Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Darren sat on his bed, which was set opposite of the door. His head leaning against the wall while his eyes were closed. It stung from the tears that were ready to come out but he refuse to let them fall. Not so soon, at least until he is positive about Mia’s safety. He heard a knock on the door, but remained still in the unlit room.
After another knock, Doug eventually opened it slightly and looked inside. He reached for the switch “Don’t…I don’t like the light.” Darren said without emotions.
Doug let out a sigh as he turned on the dim feature, he saw Darren sitting on the bed flinching from the sudden light. He had grown accustomed to the darkness “You can't hide in here forever.” Doug said reasonably.
“I can try.” Darren sighed. “If you’re here to convince of having more faith, I can tell you now, you’ll be wasting your time.”
He laughed despite the seriousness of their conversation “You are so full of it.” Darren finally opened his eyes, looking at Doug with surprise yet there was a hint of coldness “Here you are saying how much you love Mia…blah blah blah…and when the time comes for you to express how much you love her, you give up. You might as well order her a gravestone.”
Darren knew he was right, but he didn’t want to admit it. He wanted to sit in his own sorrow of tears, to mourn for her eventhough he hoped and prayed that she was still alive “How do you do it?”
Doug took a seat on the bed with Darren “It was the hardest thing I had to go through, but I knew if I didn’t…I would not survive. And Jessie saved my life…not literally, but she did mentally. She’s taught me so much more after her death than I have learned in my lifetime. But if I had a choice, I would rather her stay alive…but the truth of the matter is, she’s not alive. She’s gone to heaven. It’s a fact I have to live up to for the rest of my life. And if Mia…God forbid…dies, you will have continue on living, as hard as it may seem. If not, you have already failed her.”
Darren’s eyes softened with each word Doug spoke. Somehow it eased his heart “You’re right. I’m doing this for Mia…” he smiled slowly “Thank you.”
Doug was a little startled by his quick awakening but he was happy that the conversation was helpful “Anytime, man.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone.” Darren said. Doug nodded understandingly and left the room. After about five minutes of the deafening silence, Darren’s cell phone rang. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the flashing name read ‘Mia’. He picked it up hastily “Mia??!!” he cried into the phone.
“Mia? Aww…isn’t that sweet, someone misses their dead girlfriend…oh, I mean fiancé.” Reina’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Reina! Where’s Mia? Let her go or you’ll regret it!” Darren threatened.
Reina laughed “Let her go? Okay…that’s possible. Do you want her leg or her head?”
“You sick bitch!!” he growled angrily.
“Now, now…no need for compliments.” Reina wasn’t discouraged by his cursing “Listen, I’m calling you to make a deal. Do you want Mia back?”
“All in one piece.” Darren’s voice deepened.
“Sure…why not.” Reina replied nonchalantly “But, I need a favor.”
Darren narrowed his eyes “What kind of favor?”
“Erin. I want her dead…or alive, whichever one you prefer. One life for your precious Mia’s life.” Reina said.
He shook his head to himself “What do you want with Erin?”
“What the hell would it matter to you? Do you want Mia back or not?!” Reina cried, she was not at all patient “But don’t worry…you’ll receive a little gift tomorrow where I’m sure will make up your mind. Think about it Darren. Is that wench’s life more important than your one true love’s? Call me back at this number by 6pm tomorrow or consider Mia’s body dissembled.” She left him no choice before hanging up.
“Hello? Reina?” Darren looked at the phone, it was cut off. He threw it on the bed and placed a hand over his forehead. He was in a dilemma. If he did as Reina asked, he would have a chance that Mia would be returned to him. But if he did just that, Mia would never forgive him for turning Erin to the enemy’s hand. Yet he had promised himself that he would do anything for her. Suddenly, he felt a headache surging through is head like an electrical current. He grabbed it painfully while his eyes filled up quickly with tears.
*************
Michael grew impatient as he struggled to take off the ties around his wrists. The rope was thick and rough. He could only imagine the imprints it had left on his skin. He twisted his hands in all directions trying to squeeze them out but it was useless as he let out an angered grunt “You will only cut those scars deeper into the skin.” Julie’s voice broke into his frustration.
“Why would you care?” he snapped harshly.
She snickered “I don’t. But I’m just warning you, even if you can get those ties off of your hands, you will not get past that door.”
“I’d rather be killed than to be under your captivity. You’re only using us to get to the agents. If I died, they would not have to worry about rescuing us.” Michael said boldly.
Julie frowned “You’d die for them…but not for me…how very noble of you, Mr. Wu.”
“It’s not noble if you are doing it for friends.” He said loyally “And I would die for you in a heartbeat.”
“You mean back then?” she asked.
“Back then and now.” He said without thinking.
Julie turned to him with curious eyes “What?”
