Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (14 page)

Chapter 22

The following morning came too fast for Tyler. The sounds of commotion in the kitchen area woke him. He felt like it had only been minutes since he fell asleep. He slowly opened his eyes and through his blurry vision he made out Marie in the kitchen area.

Tyler sat half up and put his glasses back on his face, “What time is it?”

“Time to get up. We have work to do.” Marie responded, standing at the small stove in the kitchen. She was in her white bathrobe her dark hair pulled up in a bun. Tyler started to get up. He sat over the edge of the cot and rubbed his eyes. Marie moved from the stove and placed a plate on the table, “Eat something.” She said to Tyler as she walked away from the table back to the stove.

“You can cook?” Tyler responded starting to stand up.

“Yup, I know, big shocker. I learned to cook food. Eating isn’t a survival thing or anything.” Marie replied sarcastically.

Tyler walked towards the table to see a plate with four pancakes and two cooked eggs. “Thank you” He sat down at the table and began to eat. Marie nodded her head as she continued at the stove taking the pans to the small sink for cleaning. “So can I ask you some questions today that you will actually answer?” Tyler asked cutting up his breakfast.

“Well that’s a question so I guess I will answer that with a yes.” Marie replied, not looking up from the sink where she was cleaning the pans.

“Ok, question one. Where does the

water and power come from for this place?”

“Starting simple I see.” Marie said with a laugh. “There are solar panels in the field that provide energy and the water is linked to a nearby well. There is a filtration system that I clean out to keep the water fresh. The panels are hidden. It took me a while to find them myself, but they work.”

“How long have you been here?”

Marie took a deep breath, “six months.”

“How did you find this? And for that matter what is it, why was it built?” Tyler asked, getting excited that she was answering his questions.

Marie finished with the pans and placed them in the small strainer to dry, then turned around. “The sick fuck who built this did so to protect his crazy ass from what he saw was the upcoming apocalypse. For a disturbed person, however, he did a pretty good job on this place. It works and is sustainable.”

“What happened to him?” Tyler asked almost afraid of the answer.

Marie’s face changed, her upbeat grin turned down, “He got what he deserved.” Marie replied walking from the kitchen area to the bathroom and slamming the door.

“One question too many Tyler.” Tyler said aloud to himself. He finished his breakfast and moved the plate to the sink to clean it. As he was cleaning it, Marie reemerged from the bathroom. She was dressed ready for a fight, the infamous leather outfit he had been told about was standing before him. It was more elaborate then he remembered it being described and the grainy pictures of her in it did not do it justice. The pants were almost not pants as much as strips of leather sewn together to form pants with gaps through them showing off her toned legs; the top laced up the but the top was a tank top look, not the strapless look he remembered. She was barefoot as she walked from the bathroom. Tyler just stared at her.

“Time for you to get dressed,” she said, opening the chests against the wall. “If you can’t find anything in here I will get out the other two.” She walked to her bed and sat down and pulled two black boots from under her bed. Tyler was still staring. “Hello? Get moving.” Marie had caught Tyler staring.

“Yes, sorry, getting moving.” Tyler said, walking over to the chests. He began to search through the clothing, “Sorry to ask, but is any of this something someone didn’t die in?” Tyler said with a laugh looking over to Marie.

Marie didn’t laugh, “I don’t know, most probably.” Marie laced the boots up.

“Ok then” Tyler replied continuing

to go through the chest. He found a pair of black combat pants and a dark grey long sleeve shirt both in his size. “This should work, I guess.” He said aloud as he stood up holding the clothing in his hand. Marie was just sitting on her bed hands folded on her lap,

“What’s your name?” Marie said not looking up.

Tyler smiled, “Its John Tyler, but most people call me Tyler. Thank you for asking.” Marie nodded her head. “I’m going to get dressed.” Tyler said pointing to the bathroom. Marie nodded again. Tyler made his way to the bathroom and gently closed the door. Tyler took a deep breath as he stood behind the closed door, ‘she is starting to communicate with you, its progress’ he thought to himself. Tyler quickly got dressed and just stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself. He barely recognized himself. He stood tall and firm, his confidence in himself was growing, nobody had lasted this long in her life since Michael. Tyler smiled and walked out of the bathroom. Marie was sitting at the kitchen table going through the remaining five files. “I think I am pulling off tough a little better today.” Tyler said with a laugh walking out of the bathroom.

