On The Run

                                                On The Run1


Edgar pulled his hand away from Cassandra's hold and let his head rest against the fogged-over driver side window, his light-brown hair falling in wispy lengths past his jawline. The woman across from him brought her rejected hand back to her lap and squeezed it between her denim-clad thighs as if his very refusal had left physical damage. She looked on from the passenger seat of her boyfriend's used black Crown Vic, studying his pained expression with a hurt grimace of her own. He was so uniquely beautiful, even when angry, and she would miss him.2

"You know I have to go, Edgar. Please, don't be difficult. Please," she said, and her eyes began to fill.3

He kept his gaze focused on the burgeoning horizon before him, on the beginnings of a new sun rising from the eastern skyline. Dawn sent streaks of colors -- reds, oranges, mild pinks -- across the vacant lot in which they were parked, the tall field beside them and the dilapidated warehouse behind them. 4

"You're asking a lot from me, not being difficult. But what do you expect? For me to be docile about this...the fact, the fact that you're possibly leaving for good? Let me come with you," he responded. He didn't bother to look at her.5

Cassandra stared at him, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. He wouldn't budge, though, and she sensed he was hurting behind his angry facade; his features were subtle, but his catlike sparkling grey eyes shifted relentlessly, anxiously.6

A significant pause, and then she spoke, her words slow, measured. "That...wouldn't...be...wise. I made my bed, I lie in it. I'm not going to drag you further into my problems. The police are looking for me, not you, and as much as I love you, I can't drag you down in the dirt along with me. I won't."7

She continued to appraise his side profile, an equine face. He kept staring ahead.8

"Look at me, Edgar!" she snapped, tears spilling in solemn rivulets. Despite the ever-rising sun, gloomy fog billowed around their vehicle in eerie tendrils, reflecting the dejected atmosphere. The darkness of early morning was steadily transitioning into daylight.9

Sighing exasperatedly, Edgar finally met her gaze, his brow furrowed. "Let's face it, I'll never see you again," came his grim statement. "This is it, right? This is it." He shook his head in adamant self-confirmation, his chin trembling, eyes welling. Then he pursed his lips and swallowed hard, willing away the ache between his eyebrows, usually accompanied with the onslaught of tears. 10

She didn't answer, couldn't. Watching the love of her life seated behind the steering wheel crying for the first time in all the two years of their relationship sent her heart into an upheaval. 11

There were three things she should've done. First, she should've bid him farewell. Second, reached in the backseat for her tiny duffel bag. And third, exited the vehicle and hurried along her path of rebel on the run. That is why they were here, in this abandoned field bordered by dense, green forest. This was a good starting point for a felon whose pastime included robbing a small chain of banks, convenience stores...etc. Starting here would break her trail, make the cops pursuit in finding her extremely harder. 12

But instead of doing these things, seeing his madness replaced by a fragile vulnerability compelled her to embrace him one last time.13

He beat her to the punch, driven by his own intense feelings. His hands cupped the sides of her oval face, and he hovered briefly over her inclined head before giving in. It was almost painful to stare at her beauty, but he managed faithfully. Edgar took in Cassandra's almond-shaped hazel eyes, delicate nose and full lips, then pushed back her brunette bangs styled in a blunt cut which skimmed her brows and framed her face.14

Then he dipped his head and softly pressed his lips to hers. Cassandra sighed against his mouth and kissed him deeper, ignoring the fact that with every second wasted, the cops were that much closer to tracking her down. "Hmm," she murmured unconsciously, lacing her tongue with his, inhaling his faint natural scent. 15

Edgar pressed his body as far as it would go across the front cab, his saccharine kisses becoming wild, rough, desirous. Eager hands wrapped around her tapered waist, pulling her closer. As close as anyone would when at any moment, they could lose that person forever. He left her mouth momentarily and began assaulting her face with venomous kisses, trailing his feathery lips along the side of her jaw, listening to her heady whimpers as his breathing hitched excitedly.16

"There's still time to change your mind," he managed, his tone seemingly delirious,"There's still time."17

When she answered back, her voice was small, sober. "I can't. You deserve much more than the tragic life I've made for myself. The best thing you can do for me...is to let me go...and let yourself live. Because if you're with me...you'll ruin your life -- your future, all for me."18

Suddenly Cassandra was upright, and Edgar was glaring dazedly back at her. He felt naked now. Naked and betrayed, though she'd been discussing her plan days prior to this, and he wasn't a part of the escape. Still, he'd thought there would be a definite chance she might change her mind, reconsider things. Apparently now, that was far from happening. Yet there was an alternative, and it was positioned at the waist of his jeans behind his back. If she failed to comply, then he'd have to tread that deadly route...19

But it didn't hurt in trying once more. Just once more, a desperate man's only hope.20

Swiping a long strand of wheat-colored hair behind his ear, he grabbed her bare shoulders and pulled her close. And even as he did this, even though she didn't jerk away, he could see in her sadly set gaze her mind had been made up ages ago. She simply loved him too much to ruin his freedom.21

Fortunately, persistence was a dominant trait of his. "Do you remember when we first met?" He paused and searched her guarded gaze for any flicker of life, emotion. It seemed she was sobering herself and her feelings...preparing for imminent separation.22

