❝ hostage situation ❞

          Cataleya sat in silence, processing the limited information she had on the two men sitting in front of her. They'd been quiet too, not having much to say to each other after the blows they'd shared back in the desert.

She continued to toy with her necklace, staring down at her lap as she thought. The symbols matched so closely. Did Richie have something to do with Las Visiones? Had the brothers been sent after her?

She needed to question him.

She'd gone quiet as she thought, and Cataleya noticed Seth occasionally look into the rearview mirror at her as if he was checking that she still occupied their backseat.

He pulled the car off the road and into the parking lot of a humble-looking motel. The dilapidated sign on the main building read ' Dew Drop Inn, ' as they passed.

Seth turned around in his seat, gaze moving between Cataleya and Richie. "I'm gonna go get us a room. Be right back."

She watched as he walked into the building, the door shutting behind him, and took the opportunity before he returned to talk to Richie. She leaned forward in between the seats.

"How do you know that symbol?"

Richie turned his head to look at her, the confusion on his face growing. "What symbol?"

She didn't feel comfortable enough sharing the necklace with him, so she scanned the car until her eyes landed on a small pen stuck into the overhead visor. She pulled the pen down and opened her hand towards Richie, looking at him expectantly.

He understood, slowly placing his uninjured hand in hers with a cautious look. Her hand was warm under his own, her touch delicate. Cataleya began to draw the eye symbol onto his palm as best as she could, placing the pen back onto the visor after finishing.

She let go of him, and his hand felt cold as a result.

Richie stared down at the drawing. "It was on this knife I had, but- Why are you asking?" He interrupted himself, looking up to Cataleya.

"I just," she struggled to find an excuse to give him, "thought I'd seen it somewhere else. Never mind just forget it."

She still wasn't very comfortable around the two, being careful about what she revealed to them. Cataleya didn't trust easily, not anymore.

Richie watched as she leaned back in the backseat, playing with the frayed edges of her denim shorts.

She felt his stare but didn't dare look up into it in fear of not being able to look away.

Something about her had caught his attention back at the store, and the voice he continued to hear told him to bring this girl to it. He was still unsure as to why, but the woman who spoke to him was extremely adamant about her. He felt there was an odd connection between himself and Cataleya, even if the girl herself didn't feel it. He had no doubt that she could hear the voice too, and now she admitted to seeing the eye.

"Cata-" Richie opened his mouth to speak, her name barely leaving his lips before the driver's side door swung open.

"Alright, all set." Seth climbed into the car, tossing the room keys into his brother's lap before driving forward to find a parking spot.

Richie took one last look at Cataleya. She was forcing her stare down at her hands in her lap, her hand working a ring around her middle finger. He looked down at the drawing before closing his hand, turning back towards the windshield.

The brothers quickly got out after parking, heading to the trunk as Cataleya followed. The same woman from before looked up at them, her eyes resting on Cataleya. She sent the woman a sympathetic glance.

Richie pulled her out and guided her to the room by her upper arm, his injured hand settling on Cataleya's shoulder to usher her forward as well.

Seth dropped the briefcases and bags he'd carried in onto the small motel room table while Richie placed the two women on a couch sat across from it. The woman sitting beside Cataleya let out whimpers as he did so. Cataleya continued to stare at her lap, avoiding the woman's pleading looks as she twirled the plain silver ring on her middle finger.

"Richie..."

The voice again.

Cataleya's quickly looked up. Richie's eyes bored into the woman next to Cataleya, his jaw tensing before walking towards the table. She took a deep breath, pushing the voice from her head. This was the most she'd heard it in a while.

A few years ago, the woman spoke to her for the time. It was a reassuring, almost nurturing voice then. Cataleya's boyfriend had dragged her into a very dangerous situation, and the voice offered a soft sentiment: "Don't be afraid."

At the time Cataleya had confused it for her own little voice, telling herself she'd get out just fine. But as the months passed by and the work she was forced to do for Las Visiones worsened, she heard the woman speak to her more and more. Her voice helped Cataleya survive.

But then she ran, and the voice slowly faded away with the months that passed.

Now, she overheard the voice, rather than the woman speaking directly to her. Like a radio station picking up a different frequency.

She raised her head, her eyes finding Richie's looking in her direction. She took in the nervous expression he tried to hide.

"10:00 tonight we cross, and Miss-" Seth pointed to the woman sitting next to Cataleya.

"Monica." The woman offered.

"-Monica and you, sweetheart, go back to your lives."

Richie continued to stare at the woman, his gaze sometimes flicking to Cataleya.

"Until then, you two are an insurance policy. Do you understand?" Seth finished.

