The Ill-fated Lovers

Chapter 10

Death stalks you, child.

I closed my eyes tightly and craned my neck to the side. My phone buzzed from beside me and I jumped coming out of the memory. A shiver raked through my body and I had this uneasy feeling of being watched or that I was not alone in my apartment.

I couldn't get Marianne's face out of my head. The fear in her eyes the moment she saw me as if I were the Grimm incarnate.

I shook my head and picked up my phone. It was Ben telling me he was outside the building to take me to work.

I stood up from the kitchen table and dumped my untouched cereal in the sink. I'd just get something to eat later. I had no appetite.

I knew my body would fail on me. No food, no sleep. I was going to crash. I just needed to hold out and make it till the afternoon. I was going to meet with Marianne.

I'd follow her strange request of meeting her alone. I didn't tell Ben anything about it. I grabbed the present I got for Zane's birthday and walked out of the apartment.

I walked out of the building to Ben's car which was parked on the curb. I yanked his car door open plastering a smile on my face hoping it would make me appear more bright and lively and hide that there was something wrong.

"No freaking way it's Monday," Ben and Zane were arguing.

"Ah come on I'm only going to turn twenty-three once. I want my college roommate back not this grandpa," Zane chastised.

"Come on you know how you get when we go to the Valley."

The Valley was a bar Zane would like to celebrate his birthday in every year. It was a tradition for him to complete the same amount of tequila shots as his age. It ended with him being shit-faced and me and Ben carrying home.

Last year he almost threw up on me. If Ben hadn't pushed me out the way I would have been scarred for life.

"Val what do you say the Valley tonight?" Zane asked.

I smiled and kissed him on his cheek. "Happy Birthday." I dropped the small square package on his lap, changing the topic.

"Aww, sweetness you shouldn't have," Zane smiled from ear to ear.

I rolled my eyes. "Just open it."

He ripped off the paper and the look on his face was priceless. It was one of the reasons I enjoyed giving gifts the look on someone's face when they realize how much you know them.

"Metallica's entire album," he gasped touching the cover of the case. "Sweetness I-" he was speechless and then he reached over and hugged me. "Thank you so much." He kissed my cheek.

"You're welcome." He pulled back and then Ben started the car.

The one day a year she has to be nice to you," Ben laughed.

"Don't be jealous because she loves me. She might even love me more than she loves you," Zane teased.

Ben laughed and looked up at me in the car's review mirror. "Oh fuck off."

"Green is unbecoming of you Benjamin."

"If you want a beating for your birthday just ask," Ben growled.

I stifled a yawn. My eyeballs felt dry and my body felt creaky. I felt like the tin man in need of oil. My muscles were sore and I felt like the life was draining out of me.

"Did you sleep last night?" Ben asked and his voice echoed in my head as my temple throbbed.

"Yeah." I slept for two hours. My skull felt like it was going to crack open.