Last (40)

Leaves, Twigs and Gun

21. Leaves, Twigs, and Gun

None of my parents matters anymore. Both of them changed and condemned me like how the church condemned gays and lesbians---but I’m not one if those. I’m sure they saw the van going back to the woods and they might wonder why. What we started must be finished. Ed-slash-the-other-man drove fast for we chased the time. Our lives were in the brink of life and death. Likewise, winning and losing over Evil Chip. The feeling when running is faster than riding the vehicle sunk into my mind. The feeling when it’s not enough to just sat there at the back and the time seemed moving too fast but you’re doing the things too slow, not enough to compete the time. The intimidation, desperation and the need of my body to save someone. To save Edward. I looked at my left leg and noticed it was wounded, the dried blood made a mark down to my ankle. Chip did this, and he must pay for everything he did to me and to Ed, I thought as I tried to rub the dried blood. Then, my mind flashed back to the night when Ed confronts Chip…

“I want you to feel pain Skinny Boy,” Chip exclaimed, “I want to see you bleeding to death. Break your nose and take away those teeth of yours. That would be nice, eh?”

“Sorry but I don’t want to fight.”

“ARE YOU GAY?”

 The hyenas laughed, I stood hopeful in a hopeless situation.

 “I said I don’t want to fight.”

 Chip threw his fist on him. I gasped as Ed knelt down. I heard his moan, the pain in his voice. I was in my dream---my nightmare that came into life.

 “Hold him!” he ordered the hyenas. Andre grabbed Ed so as Larry and the others stood behind Chip.

“Fuck you,” he said and punched Ed’s face. And again and again. My tears rolled down in my face.

 “Fight now you coward!”

Then the day when I saw Ed’s ghost…

The cold wind sinks in my flesh.  Turned around, I saw him like what Kip saw. I saw Edward: my friend, my brother, and my dead lover. I smiled at him but our eyes never met in our first phase of our meeting. The Unusual Meeting. The moment was unbearable like you’re ready to break down and cry. He looked down. He wore the same t-shirt, jacket, and worn out jeans but he looked the same. The same beautiful boy I met that turned into a beautiful man I lose. It was overwhelming.

It all ends today; I told to myself and gave a big sigh.

“Are you ready for everything that will going to happen, Meg?”

“I’m ready for anything,” I firmly said, mustering all the courage I have. “We’ll save your body even if my life would be at stake.”

He didn’t able to answer; instead he nodded with a smile on his face.

“Are you afraid?” I asked him.

“I’m not afraid.”

“Good,” I told him, “for we are going to kick Chip’s ass.”

“I thought you’ll do more than that.”

“Oh, well I’ll kick his ass and break his arms.”

“Whoa! That’s too much!”

We burst into laughter and then it turns into chuckle. Finally, silence came.

“For real,” he whispered, “I’m afraid.”

“Same here.”

Edward and I went out of the van and the rain finally stopped leaving the earth wet and muddy. We started to walk briskly towards the cottage where Ed’s body, probably, lie. I must be vigilant; Chip might attack from the back or from the side. My seriousness let me remembered the movie Predator where the soldiers were so brave in fighting the invisible Predator, whose face looked like an octopus, who uses laser weapons and sharp objects that can cut metals. I told Ed to be careful for he’s just borrowing someone’s body. It was hard to walk silently when you know that every step make sounds because of the dried leaves, twigs, and boughs on the ground.

“Do you know about the story of a talking oak tree?”

I rolled my eyes. “How can you dare to talk about fairytales when we’re in the middle of pursuit?”

“I’m just trying to lessen the tension here, okay? ‘Cos you looked like a hunter.”

“Huntress. Fine, tell me about your children’s story.”

“Well, she got this magical seeds…and then she decided to plant it. A day passed she came back to the place where she planted it. In a split of second, the seed sprouted and grew into a large oak tree before his naked eyes. In disbelief, she ranaway but the tree called her name. And she stopped. What do you think the girl says to the tree?”

“Well, she’ll say: Stop telling the story ‘cos we’re near and I can see now the cottage.”

The cottage was quite small and was painted with brown, red and blue. But I cannot deny that it really looks old and seemed haunted by evil spirits.

“Someone’s inside,” he told me. “Chip might be there.”

The door opened and Chip went out, smiling and looking at me.

“Well, well , well, Megan’s here. I thought it would be hard for me to find the prey.”

“Don’t worry, the prey won’t be caught.”

“And who’s this guy you brought?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Seems you still have the guts to fight back. If you’re here to save Ed, well you’re too late. Ed’s body is dead. Of course he is…he was. He’s now starting to rot, Meg. Soon, he’ll turn into bones.”

“He’s lying,” Ed whispered to me, “I can still feel that my body is alive. All I need is to get inside of my own body.”

“Well, if Ed’s dead, give his body back to me. Let his body lie in the coffin.”

Chip gave no response. Later on, someone came out. It was not Ed, it was Kippy. But she doesn’t look like the same Kippy I know. Her hair was a bit messed up, her face was serious, and the way she walks changed.

“Not too fast big sister,” she sneered holding a gun which seemed heavier than her weight.

“Kip? What the…how come you…why are…” My words trailed off again.

“You’ll never get your happy ending Meg. I will get mine.”

“Are you behind of all these things?”

“Of course, if you just know how to look at the signs. And oh, I know, you’re blind that is why you cannot see those signs. You are blinded with your love to Ed and I am jealous of the two of you. I was…I mean I’m still. That’s why I tried to manipulate your life like I’m the Fate. And thanks to Chip’s help. He’s been a helpful man for my revenged.”

“You just used Chip?”

“TEN POINTS TO MEGAN!”

“You’re the one that is crazy, do you know that? You should be in the rehab, not me.”

“YES! I AM CRAZY BECAUSE YOU ARE THE REASON WHY THOMAS DIED. BECAUSE YOU TOOK EDWARD FROM ME, BECAUSE I ENVY YOU IN EVERY WAY.

If you just look after our brother, he shouldn’t be dead. Instead you kept on flirting with Chip who just need you for lust. Everything that happened is your fault! It’s your fault why mom and dad didn’t recognize my effort because you’re their favorite girl. The one who got A in English. And who am I? I only get A in P.E. I hate you Megan. Every bit of you I loathe!”

She needs a doctor.

“I love Edward since you came into his life,” she said. “I adore him since I was seven! I love him Megan. And I was so glad when you stayed in Dickenson Rehab, because I had my time with Ed. But he couldn’t see that I love him, instead he kept on writing letters for you, talking about you and I don’t fucking like it. Yes, it was not mom who kept the letters. I kept those because I don’t want you to read those mushy freaking over the top letters. I fooled you and I was the one who told that you can see ghost and you’re going crazy. I was the one who pursuade mom to put you in the mental hospital.”

“Why?”

“STOP ASKING WHY!” she bellowed but it sounded like an angry Barbie doll.

“Trick her,” Ed whispered.

I tried but I couldn’t, knowing that Kippy raised the gun aiming at me.