Chapter 24

UNEDITED-

Marisol POV-

"You told me not to Lie." Alexs reply took me by surprise. I didn't laugh this time. I just wondered what exactly she was daydreaming about.

"Fair enough.." I shrugged.

Nothing else was said until we made it outside and across to the shooting range..

A long stretch of dirt with a bunch of metal circles on the floor, lining all the way to the end at least 400 metres away.. We stood behind a knee hight concrete wall. A skinny bald man with a tattoo on his chin going down his neck past where I could see sat in a small booth behind a computer screen next to us.

"Levi.. Can you put two in please?" Alex asked him.

"Distance?" He replied in a raspy voice.

"Three hundred feet.." She spoke whilst gazing across the stretch of land. He waited as she thought about something.. "The Sako.. and could you put the silencer on."

Levi nodded and turned around in his chair. He stood up and walked to the back wall, pulling up a metal cover. The whole wall was lined with various guns, machine guns, pistols. There are even a few cross bows.

The man leant down to take a jet black sniper rifle from the wall. He walked over and placed it on the counter..Sitting back in his chair he bent down almost out of my view.. I heard metal rattling and eventually he dropped a box of bullets on the counter next to the gun along with the silencer. He attached it and placed it back on the counter.

Alex grabbed a few bullets from the box and picked up the gun.. Placing a bullet into the chamber. She then casually nodded to Levi and walked to stand a foot behind the wall.

Levi pressed a few buttons on the screen in front of him, two of the metal chambers far in the distance began to lift out of the ground.. steam coming off the pods as they settled. I quickly realised what they were, a plastic shield slid open and the two biters wandered out of them into the field. The pods closed and were immediately brought back down.

I looked to Alex who casually brushed her long white hair over her shoulder and began aiming down the sight. Her finger slid onto the trigger as she took the shot. Turning my attention back to the field I could clearly see one of the dead dropping to the floor.. Alex took the empty casing out, letting it fall wherever before she placed another bullet in, straight away taking out the next target. I was in awe.

"Your turn.." She smiled, dropping the empty casing onto the floor and putting a new one in. "Well come over here then.."

"Right.." I walked over and Alex passed me the heavy rifle.. I examined it in my hands for a moment before looking back to her..

"One at a hundred feet please Levi." As Alex spoke my eyes wandered to the long stretch of land where another pod was coming up. I could hear the machinery whirring deep bellow the ground. "Aim.." She pointed and I did as she said.. trying to take the same stance as she did.

This feels so uncomfortable.. I pulled the trigger and the bullet went flying through the air missing my target completely. "Fuck." I muttered to myself as I lowered the gun and turned to Alex.. "I missed." Even though the sound was quite quiet the dead one seemed to have heard it and was now slowly stumbling over.

"Yeah I saw.. now take the casing out and put a fresh one in." ..I did exactly what I'd seen her do, she handed me the bullet and I locked it into place. Taking aim once again I wondered how she had made it look so easy.. "Think about the direction of the wind, how far the bullet will drop before it hits the target.." Alex spoke in a calm voice.. I listened to her instructions.. a few seconds after she finished speaking I pulled the trigger and missed again.

Alex simply held out another bullet, waiting for me to take out the empty one and try for a third time. The biter was now at about 60ft.. I aimed down the sight, this time she stood behind me, gently positioning me how she thought was best, lifting my elbow and spacing my legs further apart. Once she stepped back I let out a breath and pulled the trigger.. The bullet flew straight through his eyeball and out the other side. "Good.." Alex nodded happily as she walked to the counter and took a few more bullets from the box.. "Levi can you bring one up at two hundred feet?"

"Right away Khan." He began to tap away at the computer.

"This is going to be a long two hours isn't it." I was not enthusiastic.. this sucks.

"Not if you get the hang of sooner.." She replied in a simple manner. I guess this might not be her idea of fun either. Alex looked to how I was holding the gun and clearly began to question something in her mind.. then aloud.. "Sol aren't you left handed?"

"Yeah?.. oh yeah.." Duh. She shook her head and smiled in amusement.. I'm glad she finds it funny.

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After ten more minutes of shooting with the sniper rifle at various distances Alex made me practice with a pistol, setting the dead up at 50 to 80 feet.. I was surprised at how much better my shooting was after I practiced correctly for a little while. Don't get me wrong I'm not as good as Alex but at close range or at a distance with the sniper I don't think I was too bad.

