Page 55 of Gemini
“Is it working?”
I gave him an annoyed look before glancing back at the dark. I stared into it, taking a careful step closer. “No light?”
“Doesn’t work in here.”
“Do not say it’s the only room that it doesn’t work.”
He laughed low, and I admit I liked the sound. I leaned forward, about to ask if he had his phone to use as a flashlight when I froze.
There was something moving in the dark. It was small but it was there. My eyes widened, trying to see. “Lez, something is moving in there.”
“Oh, yeah?” At the corner of my eye, I saw him put down his beer and take out his phone. He moved closer as he opened his screen and tapped on the icon for flashlight.
As the white light washed over the wide room, something shot out of the dark towards us. I shrieked, jumping back into Lez and nearly spilling my beer as a rat bolted past our feet and disappeared down the hall.
I covered my face in my hand. “Oh, my god.”
Lez laughed again as he gripped my arm to steady me. “Damn, big guy. Ratman’s gonna be eating well tonight.”
Heart pounding, I realized I had my back planted against his chest and quickly separated from him. “You’re lucky I don’t punch you right now.”
He closed the door to the room with a tight click before stashing away his phone. “It was funny though, you gotta admit.”
“No. It wasn’t.”
“Your expression says otherwise, sweetheart.”
I gave him a dirty look.
“Alright. I’ll make it up to you. Come on.” He picked up his beer and started to walk down the passage.
I didn’t move, crossing my arms. When he saw I wasn’t following, he looked around in surprise, his giddy expression falling. He came over. “Bad scare, huh? I’m sorry. Won’t happen again.”
I glared at him for a second with a mean look, then dropped it. “Just kidding.” I smirked, patting him on the shoulder and slipping past him.
“You little brat,” I heard him mutter and it was my turn to snicker. He took my hand again and I didn’t protest as we made our way down to a room at the far end. It was another set of double doors and this time Lez didn’t hesitate to open them as we approached.
Stumbling inside, I searched the dark as Lez flipped on the lights. I had to blink a few times from the brightness. As my sight adjusted, the first thing I noticed was the back wall down the far end of a large room. A good chunk of a tall wooden fence rested against the wall at a slight angle. The planks were set tightly side by side. Painted on the front of the fence was a bullseye.
I stared at it confused at first, until Lez’s hand came into view holding a knife.
“I know you haven’t been practicing like you should. But I’m not about to have all that training go to waste.”
“That was like one time,” I said, remembering the “lessons” he had given me back at the church. But I couldn’t help the little smile that crept on my face. I exchanged my beer for the knife, letting Leslie set our drinks on a nearby table as I positioned myself, ready to throw the knife. As I brought my hand up, Leslie came behind me.
“Stand a little more like this,” he said. His hands dropped to my waist, moving me slightly. I could feel the heat coming off him at my back. I tensed a little, heart fluttering, but I ignored the reaction as I focused on trying to aim at the bullseye. I brought my hand back and swung.
The knife made it to the fence but bounced off at the bottom.
“Try again,” Leslie said, producing another blade from his person and handing it to me. He maneuvered me again. When I positioned myself to throw, he moved my arm back a little more. This time the knife landed just outside the circumference of the circle, making a shallow hole.
“See, you’re getting there.”
“I didn’t even make it inside the circle,” I remarked.
“Yeah, but you actually got the sharp end to stick, that’s a start.” He got closer, and I could smell the slightest scent of whatever soap he used mingled with the smell of smoke on his shirt. “May I?”
I looked over my shoulder at him and nodded. He took out another knife, placing it in my hand, then he grabbed my wrist and wrapped his arm across me, pressing himself behind me, his face near mine.