Marie smiled as she looked up at it, “you are” she said with a laugh and looked back at the files.

Tyler walked over and looked over her right shoulder, “Who are you interested in today?”

Marie didn’t look up. She was staring at Ethan’s file. “They sold him?” Marie said touching the picture of Ethan at the front of the file.

“Sorta, he is contracted out to a terrorist organization. He is responsible for a lot of bad stuff. They, I guess, paid the highest price.” Tyler said with a shrug.

Marie took a deep breath, “He was sold like property.” She balled up her right fist, clenching it tight and held it to her head. “He was a good guy.” Marie said letting out sigh “I had hoped he was savable, but I guess not.” Marie said rubbing her forehead. “Where is he?” she questioned looking up at Tyler.

“I should be able to get his exact location within a few minutes of us looking, I have his GPS tracking information. Any phone with internet should make it possible for me to hack it and get his location. I’m curious, how did you outsmart yours?”

Marie pulled the left top of her top down to reveal a severe burn scar on her right chest. “Didn’t notice that did you? Mine is gone.” Marie pulled her top back up.

“You burned it off?” Marie just shot him a dirty look. “Question answered.” Tyler said putting his hands up in a surrender pose.

Marie got up and walked over to her dresser and opened the top drawer and reached in and pulled out a touch screen cell phone and tossed it to Tyler at the table. “It has internet. Just turn it on and you should be good to go.”

Tyler looked down at the phone and turned it on. He quickly went to work logging in to the tracking system and entering the GPS code for Ethan’s tracker. The phone beeped quickly as it registered the information. Tyler looked up to Marie but she wasn’t paying any attention. Tyler quickly hacked into her phone. He implanted a tracking code, he figured it could be useful if he lost her and had to find her again.

Tyler looked up from the phone, “He is in Chicago”.

“What is he doing there?” Marie asked confused.

“No clue but my guess is nothing positive.”

Marie nodded her head, “Well pack a bag, this is an overnighter I think.”

“How are you suggesting we get

there? It’s a bit far for a motorcycle ride?”

“Your military is after this organization correct?” Marie said.

“Yes, they are up to some bad stuff”

“Then get us a ride, military boy.” Marie replied with a smile.

“I thought you wanted to stay off grid with the military? Hence you destroying my watch.” Tyler pointed out.

“Good point, plan B it is then.” Marie said with a smile.

“What’s plan B? Or should I be afraid to ask?” Tyler said, lifting his left eye brow.

“Train trip.” Marie replied with a smile.

“Say what? Train’s still do that?”

“Are you really that out of touch? Of course trains cross the country.”

“It has to be like a two day train ride. He may have moved on by then.” Tyler pointed out.

“Then we will keep track of him and if he moves we move.” Marie replied, taking the phone from Tyler and pulling up the train schedule. “Pack your bag. We leave in thirty minutes our train leaves in sixty.” Marie put the phone back on the table and moved back to her dresser. She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a black backpack and a stack of cash, and placed the cash in the backpack. Marie continued to fill the backpack with clothing and several knives from her second drawer. She placed it on the bed and zipped it up. Tyler took the files and reorganized them and began to put them back in his satchel, but Marie stopped him, “No, don’t bring them, we only need information on Ethan, leave the rest here.”

Tyler stopped and placed them back on the table. “Can I bring any of my clothing or do I need to dig through the ‘dead men’s chest’ for my clothing?” Tyler laughed.

“No army stuff,” Marie’s tone was firm.

“You didn’t get the movie joke did you? You know like that pirate movie.” Tyler smiled.

“I don’t watch movies, I wouldn’t know.” Marie moved the bag to the table.

“Ok then joke failed.” Tyler said under his breath as he went to his cot and the chests and started to get his satchel together. “Are you going to wear ‘that’ on the train? It may stand out a bit.”

Marie took a deep breath, “I have a coat. I will be fine. Nobody cares on the train. We will have a private sleeper cabin so we won’t be noticed.” Marie walked over to her dresser again and pulled a black leather jacket from the top drawer.

“Ok, I am ready.” Tyler stated as he fastened his satchel and slinging it over shoulder. Marie noticed his more obviously broad shoulders in the tight grey shirt.

