Chapter 1: This is Just the Beginning
She stood at the top of the Empire State Building. It was not what it appeared to be. She wasn’t distressed. Everything in her life was just as it should be. She had a job. She was getting a degree at the State University. She had her hiccups; there would be times when she would just want to break down and cry, but that was… real. It was an average reality. Yet, that was her problem; it was a reality; it was average. She was in an all too real world where she wouldn’t step back and feel giddy, silly, or as if she was in a daydream.
The wind blew her long, auburn hair into her face. She took in a deep breath. She stood at the top to get the feeling. She wanted to know what it felt like to be free. She watched the city below, gazing at the color and the lights, yet her mind didn’t register the colors. She was gazing into space searching; trying to find that one impossible thing.
She sighed, pulling out of her thoughts. “Why can’t my life be,” she tried to find words, “Interesting?” She leaned over the ledge to look down and her heart beat quickened just a bit.
“Want something interesting?” A voice said behind her. She jumped in fright and whirled around. A man in a white hood and weird wrist guards stood there. He was young, mid-twenties, strong build, tall, shaggy black hair, and ice blue eyes. His face wore that of amusement and curiosity.
The woman cleared her throat, straightening herself a little. “I, I wasn’t speaking to you,” she said, trying to sound confident. The strange man remained silent. He walked up to the ledge beside her to look out over the city.
“What’s your name?” he asked. She watched him carefully.
“April,” she replied bluntly.
He smiled and extended his hand, “Nice to meet you. I’m Killian.” She took it warily.
“Not to be rude, but what do you want?” she asked. Killian laughed.
“I don’t want anything!” he said, “But I was wondering, what are you doing up here?” April noticed that he had a slight Scottish accent; it was very, very slight.
“It’s none of your business. What are YOU doing up here?” She asked. Killian took a step back, taking a short bow as if apologizing.
“Well, excuse me, milady,” he said sweeping into a standing position, “But I believe it is my business and my own terms for being up here, aye?” Yep, definitely Scottish.
“Okay,” April consented, “But whatever it is, it is a very odd ‘business’ to take place up here. I hope it will run smoothly for you.” Killian laughed.
“I am really not sure if it’s going smoothly or not,” he admitted. April’s face turned to a bit of shock.
“This, this is your business?” she asked. She gestured between Killian and her. “I am not for sale,” she said defiantly.
“I’m not buying you,” he said, “I’m offering something you might want.” April was silent for a moment.
“What do you have to offer?” she asked, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
“An experience,” he said. He walked over to the edge, looking out over the city. “I know what you were doing up here.” April involuntarily flinched.
“What kind of experience?” she asked. Killian turned his ice blue eyes towards here.
“Breath-taking,” he said. April stared at him; her mind contemplated on what to do. She only came here for a breather, right? It was just a breather. She has work to do. It’s time for her to leave.
“I, You know , I think I’ll pass,” she said, buttoning up her coat. She could see the light die in Killian’s eyes, but it didn’t matter. Handsome, yes. Dangerous, possibly. She only just met him, so she wasn’t going to on some crazy adventure.
“Are you sure?” he asked. She stopped halfway out the door. Her own thoughts echoed inside her head.
A crazy adventure, her mind echoed. She turned back to Killian.
“Yeah,” she said, biting her lip. He nodded. He turned around, pulling his hood back on. She watched his unmoving figure for a moment before leaving. When Killian felt her eyes leave him, he took a sigh. It was going to be a lot more work to help that woman than he thought.
April was working in her tiny cubicle the next day as if nothing had happened last night. She had totally forgotten about Killian, that is, until he showed up.
“Miss Charity,” a clerk said, appearing at the entrance of her cubicle. April looked up from her work.
“Yes Denise?” she asked.
“Someone insisted on seeing you,” she said, blushing slightly. April leaned back, a bit confused.
“Okay, send him in,” she said. Denise nodded and rushed off. April brushed off Denise’s behavior and continued filing paperwork.
“You can go see her now,” Denise said with a smile. The man nodded, giving her a smile in return before going down the hallway. Denise took a sip of water to cool herself down. She couldn’t help but think that that man looked like someone from “Assassin’s Creed”.
