Run Away With Me

Chapter 33: Delusions and Memories.

Three seconds turn into two, and then two seconds turn into one, until finally all twenty passengers are whisked through the air and plummet to their death. I scream my lungs out as the ride picks up again, then fall and picks up again, repeating the routine until my voice becomes hoarse and my throat dry.

I laugh through the whole thing though, cheeks wrinkling to the point they hurt.

When we're off the ride I'm still giggling, the fuzzy feeling in my stomach not letting up and prompting me to go for another round. But the same can't be said for my partner...

Nao looks like he's about to trip and die, thanking the gods for the life he had and bid goodbye with a soft smile. His face is pale, paler than usual, and his eyes are red with unshed tears that he refuses to let fall down.

I want to laugh at him, mock him for the show of weakness he is presenting to me, but even I know when a line is crossed. I pat his back while dazed myself, showing pity in the most subtle of ways.

He groans after ten minutes of this and shakes his head. He narrows his eyes at me, sighs, and looks elsewhere, probably contemplating his life choices this very second. I won't let him though, wouldn't want him to start regretting and rethinking things.

With a wide smile on my face, I take his hand in mine, pulling him off the bench. He looks less than amused, but he complies, letting me drag him where I want us to go.

When we got to the amusement park, Nao was less than pleased with the situation. The place was crowded, bright and loud. All of this played a role on chipping away his patience. But he went along with what I wanted – something I was incredibly happy with – but honestly, I don't know how long this will last.

After every ride, he looks a bit more suicidal, a bit more fed up and a bit more wolfish... if that whole concoction of emotions can even be mixed.

But there's one more ride I want to get on before we leave, before all his money is up and before he blows.

I pray that the booming music takes a little while longer to detonate his temper. I pray that he has a little more patience with me. I pray that before I'm dragged out of this park by an alpha, I have made it to the top.

I press my lips against each other when the ride-guy locks the cart, securing us in safety. My hands are trembling when the ride moves clockwise, and sweat drops off my nose when I look at Nao, who isn't the least bit suicidal anymore, just pissed and tired.

His lips are twisted in such a way that they match perfectly with his frowned eyebrows, and the look he is fixing me with sends chills down my spine.

Just a little while longer Nao, I pray, looking elsewhere.

The lights down below shimmer the higher we go, and the whole amusement park seems just out of my reach, even though we are in the center of it. To my delight, the music seems to dim all the way up here, but when I turn to look at his expression, he doesn't seem to appreciate it.

I gulp and hope that the ride could go faster. Higher and higher, till we're at the top, till I can touch the sky with my fingertips, till I can look down and see the night sky, full of stars.

I kiss my hand and bite into it, anticipating the seconds that go by.

Time seems to suffocate me, and so does Nao's silent glare.

He releases a heavy sigh and supports his head with his palm, never letting that smoldering glare off the side of my face. I gulp again, feeling the pressure, but we're almost there.

Just a few more seconds, just a few more...

"Loopie," he calls and I flinch, cursing as the sight down below seems to run away. I don't turn to him, but hum, letting him know that I've heard him.