Monica nodded.

Cataleya just stared. Insurance policy? She wasn't going to mention it, but she wouldn't be worth much insurance-wise. She'd been declared missing years ago, and at this point, everyone probably figured she was just dead. She used to find herself wishing she was.

"Do you understand?" Seth asked again, his eyes resting on Cataleya.

"Yeah, whatever," she offered in reply, still somewhat preoccupied with her own thoughts.

"Good."

Another conversation between the brothers acted as white noise in her ears as she relived memories she'd shoved deep, deep down that her circumstances brought bubbling back up again. Running away, meeting him, being forced to join his little gang, and all but disappearing completely.

"You're not going out there, that's crazy." Richie's statement broke Cataleya from her reverie.

"Gotta ditch-and-switch. And we gotta eat." Seth replied.

Richie held up a small revolver, staring at it with distaste. "I can't do anything with... Quick Draw's shriveled member."

Cataleya stifled a laugh. Richie quickly glanced at her, a small smile forming on his lips before the annoyed look returned.

Seth sighed. "You're not gonna need anything, because Miss Monica here," he walked over to sit on the coffee table directly in front of her," is the best-damned teller in the West. She knows all about customer service."

Seth reached forward to pull the gag from the woman's mouth. "Now, what is the, uh," he brandished the gun he held, "first rule of customer service, Monica?"

"The customer is always right," she deadpanned, her voice slightly shaking.

Seth slammed his hand on the couch, Cataleya jumping as it caught the side of her leg.

If Seth realized it, he acted like he didn't as he nudged the woman's nose with his finger. "Winner, winner, chicken dinner."

"Now, you see," the woman cowered from him as he leaned in, "me and Richie here, we are your most loyal customers."

Cataleya looked to the blue-eyed man, his head tilting in response to what his brother was saying.

"And we only want one thing," Seth continued, placing the barrel of his gun on Monica's leg, "for you to sit there and not move. Got it?"

She whimpered as she nodded in understanding.

"You got it, Richie?"

"Just get me a burger already," Richie grumbled before standing, cradling his still bleeding hand as he disappeared into the attached bedroom. "And some, uh, sweet potato fries."

Seth walked to one of the briefcases, pulling papers from it before looking at the two women. "You," he pointed to Monica, "stay put. And you," he looked to Cataleya, hesitant to leave her behind. "Let's go."

"What? Why?" Cataleya questioned, not wanting to leave this woman alone with Richie. She'd always been a protector, and she didn't want to leave this woman at the mercy of him. She was still wary.

"Just come on. Listen for once." Seth scolded before starting towards the door.

The girl stood, watching a frown form on the other woman's face. Monica looked afraid.

"Just... do whatever he says, okay?" Cataleya spoke from the doorway, sharing a worried look with the woman seated before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

° ° °

"I'm just saying," Cataleya shrugged, motioning towards the black Camaro they clambered from, "it doesn't exactly scream ' low profile. ' "

"Oh, really?" Seth smiled, "then what would you have picked?"

He watched as she took her bottom lip into her mouth, gaze traveling off to the side as she thought.

"I've always preferred Mustangs."

"Yeah?" He looked down at her as he opened the door, letting her walk in first.

"Yeah. I mean, performance wise, the Camaro is great but," she twirled to walk backward as she continued, "come on. Mustangs. Especially the '71 Mach 1-"

"You're into cars like that?" Seth looked at her incredulously.

She laughed. "Why do you look so surprised?"

"Just... didn't expect that." He shrugged, mentally taking note of another small personal fact he'd managed to get from her. "Dad?"

No. She hadn't known her father, and the only thing of his she seemed to inherit was the necklace. Although, her mother had always said she had his eyes.

"Boyfriend, actually."

Seth hummed in response, eyeing the closed off girl. He aimed to get anything out of her, even if it was small facts like this.

The weight on Cataleya's chest had somewhat lifted on the ride from the motel to the restaurant. She'd mentioned to Seth that the car seemed a bit showy, and he'd responded that it was perfect. This sent the two into an argument and discussion about cars and mechanics. She always tended to get carried away talking about things that interested her, almost forgetting the situations she was in.

But a small part of her remained back in that hotel room, still worried for Monica.

"-our Agent Utah Burger?"

Seth opened his mouth to speak, his eyes trailing off to a booth. More specifically, a woman in a booth.

"Be right back. Stay here," he instructed before walking off, pulling the woman from her seat by the hand into the bathroom.

Cataleya and the girl behind the register shared a confused look before she spoke.

"Water's free, right?"

The girl's eyebrows furrowed before slowly nodding, turning to fill up a small cup and handing it to Cataleya.