“You know you look a lot better like that. It fits you better than the office look.” Marie said to Tyler as she started towards the stairs, backpack on her back, with her dark hair bouncing in its pony tail as she moved up the stairs. Tyler smiled. He felt himself blush at the comment as he followed behind her. She moved to the motorcycle,

Tyler followed behind, “I love motorcycles any chance I can drive?”

Marie turned to him, she saw his sweet face looking so excited, “Fine but if you wreck it, I’m beating you senseless.”

Chapter 23

  The train station was busy which made it easy for Tyler and Marie to move around without being noticed. They found their train quickly and boarded. Marie slowly opened the sliding door to the sleeper cabin and stepped in, throwing her backpack on the seats to the left.

“There’s only one bed?” Tyler said, looking at the seats that fold down.

Marie reached up and pulled the second level bed down, “Bunk beds,” she said pushing it back up and taking a seat on the chairs and pointing to the single seat across from her, “Take a seat.”

Tyler walked in, closing the door behind him and sat down, taking his satchel off his shoulder and setting it on the floor next to him. “So what are we going to do for like forty something hours?”

Marie just looked at him then put her head back and closed her eyes, “I don’t know. Be patient and track Ethan.”

“Ok, be patient. I can do that.” Tyler replied, looking around the room, “Say maybe you can answer some of those pesky questions you keep avoiding.” 

“I swear you are a never ending game show I don’t want to play.” Marie said, banging the back of her head against the back of the seat.

“Look, I get it, but you have to admit you are a unique medical breakthrough. You can change the world,” Tyler said, leaning forward in his seat.

Marie looked at him and looked to her left out the window of the train, “My life is nothing to be admired or envied. I don’t want any of it. I have never wanted a life like this.” Marie said staring out watching the station pass by as the train left the station.

“We have to make the best of the cards we are dealt. My life hasn’t been real great either but I got it figured out.”

Marie turned looking Tyler directly in the eyes, “You have read my ‘file’, you know what they did to me, you know what they have taken from me. I have nothing left to live for so I live for each day and the only thing that gets me out of bed is the thought of what I will do to each of them for what they did to me.” Tyler could hear the rage in her deep voice as the words fell out of her mouth.

Tyler took a deep gulp, “I….I didn’t mean to claim we are the same or that I can even begin to understand everything you have been through but I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help with any of that. You are here to help me end these fuckers.” Marie turned back to the window.

“And after that, after they are dead then what?”

The look on Marie’s face changed. She had never thought of anything past her immediate goals. “I guess I will have to figure that out when it happens. They die is all that matters.” Marie replied, not looking away from the window. Tyler had nothing else he could think of to talk about, well at least anything that wouldn’t upset her, and the quarters were too close for that.

They sat in silence for what felt like forever to Tyler. Marie was just watching out the train window. As the day grew darker, Tyler wondered what she was thinking about, but knew asking would probably go bad for him. Suddenly Marie sat up and was looking around out the window, she had seen something.

“What what is there something out there?” Tyler asked nervously.

Marie turned to him, “Did you see anyone else enter this car, or the additional sleeper cabins on this car?”

Tyler thought about it quickly, “No, no, I didn’t” he replied, “Why?”

“Shit!” Marie said getting up, throwing off her jacked and getting her bag out, pulling a gun and throwing it to Tyler, and pulling her two knives and holster out and strapping it to her back.

“Wait, what’s going on?’ Tyler replied getting more anxious by the second his brown eyes were wild around the cabin looking for what he didn’t know.

“Shits about to get interesting.” Marie said with a smile, sliding the backpack under the bench chairs she was sitting on. “Ready that and get down,”

“Get down?” Tyler questioned scared and shaking, struggling to keep his glasses on his face.

“Yes, on the ground now.” Marie ordered.

Tyler ducked down between his seat and the wall of the train. Marie moved to the door, and slowly began to open it. She peered out and slowly started to move out along the cabin side of the walkway. “Where are you going?” Tyler whispered

“Out. Stay down. If anyone comes in, shoot them.” Marie said turning back to the open doorway, then back away.

Tyler was shaking, “ok they come in you shoot them, she is going out…..wait Out!” Tyler realized what that meant.

