Twice Upon A Star

ABIGEAL

THE NIGHTMARES were the same as always.

That didn't stop me from waking up,drenched in cold sweat. I pressed my fingers to my eyelids, trying to push the screams to the back corner of my mind.

The dream was so realistic that I could taste the acrid smoke at the back of my throat, could hear the beeping sound of a bomb about to go off.

I got up from my bed and stumbled towards the front door and the incessant pounding coming from it. I pulled the door open and was immediately confronted by my landlord's pot belly.

For some reason, I couldn't look away from it. It fascinated me. How much beer does one have to drink to get a belly like that?

He scratched said belly and burped. I held back a wince.

"I'm raising the rent," he said without preamble.

"What do you mean you're raising the rent? For this dump? People should be living here for free." I was astounded by the audacity of the man.

"Lady, you should be grateful you have a roof over your head. Lots of homeless people out there, you're welcome to join them. Believe it or not, I have a waitlist on these apartments." He grumbled out of his bushy beard, beady eyes glaring at me.

It should've been hard to believe that anyone would want to live in this woebegone place, but such were the living conditions in New York.

"So what's the rate now?" I asked, resigning myself to my fate. He mumbled the amount, and I just stared at him as I mentally calculated.

"What? That's over 40% of the former rate. I should call the DHCR. You're robbing us at this point," I folded my arms.

He shrugged. "Pay up four months advance by the end of the week or clear out. This is why I wanted to tell your roommate instead. She's not as bitchy as you," he shuffled away.

My eyes followed him as he walked to the stairs. For a brief moment, I wished he'd trip and fall.

"Anna, why didn't you answer the door?" I called out to my roommate as I headed to her room.

Anna, my roommate, was a textbook klutz. She was always involved in one mishap or the other yet kept up this peppy, sunny personality that grated on my nerves constantly.

I distrusted people who smiled too much. I wouldn't be surprised if she'd somehow gotten tangled in her bed sheets and couldn't get out.

The door was open so I just looked in, catching her in the act of trying to stuff something under her pillow. She stared at me and I looked back at her, my gaze dropping to the papers still peeking out from under the pillow.

"What are those?" I asked, mostly because there was something weird about her body language. When she didn't answer, I walked over to her bed and pulled the papers out before she could reach them.

My back instantly went rigid as I scanned the documents, lifting my eyes to look at her.

"Annalise, what the fuck are you doing with my documents?"

I sighted the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes before she lifted her chin. "You refuse to tell me anything about you, so I took matters into my own hands. You never said you were in the military, and that you have-"

I held up a hand. "And you think that gives you the right to look through my things?" I demanded, my voice getting colder by the second. Before she could say anything else, the smoke alarm in the kitchen went off and her eyes widened.

"Oh shit. Our breakfast."

We both left her room, Anna running into our closet of a kitchen while I paced the living room. This was why I didn't like people. They invaded your privacy and got to know things that were meant to stay hidden.

Anna came out holding a pan with a long handle. "Abigeal, it's on fire." She said, then proceeded to blow on it, expecting for some reason that it would be sufficient to put out the fire.

When it only increased, she yelled and let go of the pan. I watched as it fell on the couch, the only one we had. I watched as the flames spread across the surface.

I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I could only stare at it, hearing the screams that weren't so distant anymore. I was transported back to that place I didn't want to be in, feeling the panic clawing its way up my throat as I tried to run from the ever increasing flames.

****

"Zeke, get out of there!"

The panicked answer, "I can't!"

****

"Abigeal!" The sound of my name snapped me back to the present. I realized then that I had moved until my back was pressed against the wall, and I was covered in sweat.

"Abigeal, I'm so sorry. It just kind of...surprised me," Anna said. I looked at her, and decided I'd had enough.

"Get out."

I moved past her, took a quick shower and got dressed. I was going to be late for work if I didn't hurry. I was never late, but due to the two strikes I already had from 'hostility' to customers, it could get me fired.

Anna walked in while I pulled on my boots. "Look, I realize I was wrong for snooping through your things, but don't you think you're taking it too-"

"By the time I get back today, I expect you to be gone and a check waiting on the table. For my couch," I cut in, my voice cool and steady despite how badly I was shaking. I grabbed my keys and walked out, Anna trailing after me.

