Kill Me Softly

Chapter 9

Ezra's eyelids became heavier with each passing second. He wouldn't let his eyes off the piano. He pictured Lola was playing for him, her eyes closed, fingers grazing the keys, and her body glowing with joy. He sat on the ground, his back supported by a wall, with a glass of ice water in his hand. The night's darkness had creeped into the room, the only light being the moon's glow.

Ezra brought up the glass of water and pressed it to his cheek to keep him awake. "Come on Lola. Show me a sign to prove that you are still here," he whispered tiredly. "I can feel you. I know you are here. I know... you," his words began to slur. He hadn't slept since the funeral which was four days ago. His head slowly slipped jolting him back awake.

"Lola," he murmured.

He let his eyes shut to cease the stinging for a minute. He felt his hair get swept away from his eyes and pushed back. Ezra didn't register it at first but then his eyes snapped open. There in front of him was Lola, inches away from him. His vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. He reached forward but just as he blinked Lola vanished before his eyes.

"No! No, Lola come back." Ezra scrambled to his feet, his head spinned as the blood rushed through his body. His hand flew to the wall next to him as he searched for support. He shook his head to rid the dizziness and then turned looking around the room desperately.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he walked around the room shouting. "I am dying here and you are playing games. Huh Lola. You wanna come and explain yourself? How you left me with our baby. The baby you didn't tell me about. Our child," he choked out the last words. He bent over the piano and took a gulp his cup.

He walked backwards and looked up. "You left me, just like everyone else in my life disappeared. I should put a sign on my head saying don't get too close to me, I might kill you." He chuckled shaking his head.

"I mean its true right, Lola?" he said looking up again. "I kill everyone I care about... I do." He stepped back staring at the piano. "Right Lola?!?" He took the cup in his hand and flung it towards the piano. It hit one of the arms of the piano and shattered.

He laughed. He didn't know what made him laugh but he couldn't seem to stop. The roar of his laughter shook the room. But then he abruptly stopped. He walked away from the piano till his back hit a wall. He let himself slide down and landed roughly. "What's happening to me?"

*

Two weeks dragged on and Ezra walked aimlessly around the house. The phone kept buzzing after the first week but now he just unplugged it. He kept the house doors locked and spent his days either in Lola's piano room or their bedroom. Ezra went to the fridge but found it empty except for the few remains of wheat bread and spinach. He shut the fridge and grabbed a cup to fill with water.

Ezra stared restlessly at the cup filling. He took a deep breath and froze when his nostrils filled with the scent of lavender and rose. He stepped back and gripped the cup in his hand. He spun around and breathed in again. Lavender and rose. He closed his eyes as relief filled his body. For the first time in weeks, he felt his body warm up. He breathed in again and refrained from exhaling for a second. He felt her standing next to him but he kept his eyes closed.

As he breathed out he whispered, "Lola."

He opened his eyes and just like that he felt the warmth leave his body. He breathed in again and smelled nothing. He took a step back and leaned on the fridge for support.

"What game are you playing at Lola?" he murmured.

He gained his balance again and walked over to his office. He kicked the blueprints on the ground and searched for the phone chord. He plugged it into the wall and saw that he had a full inbox of voicemails.

"Does nothing get done without me? My god." He dialed Alec's cell and waited. He picked up on the second ring.

"Ezra?!" Alec shrieked.

Ezra held the phone away from his ear from the sharp pain Alec's voice caused him. "Yup, in all it's glory."

"You want me to come over? What kind of a security do you have? I tried to pick your lock at least ten times over the two weeks but I had no luck? I was worried sick about you lad. I was about to call the police when I felt that you had harmed yourself but I would see the lights go on and off occasionally so I-"

"Breathe Alec." He heard Alec chuckle on the other line.

"Are you good? I mean...better at least."

"I'm better now. I think. I just want to get back to life. I feel like I am rotting in here and everything is just getting more and more painful. I can feel her-" he paused for a second wondering if he should tell Alec or not. All the encounters over the two weeks may just be him going crazy. "Never mind," he muttered.

"Uh okay then. Ill let that pass for now. Well anyways I am glad to hear you wanting to get back on your feet. Ædifica has been waiting for you to come back. I mean I have been doing an okay job but geez you have some hard shit you do. Hey in the future if anything happens to you, don't even think about making me head of Ædifica. Ill seriously dig you out of your grave and make you rethink your decision."

Ezra felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips. "Alec, you are a co-owner for reason."

"Did I sign up for that because I want to adjust that contract immediately."

"Ill have the lawyers get on it right away. So Ill see you tomorrow then?" Ezra felt like he was asking himself more than Alec.

"Yes sir." Alec replied.

"Hey Alec?" Ezra cleared his throat.

"Ya lad?"

"Thanks for being a crazy stalker over these two weeks."

"How else would I know if my best mate was still living? Seriously I want to know about those locks." Alec chuckled.

"Who are you talking to Alec?" Ezra heard Eleanor's voice over the line.

"Its Ezra hun but I don't think he wants to talk to you right now." Ezra heard Alec's voice faintly.

"Nonsense, he must have called for me rather than you." Eleanor said over the other line. Ezra smiled at their bickering and leaned back on his office table, enjoying the change of atmosphere.

"But this is my cell El, he could have called..." Alec's voice trailed off. Ezra heard the clicking of Eleanor's heals on the other line.

"Hand it over." The phone muffled a bit and then Ezra heard Eleanor.

"Hey darling, how are you?" Eleanor cooed.

"Hey love. I am doing better I promise."

"I wish I could come over and give you hug but your locks are so hard to pick. Did Alec tell you about the difficulties we faced? I even used my good bobby pen but nothing." Obviously my friends don't understand the reason behind a lock, Ezra thought.

"Sorry El, I needed a few days to myself. Ill be at work tomorrow so maybe I can stop by for some dinner?" Ezra felt his stomach grumble.

"Of course. Ill cook up some of your favorites. Have you been eating? Uh Alec he hasn't been eating. What kind of a friend are you?" Ezra took a sip of his water and grew fonder of the spinach in the fridge with every passing second.

"Ill see you at seven okay Ezra?"

"Sounds good darling. And thank you for being just as big of a stalker as your lover Alec."

"Anytime," He heard Eleanor laugh over the other line.

He ended the phone call and looked around his office. It was a mess. The maid hadn't been here since the day of their anniversary and even then Lola had sent her home early due to the horrible weather. He huffed and sat in his office chair staring at the blue prints scattered on his desk. He picked up the one he had been working on for a while now. It was called "Rose".

***

A/N:

Spring Break! Time to get back to some writing. Thanks for reading!