why do I always feel like I am just trying to keep up with you?”

“Because you can’t” Marie said with laugh.

Chapter 25

They arrived at the ‘Pleasant Home Motel’ and it was just as expected, run-down and filthy. Tyler shuddered as they entered the room. The floral patterned bed duvet did nothing to make the room look more ‘pleasant’. The carpet was stained, and Tyler was pretty sure he saw a few roaches when they entered. Marie walked right in like nothing was wrong and threw her backpack on the bed as she sat down on it. She instantly noticed Tyler’s apprehension.

“Relax. It’s one night. You will survive.” She said opening up her backpack to get out a change of clothing.

“How does this not bother you? It’s disgusting! God only knows the last time it was even cleaned.” Tyler replied scanning the room as he entered and closed the door.

“You do what you have to. When you are on the run, these kind of places become a bit too familiar. It is almost comforting to be in the usual.” Marie said with a chuckle as she pulled out a new shirt and shorts. “I’m taking a shower. Make yourself comfortable.” Marie patted Tyler on the shoulder as she passed him to go to the bathroom. Marie didn’t bother to close the door as she began to undress. Tyler caught himself watching. He turned his eyes even though he didn’t want to. Since that night on the train he couldn’t get that feeling out of his mind, the touch of her skin, the taste of her lips. Tyler shook his head to re-focus. Marie laughed she caught him looking, but didn’t bother to close the door as she entered the shower. She blew him a kiss as she closed the torn beige curtain behind her.  Tyler put his satchel down on the pale yellow dresser and opened it up pulling out a change of clothing. He heard Marie laugh in the shower, then he heard the curtain open as she popped her head out of the shower.

“Water is good and hot. You better get in before all the hot water if gone,” she said with a wink.

“You mean join you in the shower?” Tyler asked with a smile as he felt his cheeks get hot.

“If you want hot water I would definitely suggest it.”

“Well I do enjoy hot water.” Tyler said with a laugh pulling his shirt off. Tyler felt himself almost rushing to remove his clothing as he moved into the bathroom. He pulled back the curtain and was greeted by the two snakes on Marie’s back, he felt his passion for her taking over. He reached out wrapping his arm around her turning her to face him. Her blue eyes met his brown eyes, he pulled her to him and passionately kissed her. She smiled as he pulled his lips away.

“You really like hot water, don’t you?” She said with a laugh wrapping her arms around him. Tyler just smiled as he pulled her closer against his body. He wrapped his free hand behind her neck and through her hair as he kissed her again. Tyler held nothing back. He wanted her. He lifted her and pushed her up against the wall of the shower. He took her right there and as she moaned with pleasure, Tyler felt so in control so powerful and he loved it. When it was over he felt himself, he lowered her feet back to the shower floor. He was breathing heavily as she nestled her face in his neck gently kissing her. She let out a light chuckle.

He smiled, his face still firmly nestled on her neck, “What’s so funny?” he said still breathing heavily. She wrapped her hand behind his head and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“I like this side of you. No fear, no bullshit. I know you felt this same way when you had that man by the throat the feeling of being in control of getting what you want.” She planted a kiss on his cheek, then stepped out of the shower, leaving him there facing the wall alone but with a firm smile across his face. She was right. He liked the boost he got from being firm with taking what he wanted. It was a high he was becoming very comfortable with. He turned off the shower and stepped out grabbing the remaining towel off the rack and wrapped it around his waist. He grabbed his glasses off the sink as he walked out of the bathroom. Marie was sitting on the bed wearing the grey tank and shorts she had grabbed earlier. She was just sitting back against the pillow, knees bent looking up at the ceiling.

“So, what’s the next move?” Tyler asked, sitting down on the end of the bed.

Marie didn’t look away from the ceiling. “Bruce,” she said with a catch in her throat.

“Ok, you made me leave the files back at the bunker, but I know where he is. I don’t know a lot about what he was up to over the last several years.”

“I don’t care what he was doing, where is he?” Marie was still looking at the ceiling.

“He’s in Williamsburg VA, working at Camp Percy.”

“He’s still training isn’t he?” Marie finally lowered her head to look at Tyler. She had tears in her eyes.

Tyler was confused, “Yes that is what they do there. Are you ok?”

Marie wiped a tear, “Yes, let’s just get some sleep. We need to travel first thing in the morning.” Marie said, shifting herself to be under the covers and turning her body to face away from Tyler.

“Ok” Tyler replied, confused. He got up and grabbed a pair of shorts from his satchel and climbing into the bed next to her, lying flat on his back. Tyler stared at the ceiling. He was thinking how she goes from being so passionate to so detached so fast. Tyler couldn’t seem to understand how she was ever really feeling. He knew how he was feeling about her, but couldn’t tell how she was feeling about him. Tyler looked over at her curled up almost in the fetal position. Asleep, her breathing was rapid. Tyler rolled over and touched her on the shoulder, “Hey” he said calmly.

She turned quickly and pushed Tyler away, “Don’t touch me!” She yelled.

Tyler was shocked, “What is wrong? One minute we’re having sex in the dam shower and the next you are screaming at me for touching your shoulder. I don’t know what the hell is going on!” Tyler yelled back. When Tyler stopped yelling he realized she was hugging her legs, rocking, with tears rolling down her cheeks. He had awakened her from another nightmare or he wondered, she was even still in it.

“Don’t touch me, don’t touch me, don’t touch me,” She kept repeating to herself.

“Marie, Marie, look at me.” Tyler said, trying to make eye contact with her. Suddenly she came out of it. She looked almost shocked as she looked over at Tyler.

“He has to die” she said tears still in her eyes, “It won’t stop till he’s dead.” She was rocking again.

“Who? Who are you talking about?”

“Bruce, Bruce has to die.” Marie said, turning her head to face Tyler. “The feeling won’t go away till he is gone. I can still feel his hands on my body, I can still feel him twisting my wrist.” Marie said tears flowing from her blue eyes. She was staring directly into Tyler’s eyes.

Tyler felt tears coming to his. He knew he just knew what she meant. Tyler nodded, “He will die, I will make sure of it.” He grabbed her and pulled her to him. “You’re safe from him. He can’t hurt you, I won’t let him.” Marie was weak and fell into his hold. Tyler held her tight as she fell back to sleep. He held her in his arms the remainder of the night.