My Words Are Law

Neighbors (5)

Chryses stared at the unconscious Amaryllis fresh from surgery. A look of exhaustion and anxiety was plastered on his face as he sat very still by the patient's bed. Her friends had just left for questioning at the precinct, and Chryses was tasked to look after Amaryllis for the time being.

"Chryses Taylor..." A voice called out behind him. It was Amaryllis' aunt, Rosa, who had just arrived earlier. "You should go home. I'll keep watch."

"And what about your nephew?" he countered.

"I can take care of myself," Ivor responded beside him, who went and sat on another chair.

"I'll ask someone to look after Ivor."

"I can take care of myself." Ivor's voice rose, and Rosa sighed as she pat him on the shoulder.

Chryses glanced at the kid. "You'll worry your sister if she learns that you stayed home alone."

Ivor paused then harrumphed, but didn't disagree anymore.

"It's more convenient if I stay watch since you have work tomorrow. In the morning you can drop the kid here." Chryses continued to convince them.

There was a long silence before Rosa spoke. "...Okay." She stared at his tensed back as she thought about the information she gathered from the police she bumped into when she arrived earlier.

"Do you know any convenience stores nearby?"

Chryses looked at the ceiling and then to Rosa. "There's one across the street."

"I see, but I'm not really good with directions."

Chryses stood up with sluggish movements. "I'll go with you."

"Ivor, look after your sister for a bit. I'm going to buy snacks for you for tomorrow."

The kid nodded at his Aunt before putting all his attention on Amaryllis.

The walk was quiet, except for the chatters of health workers and visitors. Both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, but the moment they left hospital premises, Rosa spoke. "I talked with the investigating police on his way out when I arrived."

As expected, it wasn't going to be a normal walk to the store. Chryses looked heavenwards. There were no signs of stars as they were hidden by the bright city lights, making the sky seem like a black hole ready to devour Earth in its most vulnerable state. The sound of traffic and pedestrian mingled in the background, and everyone continued to live their lives cluelessly, as he exhaled a slow exhausted breath.

"The person who stabbed her was your ex-fiancé. Vienna Simmons." The intonation beside him was flat, confirming his guess.

Chryses nodded weakly.

"Did you know, she also came by the apartment in the past and caused a scene?" Her tone sounds harsher now.

"Yes."

The expression on Rosa's face turned sour as she held back her anger. "I didn't ask Amaryllis about it, because an acquaintance told me the lady mistook my niece for someone else, but I guess she was just being considerate."

Chryses didn't say anything.

"Do you now understand why I don't want you for my niece?" Rosa looked at him sharply as they arrived at the convenience store.

A frown marred Chryses' forehead as he opened the door for the older lady. "It will not happen again."

"My niece almost died." Rosa's words felt like a bullet through his chest. "It will never happen again, if only you will distance yourself." She proceeded to go inside, walking to the snack section as Chryses tailed her.

He responded, undeterred, "This time, I will make sure no one will even think of approaching her. I've no loose ends except for the perpetrator today."

"I doubt that-"

"Anyway, I already made my intentions clear to my father and Amaryllis' friends. Vienna must have already realized by now, too. After this, who else will know about Amaryllis' existence beside me, I wonder?"

Rosa raised her eyes, meeting Chryses' fiery orbs in derision. "You fucking snake."

Chryses did not cower as he continued, "You said so yourself... You hold no power to fend off the consequences of my and Amaryllis' actions. Then you should know that I am the only one capable of protecting her."

Rosa grabbed two items, a little too aggressively, the sound of crumpling plastic resonating between them. "Haa." She gritted her teeth, holding herself back from throwing the things to his face.

Chryses grabbed two chocolate drinks and smiled at her. "I'll pay for it, aunt Rosa"

Goosebumps ran down her spine at how he addressed her.

"I swear to God... If Amaryllis gets hurt again because of you, I'll make sure you will regret it." She shoved the snacks to his chest, causing him to sway from the force.

"She won't." Chryses' confident reply made Rosa's blood pressure considerably shoot up.

"In the end, your regrets won't mean anything when your selfishness is all you can prioritize. I know people like you, Chryses Taylor. Fucking toads who think they can play God, just because they think they're better than everybody else." She didn't let him reply as she walked to the cashier, who looked at them with raised brows before beeping the items.

After the errand, Rosa and Ivor reluctantly left the hospital, but only after using up all the visiting hours. Rosa's eyes couldn't stop twitching even at the last minute, Ivor had to ask what was wrong, but she only gave a passing excuse.

Chryses sat quietly at Amaryllis' side, sighing as he rubbed his face in exhaustion. There was a slight tremor in his hand as he laid his head on the bed, staring at her still hands closely. He had tried not to sleep for most of the nights, fearing the dreams that never failed to visit him, and now, the drowsiness was winning each time he blinked.

"I clearly didn't follow through all my plans..." He muttered, listing everything he thought of doing, but chose to discard, for fear of bringing harm to Amaryllis Larson. "...But why did you get hurt..?"

Even though he had never believed in the supernatural, the dreams were much too factual that he eventually couldn't completely ignore them. The events, though not showing Amaryllis' ability to compel him with her words, were all accurate. Looking at it objectively makes the idea ridiculous, and Chryses, for one, considered the nightly visions were due to the sudden onslaught of strong emotions he had recently started to feel.

However, his confidence quickly crumbled, when Amaryllis' welfare was threatened in a dream.

"Wake up, Amaryllis..." or I might go crazy.