May 2007, Remains

[ellectrical]

It's night by the time they reach the park Elle remembers. A sparsely-wooded area, beyond the suburban cul-de-sacs and driveways, it's only about a twenty-mile drive from Hartsdale, but Elle had used every maneuver she and X knew between them in order to make sure they weren't being followed. The late hour means the area is empty; Elle manages to quietly drive off the road and straight into the grass, heading toward the trees and continuing through wide gaps between them, until she slows near the edge of a narrow slope.

They both step out from the front of the white van. Elle moves to open the back while X examines the space, making sure that they're really alone. A small, soft light comes from the van's interior when Elle opens the doors and climbs inside.

After a few minutes, X joins her, and together they lift the body bag out of the back, X in front, directing the way toward the narrow slope, which will function well enough as a shallow ditch. Her movements are slower and more precise than Elle's; the other woman quickly releases the body and returns to the van to get the plastic box left inside.

Elle's movements are much milder as she returns, setting the box aside and stepping into the slope with her father. She gently unzips the bag, spreading the plastic cover to blanket the ground on either side of her father's body. X steps away, hesitating at the edge of the slope for only a moment before returning to the back of the van. Once her father's body is exposed, Elle opens the plastic box and lifts out from it the top of her father's skull, placing it on the plastic next to his right shoulder.

She stands again as she replaces the lid of the box, and moves to join X.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"There is no one in position to see the smoke," X says, attention focused more on the surroundings than on Elle's father.

This is not difficult.

X does not know the first thing about fathers.

[ellectrical]

"Yeah," she murmurs, as she steps next to X.

Elle's about to climb into the back of the van again, but she stops at the door.

"Wait -"

She turns, and returns to the slope, stepping down once more with her father's body. With no sort of visible stiffness, she moves her hands to his chest, her right lifting the right side of his black suit jacket. There's a pocket sewn into the jacket's lining.

Elle reaches in, and pulls out the small, gold-plated jump drive. It glints in the dim light that remains.

She climbs back up the slope, and returns to X, this time not pausing before she steps into the van. The drive is shoved into the front pocket of her suitcase.

[cutting_edgex23]

X flicks a glance from Elle to the suitcase -- and the drive.

But she stays silent.

"There is not anything else?"

[ellectrical]

Elle moves on to the Company kit.

"Nothing I need," she answers, as she pops the lid of the box open. As she shuffles through its contents, Elle pulls out two items: a red canister, and a plastic container of gasoline.

The gasoline is what she carries when she steps out of the van again.

[cutting_edgex23]

X follows her for a step, or maybe two.

Then she stops again. Waiting.

And after a long moment or two --

"Okay."

[ellectrical]

She looks back to X, meeting her eyes for a moment.

But then Elle turns away again, making no motion for the other woman to follow her. It's her job.

And this time, even when offered, she doesn't need the help.

Elle doesn't step back down into the slope. She stops at the edge, her eyes down as she unscrews the top of the container. The smell might bother X more than it does her - Elle is just very careful as she removes the top, and holds it in her left hand by the tips of her fingers.

Only maybe a quarter of it poured into the slope. Enough that she can see his body is damp enough to thoroughly ignite. Just as carefully, Elle twists the cap of the container back on again.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not sneeze.

She does, however, half-turn, keeping Elle and her father's body in the corner of her field of vision.

The rest of it --

This time the outside problems are her job. Just for a little while.

[ellectrical]

Elle returns to the van to put the container of gasoline back inside.

She sets it on the edge, pushes it in a few feet, and then looks to her hands.

And as she passes X again, Elle stops, and holds out her hands toward her.

"Are they clean?"

It's a hazard. But Elle was careful.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's nostrils flare -- just to double check.

Then she nods. Once.

"There will be no traces."

Beat.

"It is okay."

[ellectrical]

Her hands drop back to her sides.

"Thanks." Elle's voice is only a little soft.

She continues past X, back to the edge of the slope. This time, her knees bend; she sits at the edge, awkwardly, for a long moment. A lock of blonde hair slips forward over her shoulder.


Goodbye, Elle
Elle murmurs, again, "Bye, Daddy."

She reaches forward over the slope - one small spark from her right hand is enough. The flame lights up over his tie, and begins to spread. Elle stands.

She doesn't stop where X has been waiting - Elle keeps walking, toward the van. With little effort, she lifts herself into the back, so that her legs dangle over the edge. Her eyes glance to X, and then back to the growing fire.

[cutting_edgex23]

X is careful not to look at the flames -- she needs her vision too much to permit it to get spotty.

Just in case.

So she watches Elle instead, quiet but not careful.

Waiting.

Maybe it is her turn to drive.

But probably not.

[ellectrical]

But Elle doesn't look ready to leave. She sits at the edge of the back of the van, watching the flames that peek over the slope.

It's all she does for a while.

Then, she looks back to X. She doesn't say anything, but her head tilts, very slightly.

Maybe Elle needs help, after all.

[cutting_edgex23]

X hesitates for a few long moments, flicking a glance toward where Elle's father's body is being consumed.

Then she edges back toward her friend, steps slow and very careful.

She stops just as her hip brushes against Elle's knee and stays there.

Still waiting.

She is not sure what else to do.

[ellectrical]

"I don't want it to spread."



It's why they're still here.

Mostly.

After another moment, and very tentatively, Elle moves her right hand, enough to touch X's left.

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is better to be careful," X agrees.

Quietly.

She flicks another sideways glance at Elle as their fingers touch, hesitating again.

And then, if the other girl does not object, she'll twine her fingers with Elle's.

Just the tips.

Just for a few moments.

[ellectrical]

It's not that much longer.

The flames that reach high enough to flicker over the edge of the slope are becoming less frequently.

Finally, Elle straightens, and pushes herself out of the back of the van, to stand next to X.

"I think it'll work."

[cutting_edgex23]

X flicks a quick glance toward the vicinity of the flames, scenting the air.

Then she nods, just once.

"Yes."

Beat.

"It will be effective."

But she does not quite turn toward the front of the van, does not start walking away.

Not yet.

[ellectrical]

Elle keeps her eyes on X.

But she nods, slightly toward teh van. "Let's get rid of it."

There's still a pause, but she's the one who turns first, to close the back doors again.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says, moving away toward the front of the van.

This time she is not hesitant at all.

[ellectrical]

The doors aren't slammed, but Elle tugs slightly to make sure they're closed.

She takes up the driver's seat once more. The headlights flood through the forest as Elle puts the gear into reverse, and begins to pull out.

She doesn't look back to what's left of the fire even once.

Once they're out, and pulled back onto the road, Elle glances back to X.

"Thanks," she repeats.

[cutting_edgex23]

X is silent for a long time, studying Elle.

Then she nods, just once.

"It is okay," she says.

"You are welcome."

It is the best answer she knows how to give.

And it is not quite what she really means.