Promise me Love, To Never Look Back...

Outside, David gave Alex a cold stare. “What’s going on with you and this girl?”

“Miaka? Why do you want to know?”

“Are you… How do I put this? Are you close to her?”

Alex didn’t like the way David was talking. “Where are you going with this, David?”

“Just answer the question.”

Alex sighed and leaned against a pillar. “Yea I guess you could say we’re close. Pretty close.”

“Then why did you hesitate? Alex you do realize that she is just a guest here. If you don’t do what is required she’s going to leave.” David opened hi scar door. “You almost did. Didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I almost did. But I’m not going to hurt Miaka like that. If she wants to stay, she’ll stay.”

David was becoming fed up with Alex’s lack of cooperation. “And if not? You’re going to have to do it Alex! It’s why I have my Rachel.”

Alex remembered the last time he had seen David’s wife Rachel. She was a very nervous girl and he felt sorry for her. She rarely showed herself in public due to her fear of other people like David. “Yeah. And it’s also the reason why your Rachel is so afraid of you. I don’t want Miaka to be like that. I can’t be like you David.” He could see David’s anger growing.

“You’ll come to your senses,” David muttered then left..

Miaka was lying on the couch listening to music when Alex went back inside. He knew that David was right but he couldn’t stand the thought of Miaka becoming like Rachel.

Alex sat on the edge of the couch next to her and tried to appear normal.

Miaka pulled off her headphones. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. David’s just being an idiot…although he does make a strong point.”

“Is everything ok?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Alex stared at Miaka for a minute then kissed her. “We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

“The time for-?”

Alex didn’t want her to worry about it so he kissed her again before she could finish her question.

“Alex,” Miaka said, pushing him away. “If it concerns me, I want to know. You can’t make me forget about things just by kissing me.” She sat up.

“I’m sorry. That was low of me. I just don’t know if I want to know the answer yet. I just think we should give it a few more days. Besides, I haven't even known you for a full two days.”

“Alex I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Alright.” He sat next to her and put his arm around her. “David pointed out to me that you’re a guest here. That means that you have to leave. He told me that the only way for you to stay is for me to…”

“I understand.”

“But I don’t want to do that. Not after what David did to his wife.”

Miaka gave him a questioning look.

“He bit her when she told him not to. Now she’s afraid of him. She’s even tried to kill herself and I’m not letting that happen to you.” Alex rested his other hand on her cheek. “But I don’t even know if you feel about me, the same way I feel about you.” Miaka was about to answer when Alex kissed her again. “Please, don’t answer that. Just forget about it for now.”

Miaka lied down on the couch while Alex held her and kissed her. He was the first guy that she had ever gotten to know and the first one that had ever cared about her. But she wasn’t sure if she knew him well enough to let him bite her. But if she left it could be a huge mistake. She had time to think about it though. They weren't leaving for a few more days; plenty of time to decide.

A few minutes later John came in. By that time Miaka had gone upstairs to shower. Alex had told her that he would take her to meet Rachel. She was dreading it but didn’t want to be rude.

After she had showered and changed she got online. She had a contact. It was her cousin James. Mika was hoping she could get away before he started a conversation but it was too late.

“Haven't talked to u in a while,” the screen said.

“Yeah. I don’t get online much...”

“Did I catch u at a bad time?”

“Sorta.”

“Lol. Sorry I just wanted to tell u the news.”

“News?”

“Yeah, I’m getting married.”

Miaka hesitated to type. “…………WOW! That was unexpected…”

“I know your brother’s job won’t let him come back for the wedding but I was going to send you some of our pre-wedding pictures.

Mika started to think about her own personal life. “I’m never gonna get married…” she thought, and then typed, “Yeah. Send ‘em to me as soon as possible. I’m so happy for you James. I kinda feel like I’m gonna cry….. In a good way.”

“Lol.”

“I have to go. I’m going to meet some ppl.”

“Ok. I’ll talk to you l8er. Much love.”

“Much love.” Mika signed off. She had taken up too much time talking to James and now she had to hurry and get dressed.

Miaka ran into John in the hall, knocking a pile of paperwork out of his hands. “Sorry, John.” She knelt down and started to help him pick them up.

“Where are you off to now?” He asked.

“Alex was gonna take me to meet some friends of his. You don’t mind, do you?”

Jonathan didn’t answer.

“John?”

“I don’t mind a whole lot. I just don’t know this Alex character too well.”

“Oh John. Come on. I’ve been going with him places like all the time.”

Jonathan shook his head. “I was considering buying you a hand gun at one time… No I don’t care if you go. Just for God’s sake be careful.”

