alters

25

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HARRY

I WATCH as Seth swims between the current of shoppers flooding the sidewalk. The street side stores have their doors spread wide open for the oncoming customers, despite the threat of a nearby downpour. I pull my hood overtop my messy hair and try to maintain a quick pace behind the little goth boy. My anger is still ever present.

Finally, he makes an abrupt turn down Ackerman Street, headed north for the city. Thatʼs where Alice lives. Itʼs also where he lives but he could go to either, and right now all my thoughts are focussed on the girl I love.

His hands are in his pockets, casually strutting along like the fag he is. Honestly. I know Alice would hate me for the use of the word ʻʻfagʼʼ but it had to be said. He has to be gay. He practically threw himself on me just ten minutes ago. What if heʼs just using Alice? What if he...what if he tries to kill her? Oh my God, heʼs a psychopath! He will kill Alice if I donʼt do something about it.

Seth oils his way through the outer city, until we make it to his uncleʼs abandoned club. The Jetson Theater is closed today I suppose, judging by the lack of any human civilization except for the black haired hooligan.

His large hand delves within his pocket after a few squirming attempts, then he extracts a brass key. I observe him as he brings it up and secures it in the lock, twisting it and pulling out again. He reruns the key into his pocket before pressing the door open and stepping inside. Once he disappears inside the abandoned building, I make my way over to the narrow entrance door. To my luck, itʼs still unlocked.

I twist open the door and cautiously peer inside, my eyes darting all over the room, before I enter in completely. I quietly shut the door as slowly and softly as possible, before beginning my walk inside.

I stay within close proximity of the wall in the blackened, lightless corridor, needing some form of support. Faint lights finally jump into my vision when I round a corner, discovering the large ballroom. Seth is sitting on the makeshift stage, legs crossed with a pen and paper. He gazes intently at it, before scribbling something down. I want to rip that paper from him and chuck it at his no good, goth boy face.

He leans back on his arms, staring up at the naked light bulbs dangling from the ceiling. As he does this, I cross over to the bar. He doesnʼt notice me, thankfully, as I hop over the counter, careful not to knock over any of the bottles filled with alcohol.

As I watch him again, he starts whispering a tune, very low and gentle. His words arenʼt exactly a melody, however, but more of a mantra that he keeps humming on repeat. I canʼt hear what heʼs saying and I canʼt make out any of the words, but the volume of his voice slowly begins to elevate, in a steady hill upward.

My black painted fingernails dig into the barʼs wooden countertop, my chin resting on itʼs surface as I crouch down. Itʼs only when his voice raises into a moaning cry that I can hear his words: "I will be yours, you will be mine. Forever and ever, there is no end."

He is a broken record, repeating the disturbing words. I clench my teeth and shake my head. There is no way in hell that Iʼm letting this psycho any where near Alice. But how will I keep them separated? Alice hates when I tell her to do things and she always ends up doing the opposite anyways. There really is only one way that I can keep them apart.

As Seth continues to scream out his little verse, I reach out to grip a clear, tall bottle of rum, bringing it close to my face to read the small print on the label in this dim light. One statement catches my eye: caution, highly flammable.

I smirk a bit, removing the top and letting the smell waft into my nostrils. I canʼt contain the helpless sigh of relief as I take a quick swig, then proceed to spill out itʼs contents onto the tabletop.

Once itʼs completely empty I move on to a bottle of tequila, then the next bottle, then the next. I might be drunk, but not from all the alcohol Iʼm sipping. Besides, most of it is spilled across the floor and counter tops.

I dig into my pocket and grasp the familiar shape of my beloved lighter. I pull it out and smile, twirling it in my hands.

This is all I can do for you, Alice. Please donʼt hate me. Iʼm doing this for you...for us.

ʻʻFor us...ʼʼ I whisper, before taking one last final look at Seth ever, and flicking the flame into existence.

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ALICE

I step from the bathroom with a towel draped over my shoulders. I use a bigger one to scrub my stomach and legs dry, and twist the smaller one into my hair. I toss the moist towel onto my maroon tinted sofa, padding across the floor to the kitchen. The perk of living aloneーthe freedom to walk around naked in my apartment.

I open the fridge and extract a carton of orange juice, giving the towel in my hair a little shake. I tilt my head back and feel the liquid cascading down my throat as I swallow three big gulps of OJ. I wipe the remaining moisture off my lips with the back of my palm, before wandering into my room to skip on a pair of leggings and my brotherʼs Nirvana T-shirt. It makes me remember the type of music that Sethʼs band, Verboten, plays. I hate to admit it, but I never really listen to Nirvana music all that much.

I settle down into my couch with remote in hand, as my phone starts to ring loudly. I curse and force myself up to stand. I set the remote on the couch cushion before stalking over the the kitchen table and picking up my phone. I see on the screen that Alex is calling me. Maybe she wants to hang out?

I press my thumb against the screen and bring it to my ear. ʻʻHey Alexーʼʼ

ʻʻAlice? Alice did you hear?ʼʼ Her panicked voice carries over through the speaker.

I immediately grow concerned. ʻʻAlex, whatʼs wrong?ʼʼ

ʻʻYou donʼt know? Iʼm outside of it right now! Thereʼs fire fighters and cops and ambulances andーʼʼ

ʻʻWhat! Where the hell are you?ʼʼ I shout into the phone, sprinting for my front door.

ʻʻThe Jetson Ballroom. Itʼs completely in flames!ʼʼ I stop breathing. I exit my apartment quickly and run down the hall.

ʻʻWhat do you mean itʼs in flames?ʼʼ I ask stupidly, but my panic overrides my common sense.

ʻʻI mean that itʼs totally on fire! Iʼm across the street outside of the café, but the police are trying to get everyone to leave. You have to get down here fast!ʼʼ She insists with a rushed tone. I can hear shrill cries and loud machinery sounds over the phone.

ʻʻIʼm on my way right now,ʼʼ I explain and rush down the stairs, taking two at a time. My mind is so completely scattered that I almost forget to ask the most important question, but I manage to get it out. ʻʻIs everybody okay? Was there anyone inside?ʼʼ

ʻʻI...I donʼt know...I think one personーoh, wait! Theyʼre carrying someone out right now. He doesnʼt look too good...ʼʼ

ʻʻWho is it? Do you know him?ʼʼ I ask.

ʻʻI donʼt know him, but he looks like heʼs a teenager.ʼʼ

I gulp down and feel shivers electrifying my body. I want to deny it, I want to say with confidence that itʼs not him, that itʼs not Seth. But I canʼt.

Fuck, Harry. What the hell did you do?

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OKAY HI IM BACK LOL

Ali fact: I play guitar and write songs like a dweeb

Sorry for the hella late update:3 please vote and comment because it encourages me a shit load hah
ali.