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Автор: Anastasia

"You can’t love dead forever, Lindsay," a soft, almost hypnotizing voice. "I don’t care, Gerard, whether he’s dead or not, I still love him. You can’t understand," I continued as I saw he wanted to say something, "all my life I’ve been waiting for someone like Connor to come and as I first saw him I knew he was my fate. I love him, I’ll always love him no matter what happens."

"Now listen to me, Lindsay and listen carefully." Did I hear a menace in his voice?

"You forget this guy right now and you’ll go with me to France, it’s the only way you can stay alive."

"I knew it from the beginning," I said in a surprised calm voice. "I knew it was no coincidence. Do you want to kill me? Just like Elsinger?"

"It’s a pity you’re so clever," Gerard sighed. "Now gather you bags and we’ll go to France."

"I won’t," I said firmly.

"You will," a voice from the door said.

I raised my head: "Frank, I knew you won’t miss the party."

"Lindsay, darling, it doesn’t become you being so cross with me," he had one of his smiles, the one I hated.

"Come on, shoot me, why do you linger?" but before I could continue, Gerard interrupted.

"Frank, why don’t we give her a chance? We’re going to France and if she agrees to become my wife, I can guarantee she won’t do any harm to you. We could arrange a little accident to make others think she’s dead." Elsinger watched me for a short time, then nodded: "Do as you wish, Gerard, you’ve got a week to decide, Donner." With these words Frank left the room.

"Go on, Lindsay, our plane is due in an hour," Gerard patted my hand. "Don’t worry, everything will be ok."

It was all the same to me, I just wished my death wouldn’t be too painful.

We landed in Paris two hours later and we again left the plane. But now it was different. Two days ago I was free and now I could feel Gerard’s eyes upon me. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next and I always hated uncertainty. It was a torture for me to wait and be helpless to change anything. Only one thing was certain: I wasn’t going to marry Gerard, no matter how Elsinger was going to harm me. Firstly, I didn’t like the idea of being a wife of someone, who was close to Frank; secondly I had a feeling it would be wrong to give up now. I wondered what was Elsinger’s plan. I was sure it was something very mean but what?

Gerard took our bags and we headed the waiting car. I tried to break away: "Gerard, I understand your feelings all right but don’t you think it’s just the time I should go? You’ll never hear from me again if you wish!"

He looked at me and there was sadness and tenderness on his face: "No, Lindsay, you’ll stay with me or you’ll have to go with Frank." "

Where?" I had to find out Elsinger’s intentions.

"Don’t bother, Lindsay, you’ll find out if you’re silly enough to accept Frank’s company instead of mine."

My lips were shaking: "I trusted you. I thought you liked me and you took me with you to Rome just because you saw I needed help!" I could see Gerard was shaken but he said nothing.

It was a horrible week. Gerard took away my cellular phone and there was no way I could call Peter. Nor could I go away. That was a real trap. The only thought brought me some consolation: soon I’ll be somewhere together with Connor. I never really believed in God but now I wished I did. It would be comforting to know there’s some place where I could go after I died. I didn’t care whether it was hell or paradise: the only thing that mattered was that I could be there with Connor. Gerard spent a lot of time with me; he talked to me and tried to make me accept his offer. I was afraid I wasn’t rather forthcoming, I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life with Gerard. I lost my confidence in him.

There was tension in the air, I could feel it with all my senses and waited for an outbreak. Finally I saw my door open and Frank appeared. "You are the most stupid person I met, Donner," he approached the armchair where I was sitting and reading.

"Is it your way to greet someone?" I asked caustically.

He laughed: "Oh, you’re the same, Lindsay, you don’t change. Now let’s speak openly. What do you know about Doyle’s death?"

"Gentlemen first," I answered.

"All right, you won’t live too long anyway. He was a clever man but too bold. You know, he always wanted to know more than he was told; it was a stupid wish of course. I warned him, it’s not that I’m a cold-blooded murder but he wouldn’t listen. He was just like you, my sweet Lindsay, just like you. Well, that is why he had to die. What would you say?"

"I hate you," I said calmly.

"Oh, I’m sorry," he took out something that looked like a pistol.

"Good night, Lindsay," he pulled the trigger and darkness enveloped me.

In all my life I never thought about death. Perhaps I was too young and too careless but it never came to my mind. Entering the O.S.I.R I knew it wasn’t a safe job and it was all right with me. In the last few years I faced danger so many times I couldn’t count and still I was never afraid of death. Perhaps that is why I was never really hurt or wounded: death doesn’t like those who’re not afraid of it. Strange thoughts but that is exactly what I think about it. I knew I wasn’t immortal but I never really met death until Connor died. He was so close to me, I could feel his pain and his anguish of body and mind. The worst was I couldn’t help. And then it was too late and I couldn’t do anything to prevent his horrible death. That was for the first time death laughed into my face, it showed me I wasn’t as fearless and almighty as I thought I was. Now it was again near me but this time it would be nothing but a rescue from the life I hated.

Everything was still and I was cold. I opened my eyes and at first I couldn’t believe what I saw: I was again in Archangelsk, in front of the terrible plant. "What’s the hell?" but the words died on my lips as I turned back and saw Elsinger standing behind me.

"How do you like it, Donner?" he asked.

"You… you brought me here to kill me?" I stammered.

"The best place, isn’t it? But it’s not you, who’s my major problem, it’s the parasites. You know, not all of them died in the explosion, which took away the „beloved" Doyle, but some survived and I would like to get rid of them. Forever. Just like I want to get rid of you."

Now I understood: he wanted results, he wanted tests and I had to be the guinea – pig for him. "Oh, Frankie – boy, I knew you’d never disappoint me," I couldn’t help laughing at his plans. It was all I could do, just laugh. Elsinger looked at me, anxious to understand what I meant. Could I be a danger to his plans? "Don’t look at me this way, Frank, stop it," I said in my normal voice. "No joking: you mean, I’m going to die in this building after parasites will be within me. Am I right?" He nodded. "Well, it’s all right with me," I shrugged. "Let’s go."

For the second time I could see amazement written on his face. "You don’t try to scream or run away?" he asked cautiously.

"Frank, am I a hysterical 16 – year – old? You should know by now I’m not in the least like you," I said scornfully. "If you want a scene, go and watch some cheap movie." I guessed I was infuriating him and that was exactly what I wanted, I wanted to see him die from his fury. Elsinger grabbed my hand and almost dragged me towards the building. I pulled my hand free: "I’ve learnt how to walk with 10 months, I can go without your help, thank you." He didn’t touch me any more. Finally we were in front of the building.

"Where is Connor? Where is he?"

Pain in Peter’s eyes.

Now it was my turn.

Elsinger let me in and showed me the panel and the generator. "Do you want to do it yourself or should I?"

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