Her Red Lips & His Wedding Ring

Ok guys I have to be honest here. I’ve been seriously lacking on the blog inspiration front. I just don’t feel like I have anything prominent I need to post. Don’t get me wrong I’m enjoying writing the “On The Run” series, but I don’t want to clock up my blog by just posting that. I need to switch things up. But as I sit here a few ideas float by, but I don’t love them. I hate posting fillers, however, I feel like I haven’t been sticking to a consistent enough posting schedule and that bugs me. So I enlisted a little forced inspirational help for this post. Sometimes, it happens.

In my – 642 Things to Write About book, I had written a very sassy answer to this writing prompt: What a character wearing something red is thinking

She sits across from him. Her RED vibrant lips curve into a seductive smile. And the only thing on her mind is leaving her mark. A red lip stain on a white collared shirt…screams… you’re cheating on your wife.

Let’s see what I can do with this little number. I actually have an idea…I recently had a conversation on the train with a friend about married men and how some women find them more desirable than single men, something about the ring. Let’s infuse these two shall we?

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red lips wedding ring

Two girls stand on the train, each holding onto the center pole, as the train rides along the tracks, they sway back and forth.

“You know they say that once a man is married he becomes more desirable. Like when women see men wearing a wedding ring, it proves they can provide for someone.”

“What? That’s disgusting. That makes no sense. I always do a ring check. Always.”

“That’s because you have morals.”

“Oh my god, that’s just so class-less,  so slutty. That’s the definition of a home wrecker. I don’t understand that. I mean if a man can do that to his wife, then-“

“He’ll do it to her too.”

“Yes, exactly. And why would you want a man like that?”

“Beats me.”

The two women move onto their next topic of conversation. As another young brunette comes into focus as she eyes a handsome man in a suit sitting across from her. She laughs to herself as she notices he’s playing with his wedding ring.

She sits across from him. Her RED vibrant lips curve into a seductive smile. And the only thing on her mind is leaving her mark. A red lip stain on a white collared shirt…screams…you’re cheating on your wife.

The man looks up from his phone and meets her gaze.

He’s slightly confused, when she won’t look away.

She bites her lip, her gaze still holding, burning through him.

The man stirs in his seat, uncomfortably.

He looks behind him, to check the stop.

He stands up quickly and faces the door as he holds onto the pole, awaiting his stop impatiently.

The woman rises and walks over to stand beside him.

His gaze focuses on the door windows ahead.

“Hi,” she says her voice dripping with overly sexual tendencies.

He ignores her first attempt.

She smiles and laughs.

“Hmm, well aren’t you Mr. Rude.”

The train stops and the doors open, the man steps off with a brisk walk onto the platform, heading to the nearest staircase.

The woman wraps her trench coat tighter around her as she follows.

The man reaches the exit turn style and decides to go through the emergency door, as he’s about to push it open, the red lipped stranger swoops in.

“Allow me,” says pushing the door open for him.

He looks at her.

“Thank you,” he says rushing past her and heading to the stairs to exit the train station.

She smirks wickedly as she struts behind him.

They both exit and begin walking on the street.

The man glances behind him, he notices the red lips glisten in the light of a store front. His stomach knots, as his pace quickens.

The man passes an old auto body shop, and in the dark everything looks sinful. Everything looks hidden and secretive.

Finally the man stops short and turns to face this mysterious stalker.

“I’m married,” he says in a harsh tone.

“I can tell.”

“And?” he asks in shock.

She makes a face of confusion.

“Doesn’t that matter to you?” he says surprised.

“No. Not really. Does it matter to you?” she asks her eyes gleaming with intensity and trouble.

The man is silent for a beat.

“Yes,” he says looking her over.

“Hmm. Hesitation. Interesting.”

The man looks down, avoiding her stare.

“You look like you’d be a lot of fun,” she says walking closer.

The man steps back.

“Look I don’t know who you are. Maybe you think you know me from somewhere. But I assure you we’ve never met before.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“Really? And here I thought we were spending every night together, hidden in the darkness.”

He narrows his eyes at her.

“In our dreams,” she smirks.

He smirks letting out a small chuckle.

“I’m sure you could use a little spice in your routine?” she says stroking his chest.

The man looks at her and steps back again.

“Are we done yet?” she says looking at the man, her hands on her hips.

“Yea, that’s enough role play for tonight” he laughs, “come here,” he says grabbing her and kissing her as they hide in the shadows on the night.

“I missed you,” she says in between heated kissing.

“I missed you too.”

“When are you gonna leave her?”

“Come on baby, you know I can’t do that,” he smirks pulling her into another kiss.

She stops him and looks up at him angrily.

“What happened to your plan? You know the plan you told me about a month ago. How you were going to sit her down and ask for a divorce, so that we can be together. You keep telling me how you love me and that you’d rather be with me, but it’s always something. Some reason why you can’t. Am I just wasting my time, waiting for you?

“Hey come on, (he grabs her hand, pulling her waist in.) What are you saying?  You know I love you.What do you think?”

She looks at him.

His phone rings.

She sighs and detaches herself from him, rolling her eyes, she folds her arms, annoyed.

“Hey baby,” he answers turning away from his current company.

“Yes I’m walking home now.”

“Sure. I’ll pick up some milk.”

“Ok. See you soon. I love you too,” he says hanging his phone up.

As he begins to turn back toward her, the light from a distanced street lamp casts a slight glimmer and she notices something on his white collar.

He faces her with a smile.

“I’m sorry. I had to-“

“Don’t,” she holds up her hand, stopping him from continuing.

“What is that on your collar?” she says pulling the collar to get a better look.

“Is that lipstick?”

“It’s yours,” he says nonchalantly.

“No. It’s not my color.”

He freezes. Busted.

“And considering that’s a fresh mark, and you’re  just now coming back from work, that means that it isn’t your wife’s either.”

“I can explain.”

“Can you? Really? Because I think the only explanation that makes sense is that you are a slimy, scheming, cheating piece of trash. What are two women just not enough for you?”

He laughs.

“Hunny please. I’ve been cheating on my wife of 7 years with you for the past year and a half. What did you expect? What did you think- you were different?”

She looks at him, her heart breaking as tears begin to form.

“You are disgusting,” she says her voice laced with venom.

“Hmm interesting, aren’t you the same girl who spread yourself across any surface to please an already married man.”

She looks him, her pride hindered tremendously.

“Yea that’s what I thought. Whether you like it or not, we’re the same,” he says, his true colors showing brightly in the night.

“Go to hell!” she yells as he begins to continue his walk home.

“I’ll see you there,” he says turning her way mid walk and smirking as he sets back to his initial route.

The tears fall freely as she turns to begin walking the opposite way, she catches her reflection in a store front window.

Sin. Despair. Disappointment. Disdain. Disgust. Anger. Heartbreak.

All evident.

She wipes her lips with the back of her hand, as red lipstick smears.

She takes out her cell phone.

“Hello, operator? Hi, I’d like a number for a Sarah Pikeman. I need to get in touch with her. It’s urgent. There’s something she needs to know.”

“Thank you, I’ll wait.”

She smiles as she continues her walk home.

-End-

There you have it, a little insight into my creative process, how things can fuse together to create a scene or a short story. Hope you enjoyed!

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

-<3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On The Run- Part 7

ontherunposter

*** Read Part 6 HERE

Sage and Charlie stand awkwardly before the door to their “honeymoon suite.”

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Charlie takes out the key and opening the door he holds it for Sage to enter first.

Sage wearily and slowly walks past Charlie and into the room, their eyes graze eachother in sight.

She turns to face him as she watches him from the center of the main bed room.

Charlie closes the door behind them.

The two of them stand in silence for a beat, looking at eachother. Wondering what the other is thinking, or who will make the first move to cut the heavy tension with their words.

“So…there are a few rooms in the suite to choose from. Um… but I hope you know it goes without saying that you are free to keep the main bedroom. Where ever you feel most comfortable is fine with me. I don’t really need much, just a pillow and a somewhat soft surface,” he chuckles slightly trying to dull the awkwardness he has knowingly created in the room.tumblr_inline_ntrwfiLlC21ruzlvc_500[1]

Sage looks around the main room.

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Her gaze drifts to the bed, she momentarily has an image flash in her mind of she and Charlie kissing in that same bed just a few hours ago.

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She takes a deep breath and looks elsewhere as she exhales.

“I think I should choose one of the others.”

She walks over to the nearest one, opening the door, she walks in- flipping the light on, she looks around briefly.

A few things catch her eye in the whole 5 seconds she allowed herself to choose.

Ruffled white cotton curtains. Bright yellow paint. Floral bed spread. Simply Sweet.

“This will do, Good Night,” she says closing the door.

Charlie sighs as the barrier between he and Sage becomes uncomfortably much more permanent.

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He flops down on the bed and lays back, as he has a quick flash of Sage during their recent intimacy.

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Sage stands by her bedroom door, her face obviously saddened. She walks over to her bed, sitting down on it, she removes her hat and her wig throwing it to the side. She lays back looking up at the ceiling. Her mind hazy.

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Well, you’ve done it this time Sage. You’re a wanted criminal, who just fell for a cop.

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Sage awakes abruptly and looks around her darkened room. The only slivers of light coming from underneath her door, and seeping through the thin white curtains.

She looks at the clock- 3:42 am.

Guess I slept through dinner, she thinks.

Her stomach clenches making a very audible noise.

Sage drags herself off the bed and to her door, turning it she opens it to find Charlie sitting off in the distance at the kitchen counter; eating a bowl of cereal.

She hesitates for a minute not wanting to have to deal with the tension and the deep heavy emotion that could come from shared moments with Charlie.

Her stomach growls again, this time louder than the last.

Sage closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in, opening her eyes she exhales; mentally preparing herself for face to face contact.

Sage walks into the kitchen.

Charlie notices but looks down at this cereal, awkwardly.

Sage walks past him, over to the fridge. Opening the door she reaches for the milk and her choice of cereal and sets to making a bowl herself.

Sage begins to look for the bowls, opening a few cabinets.

“It’s the one on the left.” Charlie says pointing to it with his spoon.

Sage looks at him for a brief moment, opening the cabinet and reaching up to the highest shelf, she grabs a bowl.

As she does, Charlie notices her shirt rise up exposing a scripted tattoo on her lower back closer to her right hip. The word reads Love

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As she makes her way to the kitchen counter to pour it, Charlie can’t help control his lingering stare.

Noticing, Sage looks at him.

“What?” she says in annoyance.

“Nothing,” he says, holding his stare, he shrugs, as he takes another bite of his cereal.

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“God, I hate it when you do that,” she huffs as she adds her milk.

“Do what?”

“Stare at me and then not tell me why.”

“You don’t want to know why.”

“What does that mean?” Sage says her pulse quickening, her stomach fluttering.

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“You’re not going to like it. No matter what I tell you, no matter if it’s the truth, you’re just going to throw walls up and walk away. So forgive me if I don’t exactly feel like getting into a fight with you at 4 in the morning.”

