note // when i end Mercy, i will be updating Dust Bones more often! :)
The looming tenor of metal roughly gliding against compact ground was bitter and returned the second I thought it had passed. I felt my nails dig into Harry's back deeper than before, but still caused no harm against him. Not at least enough for him to glower and grimace. I was breathing loudly, unable to keep myself relaxed under the situation.
A bright light flashed above our heads, both of us ducking simultaneously as a result. We hid behind the incline of the hill, patiently and anxiously waiting for more signs of unwelcoming presences. The whole sound and light scenario seemed strange on its own. I gasped when I heard a voice.
"Are you sure they didn't just blow up with the others?" A rough tone asked, seeming impatient and annoyed.
Someone snickered, sounding cocky when they opened their mouth. "Yes. But, I'm sure they're not even on this desert anymore. Knowing Mr. Gates and his ways, she's probably on her way up state."
"Tell me why we need that little bitch anyway?" The rough one inquired. I frowned at the word he used to address me in.
Harry tensed, but made no movement. I felt his back muscles flex a bit beneath my palms. His skin was so warm despite the chilly wind that was brewing like soup in the air. I forced my hearing, finally going to know why they're looking for me.
"She's valuable, Francis!" Number two hollered bitterly. "Jasper wants the girl and we get her for him. As long as she's a Gates and she has what we need, it's all good."
"Well it's clear they're not here. Maybe she even died back there."
"She didn't die back there! There was a blown bit of chemical bounds from grenades and other explosives. Styles is good with explosives."
A bitter chuckle echoed throughout the night. "I can't wait to rip that curly head off his neck. I've waited too long to get back at him for the scar he left on my face. Him and his boss. They're both dead once he find the girl."
"Tell me about it! Gates is quite the clever man leaving his daughter in the hands of that kid. He's smart, but in a psycho way."
I heard a scoff. "He's experienced, dumb ass."
Their footsteps began to dull with a thick silence left behind their trails. I froze, mouth slightly agape while I stared at the back of Harry's shirt in thought. I'm valuable? In what ways do I become of importance to some mafia seeking revenge against my father's? This must be all some twisted game of getting even. And because I'm related to the boss, I'm thrown into it.
Harry sighed deeply, turning around and sitting on the dirt. I was still crouched down, staring at the fabric of his black jeans.
"Don't ask questions. You know I won't answer them."
"I think I deserve to know," I hastily commented. "They're looking for me. This is about me, too. I need to know why they want me."
His eyes fell into a narrowing position, glowering at me. "I follow orders, Catalina. Your father said --"
"I know what he said!" The inner me had control of my body, and my mouth ran all on its own. I was angry, but mostly anxious to understand what I'm running from.
Harry must have found this unacceptable, and he stood to his full height. His threatening, dominating height. I gulped, peering up at him as I slowly stood. His clenched jaw and fisted large hands made me realize that opening my mouth and talking to him in the way he constantly uses against me isn't the smartest of things to do.
"I won't say it again. The less you know, the better. I don't care if you need water, food, or sleep. We're walking until we're picked up," he grumbled lowly. His hardening glare made me subconsciously nod yes and turn away from his burning eyes.
-
I was giving up. I walked slower and slower each passing minute. Even considered crying because I'm so stressed and uncomfortable. Harry is so hard to tolerate. So cruel and cold with everything, especially emotions. He pushes me to my brink and I don't think I can walk anymore.
Just as I was going to plead for him, my lack of attention screwed me over. I ended up tripping over shrub dug into the dirt with sharp, dry weeds grasping against my ankle, scratching and digging into my skin. I shrieked when I felt my foot bend at an odd angle.
Immediately, I started bawling my eyes out. One thing is to have aching bones all over my body, a grumbling stomach, a dry throat, and someone so cold and determined beside me. But to have sprained or broken a bone is tearing down any fate I have in making it out alive.
The shock studded the pain for about two seconds. Adrenaline helped sooth my pain, but I knew it would only get worse from here. I gasped, sobbing into the dirt as Harry crouched down beside me. To my surprise, he helped me sit up and began to examine my ankle. He frowned in concentration, directing his burning gaze into my quickly swelling body part.
I kept sobbing and sniffling, wincing when he prodded it with his finger quite carelessly. With hot tears on my cheeks, I stared up at him with plead. "Harry, it hurts."
He hadn't said anything, bringing his thumb and index finger to his mouth, playing with his lip ring while thinking. "I'm just going to carry you, I suppose. There's nothing else I can do."
"Okay," I sniffled.
