These Broken Roads

Epilogue

Mark watched as Natalie packed up the car. He cursed under his breath, realizing he was too late.

He knew the florist had told her that it was him who was sending the flowers. He got so angry he blacked out and then came to holding the bloody pocket knife and standing over the corpses of the two women.

Thank god his sister was a cop.

Now because of those bitches, his Natalie, his light in his dark shit hole of a life, was leaving again. It took him so long to find her, but he fully believed he would always find her. Always. They're meant to be together. Nothing will tear them apart.

Natalie looked both ways on the road in front of her. She looked sad. Why was she sad?

Mark huffed. He knew this would happen if he revealed himself to be the one sending flowers. Natalie was still scared of him due to the brainwashing from her family, but he knew the truth. He saved her as much as she saved him. They saved each other. If it wasn't for her family-...

He took a few deep breaths. He needed to calm down. He'll find her again.

Natalie finally got into the car and after a few minutes they pulled out of the driveway. He watched them drive down the road, disappearing over the hill. Mark glanced at the house. There had to be some clue on where they were going in there.

Eagerly, he jogged to the house peeking inside. He frowned. All the furniture was still in the den. It was like they didn't even move out. What were all those boxes then? Did they move or not?

"Excuse me?" Asked a soft voice behind him.

He turned and came face to face with a girl with blood red hair. Mark quickly stuff his hands in his pockets, wrapping his fingers around the knife.

"Do you know what happened?" He asked, nodding his head behind him at the empty house.

Mary hesitated just as thunder clapped above her. Something about this man seemed creepy and unsettling. Why was he lurking right outside the Steeler's home? And it was right after they found out about-

Mark knew the moment she figured it out. The slight change in her face as she looked him up and down.

"I don't know what happened." Mary said slowly, taking a few steps away from Mark.

Her heart beat began to pound in her ears. Mark quickly grabbed her wrist as rain drops started to fall around them.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked with a grin.

Maybe this girl is his ticket back to Natalie. If he could convince her, maybe he'll be able to convince Natalie too.

Mary winced at Mark's grip and then noticed his other hand still in his pocket. Her mind went haywire thinking about what could be in that pocket that he was hiding.

"What do you want with me?" She asked him, her brown eyes rising to meet Mark's.

Mark took a step closer to Mary. "How about you come with me? I can tell you my side of the story."

The rain began to pelt down on top of them. The red head yanked and pulled at Mark's grip, but he was strong.

"Go fuck yourself." She spat the rain rolling down her head and back.

In a flash Mark was on top of her with a knife held to her throat. Mary squirmed the ground squishing underneath her.

"I see she got to you too." He said, his eyes blazing with anger. "I'm not a monster."

"Could've fooled me." She snapped.

Mark pushed the blade into Mary's neck, blood started to drip from the wound. She winced.

"You have two options." He said, licking his lips. "Come with me and I'll let you live long enough to hear my side of the story, or die here and now. Your choice, Red."

Mary thought for a moment. If Mark gives her an opportunity to run she'll take it. Maybe telling him that she'll listen is a better option.

Mark knew he wasn't letting her go. She was the ticket to Natalie. When he got his Natalie back Natalie will be so happy to have someone there she recognized. It's perfect.

"Fine." Mary answered finally. "Where are we going?"

Mark still gripped Mary's wrist tight, but let her stand up.

"Tell me Red, do you like camping?"