He went on. "We made this vow, this vow, uh...of how we would stick together, through the storm, the seeming impossibility, the hardships. We agreed, Cass. You and I. We agreed, baby. You can't forget about that." His fixed gaze was intense now, screwed up in desperation.23

He shook her slightly when she didn't respond, but merely stared, hiding her feelings. But he knew her well, knew that she was only protecting herself from her emotions until she sanely executed her exit plan.24

And with an immediateness, his frustration and hurt, desperation and anger intensified. He began to sputter his words. "Goddammit, Cass. Goddamn you!" A strangled sound, mixed with tears and agony wound its way from his twisted mouth, and he threw his arms in the air and slammed his palms down hard on the car horn, pounding the surface repeatedly. The abrasive shrill of the horn ruptured the still early hours, and for the first time, Cassandra realized it was almost completely day.25

She turned abruptly, facing Edgar, who now slumped against his seat in defeat. "I have to go, Edgar, I must go!" she cried, her features an unbecoming grimace again. She promptly looked out the window to her right. The field glowed golden under the premature light of the sun; the impenetrable woodland far off called for her departure, and the vacant industrial warehouse loomed imposingly directly behind the parked automobile. She swiftly returned her wide gaze to him, her stomach an uncomfortable hollow, only to find that his face had slackened into a complacent state. His arms lay limp at his sides, and the only sign of any human tendencies was the inhale, exhale of his breath setting his hair aflutter.26

"I love you, Ed. I love you." Those were her departing words, and before she would break again, she kissed him tenderly on his cheek as his head was just leaning back to the side of the window. His eyelids were closed, and when he squeezed them tight -- afraid to see the last of her retreating visage -- a stubborn tear which had been lingering behind his eyes gradually slid down the right side of his face.27

"The 'Do-gooder' loves you, too, Rebel," he barely whispered. "More than common sense would allow." And then he laughed sadly, shrugged his eyebrows while lazily wiping the unwelcome wetness from his temple.28

But she wasn't listening, or at least pretended not to. Already having retrieved her light duffel from the backseat, she peeled herself from the car, shut the door, and hastily swung the strap over her shoulder.29

He dared to open his eyes.30

She blew him a kiss goodbye from outside the window, quickly looked away, and headed across the open field.31

He jerked upright, watched her pace hastily to the edge of the encroaching cedars, in her tight worn denims and her white racer-back tee. He felt a gnawing sickness pool in his lower stomach, an uncontainable virus. Dread, it's called.32

Before he could register his actions, he was out of the car and standing in the remaining mist collecting around his shoes. He cupped his hands and called to her waning form. "Cassandra! Cassandra! Cass --"33

She stopped mid-stride, turned, and the daylight splayed against her features, highlighting the brownish-gold in her feline eyes, her high cheekbones, puckered full lips and olive skin.34

Away from the growing light, Edgar froze by the gaped car door, the weathered warehouse his backdrop, its structural dark shadows stretching across the crumbling lot and drenching him in darkness, a contrast to her position in the lightness. The slate-grey misty fog swirled about him, around him, above him like a ghastly halo. His eyes now appeared a glowing grey as he stared after her wistfully with grim understanding. A mild breeze sifted past him, blowing back his shoulder-length hair and revealing his agonized mood.35

"I didn't get my hug," he finally shouted, his voice feeble, shaky.36

Cassandra hesitated for a moment. And then, though she tried to stifle it, her emotions got the best of her and her feet began moving back toward him. When she crossed the field of light and entered the shadowy darkness of the lot, he gathered her up into a fierce hug and reveled in that momentary reprieve of her wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. In their unbreakable embrace, he kissed her repeatedly, his lips feverish, movements frantic.37

However, the blissful moment ended before he could truly savor it, Cassandra pulling away yet again. Her face looked unstable, a frown hindering her otherwise immaculate beauty.38

"Goodbye, Edgar." Those words, almost incoherent.39

"Don't say that, I fucking loathe goodbyes," he mustered, his voice tearful and thick.40

"I'm leaving now," she told him, and she emphasized this by gripping her bag strap.41

Just overhead, a flock of crows circled as witness. Edgar shot his red-rimmed eyes toward the cawing birds coasting in the brightening sky, then back to his girlfriend, suddenly calm with his decision.42

And he simply said, "Look up. The crows can attest to our love, the rightness of us being together" -- She briefly glanced up at the sky, her twenties-style bob shifting as her nose pointed upward -- "And you can attest to this, too, Cass," he breathed, his smokey-grey eyes welling instantly.43

Then, before she could look back down, he was centimeters from her, and the little "alternative" was now in his hands. He grabbed her waist; her eyes dropped to his while the tip of the revolver met her stomach, and with a click, thunder crackled throughout the still calm. Cassandra jerked awkwardly, falling limp in his arms. An immediate blackish-red bloodstain permeated her white tank and her eyes shifted closed.44

Shaking compulsively, Edgar's sobs were boyish as he lowered her to the gritty asphalt of the lot, kneeling beside her prone frame. Next, he raised the small handgun to his stomach, squeezed his eyes shut, and fired a second life-altering bullet. 45

His body fell quickly to the ground beside her, and he jerked a couple of times before his final breath. Then his head slipped to the right, his eyes finding hers in one lazy drag, before going black.46

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