Infinite Love

Chapter 15

[Millwood Creamery]

We sat in a booth at the Creamery, Imogen still covered in blood, not saying a word to any of us, shuddering, "Imogen? Imogen. Imogen, you with us?" I ask

"Maybe we should take her somewhere, like a hospital" Mouse says

"No, too many questions, Mouse" Noa says

"By the way, now would be an excellent time to have a reliable therapist" Faran says

"Are you okay? Please say something" Tabby says

"No" Imogen sniffles, "No. No, I'm not okay, Tabby. I saw her. It was my mom. She..." She whimpers, "She was Bloody Rose" Imogen says

"Maybe Bloody Rose resembles your mom, has similar features" Faran says

"Could be. Or maybe, it was someone made up to look like your mom? Or they were wearing, I don't know, a mask?" Tabby suggests

"Yeah, yeah. My vote is the mask thing" Noa says
"Imogen" Mouse places her hand on Imogen's back, "Talk to us" Mouse says

"My brain knows that it couldn't have been my mom. She's dead. She's buried. But wouldn't I know the difference between my mom and a mask?" Imogen asks

"Under normal circumstances, yes" Tabby says

"But these are not normal circumstances" Faran says
"There's a reason Bloody Rose chose to go after you in the middle of hell house, in you mother's bedroom" Tabby says

"So you'd be at your most vulnerable. She wanted you on the razor's edge" Faran says
"Classic psychological attack. She was pushing you to have a psychotic break" Tabby says
"Well...guess what, guys? Mission accomplished" Imogen says
"Wait. If tonight was Imogen's test, that means..." Mouse trails off

"I'm...definitely next" Tabby scoffs, "I'm the only one left. The final final girl" Tabby says
"Hey, we won't let anything bad happen to you, Tabby" Faran says
"Absolutely. But Bloody Rose didn't even warn Imogen this time. She could do anything. Go after Tabby..." Mouse says

"Or double back and attack any of us again. Bitch is all out of fucks" Noa says

"Imogen, you're sleeping in my room with me tonight" Tabby says

"You know it" Imogen says
"Everyone, remember what we learned in self-defense. And Tabby, if you need me to be your personal bodyguard..." Faran says

"Don't worry, I'll call you. I'll call all of y'all" Tabby says

[Noa's Apartment]

Noa and I stumble through the door of her apartment. Noa sits down on the edge of the kitchen counter, running her fingers through her hair, "I just want this to end" She mutters, her voice barely above a whisper, "All of it. I can't keep doing this. Bloody

Rose...everything"

I walk over and kneel down in front of her, placing my hands on her knees, "I know" I whisper, my thumbs gently rubbing circles on her skin, trying to give her some sense of comfort, "I want it to end too"

She lets out this long, shaky breath, her head hanging forward like she can't hold it up anymore, "But what if we don't? What if Bloody Rose doesn't stop? What if—"

"Shh" I say softly, standing up and stepping between her legs, tilting her chin up so she has to look at me, "No more 'what ifs,' okay? We've done enough of that. It's driving us both crazy"

There was a pause, a shift in the air between us. My touch lingers on her skin, and something shift in her expression—like she was finally letting herself breathe again. A small, playful smile tugs at the corner of my lips, and I lean in closer, "Maybe we need to get our minds off this shit for a little while"