In The Stars - (PewDieCry)

-Chapter 35-

[cry's p.o.v.]

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A lighter, he has a lighter in his hand. And he knows- it's not possible that he doesn't. Not by the way he's flicking it on and off, looking like he's about to set my clothes on fire and give me even more burns that I already have. I shy away at first, but when he smiles at that, I try to make sure I don't move. Because I can already tell that we both are murderers.

It's not that hard to tell who has killed someone- people always have those long cop shows and investigations, but if you have two suspects and look them in the eye... would it really be that hard? To see the glee at getting away, the guilt from the death, or the mask that they're hiding behind?

Guilt isn't an easy emotion to control and hide. Neither is happiness. Sadness, I'd say, is probably the easiest. Because for all the things in the world that are happy, you get caught up. It isn't that hard to smile when you are sad. So guilt and happiness are the easiest to see. As much as people wish they aren't.

"So?" I ask, and he shrugs. But it's an asshole shrug. The one that screams I haven't done anything. I know that this is the draw. The draw pulling Felix and I away from each other. But I'm getting tired of just letting it happening.

I've been fighting. Fighting so hard. Fighting in the wrong way? I guess I think of others, but I fight for myself. Which I don't mean to do. I just do.

"So, I've been meaning to talk to you for awhile. Ken said he'd handle it, but he hasn't." Ken would say something like that. I know him too well. More than I'd like to, considering what he tried so hard- and managed for a while- to turn me into.

"Why won't you all just leave me alone?" I ask kind of pathetically. He pulls out a cigarette and hands it to me with a sigh.

"You have something that I've never really seen in a cold-blooded killer. Ken has mentioned this, too." I tip my head to the side. "You care a lot, for some reason. It's so easy not to care, and I think that's what Ken wants. You shot him, and yet, you are still what he wants."

"Is that what he liked about Spoon?" Jake laughs and I turn and look at the window where Felix was previously peeking out. "What? What's so funny?"

"Spoon cared, sure. But he cared for all the wrong reasons." I don't ask him to elaborate and he doesn't. "I suppose we should stop stalling and get right to the point."

"I suppose we should," I respond and he narrows his eyes.

"Always the peculiar one, aren't you?"

"Always," and like I said before, I smile. Because sometimes it's nice to be unreadable, but at others when someone reads you- and sees what they don't want- it's a little bit satisfying. "Continue."

"I can give your brother the top care. Everything. If I do, there is no doubt that he would wake up. He would wake up in less than two weeks." I sit up a little straighter at the mention of my brother, but on the inside I slouch. Because it's been so long- too damn long- since I thought long and hard about him. I haven't visited. Genia and I haven't talked. But here I am, talking with the person who hurt him in the first place.

"You hit him." It isn't a question.

"Yes, I did. And I don't really feel bad for it, but if it benefits me, then I'll help your brother all I can." He pauses, rubbing at the minuscule beard on his face. "It'll cost you. Don't get me wrong."

"Everything does." And in that, we understand each other. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"I'll give you three to four days, to distant yourself from Felix. I'd like to keep the family business going, and if he's with you, he can't really do that..." I knew it would be something like that. "Also, the burns will stop."

"Are you the reason they keep showing up every night?" I ask, touching my chest lightly where the new batch came a day ago. "How do you do it?"

"I don't know how they show up... and I don't know why..." He holds the lighter out and I take it after a second. "Ken told me to give this to you. Be careful, Cry. He's going to go after you, Spoon and Mark."

"With what people? Krism? Like I can't take her. Plus, Minx is... well, kind of on my side." He rolls his eyes. "She doesn't like me much." And at that moment, I realize that Jake Kjellberg and I are a lot alike. Too much alike, as murderers go. Because I think he might care a little, too, even if he doesn't know it. About his son. About his wife. Like I care about my family, Red and Felix. Nate. Amy. All of the Late Night Crew and others.

"No, she doesn't." He stuffs his hands into his pockets and sticks out his hand. Against all reasoning, I take it. Because who really has time anymore? For enemies? Somehow, I'll keep Felix and Nate. I know it. So hot damn, why not shake the damn person of the nicest murderer I've met so far, in all my years?

"You're not sorry about this, are you?" He shrugs and pulls away, stuffing his hands in the pockets of worn jean. For a millionaire, he dressed very casually just to meet me.

"Not really," he responds and starts to walk away. "Bye, Cry. I'll see you in a few, days if you survive the burns and all."

"Yeah, bye." I watch as he hops into the same car that hit my brother and drives away and around the corner. And it surprises me to know that I don't really care or feel sorry either. Next time I see Jake, we're going to be enemies. He's with Ken. I'm with... well, with me. There's nothing we can really do about that.

May it be.

I turn and walk into the house, the lighter still in my hand.

I think I need some time alone right now.