Reverie [Bruno Mars - Editing]

Chapter twenty-two

Chapter twenty-two

We were in the hall with the red carpet, the angels on the windows. It was dark, which was odd because I thought it was morning when everything started happening. Bruno and I were quiet. He tried talking to me but I didn't respond. I couldn't. Before we made it there he said something that I didn't hear. I turned around to face him, and he said it again. "Dri." When I didn't say anything he pursed his lips. "Talk to me."

I wanted to scream at him; shove him in his chest; swear; the anger finding me, but I didn't. "You kissed her."

His hand went across his forehead. "You saw that?" He rubbed the side of his face. "Oh man. You weren't supposed to."

My breathing faltered. I guess I was hoping he'd deny it, to prove what I saw wasn't real. I backed away from him. "Do me a favor and don't come near me? I don't want you anywhere near me."

"Wait." He was taking steps, coming towards me. "Adrian, wait—"

The doors were already cracked open when I got there. I slipped through as fast as I could. The first thing I noticed was how gray the room looked, more somber, sad. The second thing I noticed was the Incurses' hold of a long, thin blade, and how it was pointed at Rev's throat. 

*

I instantly moved forward, throwing out my hand. "Stop!" Both their heads turned to me. The Incurses lips twisted into a smile. "Hayes. So nice of you to join us." He looked behind me, to Bruno, who lingered in the back. "And Hernandez. Are you two here for the show?"

Rev was glancing between Bruno and me, looking worried. "Please," I begged. "just let him go."

The Incurses laughed. "Why should I? He's a trespasser. Death is to be put upon him." He inched the blade closer to his neck and Rev grimaced. "It's all right, girlie. At least now you know that everything isn't so black and white, after all." 

But right when the Incurses moved, a handle suddenly stuck out of his chest. The blade descended to the floor as the Incurses dropped to his knees, his mouth opened in a silent scream. He fell over. Still. I could only stare. I have never seen anyone die right before my eyes. Joseph was standing in the entrance, his hand still in the position he used to throw the knife. His clothes were bloody, and so was his face. He smiled. "One down," he rasped, then looked at all three of us. "But how many more to go?"

*

Bruno advanced towards me but Joseph was faster. He stepped between us, bringing out another blade from behind his back. He didn't raise it, but held it limply, letting the tip graze the floor. Joseph was facing me but his words were directed at Bruno. "Don't move or she dies. You don't want to die either."

He then laughed, it ended in a coughing fit. He even staggered a little. "What happened Adrian? We were having such a good time." He threw a look over his shoulder. "You can't throw a hit."

Bruno gritted his teeth together as Joseph turned his attention to me again. "I didn't know you had it in you when you stabbed me." He rested his free hand on his rib cage where his shirt was soaked with red the most and winced. "Adrian, all you have to do is give me what I want, that's all."

How were you supposed to act with madmen? My mom once worked with kids who were troublemakers in school. I tried remembering her voice. "What do you want, Joseph?" 

"You." He wiped the blood from his chin with the back of his hand. "I want you."

"Okay," I said as gently as possible, avoiding looking at the weapon glinting in his hand. "You have me."

His head tilted to the side, trying to figure me out. "I do?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Prove it," he said, a kid wanting to be shown his fairy tales were real. "Prove that you'll stay with me."