Sage narrows her eyes at him as she sits across from him to eat her cereal. She takes a few bites, as Charlie gets up to put his dish in the sink.

Charlie walks to the fridge to pour a glass of water, on his way out of the room-

“By the way, nice tattoo,” he says his back to her, as he takes a sip of his water.

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A confused yet intrigued Sage is left sitting behind him and she turns and lifts her shirt slightly to look at her tattoo. She sighs noticing he was watching her. Charlie exits the room a smirk playing on his lips.

Sage sits alone in the dimly lit kitchen, her view of Charlie intensifies as he reaches over his head to pull his shirt off, exposing his toned and muscular chest.

Sage’s heart beats faster. Her eyes transfixed.

Charlie lays back in bed, out of sight.

Sage breathes a sigh of relief.

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The hit was hard. The blood splatters. And instantly Sage feels sick, weak. Her heart pounding, her head foggy, dizzy. She can’t breathe. The blood is everywhere. It’s all over the white and black tiled floors, the white walls, her clothes. Sage looks down and begins to feel like she’s going to faint.

Her anxiety kicks in as she feels like all her oxygen has been used up and she is being trapped in a air tight sealed coffin, being buried alive. Fighting to get out, she screams-

“No. No. No,” kicking her legs and arms about.

Her bedroom door opens and Charlie rushes over to her bed side.

“Hey, hey,” he shakes her shoulders gently.

Sage awakes with a jolt, as she exhales profusely, seeing Charlie’s face.

“Oh my god,” she says her whole body shaking in a cold sweat, as tears begin to flow down her face.

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“Hey hey, you’re ok. You’re ok,” he cups her face in his hands.

Sage looks at him and pulls him to her, hugging him tightly.

“Ok. I’ve got you. It was just a bad dream. I’ve got you.” He says holding her in his arms.

Sage stills, her hold on Charlie still intact. Her breathing starting to slow down, as she realizes where she is and what’s going on.

“You okay? Huh?” Charlie says leaning down to look into her eyes.

“Yea.”

“Here, why don’t I get you a glass of water?”

Sage untangles her arms from him, just long enough for him to come back with a glass of water for her.

Charlie stands above her as he holds the glass out to her.

She takes it, taking a small sip.

“Thank you,” Sage says looking up at him.

“Sure. I’ll let you get back to sleep,” he says turning to head for the door.

Sage calls out after him, “Charlie,” she says her voice cracking and barely above a whisper.

Charlie turns back toward her with curiosity.

“Will you…stay with me. Just for tonight?”

Charlie looks at her and smiles faintly.

“Of course,” he walks back over and stops at the bed, not knowing what to do.

Sage looks up at him, she scoots over to the other side of the bed and opens the covers to him, taking his hand to lead him into the bed next to her.

He lays down next to her as she cuddles up against his bare chest. Both wrapping their arms around each other.

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The two of them lay there, still, just listening to the night sounds of passing cars, and the water fall trickling outside. Every now and again, the elevator would ding signally someone getting off on their floor.

But most prominent was the slow steady breathing, and the beating of their hearts, intertwining with each other’s. Sage feels Charlie’s chest moving up and down as her head lay on his chest. She stirs moving her position slightly, for more comfort as her hand strokes over his chest, unintentionally. Sage notices the quickened rhythm of his heart rate. Charlie’s hand grippes her waist tighter.

Sage looks up at Charlie as he looks down at her, their eyes meet. Sage reaches her hand up to his face, cupping his face with her hand, she pulls him into a kiss.

Charlie reciprocates immediately, his hands sliding up the sides of her body and into her hair, as he flips them over, leaning into Sage, as he deepens each kiss.

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Sage pulls Charlie to her, her hands reaching down to his belt bucket.

Charlie catches her hand.

She looks at him puzzled.

“On that note, I think I better go,” he says moving away from Sage and sitting up.

“What? Why?” Sage says looking at him surprised.

Charlie gets out of bed and stands up.

“I know it’s not what you need right now.”

Sage looks up at him.

“Good night,” He says leaning down and kissing her cheek, the both of them fighting their instincts to jump on top of each other. Fighting an odd hormonal rage.

Charlie turns and walks out the door, closing it behind him.

Sage flops back on the bed.

“Damn it,” she says staring at the ceiling as she brings her hand to her lips, thinking.

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Charlie stands about a foot from the door, his head spinning with thoughts.

He struggles, trying to silence them.

Charlie turns on his heel, swiftly walking back to Sage’s door, as he’s about to reach for the door knob the door opens swiftly. Sage stands there.

“What’s the harm, in one more kiss?” Charlie says pulling her into a passionate hold.

Sage’s arms wrap around his shoulders, her whole body accepting the spark between she and this man she’s known for only a few days.

Charlie pulls back and looks at Sage’s face, He smirks.

“Come in,” Sage says breathlessly as she pulls Charlie toward her.

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Charlie kisses her.

“No. Not now. Not yet.” He says cupping her face. He kisses her again.

“Why?” she kisses him.

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“Because this is your fear talking. Not you. I know you’re still uneasy about me, about what’s happened between us, about this whole situation.”

Sage looks at him and then looks away, biting her lip.

“Soon though. We’ll get there.” He says leaning in and kissing her lips one last time in an unknowingly teasing manner.

“Good night.” Charlie says standing in the frame of the door, he turns back to Sage.

“Do me a favor, lock your door tonight please. I can already feel my will fading.”

Sage smiles as she walks up to the door, she leans her head against it as she watches Charlie walk back to his bed.

“You’re right about something though,” Sage calls out to Charlie.

“What’s that?” he smiles turning toward her.

“I’m scared. I’m scared because I want you. And I’m even more scared now, because I realize that you want me.”

“You’re just now realizing that? Clearly I need to work on my flirting skills,” he smirks with a small laugh.

“No. (she smiles, with a laugh) It’s just that- I guess trusting that feeling has been hard for me.”

“Considering my dishonesty, it’s completely understandable that you would pull away,” Charlie says more seriously.

“I don’t want that to be how this works though. I know there’s a lot we need to talk about and we definitely don’t know each other that well. But I want that to change. I want to be able to trust you. But I also think you already have a weird way of knowing exactly what I need, before even asking me.”

“It’s all the staring. It works,” he says smirking as he cocks his head to the side his eyes light with flirtation.

“Hmm. You sure it’s not because you’ve been trained to investigate people and their every move?” Sage says actually with an heir of fun in her voice.

“Nope. It’s all you. Trust me the way that your body moves, the way that you work a room, no amount of training can teach a guy how to handle that, let alone how to control himself around it.”

Their eyes gleam at each other, the flirtation finally feeling normal to some degree. Like they could be a regular couple making up after a small spat.

“And here I thought you were trying to dissuade a sexual encounter here, We’re gonna need a deadbolt on both sides of that door, if you don’t stop talking like that,” Sage says smiling his way.

Charlie smirks and looking down, he simply says “Good night.”

“Good night,” Sage says as she closes the door, Charlie hears the lock. He chuckles and works his way back to bed wanting to get a few more hours of sleep in before the sun comes up.

 

To Be Continued….

I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

 -<3-

 *I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

On The Run- Part 6

 

 

ontherunposter*** Read Part 5 HERE

Sage sits there in bed next to this man who has oddly become her everything in the last few days. A blank stare dresses her face. Caught between confusion and budding anger. Someone can’t actually fake feelings like that, can they? From the moment she locked eyes with Charlie while sitting in the back seat of his car, she felt a spark. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he protected her-it was everything Sage had ever wanted in a man, in a partner.

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Was Charlie just playing me this whole time, she thinks.

Was I just being completely delusional and irrational to think that a man would come along and want me for me? All of me? Even the bad stuff? Even the difficult stuff? Even the things I most regret? I should have known he was too good to be true, too good to be trusted.

Unsure which feeling will win in the end, Sage realizes there are two parts colliding within her. The part of her that wants this beautiful, kind, caring man to be allowed time to explain. And the part of her that wanted to flee and never look back. Putting as much distance as she possibly can between them.

Sage’s uncertainty beings to increase and the thought of fleeing becomes increasingly appealing.

She realizes she has no choice. She has to run. She needs to set off on her own.

If I’m going to leave, I need to do it now. Before he wakes up and before I look into those damn mesmerizingly blue eyes and change my mind, she thinks to herself as she sits uncomfortably in shock on the very edge of the bed, wanting to distance herself from Charlie and his betrayal.

Is it a betrayal, if the person who wronged you, is a stranger?

Sage rips off Charlie’s sweater as the business card falls to the floor, unnoticed. Slowly sneaking out of bed, she reaches for her bag of newly purchased thrift clothes. In a rush she flees to the bathroom to get dressed.

A few short minutes later Sage is already heading out the door. Wig, Hat, and Sunglasses in their rightful places.

Sage gives one last glance back at Charlie, with a heavy sigh she leaves, her heart a little heavier then before. Which should say a lot considering what she’s been through.

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The sun is setting and the night is creeping in. The air is cooler. As a breeze rustles in through the suite’s cracked window Charlie awakes in a daze. He reaches up rubbing his eyes to focus his vision.

He turns to where Sage once lay. Greeted with an empty space, his brow furrows.

“Sage?” he calls out sitting up amongst the cozy white sheets.

Charlie smiles as he stands up throwing on his jeans he begins to walk around the honeymoon suite.

“Hey Sexy, where’d you sneak off to?” he smirks looking around the suite, checking the different rooms.

“Sage?”

Charlie begins to worry when he doesn’t receive a response.

He begins to pace and look around for some kind of a sign as to what happened, or as to where Sage could have went. He walks into the bathroom and sees the bag of clothes on the floor, he rummages through it, noticing a few pieces were taken. He walks back to the bedroom, scanning the area for something. Anything. His eyes fall upon a tiny paper on floor near the side of the bed. Charlie’s eyes widen as he bends down to pick it up.

“Shit,” he says looking down at his business card.

Charlie throws on his shirt, jacket and his shoes and rushes out of the room.

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Sage realized quickly that the little money she had in her back pocket when she fled the scene of the crime, wasn’t enough to get her very far. She managed to put a bit of distance between she and Charlie by walking on foot. But not much. 20 some odd blocks away from the ritzy hotel and the fairy tale life she and Charlie had cooked up for themselves, was a not so ritzy, quite disheveled and rugged hometown bar.

Sage sits with a beer in hand. Her head spinning.

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Charlie rushes into the parking lot of the hotel and jumps into his car, quickly turning the key, the engine roars with a fury as he peels out onto the road. His goal- Find her. No excuses.

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Sage sits there, her mind racing. For the first time, in what has honestly felt like forever, she has something other than that horrific night to occupy her mind. Boy trouble. At the very least, Charlie’s betrayal was good for something.

The bartender walks over to where Sage sits hanging her head, staring down the barrel of her beer. Drowning her sorrows with the company of Bud. Bud Lite.

