After fifteen minutes of vigorous thinking, we had come up with a plan – scream and bang on the door till someone opens it.
So we started screaming and hitting the door with our fists.
“Hello!? Open the door.”
“We are harmless. Open the door.”
I gave Alex a ‘what the fuck’ look. “Harmless? Who needs to know that?”
Alex shrugged. “You don’t know it could be the police out there.”
I pointed at the door, motioning him to listen to the childish squeals and yells. “That is not the police.” I strained my ears suddenly freezing in shock. “Is that Zivah?”
Alex touched his ear to the door. “And Evan?”
My surprise grew more. “But I locked them.”
Alex blinked at me in confusion. “Locked them?”
I nodded. “In my apartment. I didn’t want them to be a part of this. I was protecting them.”
Alex smirked. “Just like how I was protecting you. You hypocrite.”
I pressed my lips together, narrowing my eyes in annoyance. “Don’t make good points Mr. Bianchi.”
“Oh Ms. Collins, don’t fight your love for me.”
I couldn’t if I tried. It was too overwhelming.
So ignoring his words, I started hitting the door. “Zivah! Evan! Open the damn door, you idiots.”
Alex joined in. “Zivah! Worthless dog. Open the door.”
“Worthless dog?”
“He’s your ex. I don’t like him.”
“You are my ex. And he might be the one who’ll save our asses.” I pointed out.
Alex groaned. “Fine. Ziv! Not so worthless dog. Save us.”
I fought the urge to argue more and instead blamed my fate for letting me get locked up with this stupid man.
After a few minutes, we heard a familiar smug voice. “Haha it doesn’t feel so good being locked up now, does it?”
I sighed. “I am sorry Evan. Open the door.”
“First promise me that you’ll never ever lock me up.”
Rolling my eyes I agreed. “I promise.”
“Don’t roll your eyes. I can hear it.” Evan muttered and then the sound of metal clanking came and the warehouse door opened.
My eyes blinked at the sudden light flooding into them.
“Look at you two lovebirds, do the nasty yet?”
I glared at Evan, pushing him aside as I walked out. “None of your concern. But if you must know he’s an asshole and we are never ever getting back together.”
“Now that’s a good plan.” Alex mocked, walking past me.
I glared at his retreating back, wishing I could throw a dagger at him.
I turned to Evan. “How did you even get out?”
“Zivah called Sebastian.” Evan answered, pointing at the end of the warehouse.
It was a sight I never thought I would see.
Seb, Zivah, Calvin, and Athena were all fighting a couple of guys I had never seen. I blinked in shock as I saw Zivah throw a punch like a pro and made the man yelp and wince in pain.
“Woah.” I breathed out not knowing that Zivah could actually fight. “What the hell is going on?”
“So we got a call from Athena that you were here and the plan was failing so she needed us to come here as soon as possible, that’s when we realized our one true friend had locked us up.”
I waved him off. “Let’s talk about that later. Go on.”
“Yeah yeah.” Evan continued. “So we came here and saw you two inside, decided to play tit-for-tat, and locked you up. That’s when these men appeared from nowhere and started fighting us.”
“Who are they?”
“Men Ray hired to fight because he can’t punch even if he tried.”
I nodded in accord. “Yeah, he can barely throw a stone without huffing and puffing.”
We were close to the scene of the fight and I was impressed at the way it was going on. Athena and Zivah were using their body to fight, Seb was throwing punches like a pro while Calvin was using a long stick.
“Don’t come near me.” he meekly threatened the man nearing him. “This is a sword of the trees. It can harm you.”
I winced as the man punched Calvin. “Go help him.” I slapped Evan’s back.
Evan snorted laughing as his roommate got beat up. “But it’s so fun to see.”
“Evan!” I hissed.
“Ugh fine, fun spoiler.” Evan picked up a stone and promptly threw it on the attacker’s head. As he stumbled from the pain Calvin kicked straight at the man’s crotch. He yelled in pain and fell on the ground, one hand holding his head and the other hand clutching his crotch.