"Abigeal-"

"You heard me. Fuck off."

I got to work just in time to replace the night shift clerk. Barely two minutes later, my first customer of the day walked towards me, the expression on her face telling me that I was going to have to restrain myself from strangling her by the end of our interaction.

As I looked down to check the cash register, something in the newspaper stand caught my eye. I plucked one out, my eyes reading the few lines of text almost hidden at the bottom of the front page.

I paused and reread it, refusing to believe an opportunity I'd been searching for for months had just been dropped into my lap. It was a job ad for a security agent and the pay was almost three times what I earned here.

I made my decision quickly, walking out of the store even as the customer yelled after me. I took the subway and arrived at the address listed in under twenty minutes.

If it was odd that it brought me to the middle of an abandoned estate in front of a building that had been left to rot and probably housed gangsters or drug addicts, I paid it no mind. I had six years of military experience behind me and nothing to lose.

With a deep breath, I knocked, opened the door and took two steps in before an arm wrapped around my throat in a headlock and something cold touched my temple.

"Password?"

ABIGEAL

THE GUN pressed harder against my temple as the gruff voice repeated. "Password?"

I held up the newspaper. "I don't have the password. I'm here because of your newspaper ad."

"We didn't post any ads. What are you doing here? Who told you about us?" This was all from the same gruff voice.

I sighed. "I don't know who you are, but I do know that this is a sure way to lose an arm." I said calmly.

The man swore colorfully in Arabian while I berated myself for not anticipating something like this.

"Look. Obviously there's been some sort of mix up here, so I'm going to leave and you'll have to take my word for it that I won't tell anyone about this. I really don't care what you do here."

"You must think I'm stupid if you think I'll let you leave."

"No, I think you're sweaty and must really love garlic because you reek of it," I answered.

The grip on me tightened. The only reason why he wasn't on the floor wheezing right now was because this was the only stimulating thing that had happened to me in a while, but I was quickly getting bored.

The job had turned out to be smoke and I needed to get back to the store and come up with a believable reason for walking out like I had.

"You have five more seconds to get your hands off me," I warned.

"So you can run off to get your cop friends? I will do no such thing. You will regret the day you decided to try to shut down a rising voice. We will be heard!" He yelled with the passion of a Jehovah Witness on crack.

"I find it insulting that you think I'm a cop to be honest. Three seconds."

As he mumbled some other nonsense, I shifted my stance, getting ready to flip the bastard to the ground. Then a switch clicked and light flooded the room.

I blinked to adjust my eyes and I heard another man's voice, this one softer and sounding amused.

"That's quite alright, Hameed."

The man immediately let go of me and I reflexively rubbed a hand across my throat, staring at the new guy. He was tall with slicked back hair and wore an old-fashioned waistcoat over an impeccably white shirt.

He regarded me with hazel eyes that danced with humor as he held out a hand. "Congratulations, Abigeal Starr, you passed the test."

"Who are you?" I demanded. I'd had a feeling it was some sort of stupid test.

"Pardon my manners. My name is Morgan Soliz. I run this establishment," the tall man answered.

I arched a brow and glanced around the 'establishment'. He caught the look and chuckled.

"I realize it may not look like much, but you haven't been inside yet." He ushered me to an open door.

I gave Hameed the middle finger before I stepped through the doorway. He was right. On the outside, the house looked like a dilapidated building left to rot slowly. The inside, however, told a different story.

Every inch of the place shone like it received an hourly scrubbing. There were multiple doorways and alcoves branching off to other sections. Through one of these, I spotted what looked like dozens of heads bent over dozens of computers.

A bell tolled from somewhere, and I raised my brow as a door opened and a crowd of people streamed out, all wearing wide green hoods that completely hid their faces.

I watched as they each stopped in front of a huge frame holding what seemed to be passport-sized photos of people, murmured something, and half-bowed.

What on earth had I walked into? Morgan touched my elbow and guided me into a room where we faced each other on opposing seats.