“Hey there gorgeous. Can I get you another?” The dark haired, dark eyed bartender says with a smirk leaning over the bar top.

Sage looks up at him.

The door to the bar opens, a bell over head rings.

Her expression flat, Sage answers rather fueled.

“You all just think that you can win over a woman with a small compliment on her looks and a winning smirk, don’t you?”

The bartender stands there slightly taken aback by her anger.

“No seriously, you men just think it’s that easy don’t you?”

The bartender begins to stumble on his words.

Just then Charlie comes into view as he watches Sage with fixed eyes. He sighs to himself. He can tell this isn’t going to be easy. Charlie walks up behind her and sits down on the stool next to her.

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“Don’t worry. I’ve got this. You’re free to go,” he says looking up at the bartender who shrugs in confusion and walks away.

“Hmm. Sounds like something a cop would say. Oh that’s right-” She says grilling him for a brief second and then continuing to ignore his existence as she takes another sip of her beer.

Charlie looks at her. Examining her face, her body language. Looking for a way to soften this situation.

Her eyes stare ahead, unwilling to look his way. A coldness he hasn’t seen yet. It saddens him. Her lips straight and void of a tell. Her hands clenched on her beer with anger as if it’s the only thing keeping her grounded.

Charlie sits there looking Sage over, his heart pounding. His hands wanting to touch her so badly.

He keeps his silence for a beat, not wanting to drive her a way, or make a scene in a public place.

He takes a deep breath and turns to her, finally mustering up the courage to speak.

“I woke up to an empty bed. Do you know how scared I was?”

“Oh. I’m sure. You poor baby, you’ve been through so much,” she says not even glancing his way.

“Sage-”

“You’re a cop. No I’m sorry, excuse me- a detective. A crime scene detective,” she says turning in her seat to look him right in the eyes. Her voice clear, her tone cold.

“I know you must feel betrayed, but if you just let me explain…”

“No. You have no idea what I feel, how I feel. I trusted you, against every instinct. I let you in. And you broke that trust so quickly-like it just didn’t matter to you.”

“I know that it seems like that- but it isn’t. Can we just go somewhere more private so that we can talk,” he says turning to face her too. “The last thing you need right now is an audience.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she says standing up.

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“Please,” (he stands up next to her) “After everything we’ve been through together in such a short amount of time. Can you honestly believe there isn’t an explanation as to why I never mentioned I was a cop. Just, please, can we go somewhere to talk?”

Sage felt herself melting, his puppy dog, crystal blue eyes are drawing her in and being near Charlie somehow still made her feel safe in some bizarre way. Not wanting him to notice she was softening, Sage crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.

“Fine. We can talk. But just know, that I don’t trust you. You have 5 minutes, nothing more. And if you try anything I will scream my head off.”

Charlie narrows his eyes.

“Considering your current situation, I highly doubt you’d risk that.”

“Try me. Jail is looking pretty good right about now,” Sage says narrowing her eyes back at him and pursing her lips, her arms still folded across her chest; protecting herself.

Charlie’s heart takes a bit of a blow there with that last statement. Yet in that moment all he wanted to do was grab her in his arms and kiss her. Her sassy side was definitely something that was a trigger for him.

Charlie looks her over, his eyes focusing on her body before locking on her eyes.

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“Stop it.”

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“Stop what?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Your 5 minutes are slowly ticking away…so…”

“Ok. Ok I’m sorry. You’re just so- beautiful.”

Sage looks at him, her face puzzled, yet angry.

She walks away toward the bathrooms, there’s an exit door in between the men and women’s room and she pushes through the door as Charlie follows her into the night.

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A dimly lit small yard comes into focus. A few tables and chairs are set up, but the area is empty.

Sage walks to the opposite side of the yard, needing to put that distance in between she and Charlie, facing away from him, she hears the bar door close and him walking closer. Being near him and having him look at her the way he is, is messing with her head. She needs to stay in control of this situation. She whips around coming face to face with him.

“So what was this?? What- were you watching me? Interrogating me? Investigating me? This whole time? Gathering evidence for your case? Are you waiting to make your move to just arrest me, or what? I mean I’m surprised you’ve let this go on for so long. Go as far as to commit to having sex with me? Was that just for kicks? A good old story to tell the fellas back at the office before you slap the handcuffs on me and haul me off to prison? I mean really what are you waiting for?” She says walking away from him yet again.

“No. That’s not what this was. It’s not what this is. It was more. So much more. And you’re not going to prison. I won’t let you.”

Sage looks at him angrily.

“Then what? What is this? Who are you?”

“I’m an ex detective. I left the force years ago. I didn’t agree with certain laws. There are some great cops out there, but being a cop in this world is about following the book. I’m more about trusting your instincts. I’m a bend the rules kind of guy. I believe in taking a deeper look. Crime and the reasons certain people have for committing them aren’t always black and white. I’ve seen some of the most heartbreaking cases go unjustified. I couldn’t stomach being apart of that anymore.”

“And I’m just supposed to just take your word for it.”

“Yes. Have I given you any reason not to?”

Sage glares over at him, knowing he’s got a point.

“Why would you want to help me? You come out of nowhere and you save me, than you drive me everywhere, pay for everything. Why?”

“That night we met, the night of the murder, when I saw you running from the scene, I saw the fear on your face. I’ve been trained to tell the difference between real fear and fear of being caught. I’ve been trained to notice the signs of a guilty person. And I could tell you were one of those cases that would go unjustified if I didn’t do something to help you. I needed to help you. I needed to make a difference. I’m so consumed by the cases I wasn’t able to change the outcome of.”

“Oh come on, you expect me to believe that you were just what-in the wrong place at the right time?”

“Yes. Some things are just meant to happen. Some people are meant to meet. Regardless of circumstance.”

Sage looks at him, her resolve softening as her cross fall to her sides. Charlie notices as a smirk hides between his glare.

“And as far as the sex. I wanted to. It’s as simple as that. I think you are sexy as hell and smart and kind and I wanted you. I wanted to be with you. To touch you. I wanted you in my arms and I wanted to be able to make you feel safe. There. There’s your ulterior motive.”

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Sage laughs sarcastically as she rolls her eyes. She looks at him her head still in a fog. She doesn’t know what to believe.

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“Come on. You can’t be serious here. This is all just one big story. One big cover. What are you waiting for? Why don’t you just radio one of your cop friends and slap the cuffs on me right now? Or do you have a pair of your own hiding somewhere?”

“No I don’t. I told you, that’s not going to happen. I mean- unless you want to use hand cuffs for a different reason, then I would be happy to track a pair down,” Charlie smirks as he arches an eyebrow, looking Sage over once again.

“Sex jokes? Really? I can’t believe you. I can’t believe you let things go that far between us.”

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t exactly have to twist your arm.”

“I didn’t know the whole truth.”

“You want to know what I think? I think you’re just scared. I think you are scared to admit that you actually felt something. You felt safe, taken care of. Maybe even loved.”

Sage’s eyes shoot up and lock with Charlie’s.

“You’re not naïve, even you know there’s a connection here. Just because, you can’t explain it doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“I thought it was all in my head. But-”

“It’s not. It’s real,” Charlie says cupping her face, and looking into her eyes.

Sage looks up at Charlie as he searches her face for a lead.

Sage sighs, letting herself go, she reaches up and grabbing his neck she pulls him into a kiss.

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Charlie pulls her tightly against him, deepening the kiss.

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“Let me take you back to the hotel, please,” he whispers breathlessly as he looks into her eyes.

Sage looks up at him. Unsure of what to do.

“I um. I think it’s time- I go off on my own.”

Charlie looks at her, slightly dumbfounded.

“Why?”

“I just. I’ve imposed on you long enough.”

“You still can’t let yourself trust me, can you?”

“I want to. But I just can’t. And being around you, and feeling these feelings, it’s messing with my head. And I’m already messed up to begin with.”

“You’re not messed up. You’re just dealing with a lot. And I get it.”

“Thank you. For everything,” she says distancing herself and holding her hand out for him to shake.

Charlie looks down at her hand and taking it in his, he shakes it. As his hand meets hers, so do his eyes, and the spark is fueled again. He pulls her to him, kissing her yet again. Sage kisses him back for a beat, but then gently pushing him away, she looks up at him.

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“Bye Charlie,” she walks away from him and toward the door.

“So what, I’m just never going to see you again?”

“I don’t know,” she says smiling slightly.

Charlie sighs heavily looking at her.

“I can’t let that happen.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Sage please. Stay with me. Let me do this for you. Let me help you.”

Sage looks at him, her gaze on the floor, her mind confused. She doesn’t want to leave him, but she can’t trust him either.

“What did you do? What happened? Tell me and I can help you.”

Sage looks up at him, her wheels turning and her eyes narrowing.

“Oh so now you’re out right asking me?”

“Yes. I’ve tried to wait until you were ready to tell me. But if we continue to wait, time will run out. And then who knows where you’ll end up.”

“Jail. Maybe I should just turn myself in. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder every second. And most importantly I can’t trust you. I don’t. This is what you’ve been waiting on isn’t it? Information.”

“Sage?” Stop it.”

“You stop it. Stop playing this game with me. Stop trying to convince me that you actually give a damn about what happens to me. That you actually want me. You don’t. You’re just really good at playing the role. Did you minor in acting too?”

“I’m only trying to help you Sage, because well…I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Why?”

“I’ve dealt with enough cases to know that whatever reason you had for doing what you did was a good one. I could just tell by the guilt you’ve been wrestling with.”

“I killed someone.”

“Okay. Why? What happened?”

“Oh please stop acting like what I actually have to say matters.”

“It matters a whole hell of a lot. You matter. To me. Don’t you get that by now. Paint me a picture. Tell me what happened.”

“It was a domestic dispute.”

“You don’t have any bruises on your body.”

“Oh and you would know wouldn’t you?” she says with a laugh and yet another eye roll.

“Victims of domestic violence usually have years of evidence hidden on their bodies. All you have are a few perfectly placed beauty marks. (he looks up at her, his eyes looking her over, something that is obviously a favorite past time for him lately) That’ll be a strike against your story.”

Sage notices his glare and the tension building between them there in that moment.

“Who said it was my dispute?” she says fidgeting under his gaze and trying to keep the conversation going.

“Ah now we’re getting somewhere. Figures. I mean usually female victims of abuse flinch at any sign of physical male contact. You never did.”

“Stop, ok?”

“What-I’m just stating the facts.”

“No you’re flirting. You’re trying to paint a picture of all the feelings from last night. Fine. You want a replay? Here it goes. Yes we had sex. Yes it was amazing sex. But it can’t ever happen again.”

“You sure that’s what you want?”

“What I want doesn’t matter. I don’t need a physical relationship with you messing with my head right now.”

“Ok fair enough. What if I promise to keep my distance. We can even get separate rooms at the hotel. You can have your own space and I still get to keep an eye on you, and help you out. From a distance.”

