MINE - Aljano (best books for 20 year olds .txt) 📗

hair dyed black and kind eyes the color of slate. He holds out his hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Come with me. It’s time.” Tears fill my eyes and I start to go but then I remember. Remember how I died. Remember Connor. I have to go back, have to warn him. I steal my hand back, shake my head.
11
“I can’t.”
The light fades and with it the man. I’m back in my secret place but I’m not alone. Somehow Kyle has dragged Connor here. Connor is bloody and bruised but standing. Kyle is yelling and waving a gun around and neither are wearing their tuxes. How long have I been gone? The gun goes off and I jump in front of Connor, trying to protect him, but the bullet passes straight through me like air.
Connor screams and the gun goes off again, again and once more. Kyle is breathing hard and laughing like the maniacal tyrant that he is.
I sit by Connors’ side a weep.

The darkness takes me away again, this time leaving me in a beautiful garden. Connor is there and he is holding his hand out for me. I run into his arms, holding on for dear life and bawling my eyes out. I never want to be apart from him again.
“It’s alright Merce. We’re okay now, he can hurt us no longer.” The tears slow as he holds me close to his heart. After a while he moves and pulls me towards a sparkling gate. Vines twist around the glittering metal and roses bloom all along it. It’s entrancing. At once I know this is no ordinary gate. “Come, it is time.”
I take a step, then hesitate. I would love more than anything to go with Connor, to spend eternity with him wherever we may go. But if I leave who will watch over Kyle? Who will make sure he never hurts another the way he hurt us. I can’t go.
“Connor… I have to stay,” he is already shaking his head. “ I have to. Kyle-” Anger flashes across his sweet face.
“Kyle this, Kyle that. He killed you! When will you let him go. Come with me, stay with me.” Shaking my head I try to explain.
“Connor, I-”
“Save it. I’m done waiting for you. I tried but I guess I was never good enough for a stuck up, old money, masochist like you.” And with that he is gone. In one instant he turned on me. Condemned me and left me alone to face years with the man that killed me.
I fall to my knees in agony and the world falls away until there is nothing but me and the pain.
12
I watch from the rooftop as he leads a giggling girl onto the pavilion. She is pretty, at least two years younger than he is, and visibly drunk. Was I so easy as her? It’s not the first time I’ve wondered and it won’t be the last. I’ve learned how to at least leave a message but they never heed it. The pattern is consistent. They fall for him and everything is well until they do something wrong. Then he leads them to my secret place and slaughters them like pigs.
As she lays her head adoringly on his chest I wonder how long this one will last. All the twirling must make her nauseous. She turns and unsettling shade of green and gives a mighty heave ho onto his shirt front.
“Ohmigawd! I am sooooo sorry.” She is tearing up and trying to wipe away the sick.
“No no, it’s ok.”
“It is not. I ruined our date!” She wails.
“Really, it’s fine. You know, there is this place I know that we could go…. If you’re still up to it.” He replies after getting rid of the rest of her sick. Her eyes sparkle.
“Really?” He just smiles.
Wow, a new record. This one only last two weeks. On the way to the warehouse a leggy blonde catches his eye. As she passes he discreetly palms her his number. A cheshire smile graces her ruby lips and he grins in return. The pretty girl he leads to her doom clings to him unaware of the little exchange. Knowing I can’t help her anymore I follow the blonde.
And the cycle begins again.

Imprint

Publication Date: 10-29-2012

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Kareca, you are the best!