2 Haunting Past

I was walking down an old London street at night when a car stopped by. I ignored it and kept on moving. Suddenly I felt a pin prick at the back of my neck and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes I found myself tied to a pillar in a dark room. I felt staying quiet was the only thing I could do.

Yelling and screaming will all be in vain. An hour passed like this. The door opened and light beamed right at my face. Sudden light hurt and I closed my eyes. Then slowly, I tried to open my eyes little by little. I saw ten to twelve shadows of men.

I hoped they would come out to be some local thugs who would be stupid enough to untie me. One did came near and untie me. I pounced on the one in front as I saw the opportunity. Before I could land a punch he dodged by pushing my hand away. I somehow maintained my balance but decided that falling was a better option. I turned back with an innocent look on my face, "Who are you people? What do you want from me?"

I started sniffing back tears.

"Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe you?" he said in a British accent. This was the same guy who dodged my punch.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, right Angelos..."

I was taken aback by the last word-Angelos. That was the name I had in this world, Angelos, the daughter of Zeus and Hera who later became a goddess of the underworld.

"My name is Penelope. Who is Angelos?"

"Dream on. This is not gonna work."

"Please let me out. I won't say a word. Please let me go." I burst into tears.

He came closer, held my face abruptly and brought his face closer to my ear. And whispered,

"You are not going anywhere, Angelos."

Here, I understood that no matter what I do he knows who I am. I don't need to hide anymore. So I stood up and brushed off the dirt from my clothes. I didn't have the innocent face anymore. I looked at him calmly and he yelled confidently, "Everyone go out I will take care of this one myself."

With his hand he gestured me to go first. Everyone left and closed the door behind them leaving us in a blackout. I remembered his position and didn't hear him moving either. Carefully I made my first move and the battle begun.

He was very strong, skilled and fast. He was better than me in every way possible. We fought for more than an hour. I was exhausted and injured as well. He was exhausted too but less injured than me. I was gasping yet I decided to make one last effort to punch him. He held my fist wrapped my own hand around me and held me tight with my back against his chest. I tried to kick his foot but lost my balance and fell. I was right above him struggling to be free. But he had a strong grip. I could feel his broad chest rising and falling rythmically against my back. His warm breath right at the base of my neck.

I have never been defeated that badly. I am the best at my agency and he played with me as if I was a child. The way he treated me during the fight had infuriated me.

"Leave me." I cried in anger

Coyly he whispered in my ear, "I won't and don't even want to leave a women like you."

With that he tightened his grip. I stopped moving and lied on him calmly. After a few minutes his grip eventually loosened. I saw my chance and elbowed him in his ribs. He groaned in pain and as a result I was set free.

I remembered the position of the door and started running towards it. But before reaching the door I banged into him.

"I am faster than you."

He said that and held me up with my throat a few inches above the ground. I was struggling in his grip to breathe. I tried everything to get free but all in vain. I was running out of breath. Everything was blackening out when he decided to show mercy. I fell on the floor trying to get my breath back with nonstop coughing.

"You know why I left you? Cause I like you, girl."

Right then the door opened and the light fell on him. I was dizzy couldn't see him well. But I did see his sapphire green eyes shining and his brown hair falling on his forehead.

He tied me again to the pillar and went off.

From the next day I went on a hunger strike. I demanded to see the guy who beat the crap out of me the other day. This went on for three days and then they finally agreed as they wanted me alive. He came in and shut the door behind him.

Till now I had already figured out that I was in a basement, the only door to the room opened from the outside, I was given food from a sliding window at the lower part of the door which was locked after use. No one visited me except the guy I can't defeat. I was being kept in a very tight security which also told me that they knew about me being capable to escape with just one loophole. So there was possibly no way out till someone would help me.

"Oh hello there." I greeted him.

"Why aren't you eating your food?"

"You are a really straight to the point guy. If this remains the case, you will never be able to hook up."

"Why aren't you eating your food?" he repeated this time more sternly.

"I was bored and I wanted to talk."

"And may I know why do I have the honours?"

"Cause I like you, boy." I said imitating him and laughed.

He held my chin high with his index finger right below it. He started moving it lower down my neck and then traced my collar bone to my shoulder. He pulled me towards him and he whispered "This is so not happening."

I had to control my fear from showing.

