COUNTRY CLUB

NINE

What if the person we wanted to run away with was the person you should run away from?

Dune knew she crossed the line the moment she continued with what Ward and Rose started. She always knew it'll end one way or another but not with her touch. Her touch that caused her to fall from grace, knowing quite well getting on her knees won't imprint Rafe's mouth all over her face. Her sanity was on a thin line, she needed to get out of the devil's lair.

The way she looked into Ward's eyes, seeing how a person can show their wickedness so shamelessly. Rafe was not Ward's son, Rafe was trying to be his son. Blood is thicker than water, and oil might be as thick as blood, or thicker. She tried to brainstorm everything, to reminisce why the hell she chose to cover her hands in blood, and for what?

No pair of blue eyes deserve what she's done, the unforgivable won't be forgiven. Yet, she'd forgiven herself right after she washed her hands from blood, without planning on walking down the redemption line. Redemption led to guilt, and guilt led to self destruction. She was already broken because she couldn't have the person she always wanted, and much more. Love, was just a part of the thrill. Anybody would kill for power or love, but who'd kill for both?

Power and Love mustn't collide. The mind would rip the heart off its place and the heart would cry until the mind kills itself. Those who want love and power either keep everyone afraid or they build fear in themselves first, attempting to prove who they are. Murder's as thin as a thread, people run it in between their teeth, for everyone wants to kill once in their lifetime.

She went back to the crime scene, feeling alive, feeling free. When someone would feel uneasiness and disgust, Dune felt accomplished. Letting her guards down, along with her walls, the trees had been cut; they don't know what happened. They must've heard from their ancestors, few breaths before giving up the ghost, a story about two girls who looked like each other, where water was thicker than blood. They must've seen the gun, and flinched at the hiss of the trigger.

But she was wrong, one tree stood solid and tall, smeared in crimson. Walking towards it, she wasn't afraid of gliding her fingertips over the red paint. They were her prints and she's the only one who knew. She breathed in, recalling what it feels like for death to merge with air. Nature doesn't pick sides, humans turn into animals when they're in love while every other living thing stays sane. The sun and the moon, the sea and the sky, the sea and the mountain, the waves and the sand. They live off each other and for each other, then comes the discreet affair between a storm and the paralyzed star, the sole one that doesn't explode. They live because of each other, a story of an unrequited love. Then there's Dune and Rafe.

She shouldn't be here right now, she's being watched. Knives were thrown were everywhere, missing her. Eyes were on her and they stung her harder than knives themselves. Five souls stepped out from behind the newborn trees, Dune's breath hitched. Even if they ran their tongues down the wood, they weren't to know anything.

"We know what happened," said John B, who stood in front of Dune. Behind Dune stood JJ on her right side and Kiara on her left, while Pope stood next to John B along with Sarah. The Pogues have arrived.

She looked behind her, the stain was no longer there. Unshaken, yet mortified. The trees trembled at the whistling of the wind, humming a symphony, the same song Dune played in her head the day. The same song she and JJ made out to, the same song Rafe played when he drove her off to Washington. During the chorus, Rafe looked into her eyes and curled his fist around her before kissing the corner of her lip. Enemies kiss at the crime scene, while lovers create one. During the second verse, she looked into JJ's eyes one last time, seconds after he realized what just happened.

"I don't know what you're talking about, John B." spoke out Dune, loud and clear for everyone to hear. What everyone heard was the pounding of her wrenched heart, while her loud and clear words turned into whispers. She picked one of the knives off the ground, gliding it gently across her thigh. The first thought that crossed her mind was to call Rafe, but her phone was at home. They backed away at the sight of the knife, regretting throwing all of their knives at once.

"Put the knife down, Dune." muttered John B, immediately hiding Sarah behind his back. Dune felt a cold hand on her shoulder, removing her cardigan slowly. JJ's breath crawled on her neck, while his other hand was few breaths away from hers. Love stood weapon-less in the midst of a waged war. Mask off, Unela.

Closing her eyes, she gave JJ the knife after cutting his palm open. She pushed him against the same tree they made out under two years ago. Nothing had changed, there was blood and the sun breathed against their skins as they kissed. This time, there was blood but the sun was biting on their skins as they chew on each other's bones.

"That's not a smart move, JJ."

JJ smirked, ripped her cardigan off her shoulders and used to mend his wound. He ran his tongue over his teeth, he snitched. He's been plotting his revenge and here it was, the head of Country Club standing in the middle of the Pogues. He wasn't the ideal person to have faith in, the Pogues do not lie to each other.

"Dune, we want you tell us everything you know about Ward and Limbrey." screamed Sarah, in between the layers of space that lack gravity, Dune's grip fell from JJ's neck. She turned around, passed by Sarah and made her way towards John B.

"Why don't you ask Kiara and JJ? I heard Pogues don't lie to Pogues."