“Glad you care.” Miaka handed Jonathan the last few papers and stood up. “See you later John.”

“Oh, and be careful in that skirt!” he called after her then went in his room.

Alex was outside leaning on the car door waiting to open it for Miaka.

“Thanks,” she said, then let him shut the door for her.

Neither of them was talkative in the car. Miaka was worried about seeing Rachel and Alex was worried about Rachel.

“Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“How long has Rachel been with David? Does she love him at all?”

Alex bit his lip while he thought. “I think she’s been with him for…six years. And yeah…I think she loves him to a degree. But it’ll make her happy to see you. I haven't been over in weeks…” He trailed off. “I hope she’s alright…”

“Oh…” Miaka felt the need to change the subject. “So…how far away does he live?”

“Half an hour I guess. But David won’t be there. Just Rachel…that’s what worries me.”

Just then, Miaka's cell phone rang. It was Jonathan. “Hey John, what’s up?”

“Hey I just wanted you to know that I’m taking a bunch of paperwork into town. If I don’t turn it in today…I’ll get charged for mailing long distances.”

“Ok. That’s cool. Anything else?”

“Have you gotten there yet?”

“Not quite… why?”

“Just checkin’. I’ll see you later. Before dark!”

“Before dark. Got it. Later John.”

“Later.”

When she hung up the phone Alex laughed. “Your brother really cares about you.”

“Yeah he just wanted to tell me that he has to turn in paperwork in town…and to check and see if we were there yet.”

“Ah. I see.”

It started to rain when Jonathan pulled out of the driveway. The sky was unusually dark and he started to worry about Miaka. Half way down the driveway he took out his phone and was about to tell Miaka to come home when he slammed on his breaks. There was a woman standing in the middle of the road screaming. Her head was tilted toward the sky and she would scream to God loud enough for Jonathan to heat through the rain. He stepped out of his car but she didn’t see him. Looking closer, he could see her hands were covered with blood. She was rubbing them together franticly and wringing them on her dress. She turned and was Jonathan. He froze. The woman didn’t scream although she looked terrified.

“Are you alright?!” he called through the rain.

She looked at her hand then back at Jonathan. But she didn’t scream again. Her head tilted back and she fell to the ground.

Alex held a black umbrella over Miaka’s head but made no effort to get out of the rain, himself. He rang the doorbell but there was no answer. After a few seconds he took out his keys and unlocked the door. “She’s probably in the library,” he said, trying not to sound worried. But Miaka could tell that he was.

Alex looked around the house. Rachel wasn’t in the library. “Miaka,” Alex said after knocking on her door with no answer. “I don’t want to just go into her bedroom. I’m a guy so…”

“Yeah, I’ll go. You don’t think she’ll get mad, do you?”

“Rachel? No. I just want o make sure she’s ok.”

Miaka opened the door as quietly as possible. She didn’t see Rachel anywhere. She walked around the other side of the bed and almost screamed. “Alex!!”

“What is it?!” He flung open the door and ran up next to her. “Oh God…David…” David was lying on the floor. There was blood everywhere and Miaka couldn’t look. Her cell phone rang and she ran out into the hall almost in tears. It was Jonathan again.

“Miaka I need to talk to Alex right now!”

“John what’s wrong?” she asked shakily.

“Just give the phone to Alex!”

Alex walked out into the hall and put his hand on Miaka’s shoulder. “Miaka are you ok?”

“It’s for you,” she said, handing him the phone.”

Alex stepped across the hall. “Yeah?”

“We’ve got a problem.” Jonathan said as calmly as possible. “There’s a girl here. I found her in the road. She’s covered in blood. She won’t talk.”

“Take her to the hotel. I’ll meet you there as soon as possible.”

“Do you know her?”

“Yeah, I know her. We’ll talk later.” He hung up and grabbed Miaka by the arm. “We have to go now. Your brother found Rachel.”

Alex drove as fast as possible and it only took ten minutes to get to the hotel. Jonathan was inside with Rachel. She was lying on the couch with a blanket over her. Jonathan had done a good job of calming her down. She had stopped crying and looked asleep.

“Thank you Jonathan. I’m very sorry about this.”

Jonathan shook his head. “Please.”

Alex kneeled next to the couch and took Rachel’s hand. “Rachel, are you ok?”

Jonathan stood and gestured for Miaka to leave with him.

Rachel sat up and threw her arms around Alex. She was crying hysterically and Alex did his best to calm her. “Rachel, I’m going to take you upstairs. OK? You’re going to take a shower and get some sleep. And I’m going to come check on you.”

Rachel nodded. “I’m s-sorry Alex…”

“Don’t say that.” Alex picked Rachel up and carried her upstairs.