"It is swelling rather fast. I see the redness spreading. You must've sprained it or something." Even though I'm in pain and absolute discomfort, Harry still doesn't sound sympathetic. I'm lucky he's offering to carry me, even. I believe this is only because it is crucially necessary.
Harry brought one arm beneath my legs, the other wrapping around my upper body. He stood like I didn't weight much at all. There wasn't one grunt of strength being put into it. He didn't have to work to get me in his arms. Carrying me is something else he does so effortlessly.
Throughout the night, I began to fall asleep. I hated to admit, but Harry was warm and his shoulder was a tempting place to lay my head on. I leaned into him without a single care what he'd say, or if he'd tell me to stop that. I'm tired, and I'm sure that when I wake up, the pain on my ankle will be unbearable.
He continued on the trail without seeming to get tired. It's impossible to have so much endurance. Again, Harry surprises me. He is a fighter against his body's needs. His pain endurance is at a crazy high level. It's insanity. Harry could survive anything with his mental motivation.
"Are you falling asleep?" He asked quietly, in his husky, raspy tone.
I nodded against him, not bothering to answer him. He sighed and adjusted me in his arms so my head would lie at a better angle on his shoulder. I smiled to myself. He was being nice to me.
I spoke too soon.
"Stop fucking smiling. This is temporary."
-
I woke up when Harry started shouting at me. "Catalina!"
With a start, I squealed and realized I was set on the dirt. I sat up, shouting, "What!? What!?"
"Relax," he ordered casually. "There's a car coming from the south. It's like a minute away." He explained to me. I stood up, crossing my arms over my chest and frowning at what Harry was getting here. If it was coming from the South, it had to be someone already in Mexico.
Harry loaded his gun, and it clicked into place. My eyes widened as he hid it behind his back. We both stood at the side of the road and as I stood there, it became apparent to me what Harry was up to. I anxiously let my leg lean most of my weight on itself, the other weakened ankle painfully throbbing, but I decided to ignore it.
"Harry," I said. "Don't kill the driver, okay? Just...kinda knock him out."
For the first time so far, Harry fucking laughed. He laughed. It was bitter, though, so it was nowhere near genuine. But even as cruel as it sounded, it was a beautiful sound. He cocked his head to the side, staring at me with those pale green eyes. They turned into slits as he chuckled.
"You're just too kind, aren't you?" He mocked, rolling his eyes and turning back to the car that was quickly approaching us.
Before I got the chance to reply, my mouth parted and my eyebrows furrowed, Harry let his hand rise in the air, bidding the driver to stop. I feel horrible for the person behind the wheel. I stared at the ground the entire time when the car stopped, a kind man wearing a plaid shirt and baseball cap stopped his truck.
"Yes, my girlfriend and I --"
When he said that, I stared hard at my feet with a face full of hot, boiling embarrassment. I just had to be the blushing type. There are girls who would have the best poker face practiced and mastered by now. But just because I was taught to shoot a gun doesn't mean I'm good at hiding my emotions. I'm too much of a hospitality type of person rather than someone like Harry.
The thought made me shudder.
I heard the gun go off in a flash. I flinched in shock, shutting my eyes as I heard the commotion. Harry tossed the body down the hill into the dirt, doing it all in record time. I felt like I was going to Hell.
"You can open your eyes now." He called.
He was inside the car, strapped into the driver's seat. I stared at him for a second, concern and guilt flushing on my face. Harry groaned in annoyance. "Stop that. Don't give me that look. Get in the damn car."
"You just killed him! He was kind enough to stop for us! You could've made him unconscious! Not shoot the poor man!"
Harry moved in his seat, his hand resting on the door. "I will get out of this truck and throw you in. Get. Inside. Now."
"I'm not getting inside! Murderer!" I yelled.
I screamed when the door on Harry's side flew open and he took only five strides until he was in front of me. Harry gnarled and pushed me against the metal of the truck. I flinched and closed my eyes, feeling his body press against my own in attempt to scare me even more. Our intimate distance killed what was left of my breath and increased the beating of my heart.
"Get in the car. Don't make me tell you a third time, Catalina," he snapped furiously. I felt him graps my chin, merciless to my feelings of fear. "Open your eyes." The tone of his voice was like a password to my impulse. My eyes shot open and I inhaled sharply at the sight of his beautiful, yet terrifying pale green eyes. Intimidating, cruel, cold eyes.
He pressured me with his eyes. We both separated. I gave into him, grumbling beneath my breath. I strapped in my seat belt for safety, crossing my arms over my chest and frowning at the road ahead of us. Harry began to drive silently without another word being shared between us.
note \\ whoa harry's an asshole lmfao. i kinda love it.
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