• BURN ME •

• 48

LET THE WORLD BURN
~ Chris Grey

Flame

I observe the tequila in my glass, we still have nothing, still no sign of him. No fucking trace of Snow, we have searched everywhere, but nothing. I haven't taken a single sip of my drink, the ice cubes that were floating in the glass an hour ago have long since melted. Santa mierda, I'm on the verge of madness, I can't think clear. I feel like I'm no longer in my body, like I'm no longer myself, damn it. My eyes scan the room with the intensity of a hunter. Every fiber of my being is on alert. I'm ready to pounce on any information that can lead me to Snow. Like a hungry animal, no, a damn beast. The hours drag on, every minute seems like an eternity. I have no idea where he could be. I clench my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms. The frustration inside me is simmering and threatening to boil over, but I keep it under control. I have to keep it under control. I can't afford to lose control, not now. Not when I need to find my little fire. I see Nacho across the room, but I ignore him. I can't bring myself to talk right now, not to him, t not to anyone. My mind is filled with thoughts and possibilities. Did someone kidnap him? Is he injured? Or worse? Just the thought that Snow could be suffering lights a fire deep inside me, a fire that thirsts for blood. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. I can't let my anger take over, not now. I need to be able to think clearly, Snow's life might depend on it.

Fuck, it's all my fault. If I hadn't let my anger get the better of me, if I had just kept my composure, Snow might still be here. Maybe he weren't run away. I close my eyes and try to push the tormenting thoughts away. I know Snow has his own demons, his own pain, but I should have been there for him. I should have been his rock, his safe haven in this fucked up world. Instead, I became the monster that chased him away. I run my hand through my hair, fuck. What was I thinking, what the fuck was I thinking? The darkness inside me feeds off my self-loathing, tormenting me with the idea that Snow may never come back, that I've lost him forever. I can't bear that thought. Snow means more to me than I ever thought could be possible. He's become my light in the darkness. Losing him would be a blow I probably wouldn't recover from. No, I know I wouldn't recover from that. I clench my hands into fists and my nails dig into my palms as I try to suppress the overwhelming feelings that threaten to pull me into the darkness. For now and forever, fuck. Snow, where the hell are you?

When my cell phone rings, I direct my gaze at it. My eyebrow twitches when I see that the message is from him. Is he okay? I put the glass in my hand on the counter and unlock my cell phone. But as soon as I see the picture that was sent to me, I know the message isn't from Snow. My heart stops for a moment when I see his bloody, swollen face. Dios, his blue eyes, which normally shine, are dull and wide open, anger rising within me. Who the hell did this to him? Before I can do anything, a new message comes in. This time a text, my eyes fly silently over the words. "If you want to see him again, drive beyond the city boarder, alone. We're expecting your call, Hernandez." I clench my jaw, fuck. Without saying a word, I set off, but before I leave the club. I bump my shoulder into Tero, who stumbles forward a little. He is so distracted that he doesn't notice me stealing his cell phone. Tero looks at me. "Wow, is everything OK?" He asks, I click my tongue and walk past him. I may not be able to think properly at the moment, but I'm not stupid enough to really disappear without anyone knowing where I am. In the car, I throw Tero's cell phone into the glove compartment and start the car. I take a deep breath and try to calm my shaking hands. I won't rest until Snow is safe and sound in my arms again. It doesn't take long until I'm out of town, after all, I didn't follow any damn traffic rules, because I drove like a madman.

I dial the number, my voice is firm and cold. "You have my attention. Now tell me what the hell you want," I growl into the phone. Silence, fucking silence. "It's great that I have your attention. I'll make one thing clear when you're not alone. Then your little boyfriend won't be breathing when you get here." Comes from my phone, I sigh and grip the steering wheel with one hand. "I'm alone, tell me what you want now." Comes from my lips, "come to the address I sent you, we'll see each other than." Before I can ask about Snow, the bastard has hung up. "Fuck!" I shout and start the car again, the address arrives a little later via text. With my jaw clenched, I drive to the address, my eyebrows furrowing as I arrive. I park the car next to the run-down indoor swimming pool and narrow my eyes as I look at the equally run-down surroundings. I get out of the car, my boots crunching on the gravel under my feet. The moon is high in the night sky and casts an eerie shadow on the abandoned building. I approach the old entrance, my senses heightened. I feel eyes on me, someone is lurking in the shadows. But I am not impressed or intimidated by that, not when I am so close to Snow.