“I assume you know why you’re here?” The second man asked her expectantly.
“Not quite,” Cara answered in an almost whisper.
“My name is Detective Graeme and this is Agent Carter.” The first man motioned to his colleague who was taking a seat opposite Cara.
“Can you confirm your job title for us, Miss Jones?” Agent Carter asked, flicking through a file in front of him.
“I’m erm... the head of my department in Biochemistry,” Cara spoke nervously.
“And...you worked on the Trypanosomiasis Vaccine?” Agent Carter turned another page.
“That’s correct.”
“With...err... Mr Charlesto
Archer was rubbing his hands together nervously, the sweat-soaked his palms. The waiting room was almost empty with only a few elderly people seated at the far end of the room. Cara placed her hand over Archer’s fists that were now red raw. Archer stilled under her touch, his honey-coloured orbs meeting her blue ones. “Sorry, I’m just nervous.” Archer smiled lightly. “Me too,” Cara whispered and returned the smile. “Cara Jones,” A female doctor appeared in the doorway with a clipboard in hand. Archer stood up immediately, pulling Cara by the hand eagerly. The pair entered the tiny room. A hospital bed was positioned in the far corner with a curtain tucked on either side, the smell of disinfectant wafted around Cara who was trying to maintain composure and not h
Archer pulled up to a large brick house in the middle of a quaint little village. The sweet scent of flowers carried through the light breeze. The building was a typical bay-windowed home, complete with wooden windows and shutters and a lacquered grey door that looked newly painted. The front garden was decorated in an array of brightly coloured shrubbery and flowers. In the centre of the garden was a large blossom tree, painted with stunning pink and white petals. Cara took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car, the breeze calmed the prickly heat making its way up her neck. Archer tangled his fingers with hers, kissing the back of her hand affectionately. “Nervous?” He asked her. “A little.” Cara almost whispered. She took a deep breath and followed Archer up the grey paved path. The door opened befo
Cara and Jessica were sitting either side of a bowl of popcorn, with Diesel sprawled out on the floor. The pair were watching Forest Gump for the hundredth time since Archer had returned to work. Two months had passed since the break-in at Cara’s company and life was gradually resuming back to normal; as normal as could be. Archer had fully recovered from his wounds and was coming home as often as possible. When he wasn’t able to, Jessica would visit to keep the demons in Cara’s head at bay. She was still uncomfortable being completely alone, even in Archer’s apartment but when the anxiety got too much she would call Jessica. “Stupid is as stupid does,” Jessica repeated mockingly at the film, shoving her hand in the near-empty bowl. Cara laughed as her friend shoved more popcorn in her mouth and continued imitating Tom Hanks. “You need a new hobby
Cara stumbled backwards. She could feel the colour drain from her face, there was no mistaking what she heard. Her hand fumbled behind her, reaching for the door and swiping her ID card clumsily. The beeping of the door opening alerted whoever was in the room ahead. “Hello?” The voice behind the door called. Cara tiptoed backwards, slowly closing the door behind her. Her heart was beating fast, threatening to burst out of her chest. She heaved breaths as she ran to the bathroom slamming her back against the door. Cold sweat ran down her neck. She closed her eyes, steadying her breathing. The faint sensation of the walls being too close to her caused her to slide down the door. The loud thumping of her heart resonated in her ears, her surroundings were blurred and she couldn’t focus. Cara pursed her lips as
Archer lay awake, watching Cara sleeping peacefully in his arms. The gentle rise and fall of her chest and the little puffs of air from her lips on every exhale. It was the little things that reminded him that he had everything he could ask for. He carefully peeled the sheets away from his body, making his way to the kitchen for a glass of water. Floorboards creaked under his bare feet as he entered the living room and he turned to find Diesel was standing at the front door. “Diesel?” He stalked up to him, bending down to stroke him. “It’s too early for a walk.” He ruffled his fur, “come on, bed.” Diesel remained at his station, eyes focused on the door. He let a growl leave his lips and Archer stood up abruptly. He placed an ear against the door but couldn’t hear anything. Double checking the locks on the door, he then glanced through the inte
