Dr. Nicca James Alfarone

"I can't wait to leave." Jose whined, sighing as he ran a hand through his hair in a tired motion. "I'm just so done with this job." He slammed his clipboard down on the table, groaning in frustration. "You do know that this is your life long job, the job you wanted ever since you were a kid living in Britain, right?" I snorted, my stomach grumbling for food. "Yes, I know that Nicca," He sighed exasperated as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. "But I can't even stand to be awake at odd hours of the night. You of all people know how I enjoy my beauty sleep." He complained and I rolled my eyes.

"It's the life of being a doctor, Jose." I stated, stifling a yawn. I had agreed with him because since we were sailing to be top notch doctors of our district, the city had us working odd hours of the day so we could get to the top of the ladder. "It sucks that we have to be awake after 1 AM but who cares? It won't matter when these odd hours finally pay off and we're sitting in our office, finally happy with our achievements." I folded my arms, smirking at his distant attitude. "We're almost there Jose, don't give up." I put a hand on my heart, pouting. 

"Oh shut up." He whined, huffing and puffing like a wolf. "You're not even tired. Mr. I Take Energy Pills Every Night bastard." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Be lucky we are not on call. We are just here, taking notes." I leaned back in my chair, missing Steve. I hadn't seen him fully since the day we had that argument but I have seen him in passing times and he apologized for the cruel way he acted towards me. He had sent me a box of chocolates, flowers with a bear to my office and I couldn't help but forgive him.

"What are you thinking about over there, ya bloody tosser?" Jose hissed, chucking a pencil at my forehead. "Ow!" I screeched in pain, covering my throbbing head. "You just looked so into your thoughts, like you just lost the plot. Are you sure you aren't going mental, Nic? I would sure hate to see you in a ward." He threw his head back in a laugh and I glared at him. "Nah, I was just thinking about Steve and how much I missed him." I chewed on some gum, hoping to derail my thoughts away from him.

"Of bloody course." Jose rolled his eyes, throwing a hand out in a flamboyant manner. "Of course you're thinking about that asshole." I scoffed in mock disgust at his tone. "What's so bad about Steve?" I questioned, staring at Jose. "You really have to ask me out of all people that question?!" He chuckled in bewilderment. "I just don't like the git. That's all." Jose shrugged and I sighed. "He's a great person once you get to know him." I said. "Well looks like I'll never get to see that cuz' I don't want to know him." He clicked his teeth.

"Where is he at by the way?" Jose kicked his feet upon the table, laying his stethoscope on it as well. "Doesn't he normally come to visit you at this time?" He wondered and I shook my head. "He doesn't know I'm here and he's out on a business trip in Cairo." I stated and his mouth dropped. "Cairo as in Egypt?!" I nodded in affirmation. "Don't know what the hell he needs over there." Jose coughed, sucking in some air. 

He got up out of his seat and went to go stare out of the window. "What's the matter? You've gone silent all of a sudden." I said, puzzled over his sudden silence. "You're scaring me, Jose." I muttered, watching as he crouched down on the floor, still looking out of the window. "You said that Steve was away on business, right?" He whispered and I nodded, knowing he couldn't see me. "Yes, what about it?" I yawned once again, watching as his body shook. "Then tell me, what the hell is he doing here at this time of night?" He growled and my eyes widened. "W-What?" I sputtered, getting up from my seat to go crouch next to him.

"Look." The lights were off in the room we were in so no one could see us. He pointed to where Steve was standing and talking to someone else. "Does he know you're here?" Jose asked and I shook my head. "No. He knows that I don't usually work Wednesday's nights and I didn't tell him." I stated. "Then why is he here talking to your driver?" I peered closer to see that it was indeed my driver. Steve didn't know why I had a driver and he didn't agree with that idea either. "Eh, I don't know. I know the driver usually waits here every morning before coming to get me from my house so it's not unusual that he's here when I'm not." I explained and Jose nodded. "What is that?" He pointed to see Steve looking around the vicinity before handing the driver something small and black.

Steve clapped the man on his back as the driver sighed, wiping his forehead. "You don't suppose he looks nervous, do you?" He squinted his eyes and I shrugged. "I'm not too sure." I said, ignoring the feeling of dread in my stomach.

* * *

I yawned a bit as I walked out of the building to see my driver holding my door open for me. I slid into the back seat, wanting nothing but to sleep the day away. He shut the door, walking around to the driver's seat, beginning to drive. "You are going home, correct?" He asked in a soft tone and I muttered something incoherent but I assumed he understood because he began to drive in the direction of my house. The heat in the car was making me feel sleepy and the incoming rain that started to drop of the windows, did nothing to decrease my sleepiness.