Sage looks at him, confused.

“Why are you still trying to be nice to me? I’ve been nothing but a bitch to you today.”

“You’ve been through a lot, it’s understandable.”

 Sage looks at him, still puzzled by the grace of this man.

“So what really happened? It’s the only way I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help.”

Charlie grabs her hand.

“Go help some other damsel in distress.”

“You think I do this for everyone?”

“Oh so what I’m special.”

“Yes you are.”

Sage rolls her eyes.

“Oh please you expect me to just believe that you were driving by there that night by chance.”

“Lucky you,” Charlie says looking over at Sage, smirk in place.

Sage rolls her eyes yet again.

“If you want me to be honest with you, you have to do the same. Why were you there?”

“I heard the breaking news report on the radio and I happen to be in the area. I thought I would check things out. When I saw you running for your life. I knew you must have been involved and I had to help you. It’s not something I feel I can fully explain, just something I felt I had to do. Nice diversion by the way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know what you’re trying to do?”

“Do tell, detective.”

“You’re picking a fight with me. The kind that creates a vicious cycle. Because you’re hurt, which I get. But also because I think you still want me just as much as I want you. Which is also why you keep avoiding my eye contact and moving further and further away from me.”

“You got me. You figured me out detective. Do you want a gold star?”

“You’ll do just fine,” he says pulling her by the waist toward him.

“Charlie. Don’t.” she says pulling away from him.

“Come back with me. Please.”

Sage looks at him.

“Separate rooms,” she says agreeing.

Charlie smiles.

He steps back away from her, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Your wish is my command.”

Sage opens the back door and walks into the bar as Charlie follows, heading toward the car.

To Be Continued….

I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

On The Run- Part 5

ontherunposter

***Read Part 4 HERE

This part is deemed a bit more mature.

Parental-advisory-explicit-lyrics

Due to Sexual Content

 

Sage looks around her motel room, as she grabs some food and drinks left over from the night before and throws them into a plastic bag. Despite its unlivable conditions; of mold, heating problems, shag carpet, and a mattress that feels like the springs are about to poke through any second, this gritty place has been her safe haven.

Her fear of leaving instantly strikes.

*****************************************************************************

She gets halted by the same familiar scream ringing in her ear.

“Help! Help me! Please.”

Sage is left still- in silence. The image of her looking at her own reflection in a modern sleek mirror, her hands and clothes covered in blood- flashes through her mind. Yet another vivid memory from that horrific night.

“What did you do?” a shaky female voice says as Sage turns toward it, her whole body shaking in fear and adrenaline.

*****************************************************************************

Sage’s heart begins to pound, as her face turns a pale shade.

Charlie appears in the motel doorway.

“Hey, you okay?”

Sage instantly breaks from her trance at the sound of his soothing and newly familiar voice. The effect this man has on her after such a short amount of time, both excites and frightens her.

She looks up at him, her eyes instantly locking onto his.

Charlie smirks her way.

“Yea, I um- I’m ok. I just um, I was just grabbing the extra snacks. Figured they shouldn’t go to waste, right? We may get hungry on the road.”

“Yea, sure.”

Sage bites her lip, and looks away trying to cover her fear.

Charlie notices and eyes her with a deeper look, but knowing it’s not his place to pry he let’s it slide.

“I’ll be in the car, you come out when you’re ready.”

“Ok, I’ll just be a minute,” Sage says with a faint smile.

Charlie smiles and starts to walk away, just as he’s about through the door, he turns back around.

“Oh, I forgot-I found these in the back of my car, thought it might help you disguise yourself until we can get you some clothes and a new hair style.”

Charlie hands her a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses.

Sage sighs of relief, as she smiles up at him.

“Thank you. You are my lifesaver.”

Charlie smiles as he looks at her, his eyes look her over and land back where they started- in their usual intense glance with this mystery girl’s eyes.

Sage fidgets under his gaze.

“What?” she says looking down at herself. Clad in Charlie’s oversized t-shirt and flannel button down and sweatpants, Sage suddenly feels insecure.

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Charlie smiles and looks away.

“Nothing. I’ll be in the car,” He says walking off.

“Ok,” She says not knowing what to make of the tension between them.

Sage walks over to the motel mirror, she places the hat on, followed by the sunglasses and looks at her reflection.

“Who are you?” She whispers to herself.

With a sigh full of pain and dressed in fear, Sage grabs the bag of snacks and heads out of the motel room.

Sage looks out into the sunlight, the motel is vacant, no one in sight, and still she keeps her head down and walks swiftly to the car.

Charlie sees her and leans over unlocking the door.

Sage swiftly sits, closing the door quickly, she reaches for her seat belt.

“You got everything you need?” Charlie asks looking over at her.

“Yup. Didn’t really have much on me,” She says looking down at her hands as they shake.

Charlie reaches over and grabs her hands in his.

“We’re gonna get you through this. I know it’s scary but, you’re gonna be ok. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Sage looks at him and instinctively entangles her hand into his, giving him a small smile.

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Her heart pounding, from the feeling of the physical contact.

Charlie smiles back and pulls his hand away to start the car.

“We should probably get some gas, just to be on the safe side. I don’t know how long we’ll be driving, before we make our next stop.”

“Yea sure. That sounds like a plan. In fact, maybe I can get to an ATM, so I can pull out some money.”

Charlie pulls out of the motel parking lot and onto the highway.

“No, stop worrying, I’ve got this. Besides pulling money out of your bank account could raise a red flag. It could lead to a trail and pin point your location. They know what you look like, if somehow you’re name gets known, that trail will be your worst nightmare.”

“Really? Funny I thought I was already living one.”

“Oh what you mean being on the run with a stranger? Am I really that bad of company?”

Sage looks over at him.

“No, not at all. You’re the only thing keeping me sane.”

Charlie looks over at her sympathetically.

After a few miles, Charlie pulls into a gas station.

“Stay in the car. Don’t talk to anyone. I’ll handle this. I’ll make it quick.”

Charlie gets out of the car.

**********************************************************************

The sleek black car whizzes by- on the road once again, looking for a place to ransack for a new look, and a new identity.

Charlie points to an old thrift store.

“You wanna give that a shot?”

“Yea sure. I’m not in a position to be picky.”

Charlie makes a quick turn. Parking in front of the store.

Upon getting out of the car, Charlie walks over to Sage’s side.

He opens the door for her.

“Ok look, we have to be quick, grab a few things. In and out. You can’t risk anybody memorizing your face. Take a breath. You can do this. In and out. No eye contact, don’t talk to anybody. Follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”

Sage nods.

Charlie begins to walk toward the storefront as he reaches to grab the door knob, Sage instinctively reaches for his free hand, needing him close by.

Charlie looks at her and tightens his grip on her hand, giving her a small smile, letting her know he’s got her.

He leads Sage into the store.

They are instantly met with a fresh faced, helpful teen girl.

“Hi welcome to Dress Thrifty, how can I help you?”

Sage keeps her head down, ducking slightly behind Charlie’s shoulder.

“Um. No, we’re just browsing. Thanks,” He says flashing her a smile.

“Ok. Well happy hunting. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure.” Charlie says walking Sage down into the nearest aisle.

The two of them set into looking through the racks of clothes, pulling anything that looks like it would fit her.

Charlie glances over at Sage, he can tell she’s nervous. He comes up behind her.

“Breathe,” he whispers, “You’re doing great.”

Sage looks up at him with a small smile.

“Find anything good?” He asks, changing the subject.

“Yea. I think I’m good. Got all my bases covered,” She says holding her arms out- full of clothing, shoes, and such.

“Ok good. Should we head to check out?” Charlie asks.

“Yes.”

Charlie looks up and something catches his eye.

“Oh wait-one more thing,” He says walking over to a section full of wigs.

Sage follows, her face puzzled.

“Pick a few,” Charlie says looking at her.

“Um…Okay.”

Sage grabs a short brunette wig and a long red haired wig.

“Ok all set?”

“Guess so,” Sage says with a small laugh.

“Ok let’s go,” Charlie says putting his hand on the small of her back and leading her to the front of the store.

Sage feels chills run up her spine. She smiles internally.

At the counter Charlie turns to Sage to take everything from her arms.

The young teen begins to ring up the wigs first. She looks up at the two and laughs.

“Well, someone must not be able to make up his mind?”

“I’m sorry?” Charlie says confused.

“I’m just surprised you didn’t make her get a blonde one too?”

“I’m not sure I know what you’re getting at,” Charlie says continuing to be puzzled.

Sage pretends to look around at the items near the register, keeping her head down.

“Role play? My boyfriend and I do it all the time. I have to say he does like when I wear the blonde wig the best,” She laughs.

Sage can’t help but look up at this young freckle faced, red haired, teen, in shock.

“Oh. Um. Yea. No she’s actually a hair stylist. They’re for practice,” Charlie says making up an epic excuse on the fly.

“Oh. Whoops,” The girl laughs as she finishes ringing their items up.

Charlie, slightly red faced turns to Sage with wide eyes, Sage laughs slightly, as Charlie smiles at her.

“Hey babe, why don’t you go start the car up, I got this,” He says holding the keys out to Sage as she nods playing along.

“Sure, babe, um by the way grab me a diet coke,” She smiles leaning up and kissing his cheek.

Charlie smiles as Sage heads out of the store.

“You can add on the diet coke too,” He says taking money from his wallet.

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Sage sits in the car. She turns the radio on to silence her racing mind.

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Charlie exits the store and walking up to the back door, he opens it throwing the bags in. Then opening the front door, he joins Sage in the front seat.

“Could you believe that girl? What was she like 16?” Charlie says as he starts the car.

“I know. I was thoroughly uncomfortable.”

Charlie laughs, “I saw,” He says smiling over at her, as he hands her the diet coke.

“Thank you. So where to next?” she asks looking over at him.

“We drive, out of town. Put a good amount of miles in between you and the scene.”

“Ok.”

“No questions? No snarky comments?” Charlie says looking over at her with an arch forming in his eyebrow.

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“I am not- snarky,” Sage says with a gasp, hitting him in the shoulder playfully.

“You could be a little snarky.”

“No, I cannot.”

“Yes you can,” he says laughing harder, “Don’t worry, it’s kind of sexy,” Charlie says looking over at her, locking onto her stare.

The light changes and Charlie focuses back on the road as Sage looks out her window, trying to steady the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

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Sage and Charlie have been driving for about a half an hour, and Sage looks over at Charlie.

“Could we maybe make a pit stop in a few?”

“Sure. You hungry?”

“Starving. I know I have the stuff from the vending machine, but I’m dying for some real food.”

“Ok good. Me too,” He says laughing.

Charlie sees a rest stop sign and pulls into the parking lot.

“We’ll get something to go?”

“Yea I think that’s best,” Sage says.

“You wanna just tell me what you want? I’ll go grab it.”

