Queen of my Heart

37

WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

A small shadow of a human was outlined behind the curtains -- my eyes suddenly adjusted to the dark and the sleepiness and I realized it was in front of the curtains.

So I wasn't alone.

"Who are you?" My question was a mere squeak, but I forgot to be embarrassed. The abrupt trepidation was too overwhelming.

Just when I thought this was all my imagination, the shadow spoke. "Hello, darling."

Ice crept up my arms, my fingers tightening around the sheets. As if staring at me while I was sleeping wasn't creepy enough, now I had to wake up to a deranged Gillian.

Wait.

Gillian?

I couldn't hide the tremble in my voice. "W-what are you doing here?"

Oh, God, I hope I was seeing things, because I swear the shadow just got closer.

"I'm collecting debts." I could hear the smile in her words. "Your payment was long overdue."

I had half a mind to scream bloody murder, but something held me back. This is my fight. It was time I started sorting my problems on my own. "Is this still about Shane?" The door was a couple of yards away. "Because if it is, I haven't been with him since we've been found out." I could always run. I rethought my answer. "There hasn't even been an us since I left. And there won't be another one ever."

"That doesn't change the fact that I was left with nothing," she hissed. By now Gillian was a foot away from my bed. How did she even know where my room was?

My arse itched to jump from the bed, yet I stayed put. If my intuition was right, any sudden movement could trigger Gillian to ran wilder than she already was. "You can go back to the start," I said, voice soft. "We'll be more than happy to have you back."

Oh, God, please let her believe.

"Bullshit," she growled. "Stop lying to my face, you bitch."

I stared at her, fear pumping in my ears. My eyes were already accustomed to the dark and I could see her thin face scowling at me. “I'm sorry. Believe me, I didn't mean to do it.”

Madness shone behind her eyes, moonlight illuminated her pale skin, giving it an almost ethereal glow. “Too late, Juliet.”

I closed my eyes, her footsteps muffled against the wooden floor.

I felt her hand around my neck.

She was right.

It was too late.

Juliet. My eyes shot open. Bryan.

"I won, little girl," she hissed, her nails digging at the back of my neck. "Nobody's coming to save you anymore."

"Stop," I choked out, clawing at her arms. She didn't even blink. Seriously, how strong was this woman?

My body was screaming for air, my legs weak -- I froze. Legs? I grasped Gillian's thin wrists and kicked her with all my might. A loud grunt, followed by a curse, escaped her as she fell on the bed beside me.

"You bitch!" she screamed, reaching for my neck once again, but I was already straddling Gillian, her arms beneath my feet on either side of her.

Tears burned at the back of my eyelids, but I refused to blink. "Stop it," I said, catching my breath. "Gillian, just please bloody sto--"

Suddenly the lights were on. "Juliet?" came Bryan's concerned inquiry. I forced myself not to look his way, which was easy because my body was so tense and alert.

"Help me here, Bryan."

I felt his body heat behind me in an instant. "Gillian?"

The girl's manic eyes taunted me. "Lucky as always, aren't you, princess?"

Bryan took ahold of Gillian as I eased off the bed and stared at the mess that was the moment.

My muscles refused to relax even as I took deep breaths. "The others?"

"Will be here anytime now," he replied, his hands secured around Gillian's wrists as they stood up. Her head was hung low, her body limp. With the lights on, I could finally see the bones jutting out from her skin, the deathly pale complexion, the bruises and scars.

If I could turn back time, I would have never hurt her.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, eyes on the floor. I can't look at her anymore. She was the epitome of every wrong decision I made since meeting Westlife. "I wish I could change it a--"

Her laugh -- so cold and broken -- pierced me like a knife. Her gaze met mine, burning with such a hatred I didn't know anybody was capable of. "Oh, please." She sneered. "You'll do it over and over and over again, Juliet." Sadness flashed across her eyes. "Over and over again."

I was silent. Deep down, I knew she was telling the truth.

"What's this?" Shane's voice cut through the terse atmosphere.

Soon, the others were also inside. My back was against the wall, and I closed my eyes. Make me disappear, please.

"Shane," I heard Gillian call in full wonder.

"Are you hurt, honey?"

That was when she broke down.

Soft cries filled the room and I watched as violent sobs rocked her frail body. Bryan had let her go, and he was asking me a silent question. Are you okay?

I nodded, feeling numb. I almost died tonight. I should've anticipated it, and I guess I did at some point, but it didn't make the reality easier to accept.

"Shane," Gillian cried, holding onto his shirt. "Baby, forgive me."

He was hugging her. "Everything will be all right, sweetheart. Everything will be all right."

And I should've seen it right then. As everyone stayed silent, looking anywhere but the couple tangled in each other's arms.

I should've noticed it, as I was the only one watching.

But I didn't.

And the knife had already made its way into Shane's flesh.

-

We're near the end!

~G