Alex made me practice again with the Sako for another twenty minutes before she was finally satisfied with my performance. "I didn't expect you to finish early.." ..

"It's a first for me.." I chuckled..

It took her a moment to get what I meant. "Ooh you're disgusting.."

"You set me up for that."

"No, I didn't mean 'that'.. you know what I meant and it wasn't that." Alex spoke frustratedly..

"Okay, fine.." I held up my hands in submission. "I know what you meant, but it did sound like-"

"I don't care what it sounded like"..

"Why are you so tense?" I asked and Alex looked to Levi who didn't seem to be paying attention to us.. She ignored my question and began walking off towards the main building.. I quickly kept up with her pace. I didn't say anything else.. I just followed her through the building to a room on the top floor.. I didn't even know there was another floor above mine and if you know where to find the staircase there is another above that. Which is where we are currently.

Alex pulled a key from her back pocket and slid it into the old brass lock.. It clunked and screeched as it was turned. Finally she twisted the handle and opened the door. She walked in but I waited. The door was left open so she's basically saying to come in.. I walked into the room and soon realised it's huge. Alex had walked all the way past the kitchen, past the oak table and through a door in the last room that sat two couches and a TV. I think I like how open it is.. And there are windows everywhere but it's so high up that no one can look in.

A large window made up of squares of glass almost completely covered one of walls, the oak table with four chairs sat infront of it. You can sort of tell that it's a factory but it's clean. There are wires hanging along the ceiling for the light fixtures.. The next thing I noticed was the grey laminate flooring. Then the paintings scattered around, some were hung up, some were hidden behind others leant up against the breakfast counter in the kitchen. Various other canvases sat incomplete, beautiful gowns with arms and legs but no head. I soon realised that almost all of the unfinished paintings had the same problem, headless women scattered everywhere.

Alex soon reappeared and I could already see what she was holding.. "Why do you have it?"

"Would you rather someone else?" She asked while handing over my mothers katana.

"No, I guess not. Thank you for keeping it safe." I nodded solemnly before turning my attention to the item in my hands, slowly unsheathing the blade to see it exactly how I left it.

"You're welcome.." Alex offered a half hearted smile before strolling over to one of the cabinets in the kitchen.. She pulled out a glass and grabbed a glass bottle off the counter that she must have only had one drink out of, leaving the two full ones behind.

"You're going to have a drink now?" Really?

"I don't think you would like me when I'm sober." Alex shrugged as she popped the cork out of the bottle and poured herself a glass.

"..'When' You're sober?" I haven't seen her sober yet?

Alex took a gulp of the concoction in her hand before she replied.. "When the wall in my mind isn't enough I drink.."

"You said you drink all the time?"

"The wall in my mind isn't enough.." She stated simply.

"Why didn't you tell me about any of this?.." I gestured to the building, the place, the family..

"What would I have said? My father is the head of the Hallows Mafia.. Would you have even wanted to talk to me if you knew?"..

"Well then who's house did I sleep over at? And why did you call her mum?"..

"What do you call the woman that raised you?" Her answer seemed simple but it wasn't.. She looked back to me as she took another sip, realising I was still confused she elaborated.."The nanny that raised me, Gloria.. she lives here now.. I still call her mum because, well.. she might not have given birth to me but she showed me more love than anyone else ever has"..

"That makes sense.. I always thought she was sweet.." It seems Alex has had quite a different life than what I thought.. "-this is a little off topic but can I ask why your mother doesn't speak?"

"She speaks.. she just doesn't have much to say these days.." Alex brushed it off like it was nothing.

"She seems sweet too.."

"She's not sweet.." Alex shook her head and chuckled before drinking the last mouthful from her glass. She turned back to the counter and poured another.. "Do you want to sit down? We still have a some time to kill.."

"Should we go and tell Victor that we're ready?"

"We could potentially die tonight.. I want to enjoy what little bit of life I might have left.." Bottle in one hand and filled glass in the other she walked over the the table by the window and sat down.

"I'm sure you've done stuff like this before.." I spoke as I walked to the table and sat down opposite her.

"I have.. usually with my uncle.."

"I am sorry that it has come to this.. it is pretty much my fault.." I sighed.. I'm always surrounded by shit.

