Chapter 3
Anti-Social
Klaus like most others had never been a social guy. He was considered good looking by most, but that never really helped him in social situations. In fact, to him it almost made things worse. He was the type of guy that never wanted to be the centre of attention. He never wanted to be approached first. He never wanted to be anything more than just another guy walking by. The clothes he wore was never flamboyant or colourful, he never cut his hair in the latest style. He barely cut his hair at all.
This was mostly because he was dirt poor, but also because in his experiences; drawing attention can only lead to bad things. Bad things like getting t-boned by a crazy bus driver. Focusing on the wheels of afore mentioned bus, in the back of his mind it reaffirmed this belief.
He pushed the thought of hiss groggy mind out of the way. He first needed to survive then he could complain and the gun shots he heard were still going strong. ‘First assess.’ He started with the fingers on his left hand, wiggling them to see if they were usable. They were. The pain in his right hand made him ignore that one for now. Next were his toes, ankles knees. He hit a snag when trying to move his right knee. It was stuck. It did not help the mounting panic and the panic did not help the pain that throbbed through his head and right arm with his every heartbeat. Taking a deep breath he forced himself to calm down.
‘Time to have a look around.’ He did so and discovered he was shoved and stuck between the seat and the section where the television and fridge was. The beverages were strewn all over him and the rest of the car. When he moved his neck to see more a slow groan escaped him as his neck protested the action. A wave of nausea swept over him so he closed his eyes and simply lay still. In the moment that he looked around he could not see Lilith anywhere. ‘Was she thrown out of the car?’ To his surprise the thought made him worried.
Another burst of gunfire steered him away from analysing that piece of thought. With a grunt of effort and pain he willed himself into motion once more, ignoring the nausea. His left hand grabbed at the seam of the seat in an effort to pull himself out from the hole he was in. It slipped jostling his right arm. A few expletives followed this action, but he tried again and finally got a hold and pulled all the while gnashing on his teeth. He got about halfway before his stuck knee got in the way. Looking at the reason he felt half irritated, half angry and kicked at the little fridge door with his other leg forcing it shut and freeing his leg.
Finally on the seat again he took in great gasps of air, but he could not celebrate the small victory as more gun shots rang out. Lifting his head and while fumbling through his pocket for his cell, he saw the door on Lilith’s side was open; the light streaming through the door caused him to wince as what felt like lances pierced his brain. ‘No, not open. The whole door is missing. Was she really thrown out?’ He also discovered his phone missing so phoning for help was not possible. He also did not think he had time to look for it.
He scooted over to the exit, ignoring the pain. Looking out he saw what he imagined a warzone would look like. Aside from the bus another car was on its roof nearby. He could see a young woman inside, she was not moving, however, unlike him she was wearing her seatbelt and her airbag deployed.*
‘Did all this happen because of me?’ It was irrational, he knew but he felt guilty at the thought. Guilt aside, he needed to get a better picture of things. There had not been any gun shots in a while, but that did not mean it was safe. Cradling his arm and crouching low he exited the car keeping his back pressed against it. He looked to the left and immediately averted his gaze. ‘A dead body, without a head. What is going on?’
To his right was something less gruesome, but it still caused chills to run down his spine. ‘Half the car is gone! What did I get myself into? Deep breaths Klaus, deep breaths I have to survive first and then ask questions.’ The words felt as empty to him as it sounded.
‘New plan, check Mr headless for a weapon and cell. Head to airbag girl and see if she is okay. Find Lilith and get away. Easy.’ Just as he thought it a short burst of gun shots rang out.
With pursed lips, he looked over at the headless body. Like the goons earlier he was wearing a suit, but it was more bulky. Fighting down his squeamishness, he leaned over and started to search the body with shaking hands. The man had a shoulder holster but it was empty and Klaus swore. For a second he had no idea what to do, but remembering what he saw on a cop show he rolled up the corps' pants leg after scanning around to see if the coast was clear. He nearly let out a shout in jubilation, but the happiness at success turned into trepidation. He remembered what guns did to his friend. Fighting down the horror he pulled the small revolver from its ankle holster. He felt surprised at the weight of the gun; it was heavier than expected, but considering the weight of what it represented it seemed fitting to him.
It felt awkward in his hand, not because he had to use his left, but because he had never handled one before. ‘It can’t be that hard right. Point and shoot.’ He shook his head. Lying to himself would not help. He could only try his best and hope he lived to tell the tale.
Weapon in hand, he ran over to the bus in a crouch with his head on a swivel. It hurt to constantly look around, but with the help of the adrenaline now pumping through his veins, he ignored it.