"Thanks."

She took a sip, walking back outside to enjoy the sunlight. After a deep breath, she glanced to the ground, noticing a pack of cigarettes and a lighter stashed behind the disposal for them.

Cataleya plucked one from the box, lighting it before taking a long drag.

It'd been a while since she last smoked, quitting the somewhat nasty habit after seeing what it did to others in the long run. But at this point, the nicotine she inhaled was greatly appreciated.

She took another sip of her water, rehydrating from the Texas heat as she leaned back against the building to watch the cars drive by.

She could just leave, she thought. Walk away from the restaurant and hitch a ride, say she ran out of gas or got stranded. The brothers were split up, and Seth was more than occupied at the moment. But something kept her there, rooted in one spot as she exhaled smoke.

She couldn't decide what it was.

Maybe it was the odd sense of security the brothers gave her. She was running before they got her, alone and vulnerable. At least with the two men who'd taken her, she'd see it coming.

Maybe it was Richie, and what he might know. The man slightly frightened her, yes, but he was intriguing. There was something about him that may have been the reason Cataleya didn't bolt right then.

Or maybe it was the sad fact that she really had nowhere else to go.

Seth and the woman walked out of the bathroom, Seth buttoning his shirt back up as they headed to a booth. His eyes scanned the restaurant, and he stopped when he noticed Cataleya was gone.

He muttered to himself. "Where is she..?"

"Who?" The woman sat down, looking up at Seth.

"Wait here." He hurried to the door, stepping out to check if the car was still parked as he pat his pockets for the keys.

Cataleya turned her head to see a disheveled Seth march out of the restaurant, eyes frantically searching the parking lot before noticing her. He visibly relaxed upon seeing her, realizing she didn't run.

Why hadn't she run? He sighed, passing a hand over his face. "Do you ever listen? Didn't I tell you to stay in there?"

She took one last drag before dropping the cigarette butt and grinding it under her boot. "Technically you said ' stay here, ' meaning this restaurant."

He groaned as he shook his head, motioning with his hand for her to follow him back inside.

"By the way, you skipped a button," Cataleya teased, placing the straw of her drink in her mouth before sliding first into the booth.

Seth quickly reached down and fixed the button as he slid in after her.

The woman eyed Cataleya curiously. "Seth-"

"Long story, let's just-"

"You're like, really pretty." Cataleya interrupted, taking a sip from her water after quickly studying the woman.

"Um, Thank you... Who are you?" The woman questioned her directly this time.

"Cataleya. I'm in a bit of a hostage situation." She leaned her face on her hand, watching as the woman's eyes widened.

"Hostage? Seth, I thought you always said-"

"Vanessa, just-"

The two argued in front of her, Cataleya noticing a pattern with Seth. He argued with everyone.

She felt she was intruding, so she turned towards the window in an attempt to pretend she wasn't listening.

She stared out as the bees buzzed at the window, visiting the small flowers that dusted the bush right outside. She sighed, wishing her life were as simple. Her focus shifted, leaving her staring at her muddled reflection. She quietly gasped as she noticed the small specks of blood that riddled her skin, confused as to how she hadn't noticed them sooner. She grabbed a napkin from the dispenser, using the water from her now empty cup to wipe them off.

Cataleya continued to eavesdrop, learning the woman, Vanessa, was Seth's ex-wife. She thought it was strange, since he didn't really seem the marrying type. Vanessa must've been a special woman to deal with him.

She learned they'd planned on crossing the border together, but Seth changed the plans.

"Do you remember our honeymoon?" Vanessa asked.

Cataleya turned from the window at this, looking towards the woman.

"I'll never forget it because this, uh, this call girl took the table next to us."

Seth hummed in response.

"She'd just come from doing her business upstairs," Vanessa and Seth shared a laugh, "and she ordered – I'll never forget this – she ordered a short stack of buttermilks and black coffee."

Cataleya felt weird for intruding on their moment together, but the way Vanessa spoke kept her captivated.

"Yeah." Seth laughed, overwhelmed with nostalgia at the thought.

"Remember what you said?" Vanessa softly questioned him.

"No, I don't. What'd I say?"

"You said, ' I guess that's what the whores eat. ' "

Seth sat up, leaning back into the booth with a look of embarrassment. The woman continued her story as he looked down, casting sideways glances at Cataleya.

"I am not a whore, and I am not your bitch," Vanessa berated, "I'm your partner. And you know what partners do? They make plans, and stick to them."

Cataleya related to the woman she didn't know in this moment, having been in a similar situation not too long ago. A sense of pride washed over Cataleya as she looked at her, strong and sensible.