Marie moved down the hallway to the end of the car. She could see a man outside the door working to open it. He was dressed in full combat gear. ‘Victim One’ she thought to herself with a smile. Marie waited patiently inside the last cabin, knives drawn. As she heard the door start to slide open, she quickly moved out of the cabin and made eye contact with her attacker, kicking him in the chest, knocking him out the now open door into the adjoining car, knocking him off the car landing onto the tracks, crushing his body by the moving train. Marie moved out the train door grabbing the frame of the doorway and flipping onto the top of the train. She landed both feet perfectly and turned to be faced with three attackers, “Hello, boys,” she said with a smile.

From inside the car, Tyler heard the thud of Marie landing on top of the car, “Is she on the fucking top of the train?” Tyler exclaimed. Tyler moved out of his hiding place and to the back of the train car, his gun drawn. He could hear commotion on top of the train. Marie was fighting with someone. Tyler took a deep breath and moved to the open door and looked out. He saw the ladder next to the door. Tyler took another deep breath and placed the gun in the back of his pants and grabbed onto the ladder and began to climb up. As he did so he saw a body fall from the top of the train. Tyler saw it wasn’t her, so he continued to climb. Once he reached the top, he saw Marie squaring off with two men, knives drawn. Tyler pulled his gun from the back of his pants and tried to steady himself to get a shot on one of them without possibly hitting Marie. The train shook as it took a turn and the man in front of Marie stumbled to catch his footing. Marie took advantage and took out the man behind her. With a quick turn of her knives, she disarmed him and slashed him across the chest, knocking him down and off the train. Tyler saw the first man, the man had steadied himself and pulled a gun. Tyler tried to aim his gun, but Marie was in the way, Tyler yelled, “Gun!” trying to get Marie’s attention to turn to the first man. She began to turn, but as she did, the man fired. The bullet went straight through Marie’s stomach. She fell backwards, landing on her back on the train. He now had his shot Tyler fired hitting the man directly in the chest before the man could get off another shot. The man fell backwards from the impact of the bullet and landed flat on the train. Marie was slow to get up. Tyler moved up the ladder and grabbed onto her shoulder. She was losing a lot of blood. Tyler pulled her to the ladder and helped her down and back into the car. “Stand still, let me look at it.” Tyler said, trying to look at the wound.

“Stop! I’ll be fine.” Marie said pushing him away trying to catch her breath. Marie stumbled down the car towards their cabin and collapsed into the seat. Tyler saw the trail of blood. He was in shock, she was bleeding and a lot. He didn’t think she would bleed like that.

Tyler rushed to follow her, “Just let me look at it, I am a doctor.”

Marie, laughed holding her stomach, “Since when are you an MD?”

“I have a freaking PhD in Biology, let me look.” Tyler replied.

“I told you, it will heal. Just relax.” Marie said, adjusting herself in the seat trying to get more comfortable.

“You’re in pain and bleeding? I figured you wouldn’t bleed like that.” Tyler asked stepping into the cabin.

“I am a human being the last time I checked. Just because I can heal better than you doesn’t mean I don’t bleed or feel physical pain. I’m not some fucking super hero or something.” Marie said reaching behind her to loosen the shredded cords of her top.

“Dear lord, just let me help.” Tyler said walking over and reaching out to grab the cords behind her. Marie was too exhausted to argue anymore. She rolled towards the back of the chair and allowed him to undo the cords. Tyler pulled the top apart and saw the wound in her back. It was very small for a bullet wound in the center of the two intertwined snakes that covered her back. The bleeding had stopped.

Marie rolled back onto her back and pulled the shredded top off to reveal the small entry wound on her stomach. “I told you it would heal.” Marie replied taking a deep breath.

Tyler couldn’t look away, he was in amazement of how quickly the wound was healing. He was also disillusioned with the number of scars on her body. He had seen them before but not this close. “I saw the scars before but up close they look so bad.”

“Again wounds leave scars and I have had a few of them.” Marie replied placing her hand on her stomach. “This isn’t my first bullet and it won’t be my last.” She moved her hand to brush back her dark hair.

“You can’t die, can you?” Tyler asked in amazement, sitting down beside her as she lay across the seats.