The bus was a wreck at the front which pointed at the young woman stuck in her car. He could see blood everywhere and where the driver used to be the engine block now sat. The man was crushed beyond recognition. ‘Serves him right, stupid bastard.’ Klaus had misgivings about hurting others, but he had a hard-line that those that hurt innocents needed punishment. It did not mean that he felt like he had to dole out the punishment, he did not want to be an idiot with a hero complex. He would try his best to reveal the truth or report it to the authorities though.
Peering around the crumpled and destroyed front of the bus, he looked down the street. Another car was smashed to smithereens; whoever was inside, long dead. Smoke was billowing from somewhere further to the left and out of view. Far in the distance he could see pedestrians; some were running away while others hid behind whatever they could find. A few idiots were standing in the open taking pictures or videos. ‘No assholes with guns.’ He thought happily.
Looking over at the girl in the car he felt it was now or never. Tucking his right arm as close to his side as possible, Klaus sprinted over while keeping low to the ground. Every second step was met with a grunt of pain. He powered through. The young woman may look fine from a distance yet could be in imminent danger.
Coming to a skidding halt, he slammed into the car right next to the young woman’s window. Klaus’ eyes darted around looking for any danger that might now reveal itself, but he could see nothing. He took a chance to look down and through the window. A finger in front of her nose told him she was still breathing. ‘Breathing is good, breathing is really good, but now what? Get her out or leave her here. Moving her could cause more harm, a stray bullet could also kill her.’
He heard it then. A sound he had only heard from action movies. Boots, boots on glass crushing it into the asphalt. They were not frantic but measured. He felt like he had just stepped into a horror movie. His heart rate spiked and he could almost smell his own fear. Slowly, Klaus reached for the gun. The boot sounds were on the other side of the car, he could now see the boots through the broken front window.
He was alarmed because, Lilith’s people wore suits, dress shoes and no pedestrian would go gallivanting in what looked like boots with urban camo-pants tucked into them. It would not be the police, Klaus had never heard sirens.
The young woman chose that instant to wake up. The first thing she saw was Klaus’ panicked face so she let out a yelp which turned into a full on desperate cry for help before starting to flail around in a panic. The sounds she made nearly caused Klaus to jump out of his skin. ‘By the sudden pause and step back, Mr Boots nearly shit his pants too. It won’t be long before he comes here and judging by how these people barrelled through traffic just to get to us these guys are ruthless.’
The screaming continued, but Klaus ignored it. The woman was in shock and he could not blame her. ‘She does make a great distraction though. Will I be able to shoot him? Will I be able to kill someone?’
The thought frightened him and he pushed it away. ‘First do and then think about it or I may die today.’
Watching the boots stick close to the car, Klaus got an idea. He crawled forward making himself as small as possible until reaching the corner. The boots turned the corner on the other side and were now making its way across the front of the car. Klaus, would be right in front of whoever the boots belonged to if they turned the last corner.
Careful steps, almost maddeningly slow made its way closer and closer. Klaus did not know if he wanted to shout and just shoot or wait and see. The indecision, the wait everything harried him until there was no choice left. ‘If I miss now, I deserve to be shot.’ He cocked the hammer back placed the nozzle right on the bridge of the boot closest to him and pulled the trigger.
The gun barked and a woman screamed. A spray of automatic fire traced a line right past his face, kicking debris into his eyes.
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“You little bastard, I am going to kill you.”
Klaus forced his eyes open past the dirt. The woman was on her side groping for the gun that must have fallen out of her hand. He got up in a crouch and aimed his own. “Don’t do it!”
The shout sounded more desperate than in command. He did not want to kill anyone; he did not want to be a murderer like the ones that killed Macy. He also did not want to die.
The woman got her hand on the gun; Klaus pulled the trigger a second time. It hit her in the hip. Her hand was still on the gun. He pulled the trigger a third time. This time a hole appeared in the side of her head. The other side exploded outward sending scull and brain fragments raining down all over the asphalt.
Klaus blew out a shuddering breath he never knew he was holding and slumped down next to the car. “Why, I told her to stop! I told her!”
Rushing boots drew nearer and he wiped at his eyes to clear it from dirt and tears. Cocking the hammer again he looked towards the sound just as a man appeared similarly dressed to the woman he had just shot. He lifted the gun, pulled the trigger. It hit the bus right next to the rushing man who stopped and jumped right back into cover behind the bus.
