The Village(Part 3)
As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my gaze fell upon Jasper, who was already up and about, moving with a fluidity and grace that made me question the events of the previous night. His effortless workout routine seemed to erase any trace of illness, leaving me to wonder if the fevered nightmare that had plagued us was nothing more than a figment of my imagination.
Had I imagined the entire ordeal, or was there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface, waiting to strike once more?
"Hey!" I couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration as Jasper's casual demeanor grated on my nerves. "What the fuck are you doing?" I demanded, my voice laced with irritation.
Jasper turned around, flashing me a disarming smile that only served to exacerbate my annoyance. "Oh, I heal up quickly and I sweat all night so I'm good now," he explained nonchalantly, resuming his impressive stretching routine as if nothing were amiss. "Did the young master sleep well? Must be since you slept past noon."
His flippant remark only served to fuel my irritation further. I glanced at the clock and realized with a jolt that it was indeed well past noon, a realization that only added to my growing sense of unease. I had never been one to sleep in without consequence, and the fact that I had done so now left me feeling unsettled.
Was this even okay? I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As I watched Jasper continue with his morning routine, a sense of foreboding settled over me like a dark cloud.
A knock at the door sounded, jolting me out of my thoughts. "Are you up yet? Can I open the door?" The voice of the old man from last night drifted through the room, a comforting presence amidst the lingering tension.
"We're awake," I called out, my voice betraying none of the irritation I was feeling. The old man pushed the door open without a sound, his presence a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.
"I brought you guys some fresh breakfast. I figured you guys could use it after last night," the old man announced, holding a shaky tray laden with a delectable spread of food.
"Thanks, old man," Jasper said gratefully, accepting the tray from him with a warm smile. The old man's gaze shifted to me, his eyes filled with concern.
"Did you sleep well last night? You look a bit angry," he remarked, his voice tinged with genuine worry.
"I'm not, this is just my face," I replied tersely, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. "I slept just fine." I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for snapping at him. He had only meant well, after all. But the events of last night had left me on edge, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister lurked beneath the surface of this quaint village.
"We slept great, thanks for your help last night! If it weren't for you, we might've been in a worse off situation." Jasper set the tray down next to me. "But if those guys were chasing us, why aren't you asking where we're from? Are you not afraid?"
"Who's afraid of you, brat? War couldn't take me and neither will you. I am also a poor man, what can you rob from me?" The old man countered. "Plus those guys were obviously street thugs. The worst kind of people. You can't be all that bad, your card actually went through."
"You won't ask why we were in the same bed?" I asked.
"I'm old. I've seen everything in life. Two men on a honeymoon doesn't surprise me. Isn't it trendy to do these things?" The old man slowly turned around and shuffled out of the room laughing at my shocked face. The uncertainty gnawed at me as I continued to eat, each bite feeling heavier than the last as I mulled over the old man's cryptic words and the implications they carried. What had he told the old man? And more importantly, what did the old man now think of us? Had Jasper divulged our true identities, putting us at risk of being discovered by whoever had sent those thugs after us? Or had he spun a tale to throw the old man off our trail, further complicating an already precarious situation?
"I told you this looked like a honeymoon suite." Jasper shrugged.
"Fuck! You did this on purpose!" I felt stupid for falling for his annoying tricks again.
"I really just grabbed the last room available. But that's not important right now,," Jasper said.
According to Travis and Jasper's informant it was group of small time gangsters who made a name for themselves terrorizing people for rich guys. Apparently the police haven't been able to stop them. They don't do business with just anyone so their grudge might be personal. Most likely they're after me but it wasn't clear who exactly sent them.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, sending a wave of frustration coursing through my veins. We were being hunted by thugs with unknown motives with an unknown backer, and I was left empty-handed, unable to negotiate with them even if I wanted to. All my hard-earned money had been squandered on seeds, leaving me defenseless in the face of danger.
"Great, just great," I muttered, rubbing my temples in exasperation. "So what's our next move?"
Jasper leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, we can't stay here forever. We need to come up with a plan, and fast."
I nodded in agreement, my mind racing with possibilities. We couldn't afford to stay on the run indefinitely, but we also couldn't risk facing those thugs head-on without a solid plan of action. We needed to find a way to outsmart them, to turn the tables in our favor before it was too late. But first, we needed to figure out who had sent them after us and why.
The worried whispers of the patrons followed us as we briskly made our way out of the inn after checking out, their concerned gazes lingering on us like unwanted shadows. Despite their attempts to stop us and offer more assistance, Jasper and I remained focused on our mission to leave, our steps quick and purposeful as we navigated through the crowded streets.
The narrow alleyways were a maze of activity, with vendors hawking their wares and locals going about their daily routines. We kept our heads down, trying to blend in with the throngs of people moving through the bustling marketplace, our eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble.