** Trigger warning** This chapter contains scenes of violence. Please read at your own discretion. ______________________________________________________ “I love you so much.” Archer groaned into her lips. Cara returned the feverish kiss, “I love you too. Are you sure you want to do this?” She asked, biting her lip gently. She stared down at the beautiful ring sitting on her finger, it fit perfectly and the diamonds glistened in her eyes. “More than anything.” Archer held her hand, not wanting to let go as he sat across from her. “When did you get this?” She spoke in awe. “My father, Elliot. He gave it to me the
It had been two days since the attack, Archer was beginning to get worried about Cara. She had closed herself off, eating minimal food and not speaking a word.“Please Cara,” Archer urged, clutching her hands as he knelt down on the floor in front of her. “You need to eat something. If not for me, for our baby.” Cara nodded, the only response she had given him over the last few days.Archer smiled weakly, planting a kiss on her forehead and making his way to the kitchen.Cara was once again tormented by her nightmares and Archer being there wasn’t easing them like it once did. She had sat in front of the TV, uninterested and with a blank expression since Saturday. She would wrap herself around Archer’s strong arms and close her eyes, trying to remove the memory of what
Cara was curled up in Archer’s arms, the Notebook was playing on the TV. They had spent most of the week in the same position, watching films whilst Cara ate her hormones. She glanced up at Archer as the scene on screen unfolded. Ali and Noah were fighting, reminding Cara of her and Archer’s relationship at the beginning. They had watched the film several times since being together and despite Archer’s armoured and inked exterior, he had the softest heart. She gazed up at him, his eyelashes twitching under his sleeping eyes. Cara reached up, tracing his freshly shaved jawline. They would never be like Ali and Noah, Archer was everything to her. She wouldn’t need to choose between him and someone else, it wasn’t even a thought that crossed her mind. Their first weekend together had solidified any doubts she had about Rich. She needed someone like Archer; someone who could be both vulnerable
“You look beautiful!” Jessica smiled at Cara through the mirror. “Let’s get this on.” She picked up the long ivory coloured dress from the hangar, draping it across the bed. She examined it closely, undoing each button and holding it open for Cara. She stepped into it, pulling the straps over her slender shoulders. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, the deep V that plunged between her breasts, accentuating her bust. The tight corset that squeezed her insides but revealed her curvaceous figure. “Archer’s going to love this, not so sure about taking it off though. These buttons are a bugger!” Jessica squeezed and pulled, the force pinched at Cara’s stomach. “When did you last get this fitted?” “Jess, don’t.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Oh babe!
*Six Months Later* It had been a quiet plan in the making and Archer was slightly nervous as he drove Cara and Ayla down the quiet streets. Ayla sat in her car seat mumbling and gurgling gibberish as Cara gazed wondrously out of the car window. Bright green bushes reflected emerald light, while dazzling flowers beamed under the intensity of the sunlight. It was early spring, the floral foliage danced in the light breeze and bees bumbled around gleefully. “Why have we come this way?” Cara asked him. They had been visiting Archer’s parents and he had taken this detour purposefully unbeknownst to her. “I want to show you something.” He answered simply, concentrating on the road in front. His sweaty palms gripped the steering wheel as his stomach churned anxiously.