Klaus’s heart thumped in his ears, he was sure he would die now. The man had cover and Klaus had nothing. Still aiming the gun he waited for his death, one second then two. He saw movement and pulled, the gun barked again. Instead of a man steadily aiming a gun at him, he saw the man come flying out; rag dolling before hitting the other crushed car with a sickening squelch.
Confusion riddled Klaus’ face before relief when he saw Lilith appear where the man had been. Her blouse had holes in it and the one side of her dress suit’s skirt was torn revealing a leg in a thigh high stocking.
“Where are you looking?” She asked with the same mischievous smile she had confronted him with earlier that day.
Not sure what to say he pointed the gun at the dead woman and then gestured all around. She saw the action and blanched. “Oh, Klaus don’t worry you are safe now.” She said rushing over.
While she was Klaus once more looked through the window. The young woman had been quiet for a while now and he wanted to make sure she is okay. Scared eyes met his. “Don’t worry, you are okay I will get you out.” The fear left her eyes at his voice, but there was still wariness.
“Klaus, what are you doing?” He heard Lilith’s voice.
He was overcome by anger and then a sense of shame which once again turned into anger. She had told him he was safe with her, but that probably meant these people were here for him so could he really blame her when she was trying to keep him safe? The anger came again when he wondered what the people could want.
Klaus, finally found his voice when he managed to crawl into the window and unbuckle the seatbelt. “I am helping this woman.” His voice sounded weak to even him and he hated himself for it, he hated even more that he had just killed someone. The young woman crawled over him and out the window causing him to wince when she touched his right arm.
When out she barely stood there a second; the withering stare Lilith gave her made up her mind to leave and she started running towards the distant people gawking at the event. She did not know these crazy people and did not want to stick around a second longer.
Klaus crawled out not long after. Lilith started urging him in a direction and they made their way through the wrecks. On the other side of the half limo was a scene out of a horror movie. More men in black suits and the people in camo were strewn around. There were bullet casings everywhere some bodies even seemed to have been crushed or ripped limb from limb.
Klaus came to a halt. “You said I was in danger, but this.”
“I know what I said, I told you, you would be safe with me and I am sorry this happened. I am sorry you had to kill, it’s all my fault.” Klaus said nothing and just listened and looked into her purple eyes. He wanted to believe her but couldn’t.
Cupping his face in her hands she came closer until their faces almost touched. “This is on me. It’s on me and the bastards that attacked us, but please listen to me- we have to leave.”
He nodded in acceptance. He did not want to argue or think for that matter. He wanted to find the deepest hole, crawl into it and forget this ever happened. A black truck pulled up and they jumped in. It pulled away before they were even properly seated. This time, Klaus fastened his seatbelt as soon as he could. He heard sirens in the distance. “Only now they come.” He muttered more to himself than anyone else.
Lilith gave him a sad smile. “We have an… understanding with them. So they won’t come unless we give the go ahead.”
Klaus only shook his head at that. ‘Am I mixed up with a crime family?’
Lilith patted Klaus’ leg. “No, little Klaus. You are mixed up in things far worse than that.”
It was then that he decided to keep his mouth shut. He wanted answers and needed a whole lot of explaining, but for now his body hurt. He just killed someone and he felt so tired. ‘I will just close my eyes for minute.’
It was the last thought he had before everything went dark and he was lost to dreamland.
Klaus woke up to a soft touch against his cheek, he smelt gun smoke a hint of iron, but underneath it all something… feminine?. His head was throbbing and he wanted to just sleep more, but something felt strange. He had been sitting when he fell asleep and now he was laying down. The glare from the sun which had been a constant source of pain to his eyes and head was no longer present and the roar of the engine was silent. ‘Where am I?’
“Finally awake?” Asked Lilith’s voice from above him. Turning his head he realized what the softness was. ‘She was giving me a lap pillow?’
“Yes I was.” She said and he realized she was hardly paying attention to him and just looking out of the window.
He slowly sat up nursing his right arm with a grunt.
She looked over, her purple eyes scanning over him and then frowned before looking out the window again.
Klaus followed her gaze and realized they were in an underground parking lot of some kind. All manner of expensive sports and luxury cars were arranged around them, but that is not what drew Lilith’s gaze. No, she was looking right down the centre between the cars at an elevator with what he now knows is her family crest above it.
“Why are we just sitting here?” He croaked out, surprised at how rough his own voice sounded.
She gave him another measuring look, before sighing. “Behind that door awaits my family and everything I used to love; Status, money and power. Now I can’t seem to recognize the person I was when I lived here. When we stopped here, I realized that I am not sure who I am anymore. For a person like me it’s-.” She stopped halfway and looked at him. “It’s unheard of and troubling.”
