Escape
You awake to pitch darkness and a throbbing in the back of your neck. Your hands are positioned awkwardly behind your back and when you try to move them the wire they are bound with cuts into your skin. The ground you lay on is obviously dirt and you discover that your ankles are tied as well. Panic begins to rush over you as your situation fully sinks in. As you try to scream, you become aware of the uncomfortable presence of a gag at the corners of your mouth. The scream turns into a muffled whimper.
Oliver's soft, accented voice drifts over. "You're awake? Keep calm Love. I'm almost free." You hear rustling from across the way and soon his familiar hands are upon you. Gently, his hands travel the side of your body and then up to your mouth. You can't help the small hiss of pain at the gag's removal. "Sorry baby." He rotates your face slightly in his hands and presses his warm mouth to yours, his tongue tracing your raw lips, soothing them. "Just hold on a second and I'll have you free." He moves to your hands and feels the bonds. "Now, I'm going to need you to hold very still." You hear the snap of his pocket knife and hold your breath knowing he is operating practically blind. The ties around your hands give way and seconds later those at your feet join them. "Good girl. Can you stand?"
"Sure, I think so," you say barely above a whisper. Oliver's strong arms help you up and he leads you toward a small sliver of light.
"It's a window. They must've been a bit sloppy when they painted this bit black. I've been trying to keep track of their movements. I can break it and by the time they can get here we can be out, but it's going to be a dead run for a long while. Can you do it?" You hesitate a second, about to suggest he send help back for you. "I'm not leaving without you." You smile knowing that even in the dark he can tell.
"I'll make it."
Oliver places you protectively behind him and kicks, shattering the opaque glass. "Right, up and over, come on." He lifts you outside over the ledge and hops out beside you. Grabbing your hand he leads you down the alleyway, the sound of bootsteps not far behind.
You run for miles it seems through the semi-deserted city streets, sometimes keeping up, sometimes Oliver dragging you behind. He spots an abandoned building just ahead. "Come on Love, we can rest through there." He leads you into its crumbling interior and carefully up the stairs to the second floor. He lays his coat on a bare section of floor near a window with a good view of the street below. Oliver sits down on the jacket and reaches a hand up to you. You kneel down and sit beside him. He leans you back against him, encouraging your head against his chest. He dusts your brow with a kiss and strokes your hair. "Rest awhile, we may have to move out again soon." You decide not to fall asleep just as your lids drift shut and exhaustion claims you.
You sleep soundly, feeling safe rising and falling with his breath, listening to his heartbeat, having his hands on your skin. Soon however you awake with a start. You sit straight up not knowing why you feel so afraid. Then it dawns on you as you scan the room for the now missing Oliver. He is walking away, barely a yard from the stairs. "Oliver?!"
He stops mid-step, you can see the hesitation as he decides whether to face you or run for it. You stand slowly, preparing to go after him should he run. He turns, a sad look on his face. "Go back to sleep. They won't come for you if they have me."
"If they have you it doesn't matter what happens to me. I can't believe you were just going to leave me like that." You move forward only to have the windowpane beside you shatter with a gunshot. You drop to the ground as the glass pelts down around you.
"NO!!!!!" Oliver's shout echoes throughout the room. He runs over as you roll out of the glass. "Are you okay?" he breathes as he kneels beside you. His hands are frantically skimming your body, searching for injury.
"I'm fine," you say a bit shakily. He helps you up and leads you out of the room and down the back staircase. You round the corner of the building and see that as the others have run inside to search for you, they've left only one man on guard. Oliver tells you to stay put and positions himself behind the unsuspecting goon. With a sharp blow to his head, Oliver drops him and gestures for you to join him. You run and jump into the passenger seat. He starts the engine and drives for the airport.
By sunset, you and Oliver are alone in the back of the first class private jet your employers have provided. He has you resting on the sofa and has been playing nursemaid for ten minutes, tending your injuries and making a fuss. As he puts the last bandage on and starts to move away, you grasp his hand and pull it to your cheek. He smiles at you lovingly, bowing to kiss you.....
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| The character of Oliver Sampson and the show VR.5 were created by John Sacret Young and are © Samoset Productions and Rysher Entertainment. No infringement is intended and no profits are being made. |