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Chapter 22

BADUMP

BADUMP

BADUMP

Nicky's heart was thumping in his chest. He felt like he was being suffocated. Whoever had locked the door probably wasn't too pleased with him breaking into their home. He pointed his light around the room, his sweat soaking into the floor making tiny splashes everywhere. He looked back at the wall and upon further inspection he saw his own picture next to Enzo's with Trinity underneath it. His heart began to beat faster threatening to rip from his ribcage; it looked like it had been taken at the roller skating rink. Maritza insisted that they all take a group photo to preserve the memory. He felt nauseous like he was about to vomit everywhere. His photo had 'keep an eye on' scribbled on it. He didn't want to admit it but... he knew all the fingers were now pointed at Maritza because why would someone have a photo Maritza took...But why? She didn't have a motive. Surely there had been someone who would suit the accusations better-

"Hello Nicky" someone said behind him. Nicky's blood ran cold. The voice sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard long and drawn out, making him want to cover his ears to block it out. But he needed to know the truth if it was really her. So, he took a shaky breath in and slowly turned around pointing his flashlight at her. She had mud all over her boots. Her hair tied up in a bun Nicky let out a sob he couldn't deny the truth when it was staring him right in the face"I thought your mum told you it was rude to break into peoples houses" Maritza continued Nicky looked down and bit his lip not answering her he wanted the answers to his questions first.

"W...why?" he asked a thousand emotions and feelings swirling within him all at once. He took a few steps back trying to put some distance between her. He didn't want to get too close because she wasn't his friend anymore. She was his enemy. He continued to step backwards before he felt his back hit the bench. "Why would you do all this?" He asked more harshly, his eyes staring at her intently. Maritza rolled her eyes and laughed. "God always asks why this? And why is that? If you really want to know, it was simple revenge! I never did mean to kill Sam he wasn't my priority I was meant to chase after Thomas he just...was in the wrong place at the wrong time" Nicky swallowed "so basically you wanted revenge on Thomas..." he trailed off and looked at the photos on the wall "So why are all these other people here?"

Maritza crossed her arms and bounced on the balls of her feet. "People who knew Thomas...people I was planning to follow after." I wanted him to feel the same pain I felt when he WALKED OUT!" She screamed the last part, making him jump. God, she was insane. Nicky shuffled along the side of the wall trying to get to the door. If he ran as fast as he could he could maybe get to the police. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Maritza kick something over and the smell of lighter fluid filled the air.

"Thomas was always a slimy mother-" She was cut off by Nicky staring at her dead in the eyes, fear evident but not letting it show through. Nicky was now thinking of Mel and how she could throw a responsibility such as that out the window for her own revenge. "You're a MOTHER!" he roared as he felt his anger cloud inside him."WHAT THE HELL IS MEL MEANT TO ASK?" Maritza rolled her eyes and played with a box of matches on the bench picking one up and striking it with the glow illuminating her face she twirled it between her fingers playfully. She seemed to be thinking about the question like it was a challenge to answer.

She was a ticking time bomb.

She snuffed it out and threw the charred piece of wood down. She smiled and turned back to him. "She will simply think her uncle Nicky disappeared! Imagine the headlines 'Nicky Roth killed!' Enzo having to write that out...heartbroken. It's a real shame you two seemed like you were getting along." Nicky whimpered thinking of everyone else he knew. He put himself at risk because he wouldn't allow himself to think the decision over properly. Now it was going to cost him. He knew he wasn't getting out of this alive. He could either give up and accept his fate or fight tooth and nail.

CLICK

Nicky's head whipped up so fast he swore he was about to break it. He was now staring straight into the barrel of a gun. It was slick and black like some slimy venomous snake was being pointed directly at him. "I'm so sorry Nicholas...but I can't have you get in the way" she said mockingly pulling the trigger. In that moment Nicky decided he would not give up without a fight. Under a pile of papers, he found a spare gun. He whipped it out and pointed it at her like an old-fashioned standoff. "I'm not," he snarled, he felt so betrayed; he felt like a dog that roamed around chasing its own tail, never catching it after being tricked and fooled.

Any sort of remorse had been kicked to the curb because this was now a life or death situation. Mr Peterson was right, he trusted too easily and now it had landed him straight into Maritza's trap. He took a step forward. The gun was held up and he couldn't see any sort of mercy or remorse in her eyes. She seemed emotionless. Maybe everything she had previously said and done was all a facade. The Devil didn't wear a suit and tie and he wasn't a red man with horns. Rather, he was a childhood friend with brown hair who was also a homicidal maniac. Maritza stroked up another match and held it in her hand. "I'm going to burn this place to the ground so there's no evidence and I'll never be caught." she mused smiling at the match and then at Nicky. He let out another loud sob tears rolling down his cheeks. He couldn't believe she would do this but this was who she really was.

She sighed and dropped the match on the table stepping away from it to allow the havoc to unfold. Fire quickly spread across the paper. She clicked the gun again pointing it at his kneecap. Nicky looked at her horrified "no...NONONONONONONO!"

BANG.

Nicky felt a sharp pain shoot through his knee and screamed in pain. His ears were now ringing and all he could see was red pooling at the bottom of his shoes. He could see the hole in his jeans and his vision became blurred and he fell to the floor. He was in agony. The fire quickly spread to the roof, which became charred. Nicky could see his gun lying on the floor while Maritza was walking towards the door. His own blood was surrounding him. He could reach it; he just needed to stretch a little further. 'Got it!' He thought.

Nicky grabbed the gun and lifted it trying to aim. He closed his eyes not wanting to see what he was about to do. He wanted to stop and consider it but he had promised Mrs. Finsch that she would find her son's killer. Therefore, if that meant pulling the trigger, so be it. He pulled it and time seemed to slow down. His arm grew weak and he heard the gun fall to the floor. This was followed by a heavy THUMP and he saw Maritza's body slump to the ground, her own blood pooling beneath her head. It was obvious he had shot her. Nicky would have screamed in horror but his mouth felt as if it had been wired shut. He laid his head on the ground not knowing how to respond. He felt relieved. Like he had finally achieved his goal but the cost had been her life. Was he like her? Some sort of stone-hearted killer that felt no remorse or sympathy for others.

His blood was mixing with Maritza's and it was on his hands and arms, making him feel sticky and uncomfortable. He stared up at the expanse laid out like a starfish. He saw a log fall from the roof and crash into the bench breaking it in half. The fire licked at his clothes. He saw the moon and stars peek through the roof. He coughed as smoke invaded his lungs.

He was usually effective at getting out of these kinds of situations but not this time. It seemed as if his luck had finally run out as he fumbled for his cassette player. He hissed as a flame burned his skin. He might as well listen to his favourite band one last time. It was called 'Mel and Nicky's mix' and had a few unicorn stickers on it from Mel and a few skull drawings from Nicky. He felt truly sorry for the girl and hoped Enzo was able to look after her since her dad probably wanted nothing to do with her. Nicky smiled fondly and played the tape, the sound of ABBA's 'winner takes it all' filling his ears. Fire had now completely consumed the door making it impossible to escape. The song fit his situation perfectly because if Maritza had won she would have gotten away with it and her prize would have been his life.

The thought of dying didn't scare him. What scared him was what came after. Would he be admitted to heaven or was that it? Game over. You don't get another chance and you don't get into a paradise in the sky. Tears filled his eyes as he remembered everything they did together as children and all the adventures they embarked on. Did any of it mean anything to her? Orange and red fire licked at his clothes scorching the fibres he was sweating the wood pushing into his cheek. He closed his eyes, a smile gracing his lips.

He was at peace.