Burn slow

Chapter 26| GULPin

Warning:
Content close to 16+

P.S. This chapter has Xavier and Wednesday as narrators and they switch several times.
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POV WEDNESDAY

- Came to die? - I bravely looked at Tyler, frowning, and his barrel was pointed at the middle of my forehead. We were separated by a table. - I thought you got everything with our last meeting. Never noticed suicidal tendencies in you before.
- What's with your arm, Wednesday? - Galpin acted ignoring me. - Did anyone really break the brakes in the motorcycle so you hurt your arm badly?
- So it was you, - I started moving around the table but Tyler ordered:
- Either you stop, - Tyler took off a safety catch, - or someone will die earlier than I planned. - The cutest smile appeared on Tyler's lips. - Slowly and painfully.
- You're right. It's exactly my way to have things done, - I leaned over the table and got close to Tyler so my forehead touched the weapon.
- You still can't keep your mouth shut, - Tyler whispered quickly. - But you will obey.
- Like you obeyed Thornhill? - I cocked my eyebrow, staring at Tyler's eyes. - Really doubt that.
- Shut up! - Tyler's face got maroon, and his green eyes were even brighter than usual. He was close to hysteric. That was exactly what I needed. - Or you will be sorry.
- I am not afraid to die, you know that, - I got a little bored with (under)intimidation.
- Who said that I am talking about YOUR death, Wednesday? - Tyler smiled again having seen my eyes got widened. I gulped. Tyler was talking about Xavier.
A silence lasted for several seconds before I could speak:
- What do you want?
- I want you to die, Wednesday. But first, - Tyler went over the table and came close to me, - your beloved boyfriend should be sent packing. If you want him to stay alive, of course.
- So you don't want to kill Xavier? - I have always thought I understood the logic of serial killers well, but now I got bewildered.
- When we met each other at the festival of death, Xavier didn't let you kill me, so now he has a chance to survive.
- How nobly, - I noted with sarcasm and made a step towards the stairs but Tyler's hand pressed to my chest:
- But there is a requirement: Xavier should not come back. And of course, he shouldn't know anything about me. I will be staying in the shadows of the house, pointing a gun on him. So if you decide to give him even the smallest hint about my presence, Xavier will be dead immediately. - Tyler came too close to me. - And you will stay here. It's like an exchange. Your death for his life.
Silence ruled the room for a moment before I answered:
- Deal, - I grunted and moved forward, pushing Tyler with shoulder.
I was getting up the stairs, knowing that breaking two hearts would save Xavier's life.

POV XAVIER

I opened my eyes, Wednesday leaned above me, shaking my shoulders. I smiled with a sleepy smile, my hand reached for Wednesday's cheek but she twitched like I was about to hit her:
- Is anything wrong? - I rubbed my eyes.
Wednesday made a step back and lowered her eyes:
- Get out, - short but deadly words.
- What? - I decided I misheard.
- I said: Get. Out., - Wednesday kept looking at the floor.
- But... - I couldn't believe my ears. I was bewildered, - why? Everything was so good...
- Don't ask, just do what I say, - Wednesday turned around in her heels and the darkness of the hall devoured her.
In a couple of minutes when I turned out on the ground floor, Wednesday had already folded my sparse stuff.
- Can you explain to me what is going on? - I spread my hands, frowning.
- Nothing. Everything what happened is wrong. We cannot be together. I am not a girlfriend material, - Wednesday cut her words, talking like a computer program.
- No, there is another reason, I feel it, - I came closer to Wednesday, looking at her eyes, while she was trying to hide them.
- Did I do anything... wrong this night? - I put a lot of meaning in my question. - You know Wednesday, I would never do anything that I felt it wasn't right for you. - Wednesday remained silent. - After all, we didn't... cross the border. - One more meaningful phrase from my mouth. - We just kissed, after all. Not more.
For a second Wednesday's eyes got softened, but then they switched into the darkness of the next room and she said:
- This night I realised that... - Wednesday gulped, - I realised that I have no feelings for you. Everything that happened a last couple of weeks was a tremendous misstep and I am not going to let you or me bear this burden anymore.
I thought I got crazy, my ears probably had caught wrong information. Wednesday could never have said that. Not after what we lived through together:
- I don't believe you, - my voice almost disappeared like my throat was sore. My statement was low and quiet.
- You don't have to. Many people tend to reject the truth, - Wednesday stayed the course.
- But it's not truth! - I threw myself to Wednesday, being ready to shake her shoulders so she could wake up from the trance she trapped into. But I failed. Wednesday was still hiding her glass eyes from me.
- You should understand, Xavier, - Wednesday breathed in hard like she was preparing for something, - it's over.
- Do you want me to beg you? - my pitch got louder. - Okay, Wednesday, you won. I am begging you! I am begging you to give us a chance!
Wednesday looked up at me and I could not read anything in her eyes, like she blocked everything what she felt to me:
- I do not give the second chances, - these words stabbed my heart, taking my breath.
I could not say a word. I was staring at Wednesday with eyes of the betrayed dog:
- Okay, if we are done, we are done. I am not going to let you play with me like with a doll. - I began yelling. - If you need me, I am right here. If you don't, fuck off, Xavier. It is NOT the way how it works, if you didn't know, Wednesday.
I took my jacket, nothing more, and got closer to the entrance door. Wednesday opened it for me, still not looking at me. I stopped in the doorway with a smile which was meant to hide my pain, and then I turned back:
- I wish I never met you. Neither in childhood, nor in Nevermore. - I clenched my teeth. - You bring only pain. Maybe, you are really meant to be alone.
Wednesday's eyes were staring at me and just for a second it seemed her lips trembled. The revengeful smile got spread on my face: I brought Wednesday pain too. She breathed out loudly.