Cataleya stood in the booth, stepping over the seat behind her in order to climb out. She started walking past, but Seth reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Where you going?"

She looked down at him. "To pee. Last time I checked, I'm human. I tend to do that sometimes."

He stared, looking for any hint of a lie.

"Helloooo?" Cataleya shook her arm, prompting Seth to let go. "Thank you." She walked to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

The face in the mirror looking back at her was tired. She'd been running for months now, and this added stress wasn't helping her already shot nerves.

Vanessa's outburst reminded Cataleya of her past boyfriend and the mess he got her in. The mess that incidentally led her to where she was now. Her eyes burned as she rememebered him, and before she knew it, hot tears began to fall. No matter how hard she willed herself to stop, they continued to slowly slide down her cheeks. Cataleya groaned. She hated to cry, especially over the past.

She aggressively palmed at her face, wiping away the tears that fell.

"Stop crying, stupid," she scolded herself, sniffling.

The cold water she splashed into her face seemed to help her catch a grip. She reached for paper towels only to notice there were none.

"Great," she sighed. Cataleya went to place her hands down on the sink, immediately retracting them with a grimace after remembering what Seth and his ex-wife were probably doing atop it.

She grabbed the hem of the white tank under her flannel and brought it to her face, drying it.
Cataleya took a deep breath as she composed herself, opening the door to find Seth's fist hovering in the air mid-knock.

"I came to ask if you were okay, you'd been in there a while," he informed her, lowering his hand.

"I'm fine," Cataleya forced a laugh, quickly looking down, "and hungry."

She looked back up, hoping her face wasn't as puffy as she thought it was.

Seth noticed it looked like she'd just cried, but no one liked having that pointed out. He kept his words to himself, instead offering her a small smile. "Well then, let's go fix that, sweetheart."

He let her walk ahead of him, his smile dropping from his face as she passed.

In his opinion, she had plenty to cry about. He and his brother had taken her against her will, she was hurt, and looked exhausted. It upset him that he'd caused this reaction from her. She seemed so proud and fierce on the outside, but seeing her walk from that bathroom was a quick reminder that she was just a girl. She was just a girl dealing with a whole bunch of shit better than a lot of people he knew probably could.

"You're back!" The girl behind the register exclaimed.

"How's that King Kamehameha? Is that the one with the pineapple in it?" Seth asked, leaning onto the counter.

"It most certainly is," she cheerfully replied, "I may be biased, but I think it's delicious."

"Let me get two of those and two Native-style Mahalos, with sweet potato fries please."

"Just the sandwich or the Tidal Wave meal?"

"Tidal wave it." Seth nodded.

"Oh, uh, you don't, um– do you have any horchata?" Seth's eyebrows furrowed as he asked.

"Yes, we do."

"Sounds delicious, gimme two."

"Make that three," Cataleya spoke up, smiling at the girl.

The girl started to ring them up before a crashing sound distracted them. Seth and Cataleya turned to see his ex-wife savagely beating the camaro's windshield with a crowbar.

He bolted from the restaurant to the car, forcefully pulling the metal bar from the woman's hands. Cataleya stayed put, leaning against the counter as she watched the two argue.

The young girl behind the register looked as confused as ever.

"Marriage problems," Cataleya informed her with a small shrug. "Could I get one of those horchatas right now?"

The girl nodded, eyes staring out at the fighting couple as she walked back to fill up three cups. She came back, handing one to Cataleya.

Cataleya watched Seth turn from Vanessa, shaking his head. She noticed the frown on his face and tense shoulders as he walked back inside away from Vanessa.

"Sorry about that," he mumbled to the girl behind the register, pulling contents from his pocket and dropping it on the counter. The girl behind the register stiffened as bullets rolled about the loose bills Seth sorted through.

Cataleya noticed an officer walk in just then, and her hand immediately reached for Seth's arm. She wasn't a fan of cops, naturally being cautious around them considering her own criminal record.

Seth looked at her, and her eyes motioned behind him. He slightly turned his head, mouthing "damn it," as he saw the cop.

She noticed the officer look down at the bullets still on the counter, and his hand slowly reached for his weapon to unholster it. Cataleya needed to act quick, trying to think of something that came with the minimum amount of injury for everyone.

"He's got a permit for it, sir," she blurted, "if you'd just let us go to the car and get it-"

The officer looked at Cataleya just as Vanessa put a gun to the back of his head.

"Baby, not for nothing, but you and your sidekick best get out of here."

Cataleya and Seth made a grab for the food, rushing past the held up officer and ex-wife to the car. Cataleya wasn't even fully inside the car when Seth hit the gas, erratically pulling out of the parking lot and racing off down the road.

