(No problem!)
Ava lays in bed, sound asleep. It's been a little awkward just to figure this out but so far so good. "Prestati! ne!" She murmurs, moving around in her sleep. A full moon hangs in a sky, stars twinkling along side it, illuminating the night. Motorcycle safely hidden behind bushes, Ava observes the beautiful stone mansion in front of her from behind a thick oak tree as she finishes braiding her long blonde hair. Grayson Ricardo's men would arrive at any minute and attempt to assassinate Malcom and Christopher Lacerta, something she isn't going to let happen. Malcom had left the city a day ago to attend a very private meeting and Christopher had just been called back to the office, information she was positive Ricardo's men didn't know. She pulls down her plain black baseball cap, making sure to cover her face. A few minutes later she hears the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. Five men climb out of the car before walking towards the mansion, three going to the right and two going to the left. Ava reaches into one of the inner pockets of her leather jacket and pulls out a sharp knife. "Ostani ovdje, slatki dječače." She murmurs to Kreja. The well trained dog obediently sits and watches her with big blue eyes. She twirls the knife around in her hand before following the group that went to the left. She knows this place like the back of her hand so she has the advantage. After running ahead she quickly scales a tree, hiding in the thick foliage as she waits for her prey. Once the two men come into sight she leaps out of the tree with cat like grace and lands on the larger one's back, taking them both by surprise. The man was in shock for just a few short seconds, giving her the opportunity she needed to snap his neck. With a dull thud the body falls to the ground, leaving Ava to face off with the dead man's partner. The two size each other up for a moment before she makes a move. They engage in hand to hand combat but the man was no match for her and it's not long before she ends his life by expertly slitting his throat. Two down, three to go. Ava silently heads to the other side of the house, not making a sound. One of the men was picking the lock to a side door while the other two stood guard. She took out the guards with ease but she wasn't able to keep the element of surprise with the third man. The last man standing was going to be a challenge. He stood well over six feet tall and was sporting large muscles. The man goes to draw his gun but Ava sharply kicks it out of his hand, sending it flying across the yard. It seems that the man was better trained than the other men seeing as he pulled out a knife and attacked. Ava, not one to run away from a challenge, stands her ground and the two duke it out. The man lands a few solid blows but this fight was personal so there was no chance in hell Ava is letting this thug win. She ducks down and slides between his legs, cutting him right behind his right knee, causing him to stumble and giving her a chance to sink her knife into his lower back and twist. With a cry of pain the man falls and she puts him out of misery by opening his throat. Ava slowly stands and glances around at the three bodies, taking a deep breath. "I had to do it." She murmurs to herself, glancing down at the knife in her gloved hand. It is time for her to leave. With the moon lighting her path she makes her way back to her motorcycle and rolls it out of the bushes. "Idemo, prijatelju." She bends down and kisses Kreja on the head, relaxing a little as she strokes his soft fur. Her focus lingers on the house before she forces herself to look away. She couldn't stay here for much longer, being this close was too painful, too tempting. She goes to climb on her bike but before she gets a chance, a dagger plunges into her stomach, causing her to fold like a deck of cards. Through blurry vision, she looks around. Kreja is sprawled out on the ground, blood coating his thick fur. A tall shadow towers over her. The decapitated heads of her father and brother are dropping next to her. The man utters a single word, "Pokaju," Everything goes black. Ava let's out a strangled cry as she sits up in bed. Sweat beads her forehead and her body shakes like a leaf.
(Good god! Awesome start! This is gonna seem tiny in comparison rippppp)
It was late when she jolted awake. She was still in the cozy, warm room of Cameron’s home. The alarm clock at Cameron’s nightstand read 2:35. The moonlight shaded its long arms down into the room, coating everything in a breezy, silvery coat. The red lighting mingled with it, making everything seem eerie but beautiful. Including the two slumbering dogs, and the faintly snoring man to her somewhat distant left. Cameron got jolted out of his sleep with her unpleasant cry, sitting up in bed with his hair puffed out. He turned to look at her over his shoulder, his still sleepy eyes round with shock.
“Ava? Are you okay?” He asked in his hoarse voice. Lily rose her head with a soft bark, resting her chin on Kreja again.
(Thanks! Yours is good too!)
