Marked

Chapter 27

Terrence's eyes were an array of color. A mix of blues, greens and black that would blend and dissolve into his iris. His hand shook slightly as he began pulling up the hem of his shirt.

"What are you doing?" I said, very much aware of the flush beginning to creep onto my cheeks and the sweat beginning to gather at the palms of my hands.

"I'm going to show you something" he swiftly pulled of his shirt over his head, exposing his bare chest. On him were a conglomeration of indecipherable lines and figures. It was a language that only he could understand, a map to who he was. Suddenly I felt self conscious of the marks on my skin and how I didn't even know their reasons why. The only thing that I could decipher on Terrence's chest was his heartbeat, the spiked graph that showed how very much alive he was.

"This is the scar," he went on as he pointed to his shoulder, "just put your hand on it and you'll see". His eyes were on me as he spoke, his heart line sped up for a minute and then went back to normal. I could only imagine how mine looked like right now.

I lifted up my hand with hesitation. His skin was warm against mine, and I couldn't help but wonder if he could feel the tremor in my hand. "Close your eyes" he said. The moment I did, the darkness behind my lids exploded and dissolved.

In a trance I opened my eyes, but when I expected tall trees and a rushing stream I found myself standing inside a house. The walls were simple, white but on them were hanged picture frames and within them images of happy family. Two adults, a man and a woman, the man carried a simple smile on his lips which were topped of with a mustache that later grew into a beard, the woman had a kind smile that you could see expressed on her warm brown eyes. In the middle there a was young boy with ragged brown hair and a wide semi toothless smile, his eyes brown like his mother's. Terrence, I realized, in a reality long passed.

I heard a clutter of metal and turned around in a whirl, only to find the tree of them sitting on a table in what seemed to be the kitchen. Young Terrence making a mess of his food, on him I could see small traces of marks, meanwhile his father laughed as his mother gave him a scolding look. "Im telling you," she said "his table manner could be much better".

"Oh come on honey, we know it will be a long time until he is" his father was dressed up in dirt covered overalls and tough boots. "I mean it is in his nature" he grabbed a spoon and took a sip of what seemed to be a vegetable stew.

"I know, but still he cant behave like a savage in front of all the other people out there" his mother retorted, her brows furrowed. She seemed worried.

"Everything will be fine" he said soothingly taking his hand into his. He rubbed his thumb in circular motions on the back of her hand.

The woman looked at Terrence, who was distracted by his meal, with longing. Her eyes, wrinkled at the edges, were sad she looked back at Terrence's father and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. She then rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as she exhaled. "I just don't want the life we built together to crumble down". Her eyes brown before, were now a dull blue at the rims. It was only then that I noticed the marks on her and his husbands body, but my main focus was on their hands which were absent of a wedding band. On the very same finger where a ring belonged, there was a heartbeat line, like the one on my chest and Terrence's that evidenced the liveliness of a heart.

Suddenly there was the sound of knocking on the door. The couple glanced at each other briefly. "Honey you done with your food?" She asked, and without waiting for an answer she took his hand and led him to a pair of small doors under the sink. "I love you" she said "remember the game, the longer you stay quiet the better the price". She smiled tenderly at him as Terrence gave her a wide eyed look and a shy smile. He covered his eyes with his hands as the doors closed in, leaving him in his own personal set of darkness.

She gave a nod to his father, who was standing hesitantly in front of the door. The knocking would cease and star all over again. Terrence's mother began picking up the table and began washing plates in front of his son's hiding place while his father regained his composure. The moment he verified that his wife was veiled just like him, he proceeded to open the door.

"Mr. Hawthorne?" said medium sized man, with a very deep voice. He had a young look to his face, it was free of wrinkles and clean shaven. He seemed like he was barely becoming an adult. Somewhere around his twenties, but then again looks can be deceiving.

"That's me" he answered curtly. His fists were wound tight, he seemed ready to run at any given moment.

"May I come in?" the man asked, but before getting an answer he began to enter. As he did he would carefully inspect his surroundings skeptically as one would do before entering a hostile situation. "Now" he began, "we could do this the easy or the hard way". A malicious grin washed over his face as he spoke, carefully going over every syllable he emitted. "Although I have my preferred methods" he paused slowly reaching to his back pocket, "I have decided to be kind today and let the other player choose" as he finished he pulled out a gun and took he safety off. "I am a very, very big fan of games, so lets play" he paused and looked up to Terrence's mom, "Mrs. Hawthorne you are invited as well".

Terrence's mom stopped what she was doing, she stood frozen in place. Slowly she turned around, not before shuffling around the kitchen. She walked along to the living room couch where both men were sitting and as she motioned to sit next to her husband, the man tsked in disapproval "I' sorry ma'm but thats not your assigned seat" he said as he indicated her to sit in a chair that was a bit farther away from Terrence's father. As they formed a triangle in the living room the man began again, "Glad we are all ready, what we will be playing today is a trivia game. Answer right and you'll spare me a bullet, but if you answer wrong your special other gets shot. I have never played with a linked couple before, this should be interesting. Oh and also, if try to fight me I burn this house down and anything that may be in it" at the end he glanced at the doors beneath the sink.

Terrence's parents looked at each other in disdain, but not a tear was shed. During the interrogation I saw them be torn apart from each bullet, when the other was hurt they both twisted in agony as if enduring the same amount of pain. By the time it was over the man stood up from his chair "What a waste" he muttered under his breath, "better luck next time" he said as he grabbed exited the room.

The moment he left Terrence ran out through the doors that held him. His tears remained unshed as he took in the scene before him but before he could digest it all footsteps sounded nearby. Young Terrence in the midst of his loss ran out the back door and into the darkness that enveloped the outside world. The man, the monster, came back in carrying a gallon with a yellowish liquid. He began pouring it all over the rooms and the bodies that now laid bloody and unmoving. When he was finished he stood on the doorframe and uttered "Well played" after that, everything went dark.

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Author's note

I wan to thank everybody's votes and reads on this story, you have no idea how much it means to me to see your comments and guesses of what might happen next. 

Also I want to thank you all from wherever you are, the fact that you read this makes me happier than you know

With love, see you next Sunday.