Evan and Calvin did a hi-fi, grinning at the work. Meanwhile, I winced to look at the pain on the poor man’s face.
“Where’s Ray?”
Evan shrugged. “We still haven’t found him.” He pointed at another warehouse on the other side. “Athena said he could be there.”
“Called the police?”
Evan nodded. “Yes, but they’ll come after the whole fight is done. It’s their job.”
I let out a small chuckle and then choked in shock. “Diana? What the hell?”
“Hey, traitor!” Zivah shouted, coming at me with hard fierce eyes.
I scratched the back of my neck nervously as I took small steps back. “My best friend! I love you!”
“Shut it.” Zivah snapped. “How dare you lock me up?”
“What is Diana doing here?” I asked, changing the subject, pointing to the impeccably dressed Diana Reynolds. She stood there in heels and a long skirt paired with a crop top. Not a hair out of place she simply stood there, looking at us.
She smiled at me. “Oh, I was with Seb discussing work when Zivah called him. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” She clapped her hands in glee. “This is so much fun.”
“That bitch is like a cheerleader. She won’t fight but scream ‘Go Zivah!’ whenever I punched a guy.” Zivah whispered to me, glaring at the tall blond.
I chuckled softly. “Still can’t believe she’s here.”
“It would be better without her.” Zivah admitted.
I glanced at the four men fallen on the ground. “Is that it?”
Seb walked towards us, rubbing his hands. “Yes, all done.” He looked around. “Where’s Alex?”
Our heads turned, trying to find my ex-boyfriend. “He couldn’t have gone far.” I told remembering the tazer band.
“Look what I found.” Evan’s excited voice came as he walked towards us, holding a gun upside down.
We took a step back. “Do you even know how to use it?” Zivah snapped.
Evan shrugged a shoulder. “How difficult can it be?”
“Very.” Athena remarked from beside him. She grabbed the gun from him, pointing the gun downwards she pulled the slide back and then swiftly pointed it at us.
I could practically hear all jaws fall down.
She blinked at our surprised faces and shrugged, lowering the gun. “I know my stuff.”
“Who are you?” Evan whispered from next to her. “I am so hot for you.”
Athena raised her eyebrows trying to hide the blush at Evan’s words. “Maybe I’ll show you tonight in the bed exactly who I am.”
“And I need a place to crash now.” Calvin groaned, shuddering at the thought of what would happen in his house tonight.
We chuckled softly, but our merriment at the moment was short-lived.
Just then we heard a loud scream and then a gunshot sound.
Our heads turned to the warehouse on the opposite side where Ray was supposed to be there.
I could feel my throat clogging up and my heartbeat increasing as the worst scenarios played in my head. “Alex!” I whispered and my legs automatically started to move towards the warehouse. Slow at first, stumbling even until they eventually picked up the pace and I found myself running towards the warehouse, praying to every deity out there to keep safe the love to my life.
I would never forgive myself if something happened to him, not when I hadn’t told him that I still loved him and would forever continue to do so.
I pushed the door open and took in the sight in front of me.
Alex was leaning on the wall, his head slightly bend and his feet barely supporting him. There was a bruise on his eye and his shirt was torn. Opposite him was Ray Parker, clutching his leg and groaning in pain.
I patted my heart in relief. “Oh thank God!” I whispered and ran towards Alex, pulling him in for a hug.
He instantly stumbled on top of me and I barely managed to hold myself. “Are you okay?” I whispered into his ear as his forehead rested on my shoulder.
From behind me, I could hear shouts and whispers and the distinctive sound of sirens.
“Call the ambulance.” Zivah said as I heard her walk towards the injured Ray.
“Let him bleed to death.” Evan muttered.
My hand reached to support Alex. I held onto his back and was surprised at the wet sticky liquid I touched. “What the hell?” I whispered in dread.
With shaky hands, I lifted my fingers and almost stumbled at the sight of blood on my fingers. “Ambulance!” I yelled, my breath shaking just as much as my fingers. “Call the ambulance. Alex is bleeding.”