"You didn't need to suck the life out of Bean, you had clearly gained control of the situation.. Why did you do that?" She asked with a curious tone.

"I don't think you would like the answer.."

"This might be the last chance for me to ever hear it.." She raised her eyebrows taking another swig of her drink.

"I felt her power, I wanted it, and you know she was going to kill me right?.."

"What do you mean you felt it?"

"One minute my whole body was numb, the next I felt like I was expanding, she pulled my consciousness outside of my body, and somehow I guess I synced with it and took control.."

"How did you know you could do that?"

"I wasn't thinking.. it just happened.."

"But you attacked her after you gained control.."

"Like I said, she tried to kill me first.. I couldn't let her keep all that power to hurt someone else with.." Strangely enough I haven't felt hungry since.. perhaps this is a way for me to feed myself without killing innocent people.. I could potentially just eat the people eaters instead.. "How long has she been taking powers from people?"..

"I don't know, she's been with Roman the whole time.. I only see them once every couple of months.. I didn't even know she could do that.." Alex shook her head, finishing the rest of her second glass. As she placed it back on the table she looked to me and spoke again.. "Do you really care about these people?" Her eyes watched my response carefully.

"You already know that I do.."

"I just wanted to see if you still felt the same."

"What are you worried about? You barely even want to be around me. And I think you've had enough of this.." I pulled the bottle and glass away from her to pour myself one.

"I do want to be around you.. the you that is kind, and nurturing. Not 'Lilith' who happily sits and listens to a man be murdered in the next room, then proceeds to eat him afterwards.."

"I wish you wouldn't sit on things for so long.. you let them fester inside.. it's not healthy you know." I pointed my finger with the hand I held the glass before taking a mouthful. "-And if I recall correctly you were sitting right beside me.."

"Why do you think I had Luca put the barrier in my mind as soon as he found out he could do it?.. Unless you're already fucked up or you really have no other choice, this kind of life will destroy you." I placed the glass on the table as she spoke.. As soon as she finished talking Alex swiped the glass and drank the half that was left. She is right.. and the wall in my mind is begining to crumble. I don't know if I should go back to Luca or try to carry on, being weighed down by my guilt.. though that didn't work out well the first time.. "I'm sorry Marisol, I know that you only did it to protect yourself.. like I did. I was being selfish".. Finally she is not criticizing me for it.

"Alex?.."

"Hmm?" She asked pouring herself another glass. Before she could get her hand around it I stole it back.. Her scowl made me chuckle..

"Do you like it here?"

"No.."

"Then why do you stay?"

"Where else would I go? I have everything I need here.."

"You just seem so sad all the time.."

"I never know what I'm supposed to do.. and no matter what I do I'm always wrong."

"I believe that is my line.." I raised an eyebrow and Alex chuckled before knitting her eyebrows together..

"Sol, I'm sorry that I didn't try to stop Roman the first time.. I was just, scared." ..

"It's alright.. I really can't imagine what this is like for you.." As I finished speaking Alex smiled and looked down before glancing back up to me again. "And you don't have to keep apologising you know.."

Alex looked to the glass as I raised it taking another mouthful.. "Is this not weird for you?" She asked out of the blue..

"What exactly are we talking about?" This is all pretty fucking weird.

"Being around me when you know how I feel.." She held eye contact for as long as she could, her cheeks blushed and she finally looked away.. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.. All of a sudden I feel powerful in a different way.

"I'm not really sure what you want me to say.."

"You don't have to say anything, I shouldn't have asked.. now it's awkward.."

"It's fine.." .."-But do you really want to know how I feel when I'm with you?" ...The girl looked up, even more red and flustered than before.

"I really do.." She nodded.

"At first when I see you I feel safe.." I looked down at the glass in thought.. "-Then I remember that I'm never safe, and then life continues. I guess I don't really trust you anymore.. I don't trust anyone" ..

"You don't trust me at all?" Her eyes narrowed towards me.

"You have to be told what to do, you'll only have my back as long as someone tells you too.. If your father told you to kill me you would do it." I shrugged..q

"You really believe that?.." She spoke as though she'd lost a puppy.

"Yes.. but before you think I'm insulting you I'm not. I just think you've spent a long time living this way, you don't know how to change.." Her eyes inspected me before she let out a long tired sigh..

"Even sitting here listening to how little you think of me, this is still the best part of my day.." That's sort of adorable.. no, no it isn't Marisol!

