The sound of a gun going off was almost deafening. Rose looked around for the source of the gunfire. Her curiosity grew as the hissing of the wind continued. At that moment Rose knew where she had to start. Step further away from the starting position.
Rose's vision faintly caught the silhouette of the tall body of the man whose existence was being questioned by the inside of her head. A revolver raised to shoulder level appeared to be cocked forward. Rose didn't need to ask whose weapon Theo was using. Her husband owned everything, related to such items. "You left me alone for too long," Rose said. She didn't mean to make the body jump. Theo turned around as he lowered his arms down. "I always lose my guard when you're around. Not just this time," he protested. Didn't like how Rose was suddenly standing there without drawing on any of his intuition or sensing."Where are you going, beautiful?" Rose frowned as one of them accidentally shone the light into her face. Or maybe it was done intentionally to ascertain what the night-sweat-drenched bodies looked like and what the fear was. Rose wasn't going to let them do anything. She silently moved the arm that was hidden behind her back. Her cell phone was clamped on the left arm. The gun in her right hand was well positioned. She needed to watch herself in case they started acting. "Stop right there!" said Rose warningly. Her fingers cocked the weapon to coincide with the man's approach. "What do you want to do... shoot us?" Their laughter boomed in unison. It was too dismissive of a lone woman, with whom she had hidden courage. Instead of inching back. Not once did Rose take her eyes off the predator in front of her. She must not let her guard down. "This woman's body is good to look at. We should
The faint snap of a twig snapped Rose awake. Her noggin blinked a few times after finding the half-clear sky stretched out covered by a bunch of leaves. How long had she lost consciousness? Rose wondered and forced herself to get up while pressing one temple. The violent contractions in her stomach may no longer be felt. However, the dizziness in the head had not completely subsided. Rose searched for her belongings, gasping when she couldn't find the flat object she had used all night. She didn't know why she had chosen to bring the cell phone Theo had given her. It was a bit of a stroke of luck. Rose remembered that she had lost her way when the world seemed to be spinning. The best reason to explain the loss of the cell phone. Rose grimaced, reaching for the gun lying innocently beside her body. She had to go. At least now she could see under minimal lighting. The dawn sky would soon become morning. Rose was sure they were still searchin
Theo .... Rose forced herself to think. Her Theo was alive? She had a thousand reasons to deny it, but her husband's baritone voice sounded real. Why should Rose deny reality when she was still given the chance to embrace the body she longed for? Rose blinked repeatedly. The euphoria in her heart was too great and she couldn't contain all the explosions that overflowed. After Theo released the palm smothering her lips, she immediately threw herself into a hug, even pushing Theo's body-until the man was unable to maintain his balance. The two of them fell slowly with Rose's face deliberately resting on the surface of the chest that emitted a loud boom. She loved that sound, it made Rose's soul feel alive again. The pain in Rose's head was gone, now should Rose ask Theo to explain something she didn't understand? "You hurt me, Sugar." Rose was jolted awake by s
A while back .......When Rose went into the forest. Theo thought there was nothing to do but write down some important messages and send them to Lion via email. 15 minutes of time left. He didn't try to force himself to be free from the reality he had to accept. Aren't life and death two things that cannot be predetermined by humans. Why should he involve himself in distress, while sitting quietly in the driver's seat was not something that had much effect on skeptical minds. For a second or two Theo waited for the call to come in. His guess was never wrong that Verasco would call his cell phone again. Theo slid the green button and immediately positioned the flat object next to his face. No need for earphones when he wasn't traveling. "Times countdown, right?" Theo spoke without waiting for a greeting from the other person. Instead of sweet words, a loud curse from the other side boomed out. [Stupid!].
