My Love, Lost

In her small single-bedroom apartment, Alexa was tapping at the keyboard, attempting to write about something, anything, for her assignment to be due in her English class (otherwise known as Preparing for College Writing I) in two days. Her brow was creased and she was worried: she was supposed to come up with a ten-page narrative and she still had no inspiration to write. As much as she loved writing and as much as she wanted to major in English, she could tell that if she didn't get over her writer's block within two days she might not survive the next four years. Despite this overexaggeration, Alexa was still typing furiously, coming up with anything that came off the top of her head...

the clue of computer sad murderer dang it i can't think up of anything something uhhh planner book textbook plate white-out calculator heaven purgatory calendar...

She was having a difficult time indeed. She was so absorbed in her impatient typing that she did not realize that it was 4:00 PM, the time in which she had agreed with her best friend Sara to go see a movie and then to dinner. It wasn't until she heard a knock on her door that her infuriated fingers finally ceased tapping the keyboard and her mind snapped out of what one might call tedious wrath and began to notice the day about her, and suddenly looked at her watch. 4:34. And someone was at the door. And she hadn't fixed her hair yet.

Embarrassed, Alexa rushed to the door with nearly the same speed as her fingers previously had, and deftly unlocked the door, turned the knob, and found her best friend waiting at the entrance, her face a little peeved but concerned. "Did something turn up?" were the first words that came out of Sara's mouth before Alexa could come up with any sort of excuse.

Alexa knew Sara really wanted to go see the movie and attempted to appease the girl in front of her. "Oh no! Sara, I'm so sorry. I was working on a narrative for English-"

"And you got lost in the process, right?" Sara heaved a sigh. Alexa didn't respond. "Well...it's okay. I should have known it. I was waiting at the theater for about twenty minutes before calling you, but you didn't answer the phone."

My phone was ringing? Alexa went to her recharger and unplugged her cell phone, then peered into the screen. "Oh, it was off...sorry."

"Well, keep it on next time. I don't want my best friend typing away when there's an important flick to see," Sara noted with a twinkle in her eye. "Speaking of the movie, there's another one starting in ten minutes or so. If we hurry, we might be able to make it. Expect a late dinner, though."

Alexa was relieved. "Thanks, Sara. But hold on." Alexa rushed to the restroom and, picking up her brush, brushed her hair for a few seconds before tying up her hair in an odango fashion that she learned from a friend in high school, Aiko. High school. She missed it. She missed all of her old friends that separated and went to different colleges across the nation. She still had Sara, at least. She was glad she wasn't alone in this college her freshman year.

Finished with reminiscing and tying her long hair, Alexa grabbed her purse and her recharged cell before exiting through the entrance and locking the door, Sara tapping her foot and waiting. With finality, Alexa dramatically turned around and said, "Let's go!"

~*~

Jon peered outside the window of his office and glanced at the red, yellow and brown leaves dotting the space between the front of the building and the road he was eager to hit to leave work. Then he looked carefully at the ground below him, scattered leaves making a collage on top of the dull gray cement and pale grass. I guess the management wanted a new decor, he thought to himself, chuckling a bit. But no matter. It was his time to leave work, hit home, and have dinner with the love of his life and his current fiancé. He was looking forward to the date. Who wouldn't after getting engaged to the one you love? And he was by no means an exception. Abby...he couldn't wait to see her. And there was, as far as he was concerned, one way to do so.

By leaving work, that is.

He packed up and left his office, making sure to leave the trash can next to the door where it was visible and where the cleaning crew should be able to spot easily and take care of. His footsteps were light as he loped to the fancy elevators separating him from his car in the garage, and ultimately, his date.

He thought about her again.

The elevator monitor displayed a G on the screen and the doors opened, revealing a vast lobby surrounding a small security desk and an officer, seeing Jon and nodding. Jon nodded back, and strode to the doors leading to the garage, briefcase in hand.

Outside, the sun was setting, a sign that the winter months would soon be upon them. And soon enough Jon would come to work wearing not only his business suit but his thick trench coat as well. Thinking about all this, he then opened his car, got in, turned on the engine, and drove home to change.

Only ten minutes elapsed since Jon had arrived home, and he was prepared to depart again to see his lovely date. After checking his attire in the mirror for the last time, he finally picked up his wallet and his keys to head to one of the first few dates since his engagement. He saw many more in the future before the ceremony of holy matrimony. And he was looking forward to that.

As Jon stepped outside and locked the door, he sensed a cool breeze passing him by. Better bring a jacket, in case she doesn't, he thought wryly. So he did.

