11 Bronson

“I-I so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I straighten her up, and when she backs away from me and loses the connection between the two is us, I immediately regret it.

“It’s my fault really.”

Her eyes lift from the ground up to me and when her eyes lock on me once again, I feel my feet go from underneath me. Not just beautiful, she’s perfect.

“I- uh…. I should go.” Walking away as quickly as she can, I watch her as she steps way, looking back every few feet to see that my eyes are still trained on her. Two sets of frozen hands wrap around my arm and when I look down, I see Cassandra is eyeing the same angel that I was.

“Who was that woman Bronson?” Looking back over to where the mysterious girl escaped, I shake my head and mumble the words that flow uneasily out of my mouth. “I don’t know.”

“You were certainly looking hard at someone you don’t know darling.” Looking down I give my fiancé a stern look. I’ve never been unfaithful to her, something she couldn’t say the same, and I’ve never given her reason to. I don’t have time for her petty jealousy, and I won’t humor her by getting into an argument about it.

“Let’s walk around, there are others I want you to meet.”

I take her hand and make rounds, introducing her to those I’ve wanted her to meet and reacquainting with those whom we already have. I look around several times for the mysterious woman but come up short each time a slice of blonde hair travels my way.

The end of the night is fast approaching and when I spot Mayor Hillard walking up to the microphone, I grab my tumbler of bourbon and gather Cassandra in my arms. Everyone quiets down as he taps the microphone a few times, turning the room over to him.

Clearing his throat, he begins speaking starting off with a short backstory of this charity and ending with a joke. Finally when it’s my time to accept the award, I pass off my drink to Cassandra and begin walking the short few feet to the stage only to stop when the lights suddenly go out and several people’s screams and hollers can be heard all around.

I turn, my eyes latching onto a flash of green neon lights running around the entire room. They look like fireflies charging for something and when I notice everywhere they turn up, another round of screams and shout emits, I understand what’s happening.

Robbed.

We are being robbed.

My eyes land on Cassandra as I make my way back down the few steps. I can’t see much, just her dress and small features on her very scared face. The lights are still out but between everyone’s cell phone flashlights and the small bits of light from candles among the tables, it’s enough to notice the flashing green neon lights are attached to people running around.

“Bronson?” Cassandra yells grabbing hold of my chest. I clutch her tightly to me and am just about to grab my phone and call Rand when I spot the same girl from earlier. Her blonde hair is the same, but her dress is gone, followed up with a pair of black slacks and a white strapless top. She has on what looks like black suspenders and glasses that are clearly meant to be used for night vision.

I reach out and grab hold of her, my other hand leaves Cassandra’s body and clings tightly to my ears when the fire alarm rings out, causing a wave of water crashing down on everyone. More scream, more shouts but I do not let go of the mysterious girl’s arm. She fights against me, her hand coming out and punching my shoulder attempting to get me to release but I refuse. It isn’t until the lights go back on and the water finally stops do, I let her go. Her eyes fly open like saucers as she looks behind me and when I turn, I see a sight before me that I have never seen nor will I ever forget.

“Brody no.” The girl shouts as she runs over to the young man that has a gun pointed right at me, his eyes are deranged and he’s wearing the same type of uniform as the girl.

“Get your hands off my sister.” He shouts just as the girl reaches him and begins fighting for hold of the gun.

Her brother. He’s her brother.

They look very much alike, but whereas she has the beauty of an angel, her brother, has a more haggard look. His hair is dirtier, eyes the same blue but rimmed in red and judging by the way his pupils are dilated, I would say he is on something strong.

Everything happens quickly after that; loud voices boom inside the entrance and when I turn, I see Rand leading the charge of security. All the criminals begin disbursing, pushing everyone out of their way as they make their way outside with security chasing after them. I look back and spot the same brother and sister combo fighting over the gun, only now, he has control and is back to aiming it at.

Throwing Cassandra behind me, I brace myself and am surprised when the girl pops back up and pushes her brother’s hand up just as the gun fires. I am trampled to the ground and when I look up Rand is atop of me, checking me over.

More commotion, more screams and shouts and everyone running out towards the entrance, but my eyes do not leave the beauty. Not even when her brother is grabbed by security, not even when he screams at her to go and she runs the other way out of the building and not even when I am helped up and taken to my car, Cassandra alongside me.

She saved my life.

And I will find out who the hell she is.