A TOWN

A TOWN

Vanessa laid down trying to fill her lungs with air, the baggage car smelled damp and heavy but she didn’t mind. Every part of her body ached unforgivingly. Xavier lay not too far from he was staring at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling with every breath he took. Vanessa turned and instantly remembered the bullets still lodged in her, the thought of having to fish them out made her shut her eyes to build up strength for the oncoming pain.

She got a lighter and Xavier’s dagger and put the dagger on the flame. The bullets wounds had already fully healed. She rested her back on a crate and flexed her right leg, Xavier stretched out his hand and collected the lighter from her.

Vanessa placed the hot blade against her skin and it seemed to go through easily, she bite her tongue and some sounds escaped her mouth as she groaned in agony, blood ran down her leg as she made an incision at the back of her right thigh large enough for her to stick about two fingers. She quickly set the dagger down and hesitated, but she remembered any time wasted and the wound would soon start healing. She stuck two fingers into the incision and began fishing around for the bullet.

The sound of flesh filled the silence.

Xavier watched as she worked, the fact she was still alive was still a surprise to him. And when he was initially asked to get her he had expected to meet some snobbish entitled prude. He smiled a little he was honestly impressed.

After some minutes of digging the tip of her fingers finally touched the bullet, tears built up at the corner of her eyes. She was gripping Xavier’s hand with her other free hand, she could feel her nails break through his skin but did not relent and made up her mind to apologise later. A pool of blood had formed at her feet, she held the bullet as firmly as she could and pulled it out throwing it on the floor.

Vanessa let go of Xavier, she noticed the tip of her fingers were stained with blood, Xavier’s blood.

She ignored it and used the back of her palm to wipe her forehead and took some calming breathes. She picked up the dagger and brought it against the flame of the lighter in Xavier’s hand.

“Help me remove the bullet in my back.” Vanessa requested

“It’s too close to your spine.” Xavier responded

“I can feel the bullet inside me and I can’t stand it. Please” she pleaded in a whisper

He noticed she had not said she would be fine or mentioned that her body would heal like she usually did, he collected the dagger from her so she could undress herself, the dress was still damp and would occasionally drip, and it still clung tightly to her skin. Vanessa strained her hands to reach the back of her dress and pulled down the zip. Xavier could see her bare back, there was a tattoo at the base of her waist, he strained his eyes to read it.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

It was French for do you want to sleep with me? He oddly wanted to touch it. Vanessa could feel his eyes on her back around her tattoo region. She gently laid down trying not to aggravate the pain in her back. She folded her right hand and placed her head on it. Xavier handed her the lighter and she held it in her other hand.

He placed his hand on her back on the exact spot where the bullet pierced her skin and he felt her shudder. He placed the blade of the dagger against her back.

“Are you ready?” he asked

Vanessa could only muster the strength to nod and closed her eyes waiting for the blade to pierce her skin. Xavier tried his best to be gentle but nothing he could do would stop the pain. Blood spilled from the incision down her sides. He set the dagger down and inserted two fingers into her baske

She was trying to contain all the pain as tears rolled down her eyes to her nose to her lips and then to the floor. She swallowed as she felt his fingers moving through her. Xavier saw the tears rolling down her face, the wound on her back was healing and it was a struggle to keep it open long enough for him to get the bullet. He finally held the bullet between his fingers and he pulled it out and tossed it to the floor.

He instinctively tore a part of his sleeve to stop the bleeding but remembered she would heal and used the damp sleeve to wipe the blood on her back, on her leg and fingers and then his hand. She remained unmoving on the floor, the rapid rise and fall of her chest reminded him she was alive and told him she was crying.

Xavier lay down beside her ignoring the blood on the floor and gently pulled her against his frame, she shuddered and grasped to breathe and stop herself from crying. Vanessa hid her face against his chest, he stroked her back gently and softly. The more he stroked the more she cried. She opened her mouth to say something, to try to offer an explanation for her tears but only sobs and gasps came out. Xavier hushed and let her cry, he felt her tears tickle his skin as they dropped on him.

Her breathing gradually calmed down and they both lay in silence.

“Sorry” she croaked and whispered

“I should be the one apologising to you. Sleep”

Vanessa nodded and gratefully closed her eyes drifting off into sleep.