Hopes Despair

Chapter 14



The light stung my eyes as I opened them into slits I was in a darkened room staring straight at the only source of light. I leant back hitting the back of my head. I saw a flash of light as I realised that I had just hit the gash on my head. Shaking off the sudden pain I surveyed my surroundings, I was in a small confined space my body cramped by the narrow confine. I was in complete darkness except for a small light in the corner, for some reason this place seemed familiar in some odd way I closed my eyes trying to think where I remembered this from ‘shit I’m in Tseng’s boot’. I began to panic at the realisation that I was probably about to get driven to some remote location to be whacked and dumped like the trash I was. I felt around trying to find something I could use as a weapon when I heard the sound of someone approaching the car, I froze in fear ‘calm down Reno, you aren’t about to die’ I heard the footsteps stop above me.

“Are you awake?”

I hesitantly started to reply when fear took hold and I decided it would be best not to give away my current state of being awake and in a world of pain.

“I know you can hear me” Tseng’s voice came out steady “if you’re looking for a weapon, as I’m sure you are … you are still a Turk and I would hope you haven’t forgotten all my training”

“So I take it you have taken any form of weapon?” I mumbled

“As if I would leave my lover defenceless” he replied stoically “I left you a farewell present”

With that I could hear him start to walk away, before hesitating

“I’m sorry it had to come to this, but like I said back in the elevator ‘I don’t want to end up like Rude’” then he continued to walked out of hearing range.

I laid in the darkness wondering what the hidden meaning in Tseng’s words could possibly mean, ‘he called me his lover’ why would he say that to someone he was about to kill ‘was he trying to apologise?’. My head began to spin in confusion as I tried to sort out Tseng’s word and my mixed emotions.

“What did you mean by leaving me a present” I spoke out aloud

I ran my hand across the floor looking for something anything that might be laying near me, but felt nothing, then I realised I wasn’t tied up ‘was this his present’ I tried to roll over to try my luck at kicking my way out. As I began to roll over, the pain from the open gash on my head was also met with a feeling of pain coming from my ribs ‘shit I think I’ve broken a rib’ I moved my hand up to check. To my surprise instead of feeling a broken rib I felt something quite unexpected, the source of my pain was something long and hard pressing up against my body ‘my electro-rod’ so that was Tseng’s present to me. A broad smile started to form on my face ‘thank you Tseng’ I continued to roll over and proceeded to kick the shit out of the backseat with each kick the seat inched slightly, until it finally gave way (a little too easily). I crawled out slowly avoiding rushing through the hole, in case I was spotted so I used my seldom used and never practiced training to avoid sticking my head up.

I laid flat for what seemed like an eternity listening for any sound that could lead to my demise, I began to feel light head for some reason until I realised that I had been holding my breath. As I took in a deep breath I was startled back to my situation by the sound of a branch breaking outside to my right. Every muscle in my body tensed up in reaction to the sudden sound, now instead of having trouble with holding my breath I couldn’t stop hyperventilating. If I didn’t get my breath and nerves under control soon I’d soon pass out and wouldn’t have a hope in the world of escaping. I focused my energy on getting my breathing under control once satisfied I cautiously rolled onto the floor trying to make as little noise as possible, once I was completely on the floor I pushed the seat back into place. As the seat clicked back into place I heard the sound of feet approaching the car ‘shit’ I curled up into the foetal position hoping to hide myself.



I could hear the sound of two people talking above my head I silently prayed that they wouldn’t see me lying on the floor. I tried to make out what was being exchanged between Tseng and Elena with little to no positive results of confirming my length of existence in this beautiful world ‘if only I hadn’t been self absorbed to realise’. I was startled out of my thoughts by the sound of the driver’s door opening I could feel the cars weight shift slightly as someone entered then there were a few profane words as the car door slammed closed violently. They sat quietly for a few minutes before starting the engine then they turned around to face the backseat.

“I hope you appreciate what I’m doing for you Reno”

“I’m so glad you’re the one who’s gonna kill me Tseng” I replied sarcastically “How’d you know I was lying on the floor?”

“Cause the shirt I had laid out on the back seat is no-longer there, which would lead me to believe that someone had moved the backseat”

Even in his stoic voice I could hear a faint hint of pride, but not certain why he would even feel such a thing.

“Don’t worry Reno, I intentionally put it there as a way of assessing your situation” with that he started up the car and proceeded to drive away

“What do you mean by assessing my situation?” I replied confused

I could hear a slight smirk as Tseng intentionally drove over a bump in the road a little too zealously.

“If the shirt was still up it means that you were still in the boot of the car, then it would be ok if Elena was in the car with me. If the shirt had fallen down it meant that you had somehow managed to kick your way out, which would lead to you being dead if Elena was in the car”

‘That has to be the most unemotional explanation I have ever heard’ I thought to myself‘ how he can be so fuckin dead, here he is driving a friend, colleague, lover to their death’

“I’m glad you’re the one to do this”

“Do what Reno?”

“To end my sad and pathetic life” I replied solemnly “At least I know that I will die with some dignity”

“Shut up Reno” Tseng’s voice cut with malice “Say another word and I will end your life here”

I began to reply when the weight of his threat chilled my body to the core, I had never heard Tseng ever use that tone with anyone and it scared me. I lay on the floor silently fearful to breathe when finally Tseng broke the silence that had engulfed the car.

“Hmm maybe I should have use that tone more often on you, it sure shut you up quick” I could hear the faintest of a laugh

“Fuck you Tseng” I hissed back

“I would rather fuck you, but if you don’t want me to then that’s fine”

‘Dammit what was with all this mixed signals I was picking up’ I stared up at the roof of the car as Tseng carefully this time drove over a pot hole, my head bumped slightly from the dip but to enough to cause severe brain damage.

“It’s ok for you sit up now, we’re far enough away”

“Huh. What?” I stuttered

“You can get up off the floor” Tseng replied neutrally

I waited a moment listening for any sound that would give away my impending death, when I was finally satisfied that I wasn’t about to die I cautiously lifted myself up on to the backseat.

“I’m not going to kill you in my car Reno”

“I know that!” I replied failing in my attempt to hide my nervousness “I just wanted to make sure … you know”

Tseng slowed the car down slightly then finally came to a complete stop I sat on the backseat staring at his head rest waiting for his next move.

“If I truly wanted to kill you, do you really think I would do it in my car?”

“Well … the thought had crossed my mind that you would kill me if I ever ate in this car, so I guess the answer would be no” not quite sure if I had made any sense in my answer

“Do you want to move to the front seat?”

I hesitated for a moment as I realised that for me to get into the front I would have to exit the car

“Reno I’m not going to kill you here!”

“You say that now. But how do I know you’re not lying to me?” I shot back

“Because I love you” his tone stoic

My heart leapt up into my throat at hearing Tseng say he ‘loved’ me, I could feel my face begin to become hot as I knew I was starting to blush. I slowly leant forward towards Tseng manoeuvring around to take him into a relieved kiss, then retreated back into my comfort zone.

“What was that for?” he asked inquisitively

“I just wanted to make sure that … I … I love you too Tseng” I stammered “Which is why I needed to see if you truly felt the same way”

Tseng leant over to the passenger side and opened the door

“Then hurry and get in the front” he replied with a stoic smile