Ava breathes heavily as she looks around the room. It was just a dream. She repeats this over and over again in her head, trying to drill it into her mind. This isn’t the first time that she’s had this dream but tonight…….tonight it seemed so real. She felt as though she could smell the blood and feel the metal piercing through her abdomen. Taking a shaky breath, her hands grab at the sheets on the bed. She needs something to ground her, something to force that dark pit in the subconscious of her mind to go away. The sound of someone’s voice snaps her out of the loop that she’s stuck in. When she goes to speak, she finds that she can’t. The words just won’t form. Instead, she merely nods her head. She’s okay. She doesn’t have a choice but to be okay. Nightmares and memories are just in her head. They can’t hurt her. She needs to remember that.
(Aw thanks.)
Cameron watched her panic with genuine concern in his dark eyes, turning in his bed to gently take one of her hands that was balling up the sheets. He tilted his head to look into her dilated pupils, sighing softly.
“Ava, did you have a nightmare?” He asked gently once she nodded. He understood if she wasn’t going to talk, or wanted to be left alone. Though he himself believed it wasn’t healthy to be alone after an attack so bad. He wanted to help her. But naturally knowing her as his friend, he’d understand.
Lily nosed Kreja and she stood up on the bed, walking across it to relax in Ava’s lap, barking softly up at her.
(You’re welcome! :) )
Ava’s grip on the sheets tighten. She can hear them every night. The begging, screaming, and crying of those she killed. They just take over her mind, forcing her to remember what she did to them. Each person is just one more mark on the ever growing list of those she’s killed or torture. They haunt her. But the silence is so much worse. When those horrible cries for mercy or scream of agony die then she has to watch over and over again as the life leaves someone’s eyes. Eyes that once held life and love and happiness. There’s always someone out there who loved that person. Someone who is left crying at their grave and screaming to the sky wondering why it had to be them. Nothing is compared to the girls. Those sweet little girls who she stood over while they slept, her knife and her hands soaked in their parents’ blood. They were so young and so innocent, sleeping away peaceful and not knowing that when they woke they would be orphans. She was supposed to kill them. Leave no witness, that’s what she’s always been taught. But she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t kill them. Now they’re stuck living in a world where they have no parents and no one to care for them. She did that. It’s all her fault. Sometimes she wishes for the screams to return just so she can block out the images of them weeping over the body of their parents. The second Cameron takes her hand, she yanks it away from him. “No.” Her voice cracks with pain. She can’t touch him right now. Not with hands that have killed so many. Why should she live and be happy after what she’s done? She deserves to suffer like this. Everything that she’s done in life has left her like a tightly wound string. One day, she’s just going to snap.
Kreja lifts his head and stares at his owner from his spot at the end of the bed. He stands and cautiously moves over to her, nuzzling her arm.
“Ava…” Cameron sighed, setting his hand down on his lap. Lily howled softly up at her, taking her hand in her gentle mouth. Cameron gently tapped Lily’s face.
“Don’t do that, girl. Leave her alone.” Lily huffed at him in response, not moving an inch. Cameron sighed again and looked back at his friend, gently nudging her shoulder.
“Ava, what’s going on?” He asked softly, not really expecting an answer. But who knows, she might want to be asked it. He left his hand on her shoulder, his eyes dark and worried for her. Was there really nothing he could do? What he would give to be able to read minds…
Ava buries her face in Lily’s thick fur, breathing in a familiar scent. The feel of Kreja’s wet nose on her arm is comforting. It reminds her that she’s here and that it really was just a dream. Her brother and father are safe and sound. It’s not much but it’s something she can hold onto. After a few minutes, she reluctantly pulls away from Lily and peers up at Cameron, tears building up in her eyes. To see her this unraveled is rare. When she has nightmares or it’s storming outside, she usually locks herself in her room for a few hours but that’s not an option now. Lifting the hand that isn’t in Lily’s mouth, she brushes away the tears. She needs to pull herself together. No one ever needs to see her like this. “It was just a dream.” She murmurs, glancing back down again. “I’m sorry that I woke you up. Just go back to sleep.”
Cameron stretched across his bed and plucked a tissue from a box on the ground, and without a second thought, helped wipe away her tears.
