In Hell We Dance

Ultimatum

-Isaac-

I submerge, coughing and spluttering about thirty metres from Hell, onto a jetty. Sprawled in the dirt, fighting for air, feeling very much like a dead man. Even from here, I can feel the flames. Feel death.

You think your boy Isaac didn't have a plan? Bitch, I ain't got a death wish. Not anymore anyway...

The second I dropped that lighter, I spun, diving headfirst into the water. This ain't some action film. There's no admiring my handiwork, standing like a badass, sunglasses on, watching the devastation. The water saved me, but even down in those murky depths, I could feel the force of that first explosion. I knew the fire would catch, reaching the rest of the barrels in about twenty seconds. Maybe less.

Enough time for the cops to scramble. See, cop or not, you hear an explosion, you get the hell out of there. I had to hope they were fast enough. I gave that chick fair warning and I know she warned her guys. If someone got hurt, I don't think I could face Connor after—

Shit. Connor.

Fuck. He'll think I'm dead. Oh shit... Oh shit!

Maybe... Maybe he's still here.

I wriggle out my toes, but they're stiff-as-heck, and my teeth won't keep still. Still, I force myself into a run, legs shaking. Shit, man. What's up with me?

It's gotta be the buzz. The fucking high! I just blew up a fucking building, dude! Like, you have no idea how fucking badass that is! Admittedly it was home, but shit, I'd blow up a mansion just to see the flames lick the sky.

I keep close to the walls, jogging the last few metres. He parked by the bridge, close enough to see the destruction, but just in the right zone to...

He's not there. Car nowhere in sight.

Well there's that at least. Dude did the fucking smart thing. You get the hell out of there. No time for weeping and running about blindly. Leave the suckers to tend to the aftermath. They won't notice you.

Guess I better get the hell out of here too.

***

I keep to the shadows, running my fingers along walls, watching quietly as ambulances and firefighters tear down the streets to pick through the devastation of my carnal funhouse. I'm glad it's gone. Reset. Connor wanted a new start. Now we can have that.

I realised pretty quickly my phone was dead. I almost dropped the damn thing and then when the screen wouldn't turn on, my stupid brain clicked. Damn water.

Phone dead. Got Connor's credit card, but I don't know if it will even work. No way to get to Connor's place. I'd say I am royally fu—

The glare of a dingy light drenched across a payphone is a fucking miracle. I almost skip to the thing. I had no notes, but my tattered wallet still holds a few coins. I slot a silver coin in when the next mindfuck occurs. I don't even know Connor's number.

"Shit!" I lash out at the plastic walls, and the whole thing rattles. A dog barks endlessly in the distance, and the sirens scream ever on.

Wiping my nose, I run my hands through my hair, craving a damn smoke, knowing I should kick the habit. If not for me, then for Connor. But maybe there are some victories I can claim. I just need...

Sleep. I need to rest. Clean myself up. I'll see him in the morning. He'll be worried shitless, but it will all be over. We'll clear this up and then we'll run. 'Cause he promised. And I want that. I want it so goddamn much. Can you believe it?

Not to hide. Not because I've pretty much screwed the dude's life. But because I want him. Me. New place. New air. Walls. His kisses. His smiles that give me the tingles, every. Single. Time. The way his nose crinkles when he snorts in laughter. The way he gestures like a goddamn supermodel when he is telling a story. When he's just being plain sassy. Even when the conversation's mundane as hell. I want it all. I want it now. And forever.