The Hitman's Last Job(11)

He tip toed over to her and whispered. “Hey…. You’re having a nightmare, wake up,” he lightly touched her arms but it made no difference. He tried again. “Hey….Anna,” he shook her arm but again it did nothing.

She looked so afraid and childlike, so small and frail he couldn’t stand to see her so upset. He pulled the covers off of her and shook her hard. “Anna! Wake up!” and he cried louder as her eyes opened.

For a moment she looked so terrified and confused as she adjusted her eyes to the surroundings. It seemed as though her thoughts were stuck in limbo for a few seconds.

“You’re in the motel remember? We just torched the car….”


It all came back to her now. The fire, the long walk… the body they left behind. She looked up to Carl as he sat on the edge of her bed and felt enormous relief and comfort to have him by her side. She always woke up afraid in the night, it was normal for her. But now she felt relaxed and cared for. Something she’d never felt before in her life.

“Thanks… For waking me up, I hate nightmares,”
“I couldn’t watch you cry, could I?” Carl smiled.
“You look better when you smile you know that?”


Carl laughed awkwardly. He couldn’t remember the last time he was complimented by a woman.

“What were you dreaming about? Seemed pretty crazy…”
“Just the usual,” Anna said flatly.
“The usual?” he asked but knew exactly what that meant. He nodded solemnly and held her hand. “He can’t hurt you anymore,”
“But his memory can! You know I thought this would be the end but it’s just changing. The fear’s just evolving into something different. He’s still got a hold of me!”
“You have to let him go! He’s not here anymore!”
“I wish it was that easy,” and she turned away as a tear fell from her cheek. “Will you put your arms around me?”


The simple request was music to Carl’s ears. He’d wanted to grab hold of her for hours.

“Of course, let me in,”


He slid off his shoes and shimmied in beside her. She was still cold and so tiny underneath her coat. As he held her it felt like embracing a broken doll, one he wanted to fix and put back together.

“I’m here for you now,” he whispered into her hair. “He can’t get you anymore, not if I’m here. Not even in your dreams,”


He looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep already. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes.

~

The morning came too quickly and when Carl awoke he found he was exhausted. But his heart raced when he looked down to see that Anna was still in his arms. She looked like a princess as she slept peacefully and Carl found great comfort in smelling her warm skin and playing with wisps of her soft hair. She was gorgeous and he hoped that she wouldn’t wake too soon. He didn’t want her to regret having him in her bed and he didn’t want to let her go.

But she woke up as soon as the sunlight flitted in through the window and caressed her face. Her big green eyes shone like emeralds when she looked up to Carl.

“Hmmmm….Good morning,” she stretched her body underneath his touch.


He felt her figure properly for the first time and felt guilty for wanting more. He wanted to bend down and kiss her stomach. He wanted to trail his fingers through the space in between her breasts while kissing her neck. However he did nothing but smile at her and bop her on the nose.

“Morning…Sleep well?”
“Urgh…..yeah,” she grinned. “You’re the best teddy bear I’ve ever had,”


Carl loved to hear that she was comfortable with him. Maybe she’d like it too if he were to bend down and gently kiss her. The moment seemed perfect. He lowered his head and for a brief second their lips were only millimetres apart. But he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to take advantage of her. She was probably only behaving this way out of some bizarre symptom of Stockholm Syndrome. There’s no way she could be falling for him so easily. It must just be some primitive part of her brain responding to being captive, a natural way to try and survive the situation.

He pulled away and got out of bed. Anna instantly looked sad and pouted.

“Hey…it’s cold in here without you!”


Carl pulled the covers over her and tucked her in.

“You know that’s not what I meant,” she seemed annoyed.
“I think you need space to recover,” Carl reasoned. “Try and get back to sleep,”


Anna huffed and pulled the covers back.

“Well if you change your mind I’ll be in the shower,” she blustered and walked to the bathroom.
Carl sat awkwardly on his bed listening to the sound of the running water. If he wasn’t mistaken she had just invited him in there with her but how could she? How could she be attracted to a murderous scumbag like him? She’s deluded, in shock, a girl that’s been abused. She doesn’t know what she’s thinking. He tried to think logically.


But after a long while he noticed that the water wasn’t being turned off. Either she was just hanging out in there for the longest shower he’d ever known or she was waiting for him. That couldn’t be could it? He stood up and found himself walking to the bathroom despite the fact that he knew he shouldn’t. But maybe if he just creaked open the door… Maybe if he just peeked inside.