Wildfire

(22)

Mariana Montanari

"Oh you're finally up." I kicked Adam in the ribs making him spit blood.

"Ah, Mary. From a stripper to a mafia man's arm candy is a big jump. I'm sure you bounced a lot for it."

"Shut. Up." I pulled the ropes suspending him from the air. "Let go ,baby, you know I fuck better than whoever's dick you suck right now." I slapped him, the sound of my palm meeting his face echoed in the room.

"I will ask once. Who gave you the video?"

"Straight to the point? we'll get there, lovely. Tell me who do you spread your legs for now?"

My jaw involuntarily clenched. "I'll show you." I swung my leg to his face, my heel leaving a cut on it.

"You fucking whore. Just because a man threw money at you for sucking his dick in a room instead of a stage doesn't mean you did something." He spat on the floor but it was mostly blood.

I pulled out a lighter. "You know what you should never do, Adam? Disrespect someone who has had your dick in their mouth." I moved the flame along his jaw making his eyes fill up with fear.

"M-Mary-" he tried. "It's Mariana. " I held the flame to his eye, making him scream in pure intolerable agony. And I'd be lying if I say I didn't love it.

"You loved using your lighters didn't you?" Flashes of him burning his initials on my thighs flooded my brain.

"I- I'll tell you Mary-" I cut him off. "We'll get there, lovely. I'm not done with you yet."

I took the needles on the table beside me and ignoring all the precision I learnt in Med school, I pierced them through his toes. His screams were better than my much needed therapy but it was the blood spilling out of him, down my arms which got me high.

A few hours passed. His blood formed a puddle under him. Still no fucking answer. He had thick skin and I loved getting under people's skin.

Although he was barely conscious I had to keep him alive till he gave me the answer to my question. Who was watching me all along?

Goosebumps started covering my skin. I didn't know if it was the fact that I've been watched or the temperature of my basement. I made it a thing to keep it cold. Contracted muscles hurt more.

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I went back upstairs to see a few texts from Kenneth and Gianna.

Kenneth: You said if I didn't pass out you'd let me take you out again.

Mariana: Why do you still remember that?

Kenneth: I never forget anything you say.

Mariana: Fine. Where do you wanna go?

Kenneth: I'll pick you up.

Mariana: What if I hate it?

Kenneth: Then we'll have to go on a makeup date I guess.

I rolled my eyes. He was insufferable. But he changed everything. When people touched me it usually made my skin crawl. But when he did it, it was different. It was nice.

His words never left my head.

Do you not get it? How hopelessly, desperately, helplessly in love with you I am? Not everything is a game of blood and knives. Sometimes there's a heart involved and you need to start using yours! Do you not fucking understand!?"

"Understand what!?"

"I fucking love you, Mary!"

And I loved him too.

I would probably fight myself to stop. I would hate myself for letting myself have another thing to lose. I knew how well I took him being kidnapped and it wasn't very well. I had given up eating, drinking, sleeping, hell even thinking about anything else.

It was insane how he got on my nerves but how he also soothed my nerves. It was almost addictive and God I hated myself for getting addicted to it. I knew it wasn't something I was supposed to have. But I loved it like the forbidden fruit.

It was almost funny why he even liked me. He grew up in a picket fence rich house. I grew up in two basements and a street.

The doorbell rang and I stopped thinking about the inevitable painful end I'm gonna have to face.

I went out there to see a delivery guy holding a bouquet. A giant one too. "Yes?"

"Ma'am you need to sign here." I signed my name on his clipboard and he handed me the bouquet. It was cherries and roses. With a note attached to it.

I'm sorry for vandalizing your car. I will do it again. P.S. still waiting for the date confirmation, wildfire. Also these are apology flowers for what I did on your birthday.

I still didn't know how I felt about that but it wasn't his fault if he knew nothing back then. Now he knew about my 8th birthday and I hated that.

I smiled at the bouquet. Yes. Smiled. You're so screwed. I know. I shot him a text before plucking a few cherries off.

Mariana: Weren't you supposed to be resting?

Kenneth: Did you smile, wildfire?

Mariana: No?

Obviously I wasn't gonna tell him that. This was too temporary and I'd be destroyed when it inevitably ends.

Everything had to end.

But I had spent enough time trying to stay away from happiness because it was temporary. I couldn't do it much longer. I don't remember the last time I smiled without being forced. But he made me without even being here. If I had to let happiness destroy me it might as well be him. He wouldn't be the first man destroying me anyways.

For now I sat on the kitchen table with wine and cherries. Reading the cheesiest texts ever.

I felt calm. I haven't felt this in a minute. I felt like out of all this chaos out of all this brutality there was somewhere I'd be safe without having to fight for survival.

He was in that place.

Mariana: Pick me up at 9.

Before I could hit send a pair of arms wrapped around me.

"Who do you think you are, lovely?"

My breath shallowed. I was in his arms again. He flicked the lighter a few times around my shoulder. I must've left a blade in his foot.

I flipped him around making him crash in front of me. That was all the time I needed to pick up a knife from the counter and put it to his throat.

"Trying to touch me in my own house was a stupid mistake. Spit the name." I punctuated my question with a stab to one of his balls. I aimed well at small targets.

"Francisca Romano!" I threw him back in and let him die slowly from ball bleeding.

The name echoed in my mind. I knew that name all too well. Francisca was watching. My mother was watching me.

I felt a panic attack as soon as I heard the name.

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