If He's As Bad As They Say, Guess I'm Cursed

Take the Dead Out of the Sea

Music: Get Free🪓, Lana Del Rey

The next morning Lorelei woke up, and immediately she felt that something was wrong.
She checked for her gun on the side table.
F#ck.

Kicking the bedroom door open immediately her eyes went to the empty chair, the cut up ropes scattered on the ground.

He'd gotten away while she slept.
This was surprising, sure.
But what truly shocked her was that Duncan hadn't tried to kill her while she slept.

She refused to change her opinion of him, judging him from his worst mistake years and years ago.

Yet somehow, every time he had the opportunity to, he continually surprised her.
Slowly changing her opinion of him, unconsciously, but nonetheless.

Looking around the small cabin, the snow had let up outside and the sun shone above the mountains that encircled the valley.

She could understand why he'd chosen to buy this place, it made you feel steady, tranquil, and detached from the horrors that went on outside.
A feeling that was scarce in their employment.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of wood splitting outside. He hadn't even left? Well that was stupid, she thought to herself.

She went outside, far calmer than she'd felt this entire time. Feeling secure in the knowledge that he hadn't killed her, so he wasn't a threat at the moment.

Duncan looked up seeing her walk outside onto the porch.

"Morning."
He greeted her casually.

"That was stupid, but I think you know that. So why'd you do it? Not kill me in my sleep that is." Lorelei said failing to match his non chalant tone.

"Didn't want to. I know you don't agree, but you don't deserve it Lorelei. And I owe you your life, since I ruined it."
He answered splitting another piece with a practiced precision.

"You're a real problem for me. A serious liability, it would be just as stupid for me to leave you alive here." She said with a subtly sorrowful sighed.

"Then it's decided, when you choose to leave you can kill me. I won't get in the way, you should get to decide."

All of his life Duncan had been plagued by regrets and mistakes, the past was already written in stone. All he could do now was make choices that he wouldn't come to regret.

And that meant doing whatever he could to bring peace to the person he'd hurt the most in the world, giving her the option to leave him in the past or forgive him.
Honestly though, he didn't feel deserving of any sort of mercy.

"But I gotta warn you... I uh, tried to start your car this morning, no luck." He had to mention.

"You did what?!?? So you tried to steal my goddamn car? You are so f#ckin...."

She took a deep breath, composing herself. Anger was how she dealt with everything, always had been. Anger at herself and with her past, she'd lived her whole life driven by anger alone.

"Alright. It's agreed, when I choose to leave. I will kill you." She nodded. The fire behind her eyes evident, but controlled.

He couldn't help but smile, she was always a little bit angry. Though she was certainly dangerous, it was awfully entertaining to watch.
She confusedly furrowed her brows fighting a subtle smile.

"How long have you been out here doing this anyway? You're going to pull a muscle old man."
She scoffed looking over at the large pile of wood beside him.

"Eh, long enough." He shrugged with a soft chuckle, putting the ax over his shoulder and walking up to the door.

Instinctually she moved out of reach, tensing up in a defensive position. It was extremely unlike her not to be on guard around someone with weapons, especially another trained killer.

He hadn't thought about it, but upon noticing he put the ax down on the rocking chair. Putting his hands up to signal that she had nothing to worry about.

"Sorry..." He mumbled.

"Force of habit." She replied standing normally again.

This wasn't going to be the easiest learning curve, but there weren't a lot of choices considering the car wouldn't start.

She touched Duncan's shoulder, "Hey, stay out here for a bit. We need to discuss a few things."
She said handing him a cigarette.

"So what you think you can just pay me in cigarettes to do what you like?" He said trying to sound annoyed.

"I do actually, last I checked you usually smoke a pack a day. It must be killing you not having any out here, huh?" She smirked.

Grumbling wordlessly he nodded taking the cigarette and lighting it, sitting with her on the porch as he smoked.

"You been stalking me for awhile then, weren't cha?" He mumbled, trying to get on her nerves.

She frowned at him, smug a$$hole.

"Alright, now that we've established you can be bought, and that I might've stalked you. Let's get down to logistics." She said taking on serious tone.

He nodded, he'd much rather do that than be bullied any longer for his habits. But he'd certainly bring up that stalking thing later.

"If the car won't start, we're stranded. Is that right?"

Duncan sighed, they were in fact stranded the layout of the cabin was designed to be extremely hard to find, or leave.
"Yes, I believe so. In about a month I have a guy check up on maintainance. So until then, yes."

"F#cking hell. Is there enough food for the two of us all month?" Lorelei asked.

"For a month, not quite. But I've got my hunting rifles, it'll be scarce out there, but there's a bear, that lives around here. I know that for certain." Duncan replied.

"A bear huh? I guess I'm going hunting tomorrow."

This could be fun.