Every now and then, I felt a prickle of unease at the thought of being followed, but Jasper's steady presence beside me was a source of reassurance. With each step, we put more distance between ourselves and the inn, our pace quickening as we neared the hidden alley where Jasper had parked the car.
As we rounded the final corner, I felt a surge of relief at the sight of the sleek black vehicle waiting for us, its tinted windows offering a sense of security and anonymity. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins as we sprinted towards Jasper's hidden car, every fiber of my being focused on reaching safety.
When we got inside, I stretched out as much as I could in the confined space, letting out a long sigh of relief as the weight of the recent events lifted from my shoulders. In the cocoon of the car's interior, I felt shielded from the outside world, protected from prying eyes and unwanted attention now.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I allowed myself to relax completely, letting the gentle hum of the engine lull me into a state of tranquility. For the first time since the encounter at the inn, I felt truly at ease, free from the constant threat of danger that had been looming over us.
Despite my grumbling, I couldn't deny that there was a sense of liberation in having faced danger head-on and emerged unscathed.
"I regret this so much! Originally I just wanted to have seeds but I had to go on an escape adventure with you and stay in a shitty motel," I groaned, unable to resist the urge to complain.
"You regret coming with me?" Jasper asked, his tone laced with amusement. Despite my grumbling, I couldn't deny that there was a sense of liberation in having faced danger head-on and emerged unscathed.
"So much," I replied, trying to maintain the façade of annoyance even as a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
"It's too late to abandon me now," Jasper giggled, his laughter infectious.
I couldn't help but chuckle in response, the tension of the situation dissipating with each passing moment. "Think of it as a dummy gaining life experience. You can't ever plan another date," I teased, attempting to deflect his playful banter.
"Meaning there will be more, as long as I don't plan them?" Jasper caught me off guard with his quick wit.
I sighed, realizing that I had walked right into his trap. "Shit," I muttered under my breath, conceding defeat with a reluctant grin. "If you learn to behave," I retorted, unable to resist the opportunity to throw a playful jab back at Jasper.
"I know to ask before I kiss you again," Jasper quipped, his teasing tone causing my cheeks to flush with embarrassment. He started the car, and we drove off, leaving the quaint village behind us.
As I watched the village disappear in the rearview mirror, a pang of sadness washed over me. Despite the chaos and danger we had faced, there was something undeniably charming about the place. The people were kind, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was infused with a sense of warmth and hospitality that I found myself missing already.
"It's a shame we had to leave so soon," I murmured, my voice tinged with regret. "I wouldn't have minded staying a little longer."
Jasper glanced at me with a knowing smile. "You actually liked it there, didn't you?" he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
I scoffed, attempting to play it cool despite the warmth spreading through my chest. "Don't read too much into it. I just appreciated the change of scenery, that's all."
But deep down, I couldn't deny the truth. Despite my initial reservations and the unexpected turn of events, I had found myself strangely drawn to the village and its inhabitants. And as we drove further away, I couldn't shake the feeling of longing that lingered.
"We should've brought Travis. He would've liked the food," I mused aloud, a hint of regret coloring my tone as I recalled the delicious breakfast we had enjoyed earlier.
"Really?"
"What?"
Jasper glanced at me, his gaze searching. "Did you not like the kiss? Did I really make no progress with you that you're thinking about Travis?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity.
I looked out of the window, the passing scenery stirring up a sense of nostalgia within me as I ignored Jaspers question. "Did I ever tell you my Mom was a chef?" I asked Jasper, my voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"No?" Jasper replied, turning his attention to me with genuine interest.
"Before marrying my dad, she worked at a high-class restaurant as an executive chef," I explained, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "She was incredibly talented in the kitchen. But shortly after marrying my dad, she quit her job. Still, on the rare occasions when she was in a good mood, she'd cook for the entire family. I've got all her recipes memorized."
"You miss your mom?" Jasper asked.
"Why do you think I miss her?"
Jasper nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "It's just that sometimes the enemy can be an inspiration, that's all."
His words resonated with me, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I had spent years grappling with the complexities of my relationship with my mother, torn between the love I still harbored for her and the deep-seated resentment that had taken root in my heart.
"It's okay if you still love your mom, Alex," Jasper offered gently, his voice tinged with understanding. "She's your mom."
I let out a sigh, the weight of my emotions heavy on my shoulders. "I do love her, I can't help it, I'm aware. That's why I'm getting revenge on the entire family, to show them exactly how much I love them." It was a confession laced with bitterness, a glimpse into the depths of my grudge.
Jasper fell silent, his eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and concern. I immediately regretted my words, realizing that I had revealed more than I intended. It was a slip-up, a moment of vulnerability that I hadn't meant to share with anyone, least of all Jasper.
"Forget it," I scoffed angrily, shaking my head at my own foolishness. Why had I allowed myself to open up like that? It was as if a floodgate had been unlocked, releasing a torrent of emotions I had long kept buried.
I hated it.