I Want to Die in New Orleans // $uicideboys

39: Dejection

Ruby's' eyes glinted with a mix of concern and something else, something that made my heart skip a beat.
"You okay?" He asked in a low voice.
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. "Yeah.. I just needed to get that out.."
"..you kno we got limited options here now.."
The weight of his words hit me hard. He was right. Tori wouldn't let this go. She'd come back angrier, ready and determined to make our lives a living hell. I glanced at Ruby, my pulse once again quickening, "what do you suggest?"
"Let's just take a ride,"
I nodded. Ruby's muscles strained as he lifted Tori's unconscious body, hooking his arms under her shoulders. With a grunt, he heaved her upward, but the deadweight made the task nearly impossible. Her body dangled loosely, making it hard for Ruby to get a good grip. Ruby fought to obtain better leverage though her body slid awkwardly, nearly slipping from his grasp.
He flopped her onto the sofa and tried once more, pulling her up with his legs instead of his back. He managed to half drape her over his shoulder, and began exiting the crime scene, his breath in short labored gasps.
I followed him as we walked towards Ruby's car. The flame of a cigarette caught my attention, Scott standing in the darkness of the dead of night, obviously upset. While I was distracted, Ruby managed to dump her body into the trunk of his car, the slam of it shut pulled me out of my transe. I got into the passenger seat of Ruby's car as he fastened his seatbelt. The headlights cut through the darkness as the engine purred quietly, inside Ruby took a deep breath.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Just a little worn out now," He chuckled, though his mannerisms showed the adrenaline secretly pumping through his veins.
With a slow deliberate motion, the car turned onto the deserted street, the headlights illuminated the patches of road ahead. He navigated the winding roads that led to the outskirts of New Orleans.
The headlights casted weird shapes through the fog and foliage. The road became narrower with moss-draped trees that seemed to reach out like gnarled fingers. The air grew thicker, almost oppressive, as we approached the swamps.
Eventually Ruby turned onto an unmarked, muddy road, the tires somewhat slighting as he made his way. The headlights revealed glimpses of murky water and dense undergrowth. The sounds of the swamp began to creep into the car, the croak of a frog, the rustling of unseen creatures about in the brush.
After a ride that felt like hours, Ruby finally parked the car, and cut off the engine abruptly. Darkness closed in due to the headlights being extinguished. Ruby and I stepped out, the ground soft and damp underfoot. We listened to the symphony of nocturnal life that surrounded us as our hearts raced.
In silence we stood for a while, unaware of the time or what exactly to do. A guttural growl echoed through the still night air, reverberating off of the water and surrounding trees. The sound was low and menacing, beginning with deep throaty rumbles that gradually grew louder.
Ruby walked cautiously through the shallow mud. Reaching the back of the car he paused for a moment, fixing his vision upon me for a second, then grasped the handle. The latch clicked open as I made my way towards him, lifting up the trunk lid we revealed Tori. Her breath came in faint, uneven whispers. Her chest rose and fell with effort, each inhale shallow. Eyes half closed, she stared almost blankly ahead. A sheen of sweat glistened on her skin.
Ruby pulled her up as he tried to hoist her onto his shoulder again. The motion caused her to become somewhat conscious. Her breaths became deeper as her eyes wandered around, I'm sure she was concussed. He tried to keep himself planted in the slippery mud as he held her.
"Get that flashlight," He instructed.
"Okay," I obliged. I grabbed the flashlight and followed him as he made his way to the end of the mud trail.
"Flash it.... now look around with it," Ruby directed, "See that?"
I paused, looking at the direction I stopped the flashlight at.
"That's a fuckin gator Rubes.."
"Uh huh," He grunted. A devious but subtle smirk was pressed against his lips, "Keep the light on it, you're blinding it right now so it won't move, just don't take the light off, whatever you do shawty."
"Ok," I replied as I began to understand his course of action.
Ruby moved cautiously through the swamp, his footsteps muffled by the soft, damp ground. The beam of the flashlight cut through the darkness, casting long, eerie shadows. The alligator, momentarily blinded by the light, stayed still with its powerful jaws slightly open, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Ruby began to slow his pace as he began to close the gap between him and the beast, finally reaching the end of the marsh and now just murky water. My anxiety rushed for him as I watched him shake, wondering if it was the weight of Tori, fear, or adrenaline of the situation.
With one swift motion Ruby flipped Tori off of his shoulder and into his arms, cradling her as he took a couple breathers. Seconds later Tori was tossed almost directly onto the alligator. The stillness of the night was interrupted by a violent splash of the alligator, its jaws clamping down on Tori with a sickening and otherworldly crunch. Her scream was cut short, replaced with the sound of thrashing limbs and the alligator's familiar growl. Her lifeless body flew like a rag doll as blood dyed the swamp. The beast swung around, its long tail catching Ruby, slightly tripping him.
As Ruby slowly retreated without turning his back from the predator, I tried my best to keep the light shining in its face. With each savage twist and turn, the alligator dragged her deeper into the water, her lifeless body becoming submerged in the dark, churning depths.
Once Ruby made it back to his vehicle, he got in without question, as I followed. He backed out of the slick mud and began backtracking, making our way back to the house.
"Well that was easy.." I said.
"Yep," He agreed as he lit up a cigarette.
"Feels like you've done this before," I chuckled.
He lit up a cigarette in silence.
"It took you less then five minutes to come up with a place and way to get rid of her for good... the real question is why?"
"She's no good," He shrugged as he passed over the cigarette to me.