They were waiting. They were watching. They had to act soon or the plan would fail.
“Target in sight,” the com buzzed. The two men reached up to their ears to reply.
“We are moving in.”
April looked up from her paper work to see Killian standing there, looking at her from outside her cubicle. She jumped, dropping her paperwork. Killian rolled his eyes and stepped in to help her pick them up. They got on the floor to start picking papers up.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed. Killian was quick to reply.
“You need to come with me,” he said. April huffed.
“No, I said I didn’t want to go on a romantic adventure,” she said. Killian almost looked hurt.
“I didn’t say it was romantic in anyway,” he said with a slight snort, “There would be no room for that.”
“And I have no interest,” April finished, “Give me a better reason not to call security?”
“Because they’ll take us both out,” Killian said lowly, peering out of the cubicle, still on his knees. He leaned back inside, giving his stack of papers to April. She started organizing them.
“I am not going anywhere with you,” she said, not looking up from her work. Killian watched her with intense eyes. She took a deep breath. “I am getting a degree as an IT at New York University. Then, I will move to the O.C and be hired there, working in a posh company.” Killian furrowed his brow.
“Why California?” he asked.
“It’s sunny, it’s warm. That’s how I like it,” she said, looking up at him.
“What’s so bad about the cold?” he asked.
“Because it’s,” April faltered, “It’s, it’s cold!” Killian smirked.
“You can’t escape the heat! Living in the cold, you get to bundle up. There is always a chance to escape the cold,” he said.
“You die freezing to death in the cold,” April hissed.
“You can't feel it. Dying in the heat is longer, slower and much more miserable,” Killian retorted. April huffed.
“You’re going to get,” she said, “Someday, talking like that.” She sat back into her chair, but Killian warily sat into his chair; looking around before sitting down.
“I think today’s pay day,” he said. April sighed putting the stack of paper’s on the desk.
“No, It’s next Friday,” she said.
“No, my payday,” Killian said urgently.
“Then go get it,” she said, not looking up.
“I don’t think you understand, April,” he said. She took note that he actually said her name. She turned around to see he was gone. She looked around, even behind the small trashcan in her cubicle but he was gone.
“Excuse me, miss,” a gruff voice said. April looked up to see two men in black suits standing at her cubicle.
“Uh,” her voice shook a bit, “How may I help you?”
“Have you seen this man?” they held out a picture. It was a picture of Killian, running between cars, hair blown back from wind, looking back at something chasing him. April pretended to be studying the picture.
“I-,” something caught April’s eye. She saw Killian poking his head out from behind a column shaking his head ‘no’. April looked back up at the two big men. “I’m sorry, sirs, but I have not seen him before,” she said. Her heart was threatening to thump out of her chest, she was so afraid.
The two men looked at each other. April looked around to see the last co-workers leaving. She looked up at the clock; it was high-time she went home.
“April Charity,” One of the men said, but didn’t finish sentence. His body shuddered and his eyes rolled up to the back of his head.
“Bobby?” The other man asked with some concerned. Bobby fell to the floor, Killian standing in his place. April and the other suited man gasped.
“Hello,” Killian said, “I would like a raise.” He punched the security guard and wrestled him to the ground. April stood up, hands over her mouth. One last punch and the second guard was out cold.
“You just attacked a man of the law!” April cried. Killian looked at her oddly.
“That wasn’t a man of law, and shouldn’t you be thanking me?” he asked, not waiting for a reply. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her cubicle and they ran for the stairs.
“Why not the elevator?” April asked, breathing heavily.
“Too long, just keep running!” Killian yelled, bursting into the stairwell. April rushed after him; thankfully it was the one day she wore flats!
“What are we doing?” April yelled as they ran out of the building.
“Running!” Killian chirped.
“I know that!” April cried, “What is the big idea, Einstien?” She and Killian rounded a corner and stopped taking a breath.
“We are on the run,” Killian said between breaths. April was trying her best to even say a word. Killian placed his hands on April’s arms.
“I need to keep you out of danger,” he said. April was still breathing heavily, but gave him a questioning look. Killian shook his head thinking of something else to say.
“You’re in danger,” he said.
