Black Sun

I was sitting on a desk, staring out the open window. I watched the lights blink out. Sphinx weren't joking about the black out. I was trying to look on the bright side though. I could see the stars now.

The night was clear and the stars flickered above me. I glanced over at CC. He was sitting on the couch watching tv. My eyes went to the kitchen area towards Ashley. He seemed to sense me looking because his eyes shot up to glare at me.

So much for getting friendlier. The other night when I fell asleep in his bed, he'd been so friendly, like a completely different person. Now he was back to being cold with me. It made me wonder what I'd done wrong.

"Rini, you're famous." CC shouted over.

I slid off the desk and went to stand behind the couch. Sure enough, my face was plastered all over the tv. CC turned the volume up and I listened.

"Rini Maeda has been missing since last Saturday. Co-workers grew concerned when she didn't show up for work and would not answer her phone. Her co-workers say that she is friendly and studious and this is very out of character for her."

My uni would probably be worried too. I really wanted to go back, but there was no chance of that happening. However, my face was going nationwide so people would recognise me. This may pose a problem for my abductors.

"What should we do?" CC asked.

"You could let me go." I said, hoping they might.

"Shut up," Ashley snapped, striding over to the couch. "We'll be moving on in a day or so. We'll have to keep it low key."

"Or you could-"

"If you say let me go one more time I'll cut out your tongue." Ashley said, staring me down.

I pressed my lips together. CC frowned then and shot Ashley a look. My hand were clasped behind me and I could feel my fingers trembling.

"Well, that wasn't very nice." CC said, chuckling.

"I'm not a nice person." Ashley replied, shrugging.

I doubted that very much. I had seen the softer side of Ashley, but I knew it would be a cold day in hell before I saw it again.

"You're obviously a nice person. You two looked so cute cuddled up together." CC grinned.

That morning he'd opened the bedroom door and paused when he saw Ashley and I cuddled up together. I had seen him smile and leave, shutting the door lightly so Ashley wouldn't wake up.

"That will not be happening again." Ashley replied, shooting me a glare, like he thought I'd somehow coerced him into what happened.

I hadn't coerced him, obviously. How could you coerce someone when you believed they were so out of your league? I admit that I found aspects of myself cute, but Ashley was on a whole other level. He seemed to know it as well.

"I'm sorry hugging me was so awful." I sniped.

"Apology accepted." He said, a shadow of a smirk appeared on his face.

"We could talk to Andre." CC interrupted.

Andre? No idea who that was. I was amazed they had anyone they allowed to be close in case the person figured out they were terrorists.

"That would be our best option." Ashley said, walking back over to the counter.

CC sighed and picked up the laptop. He started typing rapidly and I leaned over to watch. I could see the streetlights reflected on the tv.

"I'm going bed," CC smiled, standing and stretching. "Don't stay up too late, you two."

He left the room, avoiding the piles of books and magazines. I was left in practically the same room as someone that hated my guts. I had an inkling that CC had done it on purpose, like he was trying to force us together.

"Who's the photo of?" His voice made me jump.

"My Mum." I replied, and I craned my neck to see what he was doing.

"I'll bet she's really worried." He stated.

"She would be," I murmured. "She passed away when I was nine."

Ashley ceased his movements and tilted his head to look over at me. His black hair was still tied back and I couldn't help but smile at him. His face remained serious, almost indifferent.

"Why do you do that?" I asked, not meaning to insult him.

"Do what?"

"Act like you don't care about anything, act like life is meaningless?" I said, sounding more indignant than I should have.

"I can be happy. I can be many things. It's all a matter of how I feel." He said, shrugging, then reaching up and removing the hair tie.

His dark hair cascaded round his shoulders. He dragged a hand through it then turned away, carrying on with his work. I watched him for a few moments, admiring the way his back was arched and how his t-shirt rode up slightly.

My god, what was I thinking? Since last night I couldn't get the image of his naked torso from my mind. I could still see his arms, slightly muscled and covered in tattoos. I could still see his chest and stomach. I blinked to try and clear the image.

He's a terrorist. He's dangerous. Stop thinking about how cute he is. He abducted you. Once my head was a bit clearer I grabbed a roll of black bin bags and started cleaning up from dinner.

"I need to take the rubbish out." I said.

Ashley straightened up and his eyes analysed me. It always felt like he had some kind of x-ray vision that could pierce right through me. He dug into his pocket, handing me the key. I turned to walk away and he grabbed my arm, roughly.