Marie laughed, “Well, I haven’t tried taking my own head off or letting someone else do it so not sure I could survive that or any other serious injury. I try to avoid injuries to the head and such”

“You took a bullet straight through the stomach. You shouldn’t be alive, you should have bled out.”

“I’ve taken worse.” Marie replied, looking straight at Tyler. “Nice shot, thanks for that.” Marie smiled touching Tyler on the leg.

Tyler smiled, “You’re welcome.”

“It’s getting late. I need to sleep, losing a pint or more of blood will tire a girl out.” Marie said with a laugh.

“Ok” Tyler said, standing up and reaching up to the overhead compartment and pulling out a blanket. Marie stood as well and lay the seat down into a bed, then sat back down laying her head flat on the bed. Tyler reached up again and pulled out a pillow and handed it and the blanket to her.

“Thank you” she said with a smile.

Tyler smiled back and reached back to pull down the overhead bed. As he did the side hinge snapped and the bed started to fall. Tyler quickly caught it “Shit!” he exclaimed.

Marie laughed, “You broke it”

“No I didn’t seriously it just fell” Tyler said trying not to laugh.

“You totally broke it” Marie was still laughing.

“Shit, what do I do now?” Tyler was now not able to control his laughter.

“Fold it back up. It should hold.” Marie said still laughing.

Tyler grabbed the pillow and blanket off it and folded it back up. “Chair sleeping it is.” Tyler said with a chuckle.

“Come on, you can share. It’s big enough.” Marie said edging to the edge of the bed and tapping the bed behind her. Tyler hesitated, “I don’t bite, but I am tired. So in the bed and to sleep” Marie said curling up in the blanket.

Tyler climbed over Marie and laid down next to her arranging the pillow under his head. He looked over at her, he smelled her next to him and it relaxed him, she smelled so sweet. It must have been her hair, it was so beautiful Tyler just drank in the smell.

Marie started to laugh again.

“What what is it?” Tyler questioned.

“You broke it on purpose so you could sleep next to me.” Marie replied laughing.

“I swear it was it accident.” Tyler protested trying not to laugh.

“Riiight, I believe you.” Marie laughed again.

Tyler was laughing, “Stop you’re making me sound like a pervert. I wouldn’t do that.” Tyler protested trying to sound serious but the laughter was coming through.

Marie turned to face him. “Ok don’t admit that you find me attractive, hurt a girl’s feelings.” Marie said propping herself up on her right elbow.

“I didn’t say you weren’t attractive. I never said that. You are making assumptions.” Tyler said leaning up on his left elbow.

Marie just smiled, “Ok suit

yourself,” she said rolling back over and pulling the covers over her.

“Wait, what just happened?” Tyler replied confused.

“You’re not getting any is what just happened.” Marie said with a laugh.

Tyler was shocked. “Hey,” he said touching her shoulder and rolling her towards him. “I’m not like that, I’m not trying to get any.”

“So you’re gay?” Marie replied with a laugh.

“No, I’m not gay. I’m just not like that. I get that guys always want to just jump into bed with you, but I’m not trying to do that to you.”

“Does this good guy routine work for you?” Marie said, sitting back up on both of her elbows, the snakes on her breast staring directly at Tyler.

“It’s not a routine,” Tyler protested but he caught himself staring at her breasts; he couldn’t look away from the snakes staring back at him.

Marie reached up with her right hand and grabbed his now stubble filled chin and pulled him close to her as she lay back down on the bed. She drew his lips to hers and kissed him passionately. Tyler had closed his eyes and felt her lips on his. They were so soft and delicate, nothing he expected from her. Tyler lifted his head back and made eye contact with her piercing blue eyes. He leaned back in and kissed her, running his right hand behind her back pulling her against his body. He felt his grip tighten, he could smell her hair, taste her lips, and feel her body and he didn’t want the feeling to end. He felt her hand run through his brown hair, her other hand caressing his chest and beginning to pull his shirt up. Tyler pulled his hand from under her back and pulled his shirt off. He could feel her hands run down his chest, across his abs and begin to unbutton his pants. His hand ran down her hips and caressed her thigh. She began to remove his pants and him hers. Her skin was so smooth as he felt himself melt into her. They spent the remainder of the night in bed, her in his arms. He felt so comfortable with her, despite the fact that she was so dead set on seeing others suffer. She made him feel so at peace.