"What are you-" Lewis' sentence was cut short. Theo grabbed him by the collar. Bringing the man closer, he plunged the knife into the neck, right at the vein, and then sliced horizontally until Lewis's blood splashed out. Lewis died in agony before his body fell to the ground with minutes to spare. Theo took advantage of the time available by removing all the cloths on his body. Intending to swap the formal attire for the casual look Fredy was currently wearing. Unfortunately, the man acted first, grabbing the pocketknife Theo had laid down - and then deftly resisting, applying deep, far-reaching pressure that Theo dodged and resulted in a long scratch on the surface of his bare chest. "Damn it!" cursed Theo softly as the attack continued to be brutal. The knife in Fredy's hand changed hands again. The eight minutes of time Theo had left was used to stab Fredy in the chest. There was a pause during which the man was still conscious
A chill touched her skin as Rose let the water flow over her legs. She was still wearing a dress, while her tuxedo suit was placed carelessly on a bed of rocks. Rose's teeth chattered together. It was unbearably cold, with fresh, unpolluted air filling her lungs. Rose was half bent over staring at her own reflection on the surface that was being tossed about by the current. Theo was left alone when she said yes to the man's invitation to bathe together. The man was too good at flirting. Rose should have started by washing her face, but the warm embrace behind her back stopped her in her tracks. She touched the perfectly coiled arm, then changed the gesture to lean a little straighter in front of Theo's broad chest-forgetting that Theo was still injured. "Take off your dress if you want to shower." The whisper tickled Rose's ears. One thing required her to give Theo a warning... they were out in the
"You like fishing. But if your target is already hooked, you'll get a headache." Those were the words after Theo broke away. It was true, Rose wouldn't interrupt... deliberately rubbing Theo's rough jaw, to recall some details of the incident before the car explosion incident separated them. Rose forgot to say something. It was her turn to pull Theo's face and give him a light peck on the lips. "Maybe that day has passed. But happy birthday," Rose whispered followed by a small smile. She had just fixed Theo with an unfocused stare. "How did you know?" A skeptical question Theo shouldn't have asked. "I saw the birthday cake on the table before we split up and you went to see your dad. It had Zever's name on it with the number 33 candles. Your birthday too, right?" The hesitant and faint nod confirmed Rose's words. "Where's my present?" Two words that managed to turn the atmosphere a lit
"No need to bandage it, Sugar. Just leave it like this." Theo tried to prevent the tugging of the thin fabric on Rose's body. The backless dress was no longer as perfect as the first time Rose wore it. Theo was too late. The sound of tearing indicated that the dress had partially become long strips, similar to what Rose had done to tie the firearm to her leg. The wound on Theo's body had to be covered, at least until the t-shirt dried in the sun. Rose didn't object and wouldn't have heeded Theo's statement until she pulled the big shoulders back. "Don't move," Rose ordered as she moved closer. She grabbed Theo from behind. Positioning the scratches to be covered by the cloth that had been joined end to end, so as to wrap her husband's upper body crosswise. "I told you not to. Now your clothes are short of material." "I've been short of material from the start," Rose said indiffe
Rose had to admit that Theo was quite different by remaining silent when their position was intact. The last sentence from her was ignored, the man was busy sniffing Rose's body scent. Deeply nuzzling the surface of her flat stomach. "Take a shower." Rose played with the black hair warmly. She smiled as Theo looked up at her. "Take a bath with me?" The ash bead drowned Rose deep in the warm ocean. She pursed her lips as she pulled Theo's facial skin wide to the side. "I'm old enough to bathe by myself. Hurry up...." A faint shake of Rose's head brought her to fall on her back on the bed. Theo's thirsty face and the man's large fingers began to dig into a t-shirt depicting a black bear, just like Theo who was currently resting on top of her. "I told you to take a shower, Theo. Not—" Rose was silenced by the tongue thrusting into her mouth. The sound of a wet sniffle trails off—a greeting of desire igni
Slowly Rose's eyelids slipped from their valves. The same Theo stared, silhouetted against each other in the mirror—Rose was lost in the seduction of the locking gray bead. "I was thinking of Oracle. He knows I don't like wearing earrings. Deliberately gifted me earrings so I'd wear them," Rose replied, successfully drawing one of Theo's eyebrows up high. "He's here, isn't he? Why don't you go straight to him." Theo's baritone voice whispered softly. Comparable to the smile on Rose's lips that curved again-this time briefly and too faintly. "He's back home ...." "Home?" Rose's body was slightly freed as Theo moved his face away from the crook of her neck. "Yes. Axe came to pick him up earlier." One step away she found Theo moving backwards. "Strange. Oracle came home because he was afraid of me, right? Did I hurt him too much?"Theo's quiet tone disturbed Rose's mind. She scrutinized the few times Theo's expre
Rose didn't care how the swaying bed jerked like a violent swinging shock. She maximized each powerful gallop like a giant crashing into the earth. Theo's body was a soft target for her feet. The man moaned in a submerged voice. Yet, also with pleasure... sometimes asking Rose to move from one spot to another. "Up again, Sugar. Up to the shoulders." Rose chuckled, still doing everything Theo wanted. One foot stomped even harder on her husband's hot, sexy shoulders. "That's it," Rose said. One leap ended the earthquake on the surface of Theo's body. She flung herself down beside the sleeping man. "You said you will give me back my gift box!" "I need to know. Who gave you the gift?" "Oracle. Here, give it back quickly." Rose's arms extended to pull the red velvet box in Theo's grasp. Their positions were in sync, both using their arms as a fulcrum to lift their chests. "Let me open it." Theo's large fingers separa