Michael turned away “Do you know how hard it was for me to get over your death?” he could feel his heart aching remembering exactly what he went through “Actually, I never got over it.” He snickered sarcastically “I wanted so much to see your grave, to pay my last respects but your mother and father refused to let me come near the home let alone tell me where you buried. I turned against my father and moved out. It wasn’t until the family business began to go down that he begged me to return to help him. I didn’t want to, but I knew I had to…because-”
“Because you have a good heart.” Julie finished for him. Her eyes weakened as she looked down at his tied hands, the cuts were bleeding now. She reached down and touched his hand and he yanked them away slightly “I just want to clean up the cuts.” She said gently.
Michael moved his hands back on his lap while she untied them. He had no motives to run or to remove the blindfold while she cleaned the cuts. When she was done, she replaced his rope with a new one “Thank you.” He muttered.
Julie smiled “Why didn’t you take them off?” she was wondering why he didn’t look at her when he had the chance.
“I respect your decision.” Michael was sincere.
She nodded “That’s what I love about you.”
Michael lowered his head but smiled “Funny isn’t it?”
“What?” she wondered.
“How the memories bring you back to past.” He recalled their happy moments “Your voice is still the same, your smile…I can’t see it but I can hear it.” Suddenly, his face saddened “Too bad…” he broke away unable to finish the sentence.
She sighed “Do you want to know how I survived that crash?”
Michael smiled “It’s been eating me alive since I found out you were still alive.”
Julie turned away with a distant look in her eyes “I was hit pretty badly, or so the doctor told me. My face was completely broken apart. I would surely be scared for the rest of my life. Chris told me I was in a coma for over 6 months. When I had waken, I was not recognizable to the human eye. The years to come would only bring me torture to look at myself.” She paused to wipe a tear from her cheek “My parents told me that you were involved in my staged death. They received a call from the Wu’s that you had broken up with me. I was devastated and vengeance overtook my willpower to survive. I tried to kill myself numerous times but each time Chris was there to stop me. He took me to another place…far from you, so I would not longer live in pain. He was so patient, always looking after me and caring for me like you use to.”
“Who is he?” Michael was curious.
“Do you remember, when we were dating, I told you about a guy that was chasing after me for two years?” Julie asked. Michael nodded slowly barely recalling the talk “That was the guy. He was patient and still remains to be patient eventhough I’m not ready to move on.”
“I’m sorry you went through all that…I’m even more sorry that I was not there by your side the whole way.” Michael said with much sorrow and regret “If I would have pushed my father harder, maybe he would have agreed for our marriage. I’m so sorry…” even through his blindfold the tears crept out. They wet his cheeks until her hand covered them and wiped them lovingly.
“Well, isn’t this a lovely surprise?” Chris’s harsh voice broke apart their moment.
Julie quickly stood up and wiped her tears while Michael’s face hardened “She doesn’t love you, why don’t you just leave her alone?”
“What the hell did you say?” Chris lunged at his throat while Julie reached out a hand to stop him. Chris’s eyes turned to her coldly “Four years…and you dump me for this… Thing?” he spat while pushing Michael to the ground.
Julie gulped back the lump in her throat as she stood up to Chris “We are not together, Chris. I told you before, you are only a friend to me.” She explained.
Michael laughed humorously “Such a sad…pathetic…little man.”
Chris gave no warning as he kicked Michael across the face “Michael!” Julie rushed over to him as she sat him up. She wiped the blood that was seeping out at the corner of his lips “Are you okay?” she asked.
It only made Chris angrier as he grabbed Julie by the wrist and yanked her over to him “Julie!” Michael cried when he noticed she was pulled back “What are you going to do to her?” he asked fearfully.
It was Chris’s turn to laugh “Something you wish you could do.” He yanked her away while Michael continued to cry out her name painfully. Julie knew he would not dare to rape her as she whipped her hand away once they were in the hallway. His eyes quickly softened as he reached for her hand “Did I hurt you?”
Julie knew exactly how to deal with Chris. He did not tolerate the raised voice, he fell for her because she was soft and gentle. She shook her head with a smile “No.”
“I’m sorry.” He said sincerely.
She shook her head again “I’m okay, Chris.”
“Good. I don’t want you to see him again. Reina can feed him from now on.” Chris ordered.
Julie quickly disagreed “No.” he turned to her questioningly and she quickly added “I mean, you know how Ga Jei is like. She hates Michael…surely she would torture him to death. Plus you know we need to keep him alive.”
“I know.” Chris said after a moment of intensely staring into her eyes until she turned away awkwardly “Promise me something, Julie.” He reached for her hand and this time she did not pull away.
“Sure, if I can do it…I will.” She promised. He was her life saver after all.
“Don’t ever leave me.” He asked earnestly.
Julie’s face fell “Why would I leave you?”
Her answer made him smile widely as he reached around her waist and hugged her “Thank you. You know I can’t lose you.”
She nodded “I know.”