Black Temptation

Chapter 59

There's a bag over my head. There's a darkness that even the night sky envies. And then of course, the night always has an end.

The bag is ripped off as I sit tied tightly to a chair. I see doubles, triples, figures and motions. Yet my eyes are still in darkness. There's a ringing in my ear. One lone light above me. Then I see him.

"Harry! Harry! Are you okay?" Shaking, I attempt to free my self when a voice shadows over the mere thought.

"He can't hear you." The deep and sinister voice growls. This shadow I cannot see since the light has gotten more intense. Failing to resist the urge to rest my weary eyes, I bow my head. Going in and out of consciousness.

"Stay awake...stay awake." I murmur, silently.

Suddenly, vinegar is thrown on my face, which only stings. I guess that was the intent.

"What do you want from me?" My voice echoes off into the distance.

"I want my life back you dumb bitch!" And his hand slaps me across my ached face. "Ever since you started trying to be independent, you've made everyone else pick up the pieces. You're trying to rewrite history but guess what, you forgot one thing. I," slap. "Still," slap. "Own you!"

He stretches his face in front of mine so I can see the evil which conducts his words.

"Alexander-you poisoned me!"

He huffs, swollen cheek on display. "Ironic huh? You see McKenzie. It was never about you. Yes, I was mortified when you tried to quit but I knew you better than you knew yourself. Your curiosity advances you. I planned for you to fall in love, vow your lives to each other and-well-end up here, because there's one thing you and him have in common.

Fear."

He grabs my throat and coerces me to stare him, as much as I can.

"Now I want you to understand something and I want you to understand it vividly. I'm here to ruin your life. So don't whine the same old tune of "please spare my life!" Because once I tell Harry your real plan, there won't be a life to go back to." He jerks my face to the IV lodged into my arm.

"It's Phosgene oxime. Your favorite right? In a minute or so you're going to get dozens of very painful wheals on your skin and...oh you know the rest. And who'll be there to help him cope after your, as I said, very painful, death? Me. Me. Me!"

Throwing my head down, he begins to walk away into the darkness.

"But before then, we are going to have a little fun."

"What makes you think," my lips quivering as I speak,"he'll ever love you the way he loves me?"

His faces shoots up in utter disgust.

"I don't want to have sex with him. So I don't plan on having the same kind of love he had for you. Besides, the kinky things you two did makes me throw up in my mouth."

Instantly pure humiliation of knowing he watched us make love does not even cross my mind. Maybe because Harry hinted at it moments ago. Or maybe because it's like a dull dagger waiting for this IV to get out of my arm to really hurt.

But this is about to.

"Did you kill my mother?"

He turns to me.

"Oh, she died gracefully. But no, I didn't.... I killed Ms. Tote."

Again, he smirks at me as I fight to hold my hot tears back.

"What?"

"You think she told you to go live with Harry because she was dying? No! She was trying to keep you from knowing that she knew. She never left CherryBrooke, she tried to expose me, just like you. She said I was stalking your mother...and yes I was. But it was not her place to tell me so, so she had to be removed from the equation, you know. That's why the no more letters ever came if you're wondering."

I clench together my fingers in a battle between feeling and dealing. And I just give up, and opt to feel. Feel it. Feel it all.

"You monster! I hate you! I hate you!" I growl, crying and vibrating the chair I'm in. The harder I shake my hand the deeper the IV goes into my arm and the more agonizing approaching him becomes. The agonizing pain finally forces me to stop. But not like the pain of my dear, dear Ms. Tote. Not like the pain she was dealt. Wheezing my words and painting my cheeks in despair.

"Oh I know. I hate you too. You see, McKenzie, in the wake of all your discovery, you leave bones behind. Especially, Marianne's. Yeah, You think you know... but she became a liability. A costly one. When she became pregnant, it was just the final straw. So yeah, I took her to the clinic where she got the abortion and yeah, it was pretty gruesome. And when she told Harry that she had tried to ruin his life, I had to let her go. Literally." He replies. "Op! Look, he's awaking."

Another shadow goes off to retrieve the weak Harry, his head low and lifeless. His chair is sat behind me and I feel for his hands. His hands are still warm. Suddenly, he manages to slightly squeeze my fingers back. He doesn't speak but a flick, a movement, anything-is better than nothing. A sudden urge to push my brain out of my head takes over and I'm left fighting myself. But I stop when a body cradles my vision.

"PJ!" I lose my breath. Intense anguish and horror rushes across his face, startling me back.

"You've been of great help son. See you in hell!"

And before I can even say a subtle thank you, the gunshot screeches. His blood splatters on my neck as I whine a horrible half cry just as PJ is brought to his knees.

"I'm so sorry..." He mouths as his eyes roll to the back of his head and he collapses on his final breath.