“You’ll get your sleeves all messed up if you do that, Ava,” He just murmured back. He wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep after witnessing an attack like this. She was too good of a friend of his, and he refused to not help her. Lily started to lick her hand with her soft tongue, and Cameron’s left hand remained on her shoulder. He squeezed it once, his eyes still worried, even visible in the dark light of the room. The moon shone on the worried creases under his eyes and around his lips, darkening them.
Ava flinches away from him when he wipes her tears away. She hates this. Being weak and vulnerable like this isn’t something that she’s used to. “I’m fine.” Her sleeves can suffer a little if it means that things go back to normal. Leaning down, she presses a kiss to Lily’s head and then one to Kreja’s head. The former of which is snuggled up next to her with his head on her lap. She carefully unhooks her necklace, her most treasured possession, and sets it in the palm of her hand. Other than a handful of very old pictures, it’s her only reminder of home. With a soft sigh, she clicks the locket open and stares at the picture inside. It’s of her and her brother. They both have huge goofy smiles on their faces. She really misses him.
Cameron hesitated before setting the tissue down on Lily’s head, sighing softly. He didn’t speak or try to console her again, just removed his hand from her shoulder and straightened up so he was sitting up on his bed, looking down at the dogs. Thankfully the dogs could do better than him. He didn’t want to say something wrong and make her angry at him. So instead he offered his support through silence, sitting there with his head pointed down.
Ava closes the locker after a few minutes and once more secured it around her back. “I think I need to go home.” It’s been years since she’s seen her family and being away for so long has left a big hole in her heart. Going back would be crazy and she’ll have to suffer the consequences of faking her own death but it would be worth it. This is a horrible idea but it’s all she can think about. She finally tears her gaze away from the dogs and looks up at Cameron.
“Go home?” He asked softly, turning his head to look at her. “You-you’re dead, aren’t you? Can you imagine what they’ll do if they found out you were alive?” His hands tightened into fists, and his eyes rounded with concern for her. A small part of him didn’t want her to go. He enjoyed having her around, laughing at stupid things together. Also killing stuff. That was fun too. But having her around as a roommate and friend.
(Oh ok so new idea!! Ava leaves to go home, right? And maybe we skip a couple years and she comes back to visit and it’s the greatest thing ever?? Idk I just love long distance and coming back together.)
She nods her head a little to confirm. “Yeah, I know.” She’ll get a hug and then she’ll get the utter shit beat out of her for going missing. Then she’ll have to suffer through a refreshing training course so she’ll be whipped back into being the perfect solider. Not to mention the press. That alone will be living hell. All of it will be nothing short of brutal. “Being here with you has been some of the best years of my life but I don’t belong here.” She’ll miss Cameron terribly but she can also visit and he can do the same. To be honest, he’s the only real friend that she’s ever had and she’ll hate to loose him.
(That would be great! I’m such a sucker for these kinds of things!)
Cameron sighed shakily and looked back down, instead at his lap. He’d be the lone wolf again, dealing with tourists by himself and not able to come home to anyone to complain. He had Cormac, but Cormac would be going to university and have no time to listen to his dad complain.
“Alright.” His voice was still hoarse and tired, yet he managed to keep it unshaky and emotionless. He really didn't want her to leave.
(Yasss ok so I vote we finish this scene of her convincing herself that this decision is right and then we just skip? We could start a couple days before she decides she wants to visit so we can peer into their lives without each other.)
Ava reaches out and ever so lightly nudges his leg. “We can still see each other. Kletin is only a city away,” She says gently. It’ll be really weird to not have him around but she’s been away for long enough. She can’t keep living a life like this, not after everything she’s done. Happiness just can’t be in the cards for her. Besides, someone needs to lead the Kosci once her father retires. If she doesn’t do it then he’ll drag her brother into the underworld of the family business and he doesn’t deserve that. This is just what’s best for everyone. That’s what she tells herself at least.
(Yeah, that’s perfect. I am so excited for this!! So, how much time should it be since they’ve seen each other?)
“I guess.” He shrugged and hoisted his legs up onto his bed, sighing. “Well, I guess I’ll go back to bed.” He curled himself back up into bed, sighing softly. It was going to suck to not have her around. He wouldn’t be totally alone. He’d have Lily, but she pull be crushed if Kreja left. She was really fit and healthy for a five-year-old dog like herself. And losing a playmate that would keep her that way might not be too good for her.