“Um. Ok. I’ll just have turkey, lettuce and mayo on a roll.”

“No fries? You mean to tell me you’re not a fries girl?”

“Oh I’m totally a fries girl, but you basically just bought me a new wardrobe so…the sandwich is more than enough.”

“Stop it. I don’t mind. In order for this to work, you’re going to have to let me take care of you.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“Yea I’m getting that.”

They share a moment.

Sage looks away.

“I’ll be quick.”

Charlie gets out of the car and walks off toward the food court.

Sage sits quietly in the car. She looks around at her surroundings. She sees a sign for a restroom, and it sparks something.

“I should go while I can,” she says leaning into the back of the car she pulls out the long red wig and sets to fitting it on her head. She looks into the car mirror and fusses with t, sighing she throws her hat back on and locking both doors from the inside, before stepping out, she heads toward the rest room.

A few minutes later, she emerges as she walks toward the car, she sees Charlie pacing about.

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He appears to be nervous.

He spots her and sighs, walking swiftly over to her.

“Where’d you go?”

“I had to use the restroom. I figured I should go while I have the chance.”

“A little heads up would have been nice. I came back and you were done and I got worried that something happened to you.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t think.”

“No. You didn’t. Look I know that this is a weird situation, and you barely know me. But I am committed to helping you. So I need you to remember that you’re thinking for two now. We’re a team.”

“Ok. You’re right. I can do that. I’m sorry,” Sage says realizing how nervous Charlie had gotten. His cool calm and collective side was completely thrown.

“It’s ok. Just. Keep me in the loop, please.”

“I will. From now on, you are so in the loop,” She says smiling.

“Thank you,” Charlie says smirking “Let’s get outta here,” he says nodding toward the car.

Climbing into the car, Sage looks over at Charlie and he starts the engine and peels back onto the road.

“So are you a “don’t eat in my car” kinda guy?”

“Yes. Yes I am.”

Sage looks down and puts her sandwich back into its bag.

Charlie laughs.

“Sage. Are you kidding me? Does this car look like I keep it spotless? Go for it.”

Sage smiles and opens her sandwich and fries laying them on her lap.

She takes a fry and holds it up to Charlie’s lips for him to eat.

He looks over at her and smiles, as he bites it, not taking his hands off the wheel.

Sage smiles and resumes eating.

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The two of them finally find a hotel about 2 hours away. As Charlie pulls into the driveway, Sage notices the grand gold statues and waterfalls throughout the walkway.

“Charlie. This place is going to be so expensive. We can’t stay here.”

“Yes we can. Don’t worry about it,” He says shutting off the car.

“What about me, I look like a bum, I am going to draw attention to myself, and I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

“It’ll be for two seconds at check in, I am sure I can make up some excuse. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Sage and Charlie grab their bags and head toward the hotel.

They walk through the sliding doors and up to the counter. They are met with a very chirpy, smiley, overly eccentric young male.

“How can I help you on his fine day?”

“Well my uh, wife (he says pulling Sage by the waist into him) and I would like a room.”

Sage goes along with the role, as she wraps her arm around his back, laying her head on his shoulder not making eye contact with the concierge.

“The dotting wife role, is surprisingly easy to pull off,” she thinks to herself as being with Charlie somehow already feels natural.

“I could get used to this,” she thinks stroking Charlie’s back, as his back tightens up under her sudden touch.

“Ok perfect. Um if you can just supply a credit card. It is $2,000 a night, how long were you planning to stay?”

Sage’s head shoots up and before she can protest, Charlie hands over his credit card.

“We’re not exactly sure, we’re trying to recreate our honeymoon, it was kind of hysterically awful but slightly wonderful, hence the dirty clothes, yet smiling faces.”

“I knew there was an explanation,” He laughs.

“There always is,” Charlies says “Feel free to charge away for as long as we stay.”

“Oh ok. That is great.”

He punches in a few things at the computer and hands Charlie a hotel room key.

“Here is your key, you are in room 504, the honeymoon suite.

“Perfect,” Charlie says smiling as he takes the key.

“Do you need help with your bags?”

“Don’t have any, we lost our luggage on our honeymoon so…”

“Your dedication to realism astounds me, have a great time. This is such a romantic gesture, I could just die.”

Charlie laughs and walks off as he leads Sage toward the elevator.

The two step into the empty elevator, as they make it to the next floor a few people get on.

Two women get on at the third floor, and are in mid conversation.

One of them makes eye contact with Charlie, he looks away down at Sage, as she tightens her grip on his hand.

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“So did you see that thing on the news, about the murder in Wakefield? That’s only two hours from here. They say it was committed by a woman. Had a sketch of her on the news and everything.”

“Yea I did see that. Crazy world we live in.”

Charlie’s gaze sticks onto Sage, as he feels the fear run through her body, all her energy being focused on keeping her head down and tightening her grip on his hand.

The elevator reaches the 5th floor as Charlie pushes past the women he leads Sage to their room.

Opening the door, Sage rushes in, her heart pounding.

Charlie closes the door behind him, dropping their bags to the side as he follows Sage.

“Hey…”

“There’s a sketch out? I can’t do this. I can’t keep this up. I—”

She starts to breathe heavy and break into a sweat.

“Hey…hey….”

Unable to get through to her, Charlie cups her face and looks at her, directly into her eyes. He pulls her to him and kisses her.

charlie and sage kiss

Sage wraps her arms around his neck instantaneously, kissing him back. The kiss deepens and goes on for much longer than Charlie thought or intended it to.

Charlie pulls away in need of some air. He looks at her.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I met you and got a look at these lips,” He says cupping her face as his thumb grazes her lower lip.

“Well that makes two of us,” Sage says her hands running over his chest as she leans up to meet his lips again. Cupping her face with both hands, Charlie then removes her hat and her wig and tosses it to the side.

“I’m glad we didn’t go for anything too permanent, you’re kind of perfect the way you are,” he says pulling her back to him as he kisses her again his hands tightening around her body, gripping her closer into him.

He looks down into her eyes, she smiles up at him and without hesitation she lifts her layers of shirts off, leaving her in her bra.

Charlie looks down at her and sighing nervously, he looks away, slightly flustered.

“Ok,” He laughs. “This is moving really fast, are you sure you want to-”

“I trust you,” Sage says looking at him, just before pulling him into another electrically charged kiss.

Charlie pulls her closer toward him as he reaches to remove his jacket.

bed

***********************************************************************

Moments later Sage and Charlie are tangled up in the silk white sheets, their clothes sprawled about, and their hands exploring new territory.

Charlie hovers above Sage and looks at her.

“You’re beautiful,” He says as he leans down and kisses her.

“Where did you come from?” She says cupping the back of his neck and starring into his eyes.

“I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” He says continuing to kiss her as he works his way from her lips to her jaw line, her neck, her chest, her stomach and back to her lips again. Sage smiles against Charlie’s lips as she pulls him into her, her legs and arms wrap around his body. He smirks gripping her thighs he seals any left over space between them, as Sage squeals in happy laughter.

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Sage awakes an hour or so later, her stomach growling. She looks over at the handsome, scantily covered stranger lying beside her and smiles. Not wanting to wake him he slides to the edge of the bed wrapped in part of the sheet, and grabs Charlie’s sweater to throw on.

Wrapping it around herself, she puts her hands into the pockets and feels something. She pulls out a business card. She proceeds to read it, not thinking anything of it-until the words hit her like a ton of bricks.

The card reads- Charlie Steinfeld. Detective. Crime Scene Investigator.

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Sage’s heart drops as she looks over at the man she has entrusted with her life, her mind and her body.

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story, series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

 

#WhoIsIt? Alternate Theories

My Walking Dead Alternate #WhoIsIt Theories

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Let’s go one by one- from the TV viewer’s POV left to right:

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Glenn-

Steven Yeun’s “Glenn Rhee” is on the receiving end of the bat in the comics. And so for some fans he appears to be the obvious choice. But I’m not too sure he’s that obvious anymore. It really could be anybody at this point. No one is safe. That is the whole point of Negan’s speech. That when you think you are safe, you aren’t. The Walking Dead has an intense history of spinning off from the comics and tricking you when you think you know where they’re going, they “take a sharp left.” Gimple has even been quoted saying in this specific comic arc, that they would be “taking a sharp left.” If it is Glenn, it allows fans to be satisfied with a comic book ending and will give them their huge epic scene they’ve been waiting for. *I don’t read the comics, but I’ve known about this death scene, and quite frankly I can live without it. I love Glenn too much, to rally for that death scene to play out the exact way it does in the comics. I could care less. Yea I get shock value, and I get the blood and gore quota has to be met on this show, inadvertently we as fans do want to be surprised and see the gore, but shock me with someone else’s death.

If it does end up being Glenn that mega death fake out showrunners put us through in the beginning half of this 6th season was a complete waste of time, energy and anxiety. Unless that is their plan, to make us think it won’t be Glenn and then it is. He’s had far too many near death experiences throughout the show, but especially this season. He’s lucked out a lot, so could it be that his luck has finally run out just as he is about to become a dad? SADDEST THOUGHT EVER!

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It’s safe to say I won’t be able to get over that one! Maggie and Glenn are the main love story, they drive that show in a very special way for me. And we all love them, I don’t think their story is done. I swear Scott Gimple’s going to be getting my bill for the therapy sessions I’m going to need, or at least supply me with a lifetime of chamomile tea to calm my nerves as I watch this show every week.

If it is Glenn the cliffhanger allows the series to get months in between the decision to mirror the events of the comic and keep people guessing. According to THR Gimple previously stated that he “would not be too proud” if he “chumped” the brutal scene. Yea sure but that could just mean the brutality is intact, but the character doesn’t have to be. Anyone who gets their head smashed in would warrant some kind of reaction.

I sincerely hope they wouldn’t keep Glenn alive just to end up killing him at the end of the season. It would break the show into pieces for us to have to mourn Glenn just as Maggie announced her pregnancy with their child. Not to mention that Glenn has had little screen time as of late and Maggie and Glenn have had little screen time as a couple. The constant separation between the two, and having to look for each other and fight for their family can’t end like this. I just don’t accept it. I can’t. The Walking Dead has a reputation of deviating from the comics and so I sincerely hope they keep that up when it comes to Glenn’s supposed death. However, the creators, writers and directors could have concluded that we’d think Glenn is safe because he’s neared death quite a few times this season, so they could shock us and really leave it Glenn. Quite honestly given the logic I used in my Michonne theory, I don’t see it being Glenn. I just don’t think Maggie and Glenn are in positions to allow that to go down without a fight considering when Negan raised the bat to Maggie offering to “take her out of her misery,” Glenn basically freaked the F out.

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Glenn and Maggie are a driving force as a whole. Their story still has a ways to go. And Glenn’s whole philosophy has been about maintaining who he is in this world, regardless of having to deal with walkers. He does know how to survive and he has more to offer to the story. He watched Nicholas take his own life, he cheated death several times, he’s becoming a father and he just recently made his first human kills this season. I as a viewer want to see Glenn attempt to deal with this. And I want my #1 TWD Romance to be kept intact.