"What is so not happening?"

He smiled, "Seduction trick, so very old."

"But it does work great."

"Not on me"

With that he shoved me off. I, imitating his actions placed my index finger below his chin, moved it down to his chest and traced it to his shoulder. And then pulled him towards me and whispered, "I wasn't trying to seduce you in the first place."

And then cracked into another laughter.

"You really are an interesting man."

"I should say the same for you."

"Yeah I am pretty well aware that I am very interesting."

"Eat your food"

"I will only eat the days you come and see me."

"You are getting on my nerves"

"You can't do anything. After all you want me alive."

"How do you know?"

"You would have killed me the first day if you didn't. And when you decided to show up to make me eat my doubt was confirmed"

"Well, Ms Intelligent eat your food."

"So, will you come daily?"

"Fine"

And he left. This went on for few more days. He started to open up a little.

I was running in the sewer line with all of them following me. I banged into someone and heard his voice, "I'm back."

I woke up gasping and looked around. I found myself in my hotel room. It was a dream. Its such a relief to know he isn't here. It happened six months ago during a mission in London.

I have been having this nightmare ever since.

The sun rose and I freshened up. My roommate was already gone because of a call from her mother. I went to Alex and Maddy's room and woke them up.

"What's up, Jess? It's just six in the morning." Alex said sleepily.

"Yeah, we are here for vacations. Just a little more." appealed Maddy.

"Guys no; its nine in the morning."

"What?" both of them cried and woke up.

"How come we are so late?" asked Maddy.

"I don't know I just came to see what's keeping you both so long?"

They both freshened up and were ready to go down for breakfast.

"Guys, I need to tell you something."

They both could see that something was troubling me and it was serious. Breaking the tense silence I somehow managed to spat it out, "I'm a spy."

That was a bit too straight forward. Both of them stood there staring at me. Either they were in a state of shock or they took it well or they think it was a joke.

Alex bursted out in laughter. I'm glad they didn't go into shock.

"I'm serious."

"Yeah right. Well then I am Sherlock Holmes and Maddy's Watson."

I brought them to my room and showed my ID. I showed it to Alex and she stood there staring at it for about two minutes. Okay, now she is in shock.

***********

Everyone was now in my room. We had our breakfast and a long talk. The phone started ringing and Alex picked it up.

"Hello...hello...Who is it?...If you don't wanna talk then don't call ja***ss!"

And she put down the reciever with a big thud.

"Who was it?" Maddy asked.

"Don't know. Maybe a dumbass who thinks giving blank calls is funny."

A blank call on a hotel room but why. Who would do that. If the receptionist would have forwarded a call she would have told us before doing so. This looks really fishy.

"Guys I just remembered something. Be back in a sec."

I left them in the room and went to the reception.

"I'm from 403. Did you forward any call to me?"

"May I know the time ,ma'am?"

"Just now. A few minutes maybe."

"Let me take a look, please."

She stared at the computer for a few seconds and then replied,

"Yes ma'am. Someone called and said that he is a friend and would not like to be announced. That he had some surprise for you."

"For me? uh..Anything else?"

"No ma'am nothing more than that." she looked at me and said,

"Is there a problem ma'am?"

"No nothing."

I took my cell and texted Michael,

"reach here asap"

He replied, "be there in 5"

I went back up to my room and saw Maddy and Alex waiting for me.

"Guys I'm a bit tired and just wanna take a shower. So, do you mind?"

"Ofcourse not" Alex said.

But Maddy saw right through me, "Is everything okay, Jess?"

"Yeah" I said with an assuring smile. She forced a smile back. Both of them were waiting for me to go to the shower. I went in just to show them.

"Do you want me stay?" Maddy asked, "I mean to help you find cute clothes."

I undressed and dropped them out of the bathroom gate. She picked them up, "I will come back with some clean clothes."

And she left me there with a towel. I thought that now that I'm naked I wouldn't mind a shower for real. I heard the door unlock.

"Maddy, is that you?"

"Nope, it's me, Sweetheart"

He is here. I can recognise his voice anytime anywhere. I had to do something, I can't afford to risk so many people. Maddy, Alex and all the other people in the hotel.

"I'll count to three. Come out till then or I shoot your friend who will be here any minute."

Maddy went to get me clothes. How does he know?

