Encore (Book Four of Test the Limits Series)

Too Late

"Wake up assholes!"

Dark was startled awake by Infelix yelling and literally dragging him out of bed, causing Anti to wake up as well with a sharp gasp of fear.

"What the hell?!" Dark snapped groggily as his body hit the floor with a thud, the blankets still covering Anti while goose bumps rippled across Dark's skin.

"You're both going to the anniversary thing, hurry up and pack. Virus is driving you two out now." Infelix stated, ignoring Dark.

"At three in the morning?" Anti groaned.

"Do you want me to wake you up earlier?" Infelix countered tersely.

Anti glared at Infelix in response.

"Go." Infelix directed.

Together Dark and Anti packed their suitcases with clothes and other necessities, bringing one of their favorite personal belongings, the Nintendo Switch, with them in Anti's bag for the jet.

"Hurry up!" Infelix barked impatiently as Anti stuffed an extra pair of pants in his suitcase.

"Leave him alone." Dark intervened defensively, stepping between Anti and Infelix.

"Back off Dark, you and Anti are my bitches and you know it." Infelix growled threateningly.

Dark glared at Infelix until Infelix finally gave up and walked away, a small triumphant smile lighting up Dark's face.

"How's the back?" Dark asked Anti as he watched him pack since he was finished.

"It's delightful, I wish I got shot as many times as you since it's so much fun." Anti answered harshly, voice oozing with heavy sarcasm tinged with anger.

"Sorry." Anti apologized with a sigh, wearily rubbing his face with his hands in exasperation.

"It's alright...if it makes you feel any better, not all of these scars I got are from bullets." Dark shrugged nonchalantly.

"Really?" Anti replied in mild surprise.

"Yeah, I actually got this one when I had a tumor that needed to be removed." Dark explained as he lifts up his shirt slightly to show off the long vertical scar on the center of his torso.

"I think your abs of steel are the only thing keeping you from dying." Anti joked.

"The Corvette is ready whenever you two are." Virus informed Dark and Anti.

The two exchanged glances before dumping their stuff in the trunk and sitting together in the backseat.

The top was down, allowing the moon to shine down on the two like a giant spotlight, billions of stars peppering the sky despite the fact that it was morning.

Anti grinned as the wind whipped in their faces, causing his hair to fly around wildly.

He glanced over at Dark and saw that his hair was flying around wildly as well, a wide grin on his face as he looked up at the sky.

"It's beautiful." Dark remarked loud enough so Anti could hear him.

"But not as beautiful as you." Dark added with a smirk, lightly poking Anti's nose.

"We're taking a detour through Germany to get to Finland in the fastest route possible." Virus told Dark and Anti.

Instantly Dark's happy mood changed into nervousness, his expression betraying his shame.

"What's up?" Anti prompted Dark.

"I...I don't want my mom to see the monster I've become." Dark explained in a rush.

"She's your ma, she'll love you no matter what." Anti assured Dark, gently squeezing his hand.

"You're right, but still..." Dark trailed off as he looked back up at the sky.

"I know." Anti smiled sympathetically, wrapping one arm around Dark's shoulders and looking up at the sky with him.

Anti didn't even know he fell asleep until the car abruptly jolted to a halt, his eyes opening to find light gray clouds and sunlight above him instead of stars.

"It's noon, get food." Virus directed, pointing at the McDonalds next to them while he stayed in the car.

Dark and Anti slowly got out of the car, watching Virus drive the car away to who knows where.

They started to walk into the restaurant when Dark suddenly froze as if paralyzed, looking across the street at something.

"What?" Anti frowned in confusion, following Dark's gaze.

His mother, Felix, Marzia, Jack, Signe, Mark, Amy, Murphy, and Smith were all in the other side at a cemetery with two black coffins in front of them.

"C'mon." Anti nudged Dark lightly, encouraging Dark to follow him across the street and into the line of trees that made up the outskirts of the small cemetery.

They were just in time to see everyone leave except a short woman with black hair streaked with silver dressed in a simple black dress that was unfamiliar to Anti.

Anti noticed Dark start to move from their hiding spot, so Anti wrapped his arms around Dark tightly to keep from leaving.

Silently they watched as she kneeled down on Dark's grave, her head bowed and dark chocolate brown eyes glittering with tears.

"I don't know what I'll do without my little light in my life. I hope that you're happy with John wherever you are." Darlene whispered, her voice barely audible to Dark and Anti.

After a moment, she reluctantly stood back up, pausing and glancing back at Dark's grave one last time before slowly walking back to her car and driving away.

"Mom." Dark whispered, causing Anti's heart to break for him.

"Once we get this job done, you'll get to see her again." Anti promised him.

"Once this job is done, the first thing I'm doing is marrying you and getting a house far from any of our troubles." Dark answered in fierce determination mixed with passion.

"As long as we get to keep Mayhem, then that sounds perfect." Anti teased, earning a smirk from Dark as they emerged from their hiding spot and walked to the McDonalds, surprised to find Virus back.

"I got gas, now get in." Virus demanded.

Dark and Anti did as he told them, watching the cemetery become nothing but a small black dot in the distance as they drove in towards Finland.