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Rosita-

Just had her heartbroken and is healing it by  messing around with Spencer who’s back in Alexandria. She’s a firey, tough latina, and although everyone’s waiting to see if she and Sasha have a throw down over Abraham, while she makes her way over and into a love affair with Eugene, she’s certainly not a main character. Although according to Denise she’s alone. Although her death wouldn’t cause me too much grief, I am interested in seeing how the rest of her story plays out. But she was one of the 4 held so could her POV be the POV of the person who gets a bat to the head. I’d say she’s highly unlikely.

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Daryl-

Um, is he even an option? I mean really, Scott Gimple? Don’t mess with me. Are you trying to wage a war against the fans? Try us, we will RIOT! Yes, both Daryl and Glenn are in that van when we see the POV shots throughout the episode. However, if you again, look at my Michonne theory, Daryl is clearly the first to exit the van, as he was wounded and slumped down in the van, sitting on the floor. The POV shots include the top of what appears to be Daryl’s head. Besides I’d say Negan knows all about Daryl considering Dwight has come into contact with him many times, Negan knows what Daryl is capable of. After all he calls him a tiger…haha “catch “a tiger”- *points bat at Daryl* by the toe.” However, fans adore Daryl and so does the group, his death would have a lasting effect on EVERYONE and catapult us into an insane season of Revenge. But to be honest, any season that doesn’t have Daryl and his dirty ass, potty mouth, crossbow aiming, motorcycle riding, carol loving self in it, isn’t one I want to watch. :/ Although Norman Reedus was on Talking Dead after the episode with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan. And you know that shit is not a good sign. #jinx #deathspot #TTDcouch 

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Michonne-* (is my main guess- Read my full analysis HERE)

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She would be a shock…figures just as Rick and Michonne started Richonne-in it.

 

Abraham-

BITCH NUTS! Who’s Deanna? Bisquick. Mother Dick. Abraham is our comedy.

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And on a show like The Walking Dead, we need a little laughter. Not to mention that his delivery is so stone cold serious that it makes it even more hilarious when he spits out his nonsense phrases. There’s also the fact that he just left Rosita to fall in love with Sasha. Can you say #LOVETRIANGLE? Yea! Seriously though he and Sasha could be epic, if given the time, and we haven’t had that intense a jealous lover’s squarel within our central group since Rick, Lori and Shane.

Rosita throwing some serious shade…

But needless to say Abraham was definitely one of the first I thought of when the screen went black. I just saw so much pride and heroism in him this episode that it would be justified if he was the one who was killed. He’s a soldier, he protects. And he may be considered a B-list cast member, he’s the closest to a main character, he’s certainly beloved and his death would make an impact. Let’s look at the signs; he recently started a love affair with Sasha, and in this episode as he drives the RV (major role in the journey to save Maggie and baby) he basically tells her he could see himself having kids with her, now.

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He mentions how planning that type of thing, is really living. As the sun shines brightly on Abraham and his red headed mustache wearing self, it’s a sweet moment tainted by upcoming tragedy?

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There is also the moment he has with Eugene where they hug it out and rebuild their friendship. Abraham tells Eugene that he was wrong about him, he is a survivor.

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All these moments, almost seem as though they are setting us up to say goodbye to Abraham. In the moments where the group is placed under the interrogation headlights Abraham is the first to protest the lead Savior, when he tells the other saviors to get Maggie down, Abraham says “Hold up. We got it.” Already protecting. He and Rick walk Maggie over to the lineup and when Negan threatens Maggie and Glenn has his freak out moment, Abraham reaches to hold Maggie as she cried out for them to stop hurting Glenn. When Negan comes face to face with Abraham, Abraham challenges him, he rises up and looks Negan square in the face.

In my opinion Negan’s “Take it like a champ” comment could fit Abraham’s soldier background. Also considering the blows of Lucille, there were about 3 major blows; the first one- caused a crack and the bleeding, the second caused blurry vision and a fall and the third was a black out. For the victim to withstand that type of blow and that many, they would have to be holding their head up high and “standing tall.” Their build would have to be solid. However, I do feel like the group could handle a lot, and even the most unlikely subject could “take it like a champ.” I just feel like someone who is wounded like Daryl, although strong, that kind of blow would knock him out on the first shot. Even Glenn who seems to be in a bit of a fit of hysterics might go down pretty easy too. Carl and Maggie’s smaller frames could also succumb to the blows quicker. But then again, as I said before it could be anyone. And that’s why I am obsessing. In fact something else to consider is Abraham’s death in the comics is actually how Denise died in the show- arrow through the eye.

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Could it be that Abraham was spared to be Glenn’s replacement? Also here’s another little tidbit-to think about-this fan is on point.

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 Maggie-

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All kinds of NO. Maggie is one of the few original women left. I just relate to her somehow. She is becoming such a leader and just a mama bear, and I just feel like she hasn’t had enough screen time lately, for this to be it. If The Walking Dead thinks they could bait and switch Glenn’s death for Maggie’s you have no idea the wrath you will feel. Not only would Negan be taking one life, but he’d be taking two. And I cannot see Glenn allowing that to go down. His non-death would be a waste of time, if they kill Maggie off. Because in the greater scheme of things, Glenn is living for his family. In the comics Negan is said not to kill women or kids. Well if they stick to that Maggie is safe. If they don’t, Maggie is in the line of fire, and that terrifies me. Something is clearly wrong with her baby and I just hope that we get to see the outcome of our Glaggie family.

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That shower scene where Glenn notices the bruises on Maggie’s body from the fight she had with the female saviors. That scene was so heartbreaking.

Rick-

Um if Rick dies, it would be the biggest shock in TV history. Granted I understand sometimes shows go for it and think that they can justify killing a series’ lead character but on the Walking Dead that just would not fly. I mean he’s the leader, he’s the center of the show, the whole story revolves around him and his experiences. I cannot see it being Rick, but like I said before, this show has proven time and time again that when you think someone is safe they’re not. #NoJustNo #Ricktatorship #NeganClearlyDidntGetTheMemo

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Sasha-

She’s a safe choice, I feel. She’s likeable. She’s family. She’s had some great moments and she and Abraham are in love and talking about building a future. What better way to squash that dream then to have her get the bat. Her death would affect the group and the viewers, but again not like a major character’s death would. Sasha is more of a B-list character.

Although I have to say her reaction to Negan’s bat always makes me laugh, because I could just see her saying something like…”mmm mm..nope.”

Aaron-

Aaron is very likeable. We’ve kind of accepted him pretty quickly. He was the person that Maggie confides her pregnancy in.

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And he is also someone who has really taken the group on as family and has continuously tried to pull his weight. For example, telling Rick he would have to punch him in the face to stop him from coming along to help get Maggie to the hilltop. I think the friendship he’s formed with Maggie is sweet, however I don’t think it’s fully developed yet.

He was there for her when she was waiting for a sign from Glenn, he gave her hope. And he is also half of the first gay couple to grace the walking dead screen. Who’s his boyfriend again? Oh yea that dude that never gets screen time. Story isn’t done.

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His death wouldn’t be catastrophic, because he’s not a main character. However, it would be fitting since he is to the right side of Rick and he is near Carl, which if you notice Negan’s shadow on Rick’s face and as he gestures toward Carl when he delivers his cryptic “cut the boy’s other eye out” line. But again, I doubt it’s him. Could be, but I doubt it.

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Carl-

Was my initial choice. When Negan says “Anybody moves, anybody says anything, cut the kid’s other eye out and feed it to his father. And then we’ll start.” I sat there and was like WHAT? So it’s Carl. Now I know there has been some serious debate about that specific line. Some people think because he said that, both Rick and Carl are safe. But some people seem to think it was in fact Carl, and that he threatens that if anyone attempts to stop him he will first cut out Carl’s eye, force feed it to Rick and then continue to bludgeon Carl to death. Although others argue that Carl would already be dead then and Lucille will have no purpose, people seem to think he says that line as leverage. Or it could be a means to an end for our father/son pairing. The “and then we’ll start” can mean let me make you suffer and then bash your head in. Also this photo has been floating around and the shadow does match a certain sheriff hat wearing teen, could be just the lighting, but it could also be a sign.

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Raise your hand if you’ve said- God when is he gonna take that damn hat off? As per Season 1- Carl you should have stayed in the house. Although I have to say that Carl’s character evolution is definitely fun to watch. He’s a little G, and so was little Mika.

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I was hoping to see them have a teenage romance. Haha. Aw RIP sweet Mika. Anyway I digress. If you watch back the scene where Negan begins his twisted version of our favorite child deciding factor game, you notice that his shadow seems to be on the right side of Rick’s face (from the viewer’s POV) just before he says “and you are it.” Which some may conclude that the victim is on the right side of the lineup, meaning; Sasha, Aaron, Carl or Eugene. Pair that fact with the idea that we see Carl’s shadow and Viola! Although would they really end Carl’s story like this? He just survived getting his eye shot out, and he’s definitely in line to be a leading contender if anything ever happens to Rick. #BiteYourTongue. Although there were a few things in the Season finale episode that I picked up on when I thought Carl may have received the barbed end of Lucille and her reign of terror. In the beginning of the episode when Rick and Company are packing up the RV getting ready to take Maggie to the OBGYN doctor at hilltop, Enid is very insistent on coming. Home-girl is fishy, something is up, she probably poisoned those pickles, and is actually working with the Saviors. Let’s not forget she was always running off out of Alexandria and into the woods. However, Carl forbids her to come and ends up purposely locking her in the closet to keep her safe. She utters through the door, “What if you don’t come back. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to live with that?” Carl responds calmly “Just Survive Somehow,” reiterating Enid’s personal slogan back to her. Keep in mind that at this moment we see Carl’s shadow cast upon the white closet door. I may be reaching, but could this be shadow play? Foreshadowing the shadow we see that might match Carl getting killed by Negan.

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There is also a conversation between Carl and Aaron in the RV, where Carl asks “What made you come?” To which Aaron answers “I owe her,” referring to Maggie, probably because kept Rick from killing him in the first place. When Aaron reciprocates and asks Carl the same question Carl responds; “I owe them,” which I can only assume he owes Rick, Maggie and the gang. They are his family. Could it be that The Walking Dead was foreshadowing Carl’s death with these signs? I mean it would send Rick into a spiral like no other, to watch his son get bludgeoned to death, and it would affect everyone, including all the main players; Carol (and her mommy complex), Daryl (who cannot take losing kids), Michonne (Carl’s new mommy), Glenn and Maggie (as they are about to embark on parenthood themselves.) Also could Enid’s plea be irony rearing its ugly head. If it happens to be Carl I will miss him, but sadly, I can say that I could handle it better than a Glenn, Daryl, Rick or Maggie death. To me those 4 are my untouchables. Although I will say that I’ve heard rumors that in the comics Negan kind of takes to Carl with a strange fascination which embarks on a greater storyline for the two characters. If Carl dies, I guess they would have to wipe out that entire part in the comics.