“Oh fuck!” I heard Diana mutter as she came near me to hold Alex.
I glared at the skinny bitch. “Get away from my boyfriend.”
She blinked in shock and took two steps backs.
Seb ran over to help me, I could see Alex’s eyes were closed and that made me tremble more. “Is he okay?” I whispered to Seb as he helped Alex sit down and lean back.
Seb nodded, looking at the wound. “It’s fine. Just a stab in the back.”
“Ambulance is on the way.” Evan muttered, passing Seb his handkerchief to stop the bleeding.
I turned to see Athena and Zivah standing over Ray, contemplating on the options – help him or kill him.
I walked over to them, glaring at Ray. “You son of a bitch.”
Ray looked up, I could see the pain in his eyes as blood dripped down his leg. And call me selfish and heartless but I liked his pain. Ray barely managed to smirk. “He can’t walk.”
“What?”
Ray’s smirk widened. “I stabbed him right on the spine. He can’t walk anymore.”
My lips trembled and anger cruised through my veins. Without thinking I slapped him hard. “You asshole. I hope you die.”
Ray’s glasses flew to the side from the impact but his emotionless eyes stayed, mocking me. “I ruined you, Myra. You’ll never be happy knowing that you caused Alex this pain. You are the reason he’s hurt. You are the reason he was stabbed. You Myra, you. You say you love him but you couldn’t even protect him.”
Athena who was still holding the gun pointed it at Ray’s head. “Tell me the word, Myra. I’ll shoot him.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you.” Ray spat at Athena, blood coming out of his mouth.
Athena didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. She waited patiently. “Tell me to shoot Myra.”
But Athena’s words didn’t register as much as Ray’s did. I stumbled back from his words, they hit me right in the heart. The impact sending my mind into an overdrive of thoughts of self-doubt and self-hatred. Was it really me that caused this?
Was I the reason Alex might never be able to walk?
Would I ever forgive myself for the pain I caused?
More importantly, would he ever forgive me?
I couldn’t stay in the room anymore. I stepped back, shaking my head, muttering to myself. “No, no I didn’t do this.”
Zivah instantly took a step forward. “No, you didn’t do this Myra. This is not your fault.”
Athena repeated. “Tell me to shoot him.”
Ray smiled, enjoying the pain he successfully caused me. “You could have prevented this. If you had never been with Alex, he would have never come to save you. He would have never gotten kidnapped and come here to shout at me for spoiling your life. He would not have confronted me. He would not have been stabbed. This is on you.”
I could feel my breath coming in short pants, my legs trembling and my head making up scenarios that made me hate myself.
I stared at Ray’s smug face. “Shoot him in the other leg.” I whispered in the humid stinky air. Before I could see Athena shoot him, I turned around. “I-I need some air.”
I didn’t feel the tears that dripped down my eyes until I had reached outside. The wild commotion, the sirens of police and ambulance, the people running and talking, I couldn’t comprehend anything. Not even the gunshot that rang in the air.
Walking to the side of the warehouse – I collapsed. I collapsed into my own dreadful thoughts, into the salty tears that refused to stop. The pain didn’t come one by one, no, it comes all together and all at once. So hard and so fast that even I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t swim past this ocean of grief that washed over me, instead, I was drowning.
I curled up, unable to stop the sobs from ripping my heart open. I let myself drown, I swallowed the screams of agony I felt and drenched myself in the wreck I had caused. My vision started to blur from the tears I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t smell. I couldn’t feel, nothing except for this painful emotion that was sinking me in its warm arms.
The tears flowed down my cheeks into my hands.
The blame I put on myself wrapped me tightly, deafening me.
The fear that Alex might hate me, paralyzed me.
I don’t remember how deep into the ocean of agony I drowned, I don’t remember feeling the need to swim and survive. But I do remember the darkness that surrounded me and then the sweet pleasure of oblivion.
~~~