Klaus slumped back against the seat. “Well- he coughed- you have a family to return to. That is more than what most have. As for the status, money and power, you still have it I would assume. From a poor guy’s perspective those things are important yes, but the things in themselves are not what’s important. It should only serve as a means to an end. What do you want to use those things for? I don’t see the purpose of having all that just to say “I have it”, that’s just silly. You must have had a reason, now that reason seems lost to you. Find it again or get a new one.”
She laughed at that answer and Klaus was surprised and a bit embarrassed because she did. “Well you don’t have to listen to me, I am just an orphan.”
“Oh, that’s not why I am laughing although Sage Klaus is adorable and naïve; there was also wisdom in what you said. We just have to deal with the little things one step at a time, right?” She opened the door and he aimed to open his, but the strength just was not there.
She walked over and opened his as well. Like an old man he climbed out and leaned against the truck. “Sorry, I just feel so drained.”
She smiled. “That’s the accelerated healing drawing energy from a human body. You have not awakened completely yet so you are going to feel tired until you heal what seem to be a broken arm sprained knee and possibly a mild concussion.”
Klaus frowned when he heard this. “Wait, you knew I have a broken arm and all that other stuff and let me sleep in the car while we were sitting outside your house?”
“Yes.” The innocent look she gave him made him blink twice, before hobbling over to her.
“You know, remind me to let Sage Klaus give you a speech about priorities next time.”
Lilith snorted, not denying her minor lapse in judgment. Klaus tried to bore holes into her skull, with accusatory eyes while she walked and he wobbled over to the elevator.
“Well you know the town is named after my family, right?” She asked smugly.
“Yes.” Klaus said with a bit of apprehension.
“We are probably one of the richest families in this country.” She said boastfully.
“Yes, and?” Klaus asked with a raised eyebrow.
“And you are about to walk into their house dressed like this, sweaty and covered in dirt. On the verge of collapse and- what are you doing?”
Klause had stopped and turned around. “I am leaving.”
“Don’t be so anti- social.”
At her words he turned around once more, nearly falling over in the process. On her face he could see that mischievousness he saw when they first met. “Are you teasing me?”
“Yes, now come along, they are already watching.” The innocent face with which she said it made him frown.
‘Innocent my ass.’
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
They made it to the elevator and Klaus reached down to press the “up” button. “You had to do it, didn’t you.”
Before he could reach the button, the door opened on its own. “Do what and I told you they were watching already.”
They shuffled inside the elevator. “You had to jinx it all to hell.” The elevator closed to the laughter of Lilith.
Klaus rested his head against the elevator wall, enjoying the cold elaborately decorated wall against his hot skin and throbbing head. His mind warned him that he should not dirty the place, but he almost could not care anymore. The silence brought on memories of today. Memories of how he killed someone. A soft hand on his shoulder reminded him that Lilith could read his mind.
“I am fine.” He said.
“You will be.” Her hand gave him a light squeeze and the doors opened with a resounding ding, which bore into his skull and reverberated in there like a jackhammer.
The first thing he noticed was the butler standing there and looking at him. ‘The man’s nose is so far up in the air if it were to go higher he would be bending backwards.’
Seeing the attitude of the butler he already knew this was going to be terrible.
The butler slowly turned from him to Lilith and gave her a deep bow. “Lady Lilith, welcome home. Lady Boeithia is waiting for you in the study as for your… friend, will-“
She interrupted him then. “My friend’s name is Klaus Alexandros Roth and you will give him the respect he deserves and I will remind you, Clairmont. I am an elder of this house. With the same status as Boeithia, so I will not be summoned like some pet. Do you understand or will we need a new butler soon?”
He gave Klaus a startled second look after hearing his name, before giving him a bow too. Klaus felt more comfortable being looked down on if he had to be honest. “I apologize if my actions gave offence, Sir Roth. I will inform Lady Boeithia, of the arrival of your esteemed guest.” After standing upright he saw Klaus sway on his feet. “Shall I call the family physician as well?”
“Please do, Clairmont, if it is not too much to ask.” Lilith’s voice was a lot milder this time, but there was still a bite to it.
Klaus managed two steps into the foyer, before collapsing. Lilith was there to catch him.
The last few things to go through his mind was the regret in coming here. The reception had gone about as expected, but the state he was in made it even worse.
His tired and delirious mind got stuck on what Lilith said earlier and he mumbled it into her ear. “They are going to think I am terribly anti-social.”