Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
During the walk home, Julie realized that Andy still had her coat. She stopped Will “He still has my trench coat.”
A look of concern covered his face “What if he learns how to use it?”
Julie nodded with the same concern “I know. Let’s split up, we’ll go look for him.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you back home in an hour even if we don’t find it.” Will suggested.
The two split up and Julie's hunch told her to run back to the harbor. She quickly stopped when she saw him standing there a hand on his injured arm. “Where did you go?” she asked calmly as she paced slowly towards him like a leopard ready to pounce.
He smiled calmly “No where. I was standing right here the whole time.”
Her face fell, he found the secret to the coat “Give it back to me.”
Andy shrugged his shoulders “Sure, if you can catch me.”
Before he even finished his sentence, Julie was after him. But he was not slow even with his injury it did not affect his quick steps. They chased each other for blocks until he reached the end of an alley. Julie smiled victoriously as she took in deep breaths “Okay, you lost, give me back my coat.”
His crooked smile did not fade as he back against the wall, she did not see a door but he seemed to slip through it. She ran to the wall but could not find the door knob anywhere. Using her fists as she banged on the wall roughly. “Don’t hurt your pretty little hands now.” A voice said behind her. She spun and to her shock, Andy was standing before her.
“What kind of trick is that?” she asked wide eyed.
He laughed “I’m a magician at night.” He rubbed the collar of the coat “Want to see a disappearing act?”
She looked frantic as she reached out her hand “Wait!”
Andy paused for a second to ask her “What? You don’t like this game?”
She pointed to the ground “Your arm is still bleeding, let me help you first and we can continue our ‘game’.” Julie was certain that he would be too smart to fall for the oldest trick in the book.
To her surprise, he looked down at his bleeding hand and nodded “Sure.” He waved for her to come over. Using his free hand he pulled out another black cloth “Put this over your eyes.” She gave him a strange look and he had to smile “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
She nodded as she did what he told. He led her through a maze like room, she knew because she felt the walls were narrow and there were random steps. When they finally reached an open area, he took off her blindfold. She blinked her eyes to clear her vision. It was a darkened room that was tiny, she saw a bed located on one side of the black bricked walls. A bed stand with a clock right next to it. She looked at him curiously “Who are you?”
He smiled “If I told you, I would have to kill you. And frankly, I don’t want to.” He was open with his crush on her.
The room was too dark to see her blushing face. She turned away shyly and at the corner of her eyes she saw a squared shape crack on the floor. She bent down to where it was and touched it, sure enough it was a secret passage way. “You are definitely not who I thought you were.” She turned to him. Respecting his place as she did not snoop around further.
Andy waved for her to come over next to him on the bed. He reached over one of the bricks and pressed it. A whole section opened up like a cupboard as he reached in for the first aide kit. He handed the tiny box to her and allowed her to tend his wound. She helped him take off the coat as she ripped the arm of sleeve off to see the wound more clearly. She was concentrating so hard that her forehead wrinkled. He only smiled as he watched her concern face. The bleeding had long stopped and after she was done, his arm was rolled in white cloth with antibiotics over the wound to keep it from being infected. “You really want to know who I am?” he asked her this time.
She looked up unclear of what he just asked “I thought you said you would have to kill me?”
He smiled “I could make an exception.”
This time she smiled in return but eventually shook her head “I don’t want to know now.”
Andy’s smile faded “Why?” it was his turn to be curious.
She reached for the coat as she placed it safely on her lap “I think there are some things that should be left a mystery.”
“Are you doing the reverse psychology on me?” his mind was sneakier than hers.
She shrugged carelessly “Maybe, maybe not.” She stood up and put the coat over herself “Thanks for saving my life.” Julie said sincerely.
He nodded “Thanks for stopping your partner from killing me.” He pointed out.
“Anytime!” She said brightly. She looked around the room trying to remember which side they came in from. “I should be going.”
Andy tilted his head as he sat back against the wall of his bed “If you can find your way out…”
She looked at him in the eye and smiled “I will.” She closed her eyes and faced a certain direction. She listened for the ticking sound of his clock and she instantly knew they came from the wall behind her. Julie turned to face the wall as she searched for a certain brick. She found a slightly ajar brick and she pressed on it. The wall opened up at her command.
Julie turned and found Andy smiling as he clapped his hands “They trained you well.” She paused as her thoughts began to wander “You think you know who I am, don’t you?”
