- II -

The rain was coming down hard, the tiny droplets aiming fiercely for the earth below with a seemingly greater intensity with each new drop. Shit. I knew I should have brought my umbrella, thought Jax as he stood under the big awning covering the stoop that led to the entrance of the six-story office building. He had left the office late and time was not on his side. Neither, it appeared, was nature. He knew that waiting for the rain to let up would only waste more time, and instead, dashed towards the street, quickly jumping into the first cab he could hail down.

"King and John, please," he told the driver before he had even closed the door. Despite the many lights that lit up the streets, the world seemed darker, more dreary than normal. Jax stared out the window, watching the rain wash over every inch of the shiny pavement that passed him by as they made their way through the empty streets of the city.

"Twelve seventy-five, sir." The cab driver's husky voice snapped Jax out of his quiet trance. Handing him a twenty, Jax stepped from the car and ran towards the door at the corner of a building with huge glass windows. Above the door, a bright red sign gently seduced passers-by to enter: Kiki Lounge. It was a trendy place with a warm atmosphere. Tiny, dimly-lit lamps dangled above each shiny metal table from thin chains hanging down from the high ceiling. The chairs that surround the tables were also metal, with soft, black velvet cushins covering each seat. The long bar, which lined the back wall, matched the rest of the decor; it's smooth metal surface was dotted with drinks.

Jax took a seat at an empty table next to the window facing the street, draping his wet jacket along the back of his chair. He pulled out a thin black binder from his backpack, opening it to the research he was working on.

"The usual?" He recognized the light, gentle voice immediately and looked up with a smile.

"Make it a double, Kiki," he replied to the woman standing next to him. She was a short woman in her early thirties of Asian descent. Her long black hair was pulled up into a bun and shone in the dim light as if it were the night sky caressed by the light of the moon. Her thin figure donned a deep crimson red, low-cut dress that couldn't have fit more perfectly. She smiled back at him, a kind but genuine gesture.

"Sure thing, love," she said, and made her way over to the bar. The lounge was busier than normal, made up with a large crowd of the usual twenty-somethings in their casual suits and no ties, their black stilhettos, tight-fitting pants and form-flattering low-cut tops. The typical wind-down-and-drink-up attitude from the fresh meat at the office, alongside the thank-God-class-is-over countenance from the university students always mellowed out the atmosphere of Kiki Lounge. Despite the liveliness of the place, it was always relatively quiet; the perfect place to have a drink and do some work.

Jax stared down at the papers that lay spread out on the table before him. He had finally gotten the okay from the ethics committee, and though his research wasn't due for another five months, there was still a lot of work to be done.

"I never understood how you could actually get anything done in this joint," said Kiki, her airy voice gently slicing into his deep concentration as she placed the thick glass tumbler in front of him.

"What can I say?" started Jax. "I grew up in a big family. This is nothing more than a little background noise by comparison!" Kiki giggled, a sweet innocence exposed behind womanly features.

"Whatever you say, love," she replied. "So, what is the article on this time? Political scandals? Global warming?"

"Nah, something better," responded Jax, picking up the glass. "You're going to love this. I'm working on a piece that has a little more relevence to the average female."

"Oh, really? Do go on," A look of intrigue crossed her face, immediately replacing her child-like innocence with a sense of sly curiosity, making her appear both coy and seductive all at the same time.

"Well, it's still a work in progress, but it’s all about the differences and similarities of the art of seduction between men and women, though I'm sure you know all about that," said Jax with a wink and took a sip of the scotch in his hand. He could feel its warmth swirling inside of him, shooing away the cold chill left behind from the rain.
A smile graced Kiki's face, drawing her back into that angelic repose. "Who, me?" she asked sweetly, with only a sparkle in her eye betraying her true nature. Jax couldn't help but laugh, knowing just how seductive her charm could be. And, just as before, her smile turned from sweet to enchanting in a matter of seconds, and she nodded as her soft, tiny hand gently stroked the side of his face. "And knowing you, I'm sure you'll have no problem finding the right prey to study," she said, and made her way over to the next table. Jax turned back to his work, pen in one hand, scotch in the other, and began writing.

