Steal My Soul

17 | asia

Asia

Fear gnawed at my insides, my heart pounding as a stinging cinch of regret pierced my chest.

I stood in the middle of the dance floor like an idiot. My mouth hanging open, jaw slacked. Everyone around me continued dancing, some still laughing at Darius.

I hadn't known he was standing there. He didn't understand. If I had defended him, told them that I cared for him. It would turn into a whole thing.

They would pretend to take him in. Parade him around like he was some kind of carnival trick to be looked at. But I knew better.

They would rip him apart, build his ego up then slice him to shreds. I was only protecting him from this world. He had it easy. No one was expecting him to live inside this fractured glass bubble. He didn't constantly have to worry about being perfect.

I had made him out to look like a fool. I felt like crap. There was no justifying this.

I should have presented him as if he was one of us because he was. In every way possible.

It is rapidly instant, the way tarnished emotions blend, almost as if we are willing to justify torment as a bluster to synchronize the grime that blinds us.

I run out of my house, searching for him in the crowd. The lawn was littered with, red plastic cups, food wrappers, and clothes. I step over people, searching for his dark brown curls.

The way his face looked is still a vibrant picture in my mind. His eyes softened with hurt, disappointment, and a tinge of understanding. It carved up my inside, etching deep inside my bones.

My legs felt imbalanced and I buckled under my weight. A piece of me was being whittled away, a connection achingly severed. I grabbed people by their shoulders, whipping them around to face me as my fingers dug into their skin.

I had no luck finding him. It was a swarm. My feet slammed against the grass as I ran around.

"Darius!" I yell. Raw panic was dripping in my voice.

I rip my high heels off, abandoning them next to a pile of girls who were sleeping, curled up next to each other in their long dresses. They were making my feet bulky and slowing down my steps.

My breath snagged in my throat, almost choking me. I see him near the barn. It's dark and his silhouette is flocked with three other dark shadows.

I grab a metal pipe from the floor. It is thick and heavy, and I carry it awkwardly in my hands. My lower back and arms pinch from the strain but for now, it was the only weapon I had. I charged towards them, swinging as hard as I could.

I hear the splitting of bones as a crack ruptured. They don't even have time to scream. The body hits the floor with a loud thud.

I dropped the metal pipe on the floor, my hands trembling. There was a stream of blood seeping from the side of their head. As I stepped back, two of the shadows turned to me.

One of them has a large tattoo on their forearm while I see the shine of a ring lip piercing. I could barely make out their faces. They're quick.

A fist grates into my face. I whimpered as a blistering strike of pain spread across my cheek. I could feel my blood staining my teeth.

My body hits the floor and I put my hand up as they get ready to strike another blow. Darius is in the background, his face cacographic and scribbled. He turns, stepping away from me and my heart sinks.

I shut my eyes, ready for what's next but instead, I hear a groan and when my eyes snap open, brown eyes stare back at me, glassy and fixed, and blood leaks from their lips. Half of his face is covered in a shiny purple mask. I scuffle away from them as I am pulled to my feet. Darius holds me close to his chest, pulling a gun from the waistband of his jeans.

I don't say a word, snapping my eyes closed and breathing hard. I clung to his arm as he whispered in my ear. "When I count to three, run and don't look back,"

I nod into his chest.

"Three," he whispers and I take off running.

I only make it a few feet, when I am suddenly pulled backward, being dragged by my hair. Gunshots blare, cracking into the stillness of the air. Their body jerks and they fall to the floor.

Darius walks up to me and hands me the gray mask.

I stare at it. I wrap my arms around his neck. He stands rigid, not hugging me back. I pull away from him, smiling.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He blinks at me. "You think this makes up for what you've done? It doesn't," he spits at me.

He turns and I catch his arm.

"Wait!" Let me explain, please," I pleaded.

"Let go of me," he growls.

Tears streamed down my face, my cheeks were flushed and I was hiccuping. "I was doing it to protect you!" I stammered. "I wasn't trying to hurt you,"

He scoffs, yanking himself out of my grip. "How is that protecting me?"

"You don't know what it's like to be in there, do you know how lucky you are to be invisible?" I say.

"I have never been invisible,"

I sniffle, throwing my hands in the air. "You're right, okay?! I fucked up. If I cared about you, I should have stood up for you, I know!!"

He stares at me, crossing his arms. "You call that an apology? I've been used to this type of bullshit my entire life. You're no different from them, an entitled snotty, rich kid,"

I was breathing hard, and all I could hear was the treacherous flood of my blood pounding in my ears. "When you live in this town long enough, you get swept up by the poisonous air, and even in small doses you get tainted. I got swept up in trying to be like everyone else, trying to be what they expected me to be. If being like them means losing you, then I'd rather get thrown to the wolves,"

Darius sighs, running his fingers through his hair. "Thank you for the invite, but this is the last time you'll see me. It was nice knowing you, even if it was for a second,"

My heart thundered in my chest, my pulse quickening. "Why do you hate me?"

He curses, turning his gaze away from me,  stomping his foot on the ground. "Asia, hating you is the last thing I could feel for you,"

My lower lip trembled. "Then please don't leave me. Don't go,"

"Fuck it," he muttered and in a bold twist, his hands are on my face and his lips pressed against mine.

My lips parted open and I slid my arms around his neck. I shuddered against his touch, my breath catching. Pings of electricity were phasing through every inch of my skin.

I pressed myself against him. My bones craved his touch. I wanted more. I needed more.

His lips were soft and my eyes were half lidded. If it wasn't for his hold on me, I would have fainted right then and there. Then he pulls away from me gasping, eyes wide, lips pink.

I reach up to touch my lips. They were buzzed, trying to reach the taste of him. His chest rises up and down and he staggers, tugging at his air.

"I...uh...I," he stammers, his gaze locked on mine.

I smile, my heart fluttering in my chest. He walks up to me, slipping his hands around my waist. I turned my fingers through his hair, getting my hand stuck.

He laughed a soothing sound that flowed from his mouth, reminded me of honey. "You never fail to amaze me, Asia Vesper,"

I plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "You want to get out of here?"

He grins. "I thought you'd never ask,"