"So, to be sure we're on the same page, this is a terrorist group. And you don't need a security agent, you need me to assassinate this person." I tapped the photo in the folder in front of me, "because that will somehow further your cause, and you're willing to pay double the amount on the ad for it."

Morgan folded his hands together "I object to being called a terrorist, but yes."

I thought about my boring job that barely covered my feeding, my rent increase I was going to have to pay for myself since I kicked Anna out. I thought about living in peace and quiet for a change.

"Fine. I'll do it."

He looked mildly startled. "You aren't going to take time to think about it?"

"I don't need to. Although, your plan is dumb and makes you all seem like a bunch of clowns with too much time and money on their hands parroting a 'just' cause. You're going to have to go with my plan, therefore I require a raise."

The smile froze on his face and his eyebrow went up.

"You are demanding a raise? Bearing in mind that we are already paying you a considerable amount of money?"

I matched him stare for stare. "Do you want this done smoothly or not? Because I can save myself and ensure you all go down."

"I find you quite greedy, Miss Starr."

I didn't know how to be anything but blunt, nor did I want to be. "Hey, it's not my fault your plan is stupid. Deal?"

After staring at me in silence for a while, he sighed and nodded.

"As you wish. The folder also contains a bank card for your expenses and information on a charity gala the target will be attending tonight. Best of luck."

"I don't need luck." I stood up and walked out of the building without a look back.

There was no time to overthink or second guess myself. The event was tonight and I might not get another opportunity soon. From the information I'd gotten in the folder, my target was a closely guarded one, considered untouchable by most.

So how do you touch the untouchable?

A plan quickly began to form in my head and I checked the time. It was almost noon. If I needed this to work, I had to move fast.

Dusk had fallen fast, which was perfect for tonight's activities. Everything was in place for my hasty plan and as I joined the crowd of onlookers and paparazzi outside the event hall, I kept an eye out for signs of movement on the other side of the street.

About ten minutes had passed before a limo pulled up. I maintained a passive expression as I got my first look at mytarget and his best friend as they stepped out, hoping to whoever would listen that I hadn't just given a huge wad of cash to a fuck-up.

The crowd went wild as soon as they spotted them, and I scoffed at my target's answering smile.

Poser.

Apparently my prayers were answered, as I caught the glint from the other side of the street, whipped my gaze there and back with an alarmed expression, then ran towards my target at breakneck speed.

I'd made sure to stand near enough that when I started to run the security surrounding him would be too stunned to act, so no hands reached out to stop me as I collided with him yelling. "Get down!"

Shots rang out in the air as we landed on the ground with him underneath. I locked gazes with him, his startled blue eyes looking into my terror filled ones. For a moment, I just stayed there staring at him, snapping back when I felt his hands go to my waist.

I stood up quickly and with one last look at him, ran off into the night amidst the confusion.

ABIGEAL

IT HAD been a few days since the staged shooting.

After I ran off that night, I'd heard people running after me, yelling for me to stop. I already had a head start though, and I ducked into an alleyway so they ran past me.

The night had been a success though; Morgan had called to tell me that rumors were circulating about the founders of Sunset Corp, Blaine Daniels and Jordan Alonso, being concerned for their safety after Blaine almost lost his life.

He'd asked what exactly I hoped to achieve with this, but I brushed him off. He'd find out soon enough.

For phase two of my plan, I was sitting in a popular lunch spot near my target's workplace, knowing he was a regular there. I took a seat near his usual spot where I was sure to be noticed and ordered food off the menu.

I had to admit that I'd been eating better since this whole thing started. Perks of an expense account.

I didn't have to wait long. I was halfway into my meal and had just raised forkful of pasta to my lips when I felt my skin tingle. I glanced up to see him staring directly at me, surprise coating his ridiculously handsome face.

For a moment, my heart picked up as I remembered the way I'd been entrapped by his blue eyes before I quickly shut it down.

I heard him murmur something to the people he'd come with and walk up to my table, drenching me in the scent of his cologne.

"If it isn't my hero" his voice floated to me, amusement lightening the tones. "Do you mind if I join you?"

I gestured to the empty seat across from me. "It's yours if you want it, sir."