"Is this seat taken?"
Startled, the glass trembled in his hand against his lips, spilling the scotch down his chin and onto the front of his shirt. "Damnit," he cursed, and reached for a napkin. Annoyed, Jax turned to face the person beside him, only to find himself utterly breathless at the sight.

"My apologies, Jackson. I didn't mean to scare you. May I?" she asked, gesturing to the seat in front of him.

"Yes, of course, sorry, I... please, sit," he said as he started to clear away the many pieces of paper scattered across the table. His heart pounding within his chest, his stomach forming into a tight knot, Jax forced his gaze down to what he was doing. His hands were trembling again, though this time it was not because he was startled.

"And what can I get for you, dear?" Jax jumped again at the sound of Kiki's voice, soft as it was, and looked up at her. Kiki's eyes were focused on the woman sitting across from Jax, but her coy smile showed more than just curiosity.

"Chocolate martini, please," the woman replied. "And he'll have another as well."

"Of course," said Kiki, glancing at Jax before she turned to walk away.

Shit... shit... SHIT! his mind screamed. What the hell is she doing here? Goddamnit, Jax, calm the fuck down and just breathe, he told himself as he attempted to unsuccessfully soothe his nerves. He just couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her. Long, wavy chestnut brown hair glistened with droplets of rain water, and cascaded down her back, gently framing her beautiful face and long, slender neck. Her olive skin and high cheekbones accentuated her big, sea-green eyes, while her full, pouty lips softened her sharp features. She sat there, her delicate hands folded tightly together on the table, watching him, waiting, as he desparately struggled to compose himself. The tension he felt was thick, smothering. Her gaze was so intense, it was as though she was staring into his eyes and straight into his soul. Kiki soon returned with their drinks, placed them on the table and, sensing the obvious, left without a word. Time seemed to slow to a crawl, until at last, after what seemed like hours, the woman spoke.

- I -

The days had already begun to darken, and the nights grew increasingly cold. The leaves had started their journey, downward spiraling from the heavens to their cold, earthy grave below. She could feel a storm is brewing. The heavy clouds that enveloped the sky, so dark and so thick that not even a ray of sunshine could seep through, confirmed her suspicion. The grass, once soft and green, had lost its edge, browning, decaying, and crinkling beneath heavy feet. There was a chill in the air that bit the bare flesh it passed, raising small hairs on the skin with the goosebumps it left behind. Soft, thick fabrics wrapped tightly around her body tried to ward off it's presence, but still it lingered, lashing out from within as it made its descent deep into her lungs, filling it, chilling it, and marking its territory. Minutes began to feel like decades, hours like eons, as the autumn warning crawled slowly but surely to winter's frosty wrath. There was a strange feeling of confidence in the air, as though Jack Frost himself knew his time to reign neared. She walked swiftly as though her body were involuntarily trying to keep up with the thoughts that seem to pass through her as cold and hastily as the late autumn breeze. Her mind erratically jumped from memories of him to thoughts of the accident, from the familiar touch of his fingertips to the strange smells of the hospital. Still, she continued on her journey home, allowing her body to follow the path it had been conditioned to know as well as she knew the scent of his cologne while she absently surrendered to the thoughts that consumed her mind.

He walked surrepititiously behind her, each step careful, each movement exact, completely aware of his surroundings and utterly conscious of his target. He paused, setting down his black leather briefcase without a sound and kneeling to tie his boot. Though he bowed his head to face his matte black boots, his focus remained on her - the gentle clacking of her white stiletto boots on the dry, naked pavement, the quiet rustle of her smooth, white leather knee-length jacket against her dark, tight-fitted jeans, the clinking of the keys hanging from her right hand, also gloved in white leather. He stood and continued to follow her, his pace slow, steady, confident. He watched her as she treaded up a short flight of concrete steps that lead to an old building on their right. He walked by unnoticed as she opened the Venetian door of the front entrance and vanished inside as the first drops of rain began to fall.