"If you're not back in twenty seconds then I will find you," He said, and I nodded. "And I will snap your delicate, little neck."

His hand traced the skin on my neck, ghosting down where my jugular vein was. I let out a shuddering breath and he retracted his hand. Well, thanks for that, Mr Crazy. Gripping the key, I unlocked the door, strolling down the dingy hallway.

The bins were at the end of the hall. I just needed to throw the bag in and go back to the flat. I opened the bin, dropping the bag in and shutting it quietly.

I spun round to walk away and noticed the guy that had demanded money coming out his flat. CC had informed me that he was a known dealer and could be quite violent. I decided to sidle past him in the hopes he wouldn't notice me.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a ninja and he noticed me, trying to slide up the dirty wall. A toothless grin appeared on his face, like he literally had nearly no teeth. The ones he did have were dirty and black. However, he was a fairly big guy and he stepped over to me.

"What you doing there?" He snarled.

"J-just g-going home." I murmured.

Probably shouldn't have engaged him in conversation. He slammed his hand on the wall, near my head. I whimpered and he leered.

"What's your rush? You're a pretty, little thing, ain't ya?" He said, reaching up and touching my face.

I recoiled, pressing further into the wall. His breath reeked like week old milk. He seemed to realise I was scared, and possibly disgusted because he pulled back. A really naive part of me thought he may give up and leave.

"You think you're too good for me?" He hissed, slapping me.

My first thought was that it hurt. In fact, it really stung. The next emotion was shock as a fist colided with the guy's face and he stumbled back. Ashley was standing in the hallway. His gaze went to me, seeing the red welt on my face and his gaze softened a little.

Dealer-guy stood, pressing a dirty hand to his face, trying to snub away the blood pouring from his nose. He reached into his belt and pulled out a knife. He lunged and Ashley flew forward, grabbing the guy's arm, twisting it till he dropped the knife and then slamming him into a nearby wall.

I stepped closer, really hoping Ashley didn't decide that murder was a great idea. He leaned closer till he was near Dealer-guy's ear.

"Don't you ever fucking touch her again." He sneered.

With that, he let go. Dealer-guy stumbled, dropping to his knees. Ashley turned and walked away, touching his hand to my arm and guiding me towards the flat. I could hear shuffling behind me and Dealer-guy was on his feet, lunging again.

This time he caught Ashley's arm with the knife. If it was painful, Ashley certainly didn't show it. Instead, he punched the guy, grabbed his head and slammed his face into the wall, knocking him out.

I stood by the door, wide-eyed. Ashley turned to look at me. The cut on his arm wasn't deep, but it was bleeding. We entered the flat and he sat on the couch whilst I frantically tried to find a first-aid kit.

I remebered I had packed some bandages and steri-strips in my bag, just in case I got hurt. I snatched my bag and pulled stuff out in a desperate bid to find them. I got a wash cloth out and soaked it in warm water.

"Ok, this might sting." I said, sitting next to him on the couch.

He held out his arm and I pressed the cloth down. My eyes met his and I noticed he showed no reaction. Next, I opened the steri-strips and proceeded to close the cut, then I bandaged it. I sat back admiring my work.

"Thanks for saving me." I murmured.

"No problem." He replied, shifting to sit back, laying his head on the head rest.

His eyes suddenly opened and he sat forward again, shocking me by grabbing my face to look at the slap-mark. I felt tears prick my eyes when he traced his thumb over it.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"Don't feel like you have to ask." I grinned, and he smiled.

He removed his hand and got up then, stretching. I averted my eyes when his t-shirt hiked up slightly.

"Well, I'm beat, goodnight." I whispered.

"Come with me." He murmured.

"What happened to 'that will not be happening again'?" I laughed.

"It will happen as long as I want it to happen." He said.

I stood and followed him, grabbing my pyjamas. Ashley saw me holding them and turned to face the wall once we were behind closed doors. I quickly stripped off and put my pyjamas on.

"R-ready." My voice cracked. I guessed I was nervous.

I sat on the bed, lying against the pillows and he did the same. There was silence for a few minutes.

"What did your Mom die of?" He asked, breaking the quiet.

"Pulmonary embolism," I replied. "Where are your parents?"

"They died in a car accident." He murmured.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, turning to face him.

"I don't really need you to be sorry." Ashley said, twisting to face me.

I looked away and he seemed to sense that I didn't like the whole cold demenour. His hand reached up, threading through my hair. I smiled and my eyes closed. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke again, Ashley was asleep too. I nestled closer to him.

Notes