Fan Fiction ❯ Corperate Takeover ❯ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Our outburst didn't last long. Before we knew it, we were up and moving again. Jared set the pace, a brisk and easy jog that we could keep up for hours, even after a fight like the one we had just scraped through. Always cautious, Jared also sent out a point man to check out what was ahead of us; we didn't want to fall into another trap.

A half hour later, we emerged from the maze's dark alleyways. In this part of the city, the early risers were already out, jogging or driving to work before the sun arose. This was the residential district; another world from the grungy part of town we had just ran away from.

For the next half hour, we kept to the shadows and alleyways until we reached the heart of the city. Tall office buildings, stores, malls and fast food joints arouse all around us and only the early risers were out and about.

As the sun peaked over the tops of the buildings, we slowed our pace to a walk. At Jared's silent hand signal, our three remaining bodyguards left one by one, turning down adjoining streets. Soon, Jared and I were alone.

As we walked, the signs of morning became more apparent as the sun moved higher in the sky. Shops along the road began to open up and more and more cars could be seen driving along the road.

Realizing that we were famished, we stopped at a quaint little coffee shop that also served Danishes and cookies. We both ordered hot chocolate-we hated coffee-and a sweet. Taking a brazen sip and the chocolate, I felt the scalding liquid sear down my throat. Gasping at the pain, I saw Jared smiled at my discomfort, as any good brother would do, as he paid the sales lady with a hundred dollar bill, telling her to keep the change.

Stepping back onto the street, we continued on our way in silence, each of us carefully sipping at the cooling chocolate and nibbling at the Danishes.

When the first taxi drove by, we had already dispensed with the paper cups and the napkins we had acquired at the coffee shop. With one hand, Jared flagged down the taxi and we got in. As the driver sped off, Jared gave him directions to the nearby airport.

Neither of us watched the scenery of the city during the drive, instead spending the time locked in an embrace as if we never intended to let each other go. I'm sure that we must have looked like some young couple in love, but to us, it was more like a homecoming. We hadn't seen each other in years- at times, we were afraid we would never see each other again-however, against all odds we were together again. We didn't hug out of passion, but out of the insecurity that if we ever let the other go, they might disappear again. Under normal circumstances, we would have cried, but then, we hadn't been living under normal circumstances for quite some time now, and people like us weren't allowed to cry. So we just held each other, and wept on the inside.

We remained in each other's arms until we reached the airport. Reluctantly, we untangled ourselves from each other as the airport came into view.

The driver was skeptical when Jared told him not to drop us off at the regular check-in desks, but did as he was told and drove to the end of the terminal and pulled down a side exit, which was marked as a secure entrance, only personnel with valid security passes admitted.

At the end of side road, there was a gate and a guardhouse. High tech cameras were posted at both ends of the gate. One used as a regular camera, the other more than likely a special V-805 camera that searched each car for weapons of any type. There were also cameras posted at window level on each side of the car to see its occupants.

The guard gave the taxi driver a long look as we drove up to the gate, and began talking into the mike attached to his rap-around headset. More than likely reporting that there were suspicious characters approaching the gate.

The taxi rolled to a smooth stop in front of the guardhouse and waited for the guard to finish his report. The window level cameras were given time to focus on each of us-I could see our faces in the TV screens located behind the guard-before the guard finally called out to us through the loud speaker, "Please reverse your car, Sir. This is a secure area. You are not allowed here without proper security clearance and proper identification. Please vacate the premises."

Finally the guard turned around to look at the screens that held each of our faces. Saw his eyes lock onto the screen that held Jared's picture, then mine, and watched as all color drained from the guard's face.

Through the loud speaker, I could hear the guard stammering, "I'm sorry, Sir! I did not realize that it was you! Please forgive me. It will not happen again. Just give me a minute to open the gate for you . . ." The guard pushed a button that I could not see and the gate began to slowly slide back. "There, now your jet is just finishing fueling on Runway 3. I hope I haven't offended you, Sir. I will phone your pilot and tell them you are on your way, Sir."

Just as the gate finished sliding open, Jared leaned out the window of the taxi and called out to the guard, "Thanks, Mike."

Jared pulled his head back in as the taxi began to pull forward. Jared and I gave each other knowing looks, ignoring the taxi driver's nervous looks back at us as he drove onto the runways.

Finally Jared tore his gaze from mine and gave the driver directions to Runway 3. The driver wisely remained silent.

The driver found Runway 3 without mishap and drove towards the only jet on the runway. There was already a staircase pushed up to the open door of the jet, ready and waiting for us. On the side of the jet, the words Xavier Enterprises could be read in big, scrolling letters, which glinted in the sun. The driver pulled up along the side of the jet and Jared slipped him a hundred as we got out.

We took our time climbing the stairs, the night's activities just now starting to wear on us. As we reached the top of our assent, a stewardess greeted us with a smile and two steaming glasses of hot chocolate. Another steward came forward bearing a fancy white sports jacket over one arm. The man helped Jared slip into the expensive jacket, then handed Jared a comb, which Jared ran through tousled hair before returning it.

Suddenly, Jared didn't look as if he had just spent the last several hours running and fighting for his life. Now, with the white sports coat making a stunning picture placed over the shadow outfit, he looked like a sophisticated, intelligent young man who could be the son of any of the numerous CEO's that resided in the countryside around the city or even a young VIP himself. None of that was exactly true of course; the truth was much more interesting.

As we made our way to our seats, the servers miraculously disappeared. As I sat down in an aisle seat and buckling up, Jared took the seat right next to me-a window seat-and did the same. A quick glance around showed me that what was left of our bodyguards had beat us back to the jet and were already buckled into the array of seats behind us.

The over-com came on then, announcing, "This is the captain speaking. Now that Mr. and Ms. Xavier have boarded, we will be ready for take off in approximately five minutes."