ONE-Orbs of Blue

 *CHARITY*

  Maybe it wasn't  real.

Maybe it  was a dream, maybe the letter was a prank or maybe Genevieve calling me into her office later and telling me bluntly that I was fired was not real-whatever it was, It didn't  change the fact that I was packing my things off from where I have spent the best 5 years of my life.

It hurt. Not that I  was getting fired, (okay, maybe that hurt pretty badly too) but it was because the cheeky bastard responsible was somewhere near my office getting only an earful from the management while I was getting fired. It  takes two to tango but everyone's chosen to point fingers at me.

They could go to hell. All of them.

I packed everything. Books, stationary and even the little things that don't matter, I packed it all. My inside was a mess and the tears stung my eyes but I was determined to act like losing my job is nothing. I walked out my little cubicle in the office I shared with a few other journalists.

Blair , a co-worker was  all over me, her big doe eyes held the kindest form of pity and only made me want to tear up so bad. I would miss her. The early morning coffee. Talking to her over lunch. Getting on our team leader's nerves. Writing articles that do nothing but reveal the gravest crimes in the city. In all, this is my life and I would miss it.

" I'll call you " Blair held me in her arms, trying so bad not to cry. She  onlwas they one who didn't point a Finger at me yet or call me names. I teared out of her embrace realizing  that it  was left to me to fight this on my own.

As I walked out of my office, I felt the burning, accusing gaze of my co-workers, and yes, I wanted to collapse to the floor and cry, and hit something or someone, whatever! But still I walked with all the confidence I could muster.

I sighted him coming out of the editor in chief office, in case you're wondering who, it's the bastard, Micah. I tried my best to ignore, cause no! I'm not breaking down in front of him and so I walked past him with my head held high. Getting off the elevator, I walked the lobby wanting nothing but to get out of there as fast as possible.

I was almost out when my eyes caught something hanging by the wall. I'd be damned if I left this here! My hands gripped the paper glued to the wall amongst  other article awards and  I tore it off angrily, dumping it into the box that carried my other stuffs. Heads turned and I glared back. They can take my job but there's no way in hell I'm letting them take my award too. It was the only thing I had left.

With that, I walked out the building, to the garage and straight into Red, my rickety convertible car and then drove away from the nation news house. Perhaps, forever.

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It was just a one-night thing. Okay. Maybe we did it a few more times but still it was a secret between us that we both swore to keep but he decided to get drunk and spill it out at the company's dinner night.

Micah ruined me. God! I was starting to like him and he told me he was falling for me too. Goddamned liar! To everyone, I seduced him, as the editor-in-chief so he could secure me a position or even get that award and bastard that he is, he didn't deny it. I worked hard, blood and sweat for that fricken award! But nothing matters now, I'm fired.

I wanted to call my best friend, Shayne but  I didn't know if I could handle her raving about how she's warned me about getting into a sexual relationship with my boss. Yes, she would, but Just not now.

At this rate, I couldn't help the tears anymore as I drove home. I just wanted to be home right then, in my bed, snuggle into a pillow maybe get drunk with booze and eat those forbidden chicken wings in my fridge and watch a stupid movie and think about my stupid life and-

Shit!

" Oh my god! " I screamed as I screeched Red into a stop, the screech of the tires cutting into the silence of the night with a deafening sound.

Someone...bumped...I .... into...almost. God!

I couldn't even put together a sentence in my head as I breathed hard, my head on the wheels and my hands gripping the wheels tightly still trying to comprehend what just happened.

I almost knocked someone down! fuck!! I sat up quickly, jerked the door open and ran out as fast as my weak legs could carryv me. I walked with  to the spot where I just saw someone step in front of my car silently praying, I was fast enough to stop the car.

Nothing. No one.

Someone was just in front of me. In front of my car. My headlights flashing on a face before I stopped the car flashed  into my memory.

Someone was right here and now they just...disappeared?

Cold Shivers ran through my bones and I could tell in hell that it wasn't  from the chilly night. Was I seeing things? Damn! I knew I was a hormonal mess but hallucination sure  to wasn't supposed to happen... right?