"No, you don't. You had your fill of acting like a baby last night." Rose ruffled the remaining strands of hair that still dangled over half of Theo's face. She looked down, searching for the most comfortable spot to strike. "Ouh, Sugar ...." A contrived hiss. Rose knew that no matter how much she clenched her teeth, it wouldn't give Theo much leverage. "Let go. I have to meet, Axe." "You son of bitch. I hope you don't leave before I get back." The chances of escape were slim in the conditions Rose had to face. She wasn't going to waste it, deliberately hunting her nimble footsteps leaving Theo alone lost on the bed. Rose reached for the doorframe. The hinges clicked after she positioned herself facing the man who had been calling impatiently. "You're taking so long." The stifled protest from the owner of the deep, raspy voice uploaded a barely perceptible smile on Rose's lips. "Sorry, Axe. I h
"Open your eyes, Theo." The throbbing was still as loud as it had been the first time Theo had spoken. Rose's heart and head were fighting each other. Each fighting for the space that overlapped the boundaries she had created for herself. In between came a strange feeling, which Rose could not organize into a symphony. She was a jumbled mess of randomness. Should have reconsidered Xelle's sentence a moment ago, was it true that Rose was trying to stay with someone who made her get lost in her own feelings? .... No, she wasn't. Rose didn't want to be confused by all that reality. As far as possible, she separated the things that shouldn't be lodged in the deepest corner of her heart. Towards a kind of choice which is the most appropriate to win Rose's sanity. She didn't want to be conquered. "Wake up. Get up, Theo!" Rose squeezed the clay muscles in her husband's arm. Turning the curled up body to face the ceiling of the main room. "T
"What conclusion?" A look of unequal color narrowed sarcastically. Rose's face was lifted a little roughly until she looked up and stared at each other. "It's so bad that even saying his name scares Oracle. And you say he didn't mean it?" Xelle's whisper was like a spark of fire. Quite disturbing if Rose had to admit it. She brushed off the lingering link of fingers, though Xelle's actions were not hurtful. "Theo didn't mean to. I was the one who misplaced the Oracle in our midst," Rose argued, not realizing how the blind finally blinked. "You're defending him, Rose?" Rose swallowed harshly. The glint in her eyes flickered quickly. "I'm not. It's just that you don't understand. I told you, that Theo did that out of his control. He had a nightmare last night." Rose held back the lump in the back of her throat. "You know I love Oracle, Axe, he's my son too. But please don't make a mess here. I've seen my husband hurt enough times. Not anymore. P
"Oracle, are you sure you want to go straight home? Not wait for Om T to wake up first?" Oracle's rejection firmly dispelled the offer Rose had repeatedly made. Rose's breath rushed out, lips pressed together thinly. She contemplated everything that had not and would happen. In front of her, from a distance Rose had guessed what Xelle's reaction would be, if the blue bruise on Oracle's conspicuously elastic bandage—covered wrist caught the heterochromia's eye. As slow as a leaf combing Rose changed position. Towering high, she awaited the quick approach of the one who was now beside her. "Daddy." The thin curve of the lips responded to Oracle's greeting. A neat knit of eyebrows rose with Xelle's sharp eyes scrutinizing. He took a deep look at Rose's face, then turned back to the first focal point. His large body knelt down, light as a feather to reach for Oracle's small fingers—noticing carefully the cloth wrapped densely... breaking the suspi
"Travis." Rose pushed her way in, making the man behind the ledger jump. "Sorry, Travis. I was in a hurry." "What is it, Miss?" The light question came after Travis closed the thin sheet marked with a string. "Do you have any painkillers or anything to treat the bruises on Oracle's hands? Theo just had a nightmare and accidentally did this to him. I'm scared if anything happens." Travis's eyebrows shot up. "Mr.T just had a nightmare?" he asked. In stark contrast to Rose's haste. Travis was too calm to notice the extent of the bruise. "No need to worry, miss. You'd better see the master, I'll treat him." Travis smiled. She hesitated between refusing or agreeing. Rose glared at Travis and Oracle's faces in turn. She blinked. "Are you sure there's nothing to worry about?" "Yes, Miss. I can handle it. You should see the master. He may need you." Stunned, considering things from all angles. Rose finally sighe
"Uncle T, you hurt me. Let me go!" "Uncle T!" Rose tried to understand the situation in the dim room. Faint squeals of pain clashed in the air. Rose frowned, as the almost uninterrupted movement in its entirety pulled her closed brown eyes wide open. In front of Rose several black events were fully recorded, broadcasting the silhouette of a rough resistance along with a small body that was trying hard to pull himself out of the grip of the subconscious. Rose's heart hammered violently. All the chaos overlapped to form ornaments in her head. She took definite steps, quickly bringing half the darkness to light. And then some things that Rose couldn't digest properly, appeared in a heap, jolting her feelings. On that torture—like bed .... Oracle was completely unable to resist the strong grip that could be seen from the muscles digging into the surface of the large, clayey, man—sized arms of the person there. The