"Let me do it," she argued.
"No! I can do it! It's fine I'll-"
"Scott you can't do it. I think you'll fuck it up."
"Now why would you say that? I'm in charge and since when has a straight white man being in charge ever gone wrong? And don't say most of history, most sexual assault, serial killers, school shootings, police brutality, colonization, slavery-you know what, you do it."
"Thank you," she snatched the pen out of his hand.
She signed her name. "There. See that wasn't so hard was it?"
"I still say we should've said 3 people."
"And that's why I did it. Now that we got the census out of the way, let's get some clothes for Annika."
"Didn't you spend two hundred dollars on her just yesterday?"
Annika walked out of her room, sunglasses on her small face. "Can we go to the park, Ms. Ana?"
She looked to at Scott. "What do you think?"
He raised his hands. "I'm not in charge."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, let's go,"
Annika skipped away, and Scott pulled Ana back. "They're covering it up," he whispered.
"What?"
"Annika's disappearance. They haven't even reported it. There's no missing person report, no amber alert nothing."
She shrugged. "She's an orphan. There's nothing wrong with her they just threw her in here because the foster care was full."
Scott frowned. "Well...it's good for us then. Hopefully no one will come looking for her."
"It's kinda sad though," Ana stared after her. "No ones looking for her."
Scott took her hand. "We're taking care of her. We're looking after her. That's all that matters okay?"
She nodded. He kissed her head. She looked up at him her eyes narrowing. "What's that?"
She touched his neck.
"Nothing," he murmured. "It's nothing. Where did Annika go?"
Her eyes glued to the mark on his neck, as he glanced away.
"What did you do," she whispered.
His lips quirked up, as he ran his hands through his hair. He was really trying not to become that other Scott. From the dream. But as time passed, he found it harder and harder.
He was almost a cynical voice in his head at this point.
Just kill them. You shouldn't have to do this. This is for normal people. This is beneath me. He just wants to fuck you, get it over with it's easier.
Just tell her what she wants to hear and do what you want.
He clenched his jaw. "I told you, you made a mistake, Ana."
She stepped back, her eyes darting away. "I..."
He cocked his head. "You?"
She glanced up at him. "Who is this?"
Scott scoffed. She knew him. Ironically. She knew him.
"I'm me. I've always been me."
This is beneath you. Just play dumb. She likes that. Be easy to manage, and just pull her the background.
You're the puppeteer. As long as she's happy is it really that bad?
"No...no you're not Scott."
He smiled. "Just calm down. I hurt myself okay? It's fine. A slight...miscalculation."
You can't make mistakes. You're not allowed to make mistakes. You've got to be a-
"Miscalculation?" She took his hands, putting them to his neck. "That doesn't even seem possible. Look at the direction of the marks."
He narrowed his eyes. "So? What are you saying?"
Ana stumbled back. "I think...Annika and I should spend some time at my place."
He hung his head. The right thing to do is accept her decision. You are not in control of her actions. Respect her free will.
That's weak. Beneath you. She doesn't what she wants.
His lips quirked up. "Go to your place?" He said quietly, making her pause. "Only if you take your body with you."
He turned around as she froze. Scott smirked, walking up behind her.
Be kind enough she's not scared. Soft enough that she stays hard enough she expects edges if she tried to leave.
He let his hand slid up her shoulder. "We have to stick together now, Ana. We can't separate. We're more than companions or lovers..we're accomplices.
He pressed his lips to her shoulder. "I can't do this alone, Ana. I need you. You have to watch me die. You and our little Annika."
She swallowed. "Is this a threat?"
Pull back. Give the illusion of safety. The illusion of free will.
"Of course not. You can leave at any time. You're not a hostage, Ana. I just..."
He pulled away. His stomach turned. Why was he doing this? This was wrong. It was wrong and he couldn't•-
Don't be weak. You want to be a surgeon. A surgeon manipulates bodies, limbs, organs. What's a metaphorical heart or two? You love her anyway right?
"Uh...no, maybe," he whispered, pulling away. "Maybe you should spend some time at your house. But uh...pack. Annika's things are here."
She looked down at her wrists. She felt a burning on her wrists. Like ropes. What was happening? Here it was.
What she was waiting for. The real him.
She turned around, leaning against the door. "Should I leave or go?" She whispered.
Scott stepped back, his head down. "Whatever you want."
She smiled. "What do you want?"
He looked up at her. "You. I always want you."
