Julius Caesar

I reached London by five in the morning. The weather matched my mood with its grey, lurking clouds and icy gusts of wind that chilled me to the bone. But that was okay because nothing felt colder than my frozen, broken heart.

I took a cab where I sat, paralyzed by the storm of emotions trapped in my heart, until I reached the motel I'd be staying in. It was a cheap motel but not filthy which was all I needed. I wasn't into luxury as I was into practicality. I also remember, idiotically yet understandably, reserving it by my real name.

I was the definition of death; heartbreak and sleep deprivation.

After emptying my pockets (the pictures, passport, and visa) on the bedside table, my first instinct was to go out and purchase a gun. And it wasn't that hard because the dealer knew my father and gave me the gun without second thoughts.

People like me can't sleep without a gun safely tucked under their pillows, close to their hand's grasp in case of any violation.

When I returned, I sat on the bed and stared blankly at a yellowed wall before popping two painkiller pills in my mouth. I crushed them with my teeth, with tears in my eyes. I hated the constant throbbing I felt in my shoulder and what it reminded me of. I was impossibly exhausted physically and mentally, yet I couldn't satisfy my sleeping needs when I had a promise to fulfil.

I lit a cigarette, rubbed my temples with my right hand and glanced at my watch. It was already seven-thirty in the morning. I was supposed to head to the university to find her. I didn't expect to be allowed in, so I knew I had to do all the work from outside. I needed to 'make' friends and ask about her.

I was not very good at that. At all.

I sighed, got up for a quick shower, shaved, brushed back my platinum-blond hair, and brushed my teeth. All to make sure I looked as charming as I could no matter how thunderous and unapproachable I felt.

I sighed at my reflection before heading out of the stuffy washroom to put on a lot of layers, topped by my black leather jacket and jade-green scarf. I pocketed the motel keys and left to take a cab to the university. A ride which took approximately thirty minutes where I spent my time staring at the car's dull grey ceiling, head rested on the back of my seat.

My brain was sharpening its pencils and drawing pictures of Audrey's funeral. Pictures of Father's grin and pictures of a sad, broken me, watching her get lowered to her grave. And it didn't seem to stop until blinding tears erased those pictures away like letters on white sand.

Sad stuff happens all the time, focus on your purpose- I thought, wiping away my tears and reaching for a cigarette. I felt the cab come to a halt, sat up, a little disoriented, gave the driver the cost of the ride, and climbed out of the car.

The huge university campus laid in front of me with many young students buzzing into and out of it, chattering, laughing, and smiling as they pulled down their beanies, tightened their scarves, straightened their collars or buttoned their coats at the relentless wind. The huge trees surrounding the entrance swayed dangerously as some of their leaves waltzed down in slow fashion to the ground only to get crushed by an oblivious boot. They were carefree with glistening eyes, flushed faces, and wide smiles.

They wouldn't have the slightest suspicion that an armed murderer was walking among them. I felt considerably old even though I was barely a year older than the oldest here. But after all, age is just a number. No-one had been through what I went through.

I let my eyes scan the place, the people, looking for any random person to target.

I had asked five different people who knew her but weren't close enough to know where she lived. Feeling irritated at my ineffectiveness, I decided to target groups instead of individuals. So I spotted a group of three students huddled together, laughing in a corner.

I fingered my hair quickly, put on a charming, unwavering smile, and walked to them. Two guys and a girl.

"Excuse me?" I started, feigning confusion. I hoped I was good at acting as I thought I was.

"Sorry for interrupting but I am new here and was looking for my family's friend. Her name is Sam. Does anyone of you guys know her? I would be really grateful for your help." I asked cautiously, and the girl giggled while the nerdy guy stared at my cast arm.

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if they were too dumb to trust me and give me what I wanted. Or too smart to do just the opposite. But 'surprise' was the element of spice in my mundane life.

And I wanted to be surprised.

I snapped my eyes in the girl's direction. "You're so formal!" She exclaimed, and I smirked studying her 'seductive' smile.

Don't ask how I knew her smile was 'seductive', because the explanation behind this and several other actions you'll see as you proceed with the story is simply that I'm excellent at reading body language. It was one of my three specialities, and one of the reasons why Father thought I was good at what I was doing.

"There are so many Sams in this uni, mate. You gotta be specific-" Baldy started, pulling down his sunglasses as I beat him to it.

"Sam Ricardo. She studies Psychology. Do you know her?" I turned to him, interested.

Golden-Curls gasped. "Ricardo Murd? As in the multibillionaire businessman?"

He was a businessman, wasn't he? I examined her before nodding. This girl could be of great use, was my first thought about her.

"Sam Ricardo! I know her!" She exclaimed as if proud that she, out of all of them, was the one capable of helping me- a murderer really. Fun.

