07

Kai watched me eat. It was a bit creepy.

« What ? » I snapped.

« You don’t look like Arianna, » he noted.

« No shit, » I said.

« Are you adopted ? » He asked.

« No, my mother was German and my father was Israeli, » I said.

« Okay, but are you sure you’re not adopted ? » He asked.

« Yes. Unless you know something I don’t ? » I snapped.

« My apologies, » he said carelessly.

I took a huge gulp of water.

« What happens if we get out ? » I asked curiously.

« All in due time, Kestrel, » he said and got up, towering a good head taller than me. He was shorter than average, just short of six feet but then again, I was not very tall myself being five foot zero.

He held his hand out, palm facing upwards as if we were at a ball and he was about to ask me to dance. I didn’t take it.

« Ready ? » He asked.

« No. »

« Don’t really care, I’ll get you out alive first and then we need to have another chat. »

I wasn’t too worried about the chat. Lets see how long it takes to drive Sushi boy insane.

Kai led me outside the food court. Right now, I was held together with nothing but hopes and wishes, hopes that Kai was not an enemy.

Lost in thought, I didn’t realise where I was walking and accidentally stepped on my own foot, causing me to stumble. My heart jumped up to my neck as I nearly fell, regaining my balance at the last second. Kai looked unruffled and like the gentleman he was, made no move to help me. I glared at him even though I knew it wasn’t his fault, at least the fall wasn’t.

« I have to say, you’re incredibly talented to be able to trip on a flat surface, » he drawled.

« My talent is nothing compared to your ability to annoy people by just breathing, » I snapped.

« To be fair ; the best thing about you is supposed to be your brains, not your coordination, although I haven’t seen any evidence of it so far, » he said in a monotone without looking at me.

« I think the best thing about you is mortality, » I said. « Fortunately, I don’t know you too well to judge. »

A small smile played on the arrogant set of his mouth.

« And unless you plan on joining your parents in afterlife, you should probably follow my instructions, » he said.

« Insensitive, » I said.

« It was years ago, you don’t really care and neither do I, » he yawned.

« What ? » I asked.

« Hmm ? » He asked as he scanned the escalators.

« What should I do ? » I elaborated.

« Keep your mouth shut and don’t do anything, » he said.

« Rude, » I said.

« No offense, but you’re not the kind of person who should get involved in a fight, you would probably end up doing yourself more harm than your opponent, » he said.

« So I shut up and stand at the sidelines like a good girl and you take down five mercenaries on your own ? » I asked, my voice was dripping with sarcasm. This guy was whack.

« You understand ! And just when I was beginning to think you were brick stupid… » He trailed off.

« And if you die, it isn’t my fault, right ? » I asked. « The last thing I want is to bear the guilt of a death on my conscience. »

« You feel guilt ? » He asked, frowning at me like I was a fascinating bug. « Didn’t expect that from someone as impulsive as you, very uncommon. »

« Yes guilt that I will have seen your death from about ten metres away and have done nothing to prevent it, » I said. That made me pause and reconsider my statement. « No you’re probably right, I will most likely feel no guilt over that. »

He smiled as if he knew something that I was oblivious to. A secret joke with me as the punchline.

« So what do I do, really ? » I asked.

« I just told you, » he said. Okay, this guy was serious.

« Who are you ? » I asked again.

He sighed. « That’s the question isn’t. For now, I’m your friend in this godforsaken game, that’s all you need to know. »

I struggled to keep up with his long strides. The anxiety bubbling in my stomach only got worse with each step towards the door, but I couldn’t stay in my little sanctuary forever.

« Just keep walking, » he said. « They’re not going to cause a scene now, but you need to lose them. »

I nodded, keeping my gaze fixed on the sliding glass door. Hey, at least I got new shoes, right ?

My heart thumped relentlessly in my chest as I forced myself to act natural. I didn’t even look or acknowledge the mercenaries as I walked out. Yes, there were exactly two near the gates. I heard sharp gasps as I walked part them and goosebumps radiated across my skin. Kai paid them no attention, but it was evident that they knew and probably feared him.

Had I made things worse ? I didn’t even know who Kai was.

He led me down to the parking lot. The Porsche Cayenne was still standing there, parked in a nicer manner than before. By default, my brain thought of going to it but Kai tugged me back by the hem of my denim jacket.

« We need a distraction somehow, » he murmured. « Before they take out their weapons. »

« Wait, » I murmured and ran towards the car.

« Kestrel ! They’re going to use the car to chase us ! It’s tracked, » he yelled.

I ducked into the car and found the metallic object under the seat. The gun. It only made sense to be armed. I tucked the weapon in my jacket.

« Kestrel ! »

« Coming ! » I yelled and ran towards him.

He walked towards a sleek black Audi and unlocked the door.

« So, before you get hysterical and lose it while I’m on the road, you should know that people are going to die. We will be having a body count but none of them will be innocents, » he said, gesturing for me to get in.