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If we’re getting technical…. there’s this too.

Eugene-

Our sweet sweet mullet man. We all hated you back when you messed with our survivors. You know when you lied about being the scientist who knew how to fix the zombie outbreak. But boy have you been stepping up your game. That Abraham and Eugene moment was totally adorable and gave us all the feels. As we watch Eugene grow into more of a badass, his big courageous moment comes as he takes on the role of the RV decoy (that smile he made before starting the engine…priceless) which went just as we expected, sadly.

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And he got caught and put in the lineup like the rest of them. Sure we like Eugene, sure his death would impact the group, but I don’t think it would be as big as a main character death. But then again, The Walking Dead could turn shit around on us and hit us with something like a mediocre death #SorryEugene just to keep the main players going but still give Negan a kill. The irony of Eugene manning up just as he gets Lucilled would be a sad sad fate. Not to mention he has this badass insane plan to make bullets, a plan which he basically handed off to Rick “just in case.”

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AFTER THOUGHTS:

If you ask me I think Negan should be smart about who he chose, he wants people to work for him. He needs soldiers, he needs strong people. Then again he also needs to send a message that will keep everyone in check. Keep people in the know of what power he holds. Killing someone weaker then him could send a message of weakness, or it also send a message that he has no time to deal with weak people. Killing someone strong like Abraham could send the message that he doesn’t take any threats or shit from anyone challenging him, but he also lost a good worker in hindsight. But then again Negan could have just killed whoever he killed, for whatever twisted reason, or no reason at all. Because let’s face it, he looks like one sick individual who doesn’t care or worry about who he kills. Fingers crossed that whoever it is, we can handle. But then again maybe all the hype and guessing is just a big old hoax and they kill off a B-list character. Who knows with this show, who knows???

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#WhoIsIt tell me your theories in the comments below!

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 -<3-

 

 

 

On The Run- Part 4

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***Read Part 3 HERE

Sage hurriedly walks up to a small house with a white picket fence. The American Dream on display for all to see. Pushing the gate she proceeds to the door way. As she lifts her hand to ring the door bell, she hears a female voice screaming;    

“Help! Help me! Please.”

Followed by what one can only describe as an abnormally loud crash.

She rushes in, struck with fear, as the screaming intensifies.

Sage awakes from her nightmare, in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. The morning casts a slight ray of sun creeping through the dingy yellowed curtains. The sun serving as a daunting reminder that Sage has to endure yet another day of replaying the horrible incident she’s been running from.

As she grabs her head she tries to lie as still as possible. It continues pounding and her eyes feel heavy. It’s safe to say that Sage didn’t get that much sleep last night. She is haunted.

She scans the room in a blurry fog, as her eyes strive to focus.

Her motel room is in disarray and smells of old moth balls. Slowly she sits up in bed and makes her way to the bathroom splashing water on her face, she is soon greeted with a small knock on her motel room door.

She looks in her mirror at her reflection and sighs heavily.

She walks to the door, and figuring it is Charlie she reaches to open it, but upon hearing voices she halts.

“Excuse me officer?” She hears the familiar male voice of her recent companion.

Sage freezes ducking to the floor, avoiding windows.

“Hello Sir, is this your room?” the officer asks turning to face Charlie.

“Sure is.”

“Are you sharing it with anybody?”

“Nope just me. Can I help you with something?” Charlie asks calm and collectively.

“Why yes, we are looking for a possible suspect in a murder case.”

“A murder? Well Sir I am very sorry to hear that.”

“Aren’t we all. We have reason to believe we are looking for a female suspect, mid to late twenties, yay high (he says showing a height with his hand) dark hair; possibly brown or black, tanned complexion…. She was seen fleeing the scene late last night. Have you seen anyone matching that description come through here?”

Sage’s face fills with fear, her eyes widen, her heart begins to pound.

Who’s to say this guy can be trusted. He doesn’t owe me a thing? What if he gives me up right now, she thinks.

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“No Sir, I can’t say that I have. I haven’t seen much of anybody come through here,” Charlie answers filled with calm poise.

Sage sighs in relief, allowing her breathing to exist yet again. She stands up slowly and quietly and peeks out the peephole to see Charlie and the officer.

“What about the room over…vacant?”

“Um yea I think so. Heard a car on my way to the vending machine, might have ran into town.”

“And the hotel manager, he or she ever around?”

“Maybe mystery guest in room 7 needed a lift somewhere. The way I see it- if I worked here, I’d spend as little time as possible actually in this place. Kinda gives me the creeps. I’m just on a brief stop in between some construction work, looking to move on real soon.”

Charlie hands the officer what appears to be a business card.

The officer looks it over and nods.

“Well. Please excuse the interruption. You have a nice day now.”

Charlie nods and watches as the officer walks off.

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Sage looks on confused at how well Charlie handled that.

Charlie turns toward the door. Before he could knock, it opens for him, he walks in, finding Sage standing behind the door.

“You heard that?” he asks.

“Yea.” She says her eyes slighltly filling up.

“Are you okay?”

“They have a description. They know what I look like.”

“It appears so.”

“Oh my god. What am I gonna do? They’re too close now. It’s over. My life is over.”

“It doesn’t have to be over.”

Sage begins to let the tears fall freely. As her life and everything she’s ever dreamed of being slowly feels like it’s being ripped away from her.

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Her breathing becomes sporadic as she begins gasping for air.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” She says pacing the motel room floor in a state of panic. Hands shaking about.

Charlie looks on nervously rushing to her side.

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“Ok hey. Hey look at me. It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok. I’m gonna make sure of it. You’re just having a panic attack. It’s going to pass. Just look at me. Ok? Stay looking at me, right here,” he says points to his eyes.

“Ok, now breathe in and out with me. Ok? Slowly. Big, slow, deep breaths. Ok. You’re Ok.”

Charlie continues coaching Sage through her panic as he grips onto her shoulders to steady her, rubbing them as an occasional calming technique. Sage’s hands hold onto his inner arms in reciprocation.

She begins to calm down as her gaze continues to lock onto Charlie’s.

His face calm, and kind and somehow oddly peaceful.

“You okay?” Charlie says cupping her face.

Sage realizes her nails are digging into Charlie’s muscular arms, as she had felt she was holding onto him for dear life.

Her eyes gaze elsewhere, breaking her trance; a mixture of panic and attraction for this new found confidant.

“I’m sorry,” she says releasing him and backing away.

Charlie’s hands drop from her face in response. He can sense she’s pulling away.

“Don’t sweat it. It happens. Did it pass? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she says looking at him as her arms fold over her chest.

“Sure,” he says looking at her with that familiar hidden flirtation.

 

It isn’t blatantly obvious but there is something causing Sage’s heart to flutter and her stomach to flip in a way that she actually finds oddly satisfying.

“Look I know you’re scared. That was a close call. But at least now you have some beneficial information.”

“That they know what I look like.”

“Yea. But see the good news is you have an advantage- you’re not the only 20 something, brown eyed brunette with a tanned complexion.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So with that being said- you know they know-so now you can change accordingly.”

“Meaning-what?” Sage says curiously.

“Alter your appearance,” He says casually.

Sage looks at him.

“That would require money and me leaving this motel. Two things of which I am not too sure about.”

“Well I have money and a car…it’s best we keep moving, get ahead of the investigaton while we can.”

“Why do I feel like you’ve been in this situation before?”

“Because in some way…I have.”

“You’ve been on the run before?”

“Not exactly.”

“Ok so-what then?”

“Let’s just say I watch a lot of cop and crime shows.”

“Sure. If that’s your story,” she smirks and laughs slightly, her eyes sparkingly in his direction.

Charlie looks over at her matching her flirtation with his glance and a chuckle.

“So what’s the plan? I dye my hair and get some new clothes and just keep running? Eventually they have to catch me.”

“Not if we do it right. But in order for you to allow me to help you- You have to trust me. So…do you?”

“Honestly?”

Charlie nods.

“I don’t know. What I do know is that you’ve saved my ass more than I can count in the last 24 hours.”

“It was my pleasure,” he says smirking.

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Sage blushes.

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“I think that if you’re willing to risk it to help me, I’d be a fool not to take it…but with that being said in full disclosure, knowing what you know now about what happened. Do you trust me?”

“Honestly?”

Sage nods.

“I don’t know either. But I want to. And that’s enough for me to want to help you.”

They exchange glances and an understanding.

Charlie turns to leave.

“I’m gonna go grab my stuff and start up the get away car,” he chuckles.

Sage laughs and then catches herself.

Her gaze drifting as the screaming rings in her ears yet again.

“Hey…look I don’t judge people. Something tells me you did what you had to do.”

“Why does it feel so bad then?” she says looking up at Charlie.

“Because that’s proof you’re a good person. Bad people can’t feel guilt. Because well, they simply just don’t care.”

Sage ponders his words as he leaves the room.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story, series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

On The Run- Part 3

ontherunposter

***Read Part 2 HERE

She walks into the bathroom, turning on the water in the sink, she throws her hands into the running water as the sink fills with red. Scrubbing and scrubbing away her sins, her pain. Attempting to calm her fears.

She wets her face and looks up into the mirror, her breath catching in her chest as she hears the screaming in her mind again.

“Help! Help me! Please.”

She is trapped in her mind for a second, a second that easily felt like an eternity. Finally shaking from the memory she exhales violently as she realizes she wasn’t breathing. Within seconds she rushes to the toilet and lifting the lid she throws up, hanging her head as she holds onto the sides of the toilet. Her body completely exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Drained.

Sinking to the floor, she pulls her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly, she tries to keep a steady breath.

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The shower is turned on as she steps in, her pile of clothes are seen cast onto the cold tiled floor. The warm water kisses her skin as her body is engulfed by steam.

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motel room

A little while later she is wrapped in a motel robe and is sitting on the edge of her bed. She stares blankly ahead, her mind still. Her daze focused. To any passerby, she would easily appear to be day dreaming, however, she’d tell you truthfully that she’s living in a still, dark nightmare. 

A knock is soon heard.

She jolts, looking around nervously.

Walking slowly toward the door she peaks through the peephole and sees her heroic stranger standing on the opposite side. She uncharacteristically sighs of relief.

Opening the door slightly, she peers out.

“Hey. I’m sorry to bother you. I had some old clothes in my trunk thought you could use them. And I figured you must be hungry, so I got you some things from the vending machine,” he says handing her a plastic bag.

She smiles slightly as she takes it from him.

“Thank you. So much. I’m starving… and freezing.”

He smiles, “Don’t mention it,” he says and turns to walk back to his room.

“Do you want to join me?” she asks, surprising even herself.

He turns and looks at her.

“Um, sure. If you’re comfortable with that? I can tell you are still a little bit shaken. I don’t want to pry.”