"One"

What do I do? He will shoot Maddy and...no I can't let that happen under any circumstances.

"Two"

I don't even have my clothes or my gun. I reached out for the towel and wrapped it around myself.

"And..."

"I'm here."

He looked at me and smiled. His gaze declined slowly from my face to my feet. Imitating him I did the same. This was the first time I had a clear look at him. His brown hair falling on his forehead till his brows. Now that I had a better look at him I found his eyes were somewhat olive green and not sapphire green. A sharp nose and perfect curves of sternly folded lips. Broad and manly shoulders. He was about 6"3. A well built man, extremely attractive. What am I thinking, admiring my enemy? Jessica focus.

"Wow! You really are hot, Angelos."

"What do you want?" I asked sternly.

"Nothing actually. I just came to see how my old friend is doin." he said taunting me trying to imitate an american accent.

"Look I'm here now so just get your hands loosen up from that gun."

"What? That easily? Nah."

"What is it revenge or something?"

"Maybe" he smirked at me and continued, "Afterall, you did leave me behind to rot. Didn't you?"

With that he came closer and held my wrist abruptly. Before I could react I was swayed on the bed. He was right above me pinning me badly. He was holding my hands above my head and then placed his knee over mine. I let out a cry as he shifted his weight on his knee. A little more and my bones would crack. I tried to get free but all in vain. My efforts to overcome him since the last six months, my training, all in vain. He had grown stronger as well, perfectly balancing our progress.

He brought his face closer to mine as I gasped in pain. I could see anger and rage in those eyes. And those eyes were very well capable of intimidating me. He tried to kiss me and I looked away. I could feel his warm breath at the base of my neck. His lips curved into a smile and he whispered in my ear in a confessing manner, "I actually started to trust you." I knew that Michael would be here any minute. I just had to keep him busy and wait. From what I remembered he was interested in me. I closed my eyes surrendering to my fate. I knew even before I started that this day would come when using myself would be the only option. And then I felt his grip loosen. I saw him backing off. The rage in his eyes was now replaced by regret. He stood up and gave me a hand too. I looked at him and he looked away. I stepped towards him and he stepped back.

"I don't want your pity." he said. I was wrong to leave him like that. He is a jewel. His power, his strength, his skill, his intelligence; everything about him is commendable. The fact that he was able to find me, itself proves his worth. I looked at him as he tried to avoid looking at me. His face filled with emotions, anger, regret, suffering and many more. I felt guilty for making him go through all this. He looked so vulnerable right now. I unconsciously stepped towards him to console him.

The door banged and Micheal entered with a gun in his hand pointed towards him. He stiffened at his appearance and his face went expressionless. He pointed his gun on Michael as well. If I don't do anything quickly, they'll shoot each other. I ran to my bag on the bedside. I pulled out my guns from my bag and aimed at both of them.

"No don't." I yelled. They both were shocked but refused to look away from each other.

"But why? Isn't he the reason you called me here." Mike said still aiming at him.

"Yes, he is."

"Then why?" he yelled.

Maddy and Alex entered the room and were taken aback by all the guns. Alex headed towards me but Maddy stopped her. She looked very scared.

"Let's all calm down okay." I said looking at both of them.

Michael decided to trust me and pulled away his gun. His hands were up in the air and he retreated. I looked at him, "I said all of us."

"Give me one reason to trust you again." he said in anger.

"I really wanna clear up my mess." I said softly.

"I won't." he was stubborn.

This was enough a reason for Michael to pull up his gun again. I looked at Michael and said "I said to calm down."

"Tell that to this criminal." he said pointing at him.

"He is not a criminal. He is our new teammate."

They all looked at me dumbstruck. "Yes" I confirmed my own statement looking at all of them and they understood that I was firm on my decision. I looked at him again and nodded as if asking him to trust me. He understood and nodded back. He put his gun back in, seeing this I signalled Michael to do the same and he did. Maddy looked a lot calmer now. She came forward and gave me my clothes. "Go and put some clothes on." I smiled and nodded assuring her that everything was fine and she nodded back.

I started thinking about him and then suddenly turned back holding my clothes firmly near my chest, "Won't you introduce yourself, friend?"

"Edward" he looked a bit hesitant but then his usual firm expressionless face returned and he continued, this time in a more confident tone, "Edward Scotts"