"Hey, Mr. Alfarone." The driver whose name was Adrian Fontaine, turned off the radio, gathering my attention. "Oi, what did I tell you, Adrian?" I shook my head, covering my face. "You don't have to be all formal and call me that. It's better as Nicca." I frowned a bit. "At least I don't sound old." I chuckled and he smirked a bit, turning a corner on the road. "I have a question for you." He said and I nodded. "Shoot for it." I motioned for him to continue and he sighed. "Just how much do you love Mr. Bardlow, sir?" Adrian asked and I furrowed my eyebrows, fully awake now. "That's a sudden question." I tilted my head, trying to get a better look at him from the back seat. "I know but it's a rather urgent matter." He said and I shrugged.

"No worries, Adrian." I waved a hand at him, a smile starting to break out on my face as I looked out of the window. "It's not that I don't love Steve. I have love for him, of course." I started to say but then I lost track of my thoughts. For someone who was really quiet and reserved, I did nothing to stop the many words that were coming out of my mouth. "I really like Steve, I do and I could see us being together further down the road. But until he puts more effort into this relationship like I have, there's no telling where we could go then." I explained, ignoring the agonizing feeling in my chest. "It sucks because when we first met, I honestly thought that he felt the same I did. It sucks because it felt like love at first when I laid eyes on me." I looked out of the window, a somber grin on my face.

"I don't even know if he feels the same way because I know how it easy it is for some people to throw love around and say I love you to others without meaning it." I played with my fingers, in my own world. "It's hard to tell with Steve. He tells me that he loves me all the time but there are no actions that back up his words." I sighed. "You know the saying, actions speak louder than words?" I asked and Adrian nodded with a grunt. "It's kind of like that. He could say he loves me but I wouldn't believe it until I see it." I murmured, laying my head on the window.

"I agree with your point there." Adrian drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, a nervous tick that most people have and I raised a brow. "Words mean nothing when actions are the complete opposite. Believe what you see and forget what you heard." He made eye contact with me through the rear view mirror and I couldn't help but think that there was some deeper, underlying meaning to what he was saying. Nonetheless, he was right. "You trust him, right?" He asked and I wondered why I was having this conversation with him out of all people, but I still answered. "Yes, with all my heart." I confirmed and he let out a sigh.

"Just a warning, Nicca." He began and I lurched back at the tone in his voice, so scary. "Don't let your trust for him, make a fool out of you." He warned and I narrowed my eyes in confusion, wincing as we went over a speed bump. "What do you mean?" I had to ask because I didn't know what he meant. "This world is filled with people who would do anything to sabotage you. Be careful just who you put your trust in." He stated all cryptic like and I was just pondering on how this connected to Steve.

I nodded anyway because I was starting to get tired. I wanted a snack and I knew that I normally kept granola bars in the pockets of the seat in front of me. I was always hungry. As I reached in, I felt around for my precious bars but I only grabbed onto what felt like a small card of some sort. "Huh?" I whispered to myself as I pulled it out, staring at it in horror. I started to shake, finding it hard to breathe as I was suddenly aware of everything.

I gripped tightly onto the business card of mine, my own face staring back at me. What was this? What was going on? As soon as these thoughts ran through my mind, the car began to shake and rumble. "What's happening?!" I panicked, an alarmed feeling pulsating through me. "I-I don't know." Adrian muttered, looking on the dashboard but finding nothing wrong. "Maybe it's just the road." He stated and I knew something was off. He was acting too weird and too calm when it felt like an earthquake was happening inside of the car.

"Adrian, what's your-" I didn't have time to finish my sentence when all of a sudden, a blinding light pierced my eyes, followed by a thundering noise. A muffled roar filled my ears as the glass from the windows began to break at the sudden impact of the explosion. I screamed, feeling tiny little cuts rip apart my body as smoke began to fill my lungs, tightening the little bit of air I had left. The car flew in the air, smacking against a tree, my bones feeling the impact. My body couldn't move. "Help.." I whispered as flames engulfed the car.  I could only hear the sound of crunching around me as blood dripped down my body. "Adrian..." I tried to reach up for him but I couldn't move. Everything hurt.

As I closed my eyes, clutching the card in my hand as blood dribbled down the side of my head and pain rendered my body numb, I couldn't help but recall the word I saw on the back of my business card. It scared me to my core that I knew something was happening and I didn't know how or what was going to occur but it was futile. I couldn't stop it because I had no idea where it was coming from. I had no idea who was trying to hurt me but as I closed my eyes, ready to succumb to darkness, the big, black word in bold stayed in my mind, haunting me.

Checkmate.