“No. That’s ok. I’d prefer the company.”

“Ok then,” he says as she steps aside to let him in.

*******************************************************************

The two strangers sit across from each other in silence. Food wrappers scattered across the room.

The young woman sits there fidgeting, she’s obviously uncomfortable in her current state of wearing baggy men’s clothes post blood bath.

“I should go,” the man says standing up.

“Please don’t,” she stands abruptly, causing the man to halt.

“I can tell you are afraid of me-of me being here with you. Why wouldn’t you be? You don’t know me.”

“I’m more afraid of you not being here.”

The man looks at her with a sensitive, yet understandably curious glance.

“The silence it’s deafening. I can’t shut my brain off, at least not for very long,” she says explaining.

“Ok well-I may be able to help you with that.”

They exchange a glance that feels like a sexually charged spark.

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Her face is instantly filtered in a red flush.

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“What do you suggest?” she says her eyes looking him over curiously.

The man reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a deck of cards.

“Gold fish?” he asks with a shrug and a sweet laugh.

She smiles and laughs. Her self-awareness recognizes how he brought on the first genuine laugh she’s been able to let out in the last 24 hours. This man. A complete stranger.

“Your laugh is something special,” he says his eyes burning into hers as if trying to read her soul.

“It’s rare is what it is,” she says holding onto his stare.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he says sincerely.

She responds with a tightened smile as her eyes drift to look away, their connection too intense to withstand any longer.

“What’s your name?” he asks his head cocking to the side as his eyes look her over wanting to take her whole being into account as if committing it to memory.

“Do you what a real one, or a fake one?” she asks with a slight flirtation in her voice.

“Real. I can handle it,” he says with a grin and a small chuckle.

“Sage.”

“Well Sage it’s nice to meet you, I’m Charlie,” he says extending his hand to her. As Sage reaches out and shakes Charlie’s hand her whole body relaxes. However oddly enough within the next few seconds after that first physical contact the butterflies within Sage’s stomach ignite and set free. Fluttering. And fear washes away in that moment.

“Nice to meet you too,” she says not wanting to let go.

“Should we play?” he says holding up the deck of cards with his free hand.

“Sure,” she says snapping out of her fantasy and letting his hand go free.

Charlie smirks as he makes his way  over to a small table. Sitting in a chair he starts to deal the cards. Sage walks over, and sits across from him. She notices a new feeling stirring inside her.

Could this guy be her ticket to escaping the horrific events she just endured? Or is her current state just making her imagine their intense connection.  

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

 

 

On The Run- Part 2

 ontherunposter

***Read Part 1 HERE

The black sleek car whizzes past vacant streets and store fronts kicking up a mist from the late afternoon rainfall.

The quiet streets eerie with a deep darkness.

Silence and stillness; a lethal combination.

The streets she’s known and walked millions of times before. The streets she called home, now so far from home, so far from safe. So far from normal.

Inside the car there is this deafening sound. A sound of strangeness and silence drenched in fear.

The air thick with concern.

“What the hell was I thinking?” she thinks.

The panic sets in. Her body breaking into a cold sweat.

Her heart begins to pound faster and faster by the second. Her whole body feels like it’s been scortched. Firey and hazy. Shaking, she finally gains the courage to look into the eyes of the mysterious stranger who just saved her ass, coincidentally. Or not? She wonders.

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As brown meets blue, there’s an electricity, that neither really understood in the moment, but will surely find out later on.

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She musters the courage to finally break the tension-

“Where are you taking me?” she says her voice raspy and barely above a whisper.

“Wherever you want to go,” he answers with complete ease.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go. At least not anywhere safe,” she looks down, feeling ashamed and lonely.

He looks at her through the rearview mirror again. Her eyes still searching. She’s visibily shaking and clearly frightened.

“I know a motel a little ways off the back highway, low traffic. I can take you there. You can lay low- until to figure out your next move.”

“Ok.”

“It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok.”

She looks up at him, and then away, obviously uncertain of her decision to trust a perfect stranger.

The car rolls into the parking lot of the old motel. The blue eyed man steps out of the car, he leans down to speak into the back window, “Stay here. I’ll check in, and be back for you in a few.”

She responds with a small fragile nod of the head.

He walks into the motel and disappears out of sight.

She sits in the back seat, caught in a daze, a trance. Her mind somewhere else entirely.

“Help! Help me! Please.” She hears in her mind, the only words she can vividly remember, from that night.

“Hey. Hey…your room is ready.” The handsome stranger opens the car door for her.

She snaps out of it, finally noticing him. Looking at him, obviously confused.

“What?” she says in a low perplexed tone.

“Your room is ready.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She says stepping out of the car and following him toward the room. See looks behind her as her eyes take in her surroundings.

Darkness. One or two scattered cars in the lot. Traffic pretty non existant on the highway at the late night hour. Flickering street lights, and a motel sign that looked like it was on it’s last hinge.

If a black cat walked across her path, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

She walks slowly behind the mysterious man. Her random hero. Or her next nightmare. Either way he’s her best bet right now. The future remains to be seen, she contemplates.

In her haze of fear and nervousness, she isn’t thinking like she normally would, reason and rationality are a blur and anything seemed safer than being where she started the night.

The handsome stranger unlocks her motel room door, and steps aside to let her in.

She staggers in, her mind finally starting to slow down at bit, her feet rooting themselves into the ground a little more, step by step.

The handsome stranger stands at the door way, looking at her.

“The woman at the front desk said the hot water is a little in and out in the mornings, she advised you shower at night.”

She nods.

“Here’s your key.” He says placing it on the dresser near the door.

Still standing on the other side of the door, as if respecting her imaginarily drawn boundries.

She reaches in her back pocket and pulls out some money.

“It’s not much, but it’s all I have,” she says extending it to him.

“That’s ok. Keep it.”

“No please take it-”

“No. Keep it,” he smiles, a smile that surprises this dark beauty on the run.

She looks at him and smiles slightly back, placing the money back in her pocket.

“Ok. Well- have a good night. I’ll be in the next room over, if you need anything,” he says turning to leave.

“Thank you,” she utters in a whisper. “I don’t know why you decided to help me, but thank you.”

“Sure.”

“Why did you decide to help me?” she finally asks the question she has thought since the minute his blue eyes met hers over the brim of that car window just a few short moments ago.

“Call it a gut feeling. I think there’s more to your story. I think there’s a very good explanation for that blood on your hands.”

She looks down, newly ashamed once again.

“I did something. Something bad.”

“We aren’t perfect. Everyone does bad things sometimes.”

“Not this bad.”

He nods, trying to read her face. She adverts her eyes from his.

He notices, but he feels for her, and wants to reach out and help her. Instead he resists and offers some words of advice.

“You should rinse that off, and chuck those clothes. Physical evidence isn’t exactly your friend.”

She looks away with a nod of understanding. The man turns to leave yet again, and the woman can’t help but express her wonder.

“You aren’t going to ask me what I did?”

“It’s none of my business. The way I see it, if I know, I can’t defend you. So let’s just keep things where they are for now.”

She looks at him in awe and confusion.

“Why would you defend me? You don’t even know me?”

“Like I said…gut feeling. If the burden gets to you, and you need to talk, I’m here. But I’m not gonna force you to tell me anything. You can come to me on your own time, or you don’t have to come to me at all.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind. I don’t know why you care. But I’m grateful.”

“Get some rest, maybe the morning will bring you some new perspective,” he says with a smile. He then walks away closing the door behind him.

She looks after him as her heart skips a beat, she wonders what it is she is actually feeling.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re ready! 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

On The Run

ontherunposter

A young dark haired, dark eyed woman is running, running fast down a darkened street like her life depends on it.

Her eyes dart from all angles, searching for something, anything. A safe haven.

She glances over her shoulder, continuing forward. Her chest growing heavy, her legs slowing down.

She’s out of breathe. Her eyes wide with fear, she keeps running.

She reaches a dead end. Sirens heard in the distance. They’re drawing closer. She’s out of time. Out of luck. What is she going to do? Is it time to surrender?

A black sleek car drives up quickly beside her, coming to a screeching halt.

The only car in site. As if it came from nowhere.

The window rolls down revealing a man with piercing blue eyes and dusty blonde hair.

“Get in,” he commands, unlocking the back door.

The woman looks around, unsure of whether or not this is a good idea.

She hears the sirens closing in on their location.

She grabs the car door knob and opens it jumping in as the car speeds off into the night.

“You must have pissed someone off?” he says looking at her very nervous reflection in his rear view mirror.

“Something like that,” she utters looking down at her shaking hands, covered in blood.

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re ready! 😀

-<3-

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

 

 

Distant Shadows

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 A young woman sits at a bar alone; not drinking.

A young guy walks in and sits down next to her, his face unreadable.

“Did you tell her?”

“Yea. Unfortunately.”

“How’d she take it?”

“To say she was less than thrilled would be an understatement.”

(sighs) “I’m sorry.”

“Yea… right.”

“I am. I never meant for this to happen.”

“Didn’t you? I mean this is what you wanted all along, isn’t it…me… all to yourself?”

(whispers) “No…not like this.” (louder) “I definitely did not want this; I’m not ready for it!”

“Well…it is what it is.”

“So… she ended it?”

(sarcastically) “No, we’re still together.”

“What I meant was… did she end it… completely, like there isn’t even a chance for you guys to work it out?”

“No- not a chance.”

“But-”

“You’re pregnant…I mean its bad enough I cheated on her in the first place, but now you’re actually pregnant- she wants a divorce. So yea…it’s over.”

“I don’t really care for your attitude right now. Nor do I understand it.”

(laughs) “You come out of nowhere and destroy my life, and you don’t like my attitude.”

“You know-your reality of this situation is hilarious. This isn’t only my fault. You’re not exactly innocent here. I didn’t know you were married when we were together all those nights. You made it pretty easy for me to assume you weren’t when you hid your ring. Also if I destroyed your life so much, then why couldn’t you leave me alone. Or did I imagine the incessant calling and texting me every free minute you got.”

“You never asked if I was married.”

“Wow…you are unbelievable. I don’t blame her for wanting to divorce you; you have no respect for her or me, you have no respect for anyone. You deserve whatever comes to you. I hope she bleeds you dry… takes you for every penny.”

“Now that’s no way to talk to the father of your child, now is it?”

“You may be my child’s biological father, but make no mistake I don’t need you, or your money.”

“I’d like to see you try and make it by on that teacher’s salary of yours.”

(laughs) “Plenty of women do it every day. Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.”

The woman gets up to leave.

“Wait…”

“What?”

(tone softens) “Where can I reach you?”

“You can’t.”

“Please?”

“No. I’ve had enough of your games…you need to learn how to take responsibility for your actions, and grow the hell up. And I won’t be your test subject. I’m done.”

“What… so you’re just gonna raise this baby by yourself?”

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”

Woman exits bar, Guy orders a drink.

*I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-