"I still think you're better than this.."

"Yes well, I'm not.. Anyway come on, we should get going.." Alex stood up and I followed her out of the door where she locked it behind us. Neither of us spoke as we walked to Victor's office.. She knocked on the door, two guards were stood outside. "Come in!"

"We're ready.." Alex spoke indifferently as we stood infront of Victor's desk facing him.

"Good.." Victor looked to me.. "Usually I wouldn't send a fresh face but.. I've never met anyone quite like you. You and Khan can fly right over their defences." He grinned gleefully at the thought of us successfully murdering his own brother.

"Well, thank you for trusting us with this, I'll do my best..".. Make no promises, break no promises.

"I know you will dear, perhaps after you succeed I can treat you to dinner, we should get to know each other better.." He spoke as if it were a statement thankfully not giving me a cue to answer directly.. but something was definitely off about his smile.. Is he hitting on me? But he has a wife, surely not.

His wandering eyes made me question his motives once more before I replied.."That's kind of you.."..

"Well you better be off. Good luck both of you.."

We nodded in unison and left the room.. I followed Alex again and as soon as we were out of ear shot I asked.. "Does your dad ever sleep around?"

Her brows furrowed as she looked to me.."What?, why?"

"Do you think your dad would try to sleep with me?" I asked plainly..

"Because of 'dinner'?" She asked..

"Because of the flirtatious smirk that came with 'dinner'..Didn't you see?"

"..'Flirtatious smirk' you have read too many stories." She brushed it off but the uneasy feeling in my gut only grew more as we walked in silence.

"How do the affairs usually start?" I had to ask.

"I didn't even say anything.." I already know that he has them.. Alex looked to see me unimpressed before continuing.. "He invites them to dinner but he does that with everyone.."

"Will you be there?"

"If you want me to be.."

"If you don't want to come I could ask Nat.."

"No!.. I mean, unless you'd rather do that.. but do you really want to tell her why you want her there? And if you don't tell her she will think you want to spend time with her.. or Victor will tell her what's going on and she will be in on it.." Alex began to run through the scenarios for me, clearly worrying herself..

"Okay now take a breath.." She looked to me in surprise before calmly taking a deep breath realising she was trailing off.. "You work yourself up for nothing you know.. you could just tell me you'd rather be there instead. Besides, like you said before we don't really know what he's asking me yet.."

"But I told him I don't like you.. he probably thinks that means he can try it with you and he rarely takes no for an answer." She squeezed her eyes shut at the thought.. It's funny that she started out as the one saying it wouldn't happen.

"Why don't you just tell him that you lied about not liking me?"

"Because then he will try to force you to be with me.." When my mind was completely walled up I had become blind to what he was capable of.. all I saw was his smile and the things he was offering me. Not really thinking about what happens when I say no.

"I'd much rather that wouldn't you?" I looked to her as she looked to the floor..

"So what?.. you want to pretend to be together?"

"For now at least.. until we know I'm not on the menu. Unless you want me to openly decline your father?"

"Okay. I'll tell him, if we both come back alive.."

"You still think we are going to die?" After a few moments Alex didn't reply.. "Well at least I have faith in us.."

"I don't think this is a good idea.." Alex stopped walking causing me to stop too.. "What if I get scared and freeze again?"..

"What made you freeze before?"

"Fear.." She looked to me as though she was already struck with it.

"No I mean what made you scared?"

"I thought I was about to watch you die.. I've never felt more scared in my life, it overwhelmed me.."

"Then I guess don't get scared.. we are going somewhere that a lot of people want me dead. I can't have you freezing every time something happens.. I need to know that you're really with me." Alex looked up to me for a moment before nodding and continuing to walk.. I guess she really does just need to be told what to do..

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NOTES-

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I'm sorry it took a while for me to upload.. I had the chapter pretty much written out but couldn't bring myself to finish it until now.. and It's not even like I get writers block or anything, it's just that I can't bring myself to look at it. Weird. Anyway feel free to let me know what you think good or bad :) ..

Thank you so much for the comments and powerstones, it really makes me so happy to see what you think and that you are enjoying the story.. I can only hope you continue to. A lot of the time I think I'm screwing it up so it's nice to know some of you don't think so haha.

Take care everyone!! Love and Peace to you all... this world definetly needs more of both.