She shook her head “I can guess, but I have a feeling it’s all wrong.” She smiled with a slight nod “I’ll see you again.”
“Maybe.” He said mysteriously. Andy watched as she left and the wall closed before her, his smile fading slowly. He could not trust anyone with his secret and it seems this girl was smarter than he imagined. Of course he knew who she was since he was at one time the same person. But it’s different now. His face darkened as his memory triggered what happened to him years before. It was the first time he thought about it since he found out.
****************
Julie returned with her coat in her hand. Will was home minutes before she walked through the door. “Julie.” He got up to greet her. He saw the coat in her hand “You found him?”
She looked up and shook her head “No, he dropped it by the harbor.” She lied.
He nodded but didn’t sense her lie. “Who is he?” she let out a yawn indicating that she was tired but he wouldn’t give up “You don’t want me to report this to Sergeant Liu do you?”
Her eyes darted angrily back at him “Are you threatening me?” she was shocked, after so many years of working together, they never showed signs of turning against each other. It was possibly the worse thing he could say to her.
Will’s face softened as he realized what he just implied “No…of course not.” He assured her “I’m sorry, I just want to know who he is and I don’t understand why you have to hide his identity.”
She let out a sigh, knowing that he had a good point “Just trust me this time, okay?” her eyes told him that he should. He only nodded in answer as they returned to their room and slept on their own side.
**************
The next morning at work, she was not surprised to see that Andy was not in at work. The building was under top security as everyone was scanned before they entered the building. Cass waited for her sister to go through before asking her “What went on last night?” she whispered.
Julie shrugged “I don’t know. Looks like a burglary.”
Cass shook her head “I don’t think so, nothing was stolen, I heard those girls say it.” She nodded to a group of girls that were huddling over Leann. Julie was a little more suspicious since they turned to look at Cass and burst into giggles. She turned to her sister who looked innocently at everyone. Her instincts told her it was not a good sign. She wanted to protect her sister but it was almost useless with her being on the 10th floor now.
She watched carefully as everyone piled into the elevator to the third floor. Julie nodded to Leann, who smiled in return. When they all got out of the elevator, instead of staying on Julie walked out with the girls. “What are you doing?” Leann asked a little surprised.
“I really have to use the bathroom.” Julie explained as she placed her hands over her stomach in pain.
Cass was instantly worried “Are you okay?” she asked “I’ll take you there.” She supported her sister towards the bathroom. Although she did not wonder why Leann followed the girls into the restroom.
Julie was going to warn her sister to be careful but she stopped when Leann entered the bathroom with four other girls. She cleared her throat and each girl entered the stalls. Her suspicion grew when Leann once again cleared her throat. Within seconds the girls rushed out of their stalls as a small smoke grew and it turned blue when Julie turned over. It looked like some toxic cloud. They rushed out of the restroom and along the way Leann pulled Julie out with her while the other girls pushed Cass harshly against the wall making her stumble to the ground.
When they were outside, two of the girls held onto the door while Cass banged on the door “Let me out!!” she began coughing loudly as the toxic cloud covered the room.
Julie tried to stay calm as she turned to Leann “Why did you do that for?”
Leann snickered “It’s about time someone taught her a lesson. Beauty isn’t everything.”
Julie shook her head in confusion “What? What are you talking about? And what is that blue cloud in there?”
She waved her hands “Don’t worry, it’s not deadly, but it will make her break out for a month. We’ll see how my brother likes her now.” She turned to the girls that were holding the door and waved to them to come over.
“Is there a cure?” Julie asked curiously as she turned long enough to see her sister stumbling outside as she gasped for air.
Leann laughed when she saw the struggling girl “Just purified water on the contaminated area will do.” She looked at Julie with concern “Did the smoke get you?”
Julie shook her head “No, but I still need to use the restroom.”
“Use the 10th floor.” Leann suggested. The other girls gathered around her as they laughed at he horrid joked played on Cass. “Come one girls.” She commanded.
Julie followed a few steps behind but quickly sidestepped into the kitchen which was located a few yards from the rest room. She opened the fridge and found bottles of drinking water and grabbed one. She walked outside and saw Cass’s face beginning to redden. She nodded to her and tossed the bottle towards her. She made a circular motion over her face and smiled. They could not interact too much, she was afraid Leann would be suspicious of their relationship.