Suddenly, the ends of my hair lifted and my heart raced at the prospect of danger but before I could act on it, a hand grabbed my waist and all I could let out was a tiny squeak before another hand camw clamping roughly on my mouth and  pulled me into a chest, hard and muscled. And something cold, I realized was the Sharp ends of  a knife, pressed down on my throat. I winced from the roughness of the arms on mine.

" Empty your pocket sweetheart and I promise you won't get hurt " A deep voice rumbled into my ear and I struggled to break free, finally realizing that I had been ambushed.

" I'm going to let you go now, you let out one thing as little as a scream, I slit your throat, you give me what I want, you stay alive. Everyone stays happy. Agreed? " The voice came again and I nodded frantically. Scared shitless.

" Good" He said and slowly released me to go running for my car. My survival instinct told me to drive away the moment I got into the car but something else told me it wasn't not going to be easy. I'd save myself the trouble, give him what he wants and run.

I grabbed every single buck, coin and all, and rushed over to hand it to him. He was fully masked leaving only his eyes bare. He looked at it closely, then back at my car. Somehow, I knew it was just a street robber looking to survive.

" All of it? " He said tilting his head to the side

" I-p-romise you tha-that's all I've got " I replied quickly rubbing my sweaty arms together despite how cold it was.

I expected him to tell me to leave. To motion me to go away but he didn't Instead, his eyes raked up and down my body and I held myself tightly in my arms when I saw the dark look in his eyes. I instantly knew what that look meant.

" No! " I said immediately, backing away and heading for my car, regretting the decision I made not to run when I had the chance but he grabbed me and I screamed trying to get out of his hold as he trief to pry my clothe off me. He shoved me up against my car and it dawned on me that I wasn't getting out of that situation easily. And I was helpless fighting against muscles.

" Let her go"

I was going to give up struggling. Prepared for the trauma that will come after when the voice pierced through the night.

It was smooth and gentle, almost betraying the intensity in which he said the words from earlier. My captor turned, obviously annoyed by the intruder who just saved my life.

" Who the f.ck are you! "

" You don't wanna know man, let her go " The voice again. I couldn't see him.

" And what if I don't? "

A sigh. An irritated one. I just watch them banter, tired and helpless and so fast that it was almost impossible, my captor was shoved off me roughly and I fell to the ground like a rag doll, crawling away as fast as I could. Heaven knows I just wanted to get the fuck out of there.

But I stayed. I don't know why, but I did. Watching two bodies roll on the ground, fists and limbs flew in the air. Grunts and groans filled the silent night and then blood. Oh my God blood! I don't know why I let out silent prayers but I did as  I watched with horror. I didn't know where the sudden courage to watch such show of violence came from.

And finally, a body laid limp on the floor and another stood, looked around before starting to walk towards me. I backed away but then stop when I realized it was a different man. The man whose voice had calmed me even  when I was yet to see his face. The man who practically saved my life.

He crouched down in front of me and I'd be damned if I've ever seen eyes so blue. His eyes. They were the only things I could as his other features weere covered purposely by a cap. I let out a sharp intake of breath, feeling like air has been knocked out of my lungs. I know I probably look like hell right now and I've never felt so embarrassed about it. 

" I. " I wanted to say something but he beats me to it.

" You shouldn't take this route on a Friday night; Fridays are hell in this neighborhood "

He said, maybe not realizing how deeply sensuous he sounded. There was something about him that made my heart go wild, maybe the air of mystery that clung to him like a cloak or the intensity of his deep blue eyes.

Hell! I knew this path was dangerous, heard a couple of heinous crimes happened here but I was too disoriented to care. Besides, if I had gone through this route then I wouldn't have had to meet the man in front of me.

And I wouldn't have been ambushed and nearly raped either. My mind tugged at me but I chose to ignore that part of my experience tonight. 

He made to leave but I grabbed him. Holding him back before i mumbled

" T-thank y-ou" He slipped his arm from my grasp almost immediately

"Leave" He said curtly and turned to leave. My brain registered something and it filled me with horror

"Is- he...dead? " I pointed with dread  to the man on the floor

" He should thank his stars that he's not " He grumbled before walking away and I watched and watched. Till I couldn't see him anymore.

I ran into my car and drove away as fast as I could. I didn't know why I still thought about it, or why my head is fuzzy as I drove home or why my mind kept wandering off to a pair of beautiful blue eyes.  Somehow, I knew it would haunt me in my dreams.