He drove to Abigail's house to pick her up. But en route to the house he decided he wanted to pick something up for her. Just maybe a little something to impress her. Perhaps flowers, the thought as he passed by a florist's shop. He made a U-turn and bought two dozens of red roses. The florist smiled knowingly at Jon. He smiled back. And then the florist charged him $36.47. Jon didn't notice.

~*~

Abigail's heart jumped when she heard the doorbell ring. She had taken two hours to get ready for this date. She ambulated to the front door nervously and approached it softly. She peeked through the eyehole and looked at the expected visitor. My, he looks handsome tonight, she thought to herself, giggling nervously. What's he holding behind his back? There was just one way to find out. She looked down and smoothed out her dress, and touched her hair to check that it was still right for the umpteenth time. Then she opened the door, attempting with all her might to appear composed.

Jon smiled and brought out from behind the large bouquet of roses. "These are for you, Abby," he said softly. She greeted him with a kiss and excusing herself, taking the bouquet inside to place in a vase before departing for her long-awaited date. She traveled to the kitchen, which seemed so far away, making her having to travel farther and farther away from Jon. So she picked up her pace a little bit, trying not to wrinkle her dress before the date had even begun.
She searched through the cabinets trying to find the perfect vase to put two dozen roses in, roses that were given to her from him. "Jon," she softly repeated his name. She loved him so very much.

Abigail, otherwise known as Abby, snapped out of her reverie and attempted to find a good vase to place the two dozen red beauties in before they wilted too early. She'd have to dry them nicely later.

~*~

The second she disappeared into the hallway from his sight, Jon knew he wanted to follow her. And he was going to, too, until he felt the barrel of a revolver against his skull.

"I knew I'd find you here," noted a deep tenor voice. Jon failed to recognize it.

"Wh-who are you?" Jon asked apprehensively, quietly.

"Your former future victim," replied the voice mechanically, "but I will be your victim no longer."

Jon thought about shouting for Abby, but he didn't want to put her life in danger. He would try to outsmart whoever it was behind him. "You can kill me here where there's a lot of people extremely close by, especially with that gun. Try catching me in an alley later instead."

"No such luck." The deep tenor voice paused. "You will be one in many to finally suffice and lead to my peace."

"What?"

"Your death of the Holy Blade shall suffice for this task."

Jon was confused, but he tried to keep his head. "You can't cut my head if you shoot me with that gun."

"The gun will not be your death."

"Then what is?"

"You need not worry; you will die honorably and by the Holy Blade. Good bye."

"But what is-" Jon was interrupted by the swing of a stiletto. The revolver, which actually belonged to the next door neighbor and was devoid of bullets, was dropped next to a dead man's corpse in front of Abigail's house. And when Abby returned to the door to shyly meet her date again, she looked down and screamed. The murderer was nowhere to be found.

~*~

"Well, I had a great time, Sara," Alexa told her best friend appreciatively. "Because of the movie, I now have inspiration. I gotta go now and write it down on paper before I forget."

"And so the moral of the story: if you need inspiration, go the movies with your best friend!" Sara laughed. "And don't sit behind a boy who spikes his hair to stand at over 6 inches in height!" The girls giggled at their latest inside joke. "Alright, see you tomorrow." Sara left, and Alexa went to her apartment door and unlocked it, and went in. She went to her computer, the screen still on to the long list of gibberish from earlier that day. Alexa smiled, and deleted it all. Then she began typing all the way to one o'clock in the morning.

When the clock told her it was 1 AM, Alexa was more than willing to hit the sack. So she brushed her teeth, washed her face, undid her hair, changed into her pajamas and was prepared for a good night's sleep. And of course, because of her good day, she was expecting sweet dreams. Dreams about her obtaining a Master's degree in English, or maybe writing a novel that became the New York Times #1 bestseller. What she wouldn't do for that. But fate had something else in mind.

When she opened her eyes, she was floating. She panicked at first, thinking she was falling. And since dreams follow unconscious whims as all dreams do, she did fall. "Ouch," she muttered, although she wasn't hurt at all. It was night, and Alexa could see the moon crescent. 'Where am I?' she pondered, until she turned and saw a man with piercing blue eyes and tangled hair pointing a revolver at another man, who appeared to be struggling with comebacks or attempting to prolong the uneasy situation. If she wasn't shocked at this sight she would have listened to what they were saying, but it was no use. The first man pulled out an elegant stiletto bejeweled on the hilt and a single diamond at the base of the blade and decapitated the poor man in front of him, dropping the gun.

Alexa woke up screaming, and tears poured themselves down her cheeks when the sun peeked through the window and illuminated the room.

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