The loud beeps of the monitor penetrated Cara’s eardrums. She winced at each piercing note causing her to open her eyelids. She groaned as her eyes fluttered open, attempting to figure out where she was. Her vision was blurred, grogginess enveloped her heavily and a dull ache radiated down every part of her body. While her body felt heavy and stiff, she could feel her extremities again and she was thankful that she wasn’t paralysed. “Cara.” Archer’s voice whispered to her. He stroked her supple cheeks, waiting for her to come around. He couldn’t hold onto his patience as she awoke, he had been waiting nervously for the last 24 hours for Cara, it had been a difficult time for everyone. He had been terrified of losing her and the baby, he was furious with himself that he was unable to protect them both. When she had told him she was having the baby, he felt physically sick. He had to control his anger and g
Max leaned forward, his teeth shone in her face. His breath was hot and Cara grimaced as she inhaled. He brought the needle to her neck, his other hand still grasped at her throat, firmly blocking her airways. She scratched and clawed, gasping for breaths. Cara had only one other option. She slid the gun out from her side, placing it between her chest and his. “Bottoms up, my love.” He sneered at her. She closed her eyes, she could feel the sharp pierce of the metal on her skin, her finger squeezed the trigger as the cold liquid began to trickle into her veins. A loud bang exploded through the room and Max slumped to the ground. The room fell silent, only the heaving breaths that came from Cara resonated with her. The loud ringing in her ears pierce
Cara awoke suddenly, bright lights impaired her vision and a foreboding headache had formed across her frontal lobe. She felt groggy, her throat was dry and the searing pain that radiated up her spine was incapacitating her by the minute. She turned her head, blinking heavily and groaning as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Everything was still blurry, she could feel the open cut on her forehead, it stung in the cold air, making Cara wince. Cara tried to wipe her head, but her arms were instantaneously yanked back by restraints. “Not so fast.” Max taunted her with a smirk. The sudden realisation of what was happening shook her and she became more alert.She pulled and tugged but her restraints remained fi
The corridors blurred into one as Cara ran as fast as her feet would take her. The blood seeped down her leg and she clutched her stomach protectively. She needed to get out of the building, but on each turn of the corner, she found herself more confused than the last time. The excruciating pain gripped her spine, it felt like it was almost breaking but the adrenaline that coursed through her veins refused to let her stop moving. She needed to get to safety; she needed to find Agent Carter. Everything had happened so fast, one minute she was waiting for Agent Carter to return and the next she woke up on the top floor of the building. She was now wandering aimlessly across the seventh floor, unsure of how she got there and dazed and disoriented by her surroundings. *One Hour Earlier*
The rain was attacking from all sides unforgivingly as Cara walked the path. Almost like the puddles had a mind of their own, the droplets bounced up from the pavement, spraying around her feet and up her skirt. Her umbrella fought the wind valiantly but by the time she had reached the door to her work, it was a broken mess of material, wire and water. Her skirt and shoes were drenched and she silently cursed herself for not bringing spare clothes with her. It was strangely quiet in the building today, the deep echoes of Cara’s footsteps resonated through the corridors. Normally there would hustle and bustle around the labs, general chit chat about weekends and events. The only sounds were the wet pads of her feet slapping against the tiled floor below her. The lab was in her sight and she welcomed the warmth that she would receive from entering her office. S
The crisp coastal breeze felt refreshing as it circled their bodies. Cara didn’t mind the shiver it instilled in her, Archer’s arms around her was enough to settle the chill. They had sat for a while, mostly in silence and listening to the soft breeze and crash of the waves as they lapped on the shore. It was a break from the chaos around them, the months had been difficult and Cara inwardly hoped that things would settle down; get easier in a way. Archer was evidently excited as the due date neared, while Cara held onto the slice of anxiety that simmered beneath her skin. She still held onto the worry that would course through her veins at night, wondering what the next problem would be and how Archer would react. It can’t have been easy for him, she knew as much. Meeting your biological mother after decades of absences would cause you to harbour resentment but he had worked through it. The news of
The autumn weather had set in, leaves whipped and wove around the trunks of their trees. Branches swayed and swerved through the wind as it assaulted everything in its path. Cara clutched onto Archer’s arm while they followed the path to the Church of All Saints. She gazed up at the strong, stoic man beside her, it filled her with pride that he had remained determined to hold his composure. They had silently got ready that morning, she had opted for a loose fitting black dress and flat shoes, her movement was restricted enough without having to fight the constant battle of tight clothing. He was dressed in an all black suit with a silver tie over his white shirt. His tattooed hands peeked from his sleeves and wrapped around Cara’s slender fingers. She offered him a feeble smile which he returned. The deep emotions of sadness were evident as they entered the church, the organ played in the background