"Tell me about her. I haven't seen her for long. She must've changed a lot." I said nonchalantly with a small smile, taking out a cigarette and placing it between my teeth before lighting it up.

I know I was acting obvious, but as I have mentioned earlier, I am not very sociable. I didn't know how to use the right words. I was never articulate. But I always got the work done.

What to say? Jay magic?

"Why should we trust you?" Nerdy interjected with a carefully arched brow. "She is the daughter of a probably targeted businessman. You could be following her for all we know."

I puffed out the smoke and flashed him a confident smile that tried its best not to turn into a sneer. "And do you think that if I were a killer who was hunting her down, I'd personally go to her university? Don't you think that who would target 'Ricardo' would have so much more advanced techniques? Which definitely wouldn't involve looking for her personally and asking friends." I said, sounding awfully casual as I held his eyes straight on. "I mean-" I scoffed. "It's freezing. Who'd be out in this awful weather?"

"Yeah, right, mate," Baldy nodded with a smirk that exposed his pointy canines.

"A cold-blooded murderer would," Nerdy said undeterred and I almost tsked when Golden-Curls giggled.

"Was the pun intended?" She asked, laughing as Baldy shoved Nerdy jokingly.

"I'm just a family friend who came to make sure she's doing okay," I said, trying to smile kindly. "You should understand."

"Please. Carry on." I said, bringing the cigarette back to my mouth.

"We have many sections together. She's like my height. Dark, long hair which she usually keeps in two french braids. Olive skin, dark-brown eyes. She is messed up though nowadays-"

Not interested in listening to a detailed, useless description, I interrupted her. "Do you have any idea how I can contact her? I mean I can't really get in-"

"Why am I not buying this shit?" Nerdy interrupted me again, and I slowly diverted my gaze to him with an easy smile as I thought- this guy really has a death wish, doesn't he?

I was about to open my mouth to reply placidly, but the girl beat me to it.

"Benjamin! It's really rude to doubt strangers asking for help like this!" She puckered her lips and frowned slightly.

I cheered for her in my mind.

He narrowed his eyes at her, then looked at me with his chocolate-brown eyes. He raised a brow. "Well, at least we know who to blame when something bad happens to her." He tightened his hold on his books angrily. "What's your bloody name anyway?" He spat out, and I smirked.

"Who said I'd tell you my real name?" I said, challenging him and fl.i.c.k.i.n.g off my cigarette.

Baldy laughed. "Nice one, mate! Finally, I see someone getting on Ben's nerves."

Ben glared at him then looked back at me. He looked like he was into that Sam girl. Really protective. Like I'd been on Audrey.

Oh- Audrey. I looked at the ground involuntarily, remembering how we'd fought because I was apparently 'overprotective'. I wouldn't let her travel alone to London, but she did it anyway.

"Well, hello?!" I looked up, finding Golden-Curls snapping her fingers in front of my face.

I was losing my focus, I admit. And this wasn't something I allowed myself to do because it only translated to more danger.

"I'm sorry. I just remembered something-" I trailed off, but the girl giggled again and slapped my good arm. I bit my tongue.

Alright, if it weren't for the very fact that I needed her help, I was sure I would've held her arm, rotated it until I heard it dislocate from her bony shoulder girdle. I hate(d) being touched by strangers.

I think everyone hates that. I smiled nevertheless.

"It's okay! I was just telling you that she lives in that building-" She said, pointing at a point behind me. "Apt. number 16."

I looked back and observed how crisp the apartment looked. Black and shiny.

"Oh, and by the way, she shares her apartment with another guy-" She rambled on.

"Really?" Ben said from next to me, looking like he just got punched in the gut.

"Yeah. He's gay though so don't worry, Benny." She reached to c.a.r.e.s.s his cheeks, and he slapped her hands away.

"Don't call me that." He snapped, and I almost rolled my eyes. I think I did. Really. I don't exactly remember.

The girl smiled at him then turned to me grinning.

I liked her. She was bubbly. Bubbly and useful.

"Can I have your number? I'd like to contact you if I needed any help around here. You know...I don't live in London so-" I started tactfully.

"Yes, of course! No problem! But won't you tell us your name?" She bit her lower lip and smiled.

I raised my eyebrows and cleared my throat. "My name is Romeo-" I said.

Romeo, huh? Unprofessional and romantic. A good disguise.

"My name is Caroline. He's Ben, and he's Johnny!" She said, looking at her friends. "Now give me that phone of yours and let me type in that number!"

I chuckled humorlessly and reached in my blazer's pocket. I unlocked the phone and gave it to her.

She took it enthusiastically while I had a stare-down competition with Ben. That guy had to lower his testosterone levels a bit. Just a thought.

"All done!" Caroline said, and I took my phone back.

"Thank you so much for your help. It's really appreciated." I said, grinning at all of them. Ben smirked while the rest smiled.

And showtime was over.