seventeen

Barbed-wire ran the expanse of the property, sharp razors licking at branches that dare hang too low. "Well, here we are," Squinting against the afternoon sun, I pressed my sunglasses onto my nose before tucking my hands into my overcoat, appreciating the warmth.                                                   "Are you sure about this?" I turned my head and stared long and hard at the girl beside me, "I guess we're doing this then," She sighed pulling a pair of hedge clippers from my new bag of goodies. She looked back once more to gouge my reaction but I stared at her through my tinted glasses, face completely emotionless.

Without further hesitation, she lined the clippers up with the chain link of the fence before a loud 'lop' was heard followed by clanging. Just as I had suspected an ear-splitting alarm began to blare, red lights flashing in circular patterns. "Was this part of the plan?" Ximena asked, glancing back, panic splotched across her face like spilled cereal.

"Of course it is," I retorted, snatching the clippers from her grasp and chucking them over the fence. "Follow," I commanded, walking away from the fence towards the post office which was conveniently located a few metres away. "What was the point of that?" She was cradling her hand, blood trailing down it like ravines. If I had to guess, in her unnecessary panic she must have nicked it on the cut metal of the fence.

"Distraction," Ripping, my coat sleeve, I approached her, appreciating the brief flash of fear that convulsed her face. "hand," Unsure, she held it out but looked as though she was prepared to snatch it back at any moment. Gently, I gripped onto it, wrapping the ripped cloth around it once, twice, three times.

From the corner of my eye, I could see her watching me, lips slightly parted. "Let's go, stay focused," She nodded, obediently following me towards the station's entrance.

"Now, we find out whether they saw your face in the alley," I mumbled to her.                                               "Wait, you mean you're not sure?" Smiling, I opened the door before pushing her inside. Just as I hoped it was completely desolate, apart from a male receptionist and a man holding a large box.

"Good afternoon gentlemen," I smiled, locks of my black hair falling into my eyes, I had read somewhere that loose messy hair gave the idea of innocence, something I really needed right now.  My hair was combed and slicked in the alley and I had decorated my face with freckles and contacts this morning, It would be really bad if any of the officers from that night were here.

"Uh, good afternoon," The boy with the box spoke, adding a smile at the end but quickly flailed to catch the box which had nearly slipped from his grasp. He was the perfect candidate, clumsy and from the looks of that uniform, a new member of the force. "How may I help you?" The receptionist butted in, eyes squinted beneath turtle shell glasses.

The lines on his face etched the story of a happy life. His crow's feet spoke of laughter and the deep creases in his cheeks told of a man who gave away smiles like they were wishes. Yet a more sorrowful face I had never seen. A film of water made his dark eyes glossy and his face was sunken, submissive to gravity. His silver hair bore the telltale signs that his mottled hands had been run through it in distress. He was aging but I could tell he wasn't stupid, they would have gotten rid of him by now if he was, like taking an old dog out back, if he's not a good boy I might have to do it myself.

"Yes..er,"                                                                                                                                                                                     "Harvey." He raised an overgrown eyebrow, before sipping at what I assume to be black coffee.                          "Right, I'm a reporter curious about the Mr Hyde case, I was wondering if I could talk to someone about it," I could feel Ximena stiffen against me as I intentionally brought up our case, this was indeed a very dangerous game I was playing.

"Reporter, huh?" He continued to stare at me blankly, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. "Ya have an appointment?" I smiled, removing the id of a reporter I had killed long ago, something I was now grateful for. "I'm sorry I wasn't aware this was a hospital," My fingers curled around the id, nails digging deep crescent shapes into its leather surface. A dry coughing laugh escaped his thin cracked lips. "And I thought you were a reporter, not a comedian," His face had hardened, as his finger dipped under the desk, probably to press the emergency button to get me removed. Now that would be troublesome. Flipping the id open, I was about to pull out the hidden knife when the young recruit latched onto his arm.

"Let me talk to him, come on this is probably the only press I'll ever get," His eyes had widened to where they practically bugged out of their sockets, I found myself feeling kind of disgusted by his enthusiasm. "Oh shut up, be patient you've only been here a month," Dimples, like rounded graves dug into his cheeks as he pouted at the man, how did he even get this job?

"Dad, I can handle it," That makes sens-wait...A smirk spread across my face at this new information. There was no questioning it, this boy was really the perfect victim. perhaps this would be the thing to finally make this old dog lead the man outside and forcefully press the barrel of the gun to his head. "Really, anyone would be fine," I butted in, trying to contain my excitement. The boy looked at me, a grateful grin on his face, I'll enjoy slashing it up later.

"Well then," He pulled his belt up and I couldn't help noticing the empty gun holster. "Duty calls," The old man rolled his eyes, before shooting them over in my direction in a sharp glare.            "Please, Blair, be careful," He spoke to the boy but his eyes were still completely focussed on me.   "Sure, sure," He replied, waving his hand erratically at his father. "be back soon, right?" He looked over at me, dimples large enought to swallow both me and Ximena whole.

"Of course," I turned to his father, removing my sunglasses enough that I'm sure he could see the murderous glint in my eye. "Be back real soon."

Heeey, please vote and comment if you like this chapter or have any kind of critism as long as its construcive of course, I already know its shit so ya don't have to tell me that, just help me fix it.

Any way, peace out.