Til Death Do Us Part || Tate Langdon

the flowers

      "What-- no, Tate, I'll do it later," you took a step forward toward the gun, and he blocked your path immediately.

   "Please," he begged. "It's important that you see it now."

   You looked over his face, he didn't look like he was going to drop this. You sighed and walked annoyedly over to the arm of the couch where your phone sat charging, picked it up, and typed your aunt's full name into the search engine.

   Dozens of 'Missing Person' articles popped up. Your brows furrowed, and you clicked the first one. It was dated almost a month ago, and said she'd not been seen at work or heard from since December 20th: the night she tackled you here. The article mentioned that she and her niece both disappeared that night. A picture from her Facebook was at the bottom, along with a number for people to call with any tips or information.

   "What?" you whirled around. "Where is--"

Tate's nose and eyes were red, and his bottom lip quivered.

   "Tate," you spoke calmly, but were truthfully getting very frightened of what his emotions might've been insinuating. "What does this mean?"

   "I'm sorry I... couldn't stop," he choked out.

   "Couldn't stop what, Tate?" you clicked your phone off and took a step further from him.

   "She hurt you real bad," he cried, letting his dirty blond curls hide the shame in his eyes.

Your throat felt like it was closing, and your heart nearly thumped out of your chest: this was the first time you were truly scared of Tate.

   "What did you do?" you whispered, eyes watering instantly. He didn't respond. "What did you do!"

   You didn't stick around for the answer; you already knew. Constance had told you he was troubled and dangerous, and you never knew how true that was until now. You had to see her and tell her, if for no other reason than to get away from Tate temporarily. You couldn't look at him -- he'd murdered your aunt without a second thought. You bolted for the door while he stretched his arms out to reach for you, but you narrowly escaped his grasp. He was still crying, but his remorse wasn't enough right now. You needed air and distance, fast.

   You were out the front door in a flash, and down the concrete path to the gate when you stopped and looked back to where Tate stood in the doorway looking longingly out at you. You shook your head and tried to stop your legs from shaking, then sprinted out the front gate, and found yourself in the backyard.

   You froze for only a second, and looked around in bewilderment. You were at your patio chair near the garden; you must've gotten confused. You didn't waste any more time before running around the house again, to the front yard, and past the gate as fast as your legs could carry you.

Then, you were in the back yard again.

It hurt your throat how fast you were breathing, gulping in air but never getting enough. Your legs and arms shook severely, and your vision was blurred with tears. You could throw up right then, but wouldn't let yourself. A moment later, Tate appeared at the back door.

   "Y/N, please," he held his hands up, palms facing you. "Stop." You took a few cautious steps backward as he slowly approached. "It's okay, just come here," he directed gently.

   "Wh-What did you do?" you looked all around both of you. 

It was almost dark out, nobody was even around for you to call out to. He finally reached you and you let him put his arm around your shoulder. It was strange to be afraid of him and have him be your only comfort simultaneously. The two of you got halfway to the back door, when suddenly the freshly dug garden gave you an entirely new, dark feeling.

   "Please Tate," you sobbed. "What's happening? What does this mean?"

   "I'm so sorry Y/N," he sniffled. "If it's any consolation... you were about to choose this before I stopped you."

   Time froze. You asked a question then that you already knew the answer to, "Why'd you kill Thea?"

   He looked at you with commiserating eyes, and paused a moment before replying, "Because she killed you."

You were in hysterics, and let yourself drop to the ground. Tate was by your side there in an instant, cradling your body to his and gently rocking you both. You squeezed his upper arms and sobbed into his chest.

   "It's okay, baby," he whispered to you. "It's okay. I'm here."

You two sat there for an immeasurable amount of time -- not that you would ever run out of it. When you finally gathered yourself as much as possible, you wiped your face clean with your sleeve, and leaned back against Tate. He put his left hand on your knee, and you grabbed his right hand in yours. Fear struck your heart all at once again, as an unnerving suspicion crept in.

   "Where's Thea?" you sat up slightly. "I mean I know she's... but did you do it on the property?"

   "I knew better," he told you. "I'll give you details only if you ask, but, she was just off the curb when I... got her. My mom took care of her body somewhere else."

   You shuttered briefly before relaxing back against him, "When I thought I was unconscious... she'd really killed me."

He held you a little tighter.

   "So... where am I?" you asked, referring to your physical body.

   He kissed the side of your face from behind you, "Do I still know your favorite flower?"

You were about to question the relevancy, but realized quickly and turned your head slightly to the tiny purple buds to your right. New sprouts of Sky Lupine flowers covered a long area of recently touched dirt, and you knew in your heart you were looking at your final resting place. It was devastatingly romantic, and you loved him a little bit more for it. You sighed against Tate's chest, taking in his scent and the sight of the yard you two would sit in for the rest of time.

   "Help me back inside?" you mumbled up at him.

He smiled affectionately at you, and stood to scoop you up entirely. You threw an arm around his neck and kissed his face, and he returned one on the tip of your nose.

In a strange way, you'd gotten everything you wanted. He was right earlier, you had chose this and would've been in the same situation if he'd let you use the gun-- had you actually been alive. Your abusive aunt was gone permanently, you were forever young, finally happy, and with a boy who loved you so deeply he'd kill to protect you.

      He carried you through the back door bride style, where you'd be married eternally to him and the house you both died in.

.

.

.

.

.

the end

~but you can still look forward to the bonus scene :)