Everything is the same, this moment didn't change a bit.
The Enfant members after Vanessa, the same ones I killed in the past are alive -not for long tough.
Shaking my head back to reality, I rushed to the jeep, swung the door open, crashed inside, then without slapping the seatbelt on I started the car and began my drive towards the organization members.
Today I'd practically reenact the past ... do nothing to change the outcome of the future yet -its too early.
Far in the distance on a bench by a fountain I saw Vanessa unknowingly retracting data off a computer.
This was the moment where the organization members would surround her. I took out a box of ammo, loaded my two signature guns, slyly smiled then pressed on gas.
Edging a street corner, I halted the jeep, aimed my guns then awaited my que to shoot the men gathering to interrogate Vanessa Rene.
I know she hates violence, that she'll feel uneasy about me for a while after what I'm about to do but there's no choice.
A man in sunglasses points a gun at Vanessa, she holds up an information disk as if about to hand it over ... but stops midway, she hesitates about it, pulls back and I hear her say.
"No! I will not give up the truth." That moment is when I fire three shots killing all men instantaneously.
She stands motionless for a moment taking in reality.
I drive the car down the street to where she can clearly see it, put on the brakes then shout out the window.
"Hey I'm sorry I got here so late ... it took a while to get trough all the guys who were following you."
She remains motionless as if she's ignoring me, intently I gaze at her for a second before inquiring in a soft tone.
"Is something wrong?"
I keep looking at her, seeing only a strange confusion in her eyes.
Beneath my breath I whisper, "give me a break", as I remember doing the same thing last time.
There isn't a choice, she won't move, I have to carry her here myself -which I don't mind at all.
With a sigh I step out the jeep, march towards the statue still Vanessa, give her a frustrated half smile then suddenly sweep her off the ground and into my arms.
She squirms a bit but doesn't resist as I carry her off towards the passengers side of my jeep.
I feel happier then I've felt in a month experiencing her living warmth seep onto my arms, the solidness of her body brushes against mine.
I open the door, gently let her down and wait as she takes a seat, afterwards I slam her door shut, walk around, hop into the driver's seat, start the car then zoom off.
We drive for an hour, headed to her place.
By now the sun is set and lampposts are lighting the way ahead.
Everything thus far went the same as in the original past, except my urge to stop the car in the middle of the road then embrace Vanessa tighter then she once had me.
I resisted doing anything yet ... if I did it'd ruin my chances of saving her and more then that becoming special to her.
The entire hour she didn't say a word so I broke the silence whilst crossing a mini bridge.
"So are you going to say anything or what... well?"
My words came out annoyed.
A silence and me waiting, then she firmly stated.
"Pull over!" - "Huh?" - "I said pull over."
She demanded.
A good listener, I did as she said and stopped the car.
I tilted my neck towards her with a kind smile paved over my face and the sincerity showing trough the amethyst of my eyes
Softly I asked.
"What's wrong?"
Vanessa had a grim expression and her voice sounded drenched with disgust as she said.
"You killed them ... they're all dead!"
With a smile on my face and pride evident, I replied.
"Yep I sure did." - "Three people..." After a short pause I added, "actually it was seven if you count the other ones tailing you."
She tilted her head away from the window then met my gaze, puzzled, she asked.
"But why?"
I closed my eyes and stated.
"Because that's my job. My name is Madlax and you are the client. I am sorry I had to kill those people, but those Enfant members saw your beautiful face ... If I didn't kill them, you'd be targeted by every single Enfant member in the world."
I chuckled,smiled with my eyelids closed then added in a sweet voice.
"You seem kind, your to nice to kill anyone -you couldn't have done it."
We arrived at the hotel late in the midst of night.
I was beat and happy to be somewhere where I would rest without the same regretful memories of Vanessa's death in the other time line plaguing me.
With her here it actually felt comfortable, warm and more like home than anything else I've know.
As soon as we arrived she dashed up to a rather large suitcase, dug trough it then pulled out a laptop.
Vanessa stood up, grabbed a pair of reading glasses off a metallic rack with cacti on it, walked over to a table square in the middle of the room between the bed and couch, next sat down on the bed and began typing away on that boring laptop.
As I turned around then walked to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, I knew what she was looking at on her computer ... the same data disk that wiped my memories last time -a data disk that alone was the greatest threat to my plans.
After making the coffee I walked back to the main room, and stopped in the hall, leaned one leg over the other and my left hand against a wooden cabinet, gazing at her as she frivolously made attempts with her soft rapidly moving fingers against the neon green keyboard to unlock the date which couldn't be unlocked -until the memory erasing trap would activate in a few days time.
I heard as she let out a barely audible growl and stated as if thinking her irritable thoughts aloud.
"Its asking me for a password", she clutched her hands, "I finally get the data and now this... If I manage to connect without it then Enfant will easily be able to track me down. Looks like I'm going to have to figure out the password myself."
Overhearing her, I stated whilst sipping my coffee.
"You should be more worried about your safety ... just try not to forget that Enfant is targeting you."
She looked away from the PC screen and annoyingly said.
"How could I forget?" - "Look just be careful, you don't know the true power of Enfant."
I took one last sip of coffee, placed the cup down, strolled over to the couch and crashed for a night of sleep.