Cataleya stared forward at the shattered glass in her view. "Just fyi," she tilted her head towards Seth, "I am so not your sidekick."

"Shut up," Seth let out a laugh, finding it amusing that she didn't seem phased at all. He shook his head, a smile on his face.

Cataleya popped a fry in her mouth, leaning her head against the side window. At that moment she felt just how long the day had really been, and how long it'd been since she had proper sleep. Her eyes repeatedly fluttered shut before snapping back open. She couldn't fall asleep, not now.

Seth watched the girl in the passenger seat doze off and wake up again, trying his hardest to stay quiet so that she might fall asleep. He silently cursed himself after rolling over a giant pothole, her head banging into the window.

She cracked up, holding her head. "Ow. Why do I keep getting hurt on your watch?"

She meant it jokingly, but Seth had to force a small laugh. It was true, and he couldn't feel more terrible about it. She was their hostage, but that didn't mean he wanted harm coming to her. He was a thief, not heartless.

They pulled back into the motel parking lot before heading back to the room with the food in hand. A pit of sorts formed itself in Cataleya's stomach as they neared the door. Something was wrong. She could feel it.

"Richard, it has been a long, hard road," Seth shut the door with his foot after they'd both walked in, "but our debts are paid and we are finally on our way."

Cataleya noticed Monica was missing after a quick glance around the room, the pit in her stomach growing deeper.

Seth spread the food on the small table in front of his brother, picking up a burger and starting to unwrap it.

"Richie," Cataleya caught his attention, a nervous look capturing her features, "where's Monica?"

He pointed to the closed bedroom door as he chewed.

"What the hell is she doing in here?" Seth threw his burger down, walking over to open the door.

Cataleya watched Seth's walking slow, stopping a few steps past the doorway and looking down. She was curious, so she took a few steps toward him.

"Cat..." He held out his arm to keep her from walking in, but she pushed past.

The sight made her heart drop to her stomach.
She almost couldn't believe it.

The woman's once beautiful eyes were placed in each outstretched hand, blood covering most of the sheets and her clothes. The scene was gruesome, but above all else, it looked angry.

Cataleya brought a hand up to her mouth, the drink in her hand falling to the floor. She knew something was wrong. She knew. She'd seen some messed up shit in the past, but this topped all of that, and then some.

Richie walked up behind them.

"What is wrong with you?" Seth asked him, his voice broken.

"I worked it out," Richie replied flatly, "I can see now."

Cataleya couldn't look away, almost like passing a car crash and not being able to help looking out the window at the damage done. She couldn't help but feel she was somewhat responsible for this. After all, she'd told Monica to do whatever he said.

"Can you?" Seth's voice had an edge of agitation. "Then what is this? Because this doesn't look like anything that-that I've ever seen, Richard– Sweetheart, please, go sit down."

And for once, she listened to him.

"Don't ' Richard ' me." Richie retorted, annoyed.

Like he had a reason to be, Cataleya thought. He killed her. He killed Monica. And he didn't even sound sorry.

Seth swiftly turned around, slamming his brother against the bedroom door. The loud crack of it hitting the wall made Cataleya jump.

"I'm gonna do a lot worse if you don't stop right now. She doesn't need to see this. This is not who we are. This is not who you are."

Seth grabbed his brother's face. "Say it."

"This isn't me."

"Say it again."

Richie went silent.

"Say it!"

"It is me."

The cold certainty in Richie's voice reminded her of him, and that terrified her.

"Do you realize what I have been through to get here?" Seth questioned. "Huh? Do you?"

Richie nodded, his lips forming a small frown.

Seth studied his brother's face before pulling him in for a hug, his tone soothing like it was in the desert. "It's ok. This is all gonna be a memory when we get to El Rey."

He pat Richie's back comfortingly. "It's gonna be blue agave. Sunshine and beaches. Just you and me buddy."

Seth looked past his brother's shoulder at Cataleya with her head in her hands.

"Just you and me."

° ° °

author's note;

Whoo! Third chapter is UP!

I know it's hella long but I originally intended for this to be a type of filler chapter lmao oops. But anyways, how'd y'all like it?

Oh, and question: I forgot to ask last chapter but how do y'all feel about me putting gifs in the middle? Is it ok or is it too distracting? I kinda just wanted to start now bc I planned on putting in gifs of Cataleya later for certain things but if y'all don't like it i'll stop.

This somehow already has 500 views so wow, thank you guys so much. I'm really excited about the next chapter, so I hope you will be too.

That's it for now. Thanks again, and don't forget to comment/vote!

;tabitha