(Well I was thinking two or three years? Maybe because she’s been busy with her family and the technical stuff of coming back to life.)
With a sigh, she lays back down and rolls over onto her side. It’s hard to sleep when she knows that she’ll soon be back home. There’s just so much that needs to be done. She’ll definitely have to come up with a believable story for her father and the press. She sneaks one more glance at Cameron before shutting her eyes.
(That sounds about right. Okay, so we’ll do the skip, see what their lives are like two or three years later, and then we have a reunion?)
(Yep! How about we go with three years?)
(Three years is good with me!)
It was three years later, and about everything was the same. Apart from Cameron, of course. He was lonely again. Cormac had moved out in the beginning of the year (it’s about fall) and left Cameron grumbling to himself about his bad days. He relied on himself for plans, no longer able to ask for favors from his son or a roommate when he was away on a mission.
His death counts have gone down significantly in those years. His dog was sick, he hadn’t killed since Ava had left. Ever since he had that distaste for it after the gang, he hadn’t done much to get more money from hits. He really didn’t need more money.
But Lily was sick. She was old and creaky. She didn’t move as much and she laid down in the sun a lot to help loosen up stiff joints. Cameron often set her on a massaging pad to help with the pain she might be feeling. The vet said arthritis was normal for larger, older dogs like her. She started showing symptoms around the winter of the second year, when she started limping heavily and needing assistance up the steps and jumping on the couch or bed.
Otherwise, he was normal. He was just the typical restaurant owner, with not much to tell. He stopped reading newspaper after Ava had left, and even to the extent of watching the news (unless absolutely important, which it really wasn’t). His life was too comfortable. It was too nice from the life he previously lived as a kid. But he set it up for himself.
Ava is miserable. It’s been three years since she decided to come back. Three long, hellish years. Seeing her brother again was amazing. She’ll never forget the look on his face when she just appeared in the mansion living room one morning. That’s about the only good thing. Her father was furious just like she had expected. The press was relentless and didn’t leave her alone for a second. Only a month ago did they finally start to back off. Her routine is about the same now. She went through intensive training to get back with the Kosci and is now running mission for them almost everyday. The adrenaline rush has started to wear off. It’s just not the same. There’s just no emotion now. She doesn’t feel anything. Once again, she’s the perfect weapon for her father. It’s just like she’s not the same person anymore. She’s changed both mentally and psychically. Her hair is much longer, her body more worn and more covered with scars, she’s even got a few more small tattoos. Anyone can notice the psychical changes but it’s the mental changes that most over look. She’s more reckless with missions, she talks less and her smiles are even fewer. At least she still has Kreja. Other than a few silver hairs, the dog is exactly the same energetic goofball that he’s always been. Having him with her is one of the few things keeping her sane.
It was a lazy fall weekend. A soft breeze stirred the tree he got plated in his backyard. Cameron was relaxing on his back porch with Lily leaned against him on her massage pad which hummed in the silence, his fingers gently running through her long hair. He needed to get her taken to get a grooming again. He got her groomed a lot to make up for the pain. And the warm baths in the colder months helped her out a lot. He could only offer companionship and gentle pets.
Even though the area was peaceful and almost unmoving, he felt frustrated. He almost wanted to scream. But he kept still and ran his fingers slowly through Lily’s long, tangled hair, listening to her breathe and allowing her to calm him down, as she has so many times before.
Hands shoved into the pockets on her leather jacket, Ava strolls down an all too familiar street. The bustle of the city, something that once soothed her, had been nothing if not irritating. She can’t stand it anymore. That’s way she’s here, heading towards a place she hasn’t been in years. A few things have changed but overall, it’s the same. Kreja bounds ahead of her, looking absolutely ecstatic. The second he catches sight of the house in the distance, he takes off running, not stopping for a second. He leaps onto the porch and announces his arrival with several loud and enthusiastic barks. Only then does he finally calm down. Stepping over to Lily, his entire body wiggling with glee, he lovingly snuffles at her ears. Ava steps up onto the porch a minute or two later, having not run like you ham headed dog.