He sat and looked at me for a disturbingly long period of time. "I'd wondered if I'd ever see you again. You ran off before I could thank you."

I cleared my throat, drank some water. "I'm sorry. It's just that...everything happened so quickly. I was in shock. I just wanted to be back in my home, where it was safe." I injected a slight tremor into my voice, knowing it worked when his eyes shone with empathy.

"I understand how you might have felt. Still, I'm really grateful to you. I might not be here if it weren't for you. Allow me to thank you in some way."

I shook my head. "That isn't necessary, Mr..."

"Daniels. Blaine Daniels."

"Mr. Daniels. I was simply in the right place at the right time."

He shot me a smile that made me look away for a second.

"You saved my life. I think it's fair if you just call me Blaine, don't you?"

"As you wish. You don't need to do anything for me."

"So you've said. However, I won't be at peace until I've done something for you in return. At least let me pay for your lunch." As he said this, a waiter came over, practically groveling at the chance to take his order.

"It's okay, I already paid." I replied, finishing up my dish and draining my glass of water. "It was really nice seeing you againunder different circumstances, Mr. Daniels."

I stood up and walked out the door.

Disappointment started to trickle through me as I walked into the midday pedestrian crowd, but it disappeared when I heard his voice at my ear.

Like I'd hoped, he'd followed me out. "You're robbing me of my lunch, miss." Added to the amusement in his tone were hints of curiosity.

"By all means, go back to it. Why are you following me?"

"Because I don't think you lost my card. I think you just decided to not reach out."

"I already told you I don't need a reward." I increased my pace, my eyes searching the crowd for one particular person. My target more than matched my pace.

"I didn't say you could only call for a reward," he said.

I spotted the person the same time he spotted me and started walking towards me.

"I have other business to attend to, Mr. Daniels, so if you would excuse me."

"Didn't I just say you should call me Blaine?"

A man in a large coat came towards us and I followed his movement. I saw him pull out a glistening knife, going directly for my target's gut.

I let it get really close, then shot out a hand and caught the man's wrist. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I said loud enough for people nearby to stop and stare.

My target stopped too, his eyes growing wide at the knife barely a whisper away from his belly. The man looked up at us in alarm, then frantically started trying to yank his wrist out of my grip. He succeeded on the second try, slicing my wrist in the process, and took off running.

"Hey!" Blaine yelled and both of us started sprinting after the guy with the knife. I could see him in front of us, although blocked by a sea of oblivious people who we tried to sidestep instead of shoving them aside like he was doing.

When we finally escaped the crowd, I caught sight of him fleeing round a corner. With more space to run, I turned on the speed, my target not far behind me. We turned the corner and then another, and another, until we turned one and there was no sight of him.

I stopped my target with an arm, my chest heaving from the exertion. "Wait. It could be a trap."

"What?" He asked, his breaths a bit steadier than mine.

"He could be leading us into a trap. I think we should turn back and call the police," I explained.

"Good idea."

We started retracing our steps as he pulled out his phone and made a call, though I had a feeling it wasn't the police.

When he ended it, I spoke. "First the shooter, then you were almost sliced open in a public place. Someone must really want you dead."

Oh, the irony.

He shook his head. "Once again I owe you many thanks. How do you even spot these things? Some kind of training?"

Here we go. "I served in the military for a while. We're trained to 'spot these things'."

He stopped and stared at me. "I guess that explains the formality, the sharp instincts and the speed."

I said nothing.

We were getting close to the place where the incident had started when a car pulled up and Jordan Alonso stepped out. He didn't look pleased.

I looked at my watch and cursed. "I'm going to be late for work, "I started walking away.

In truth, I just didn't want to be near Jordan. I had a feeling he might be able to see right through me, being less prone to emotions than my target.

He turned to me. "Are you going to run off after saving me yet again?"

"I really need to go. I'll get in trouble with my boss." I flicked a glance in Jordan's direction. Damn he was a fast walker.

My target sighed. "At least tell me your name."

Finally. I'd gotten far enough that I needed to raise my voice to answer. "Abigeal Starr."

He nodded. "See you later, Miss Starr."

Somehow, I didn't doubt that.