Emergence ~ Split

Chapter Fifteen

Claire's death had brought her anything but consolidation, she was riddled with remorse. She couldn't stop picturing Dennis carrying her limp body, lighting her to fire and grinning as he watched the blonde ash of her hair dissipate before him.

The day Casey woke up at the hospital, she now knows, that Dennis would have been burying the evidence. Doing her dirty work for her. And now, he stood before her, expecting the world would open up and let them disappear from all the guilt that they caused. Her cold hands were shaking in his own warm steady ones as he held them sweetly.

"Casey..." He asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. "We can leave now." He whispered gently, believing that she was proud of him as he smiled at her.

The girl was paralysed, shocked and lost in her thoughts. Dennis was swirling around her, mimicking the actions of the Beast. Each look, touch and breath was of the living Beast before her and in her nightmares.

"Leave." She stated, not feeling the taste or meaning of the words as they left her numb mouth.

"We're running away." Dennis explained. "We promised to leave as soon as Claire was dead. I'm ready to leave with you." He stepped forward, intwining their fingers together, before bringing their hands together in front of his chest. "There is no more guilt to be felt here." He whispered pressing her hand against his heart, "We will run. We will find the pure. And never regret again." He gave her a reverent smile.

Casey was lost. Her mind playing tricks on her. Whispers and sins floated around her. Drawing her in and tempting her with each suggestion. She couldn't focus on what was right and wrong.

The voice in her head was singing with glee at Dennis, he had finally come around. Yet another voice inside knew that what they had done was wrong. That ignoring all of their faults and mistakes wasn't going to guarantee a better life. They had still murdered someone.

The blood between them was shared. They had to face the consequences.

Casey knew that she was the Beast, the monster that crawled it's way into everyone's life. Planting ideas and waiting for them to sprout. She had roughened Dennis with calloused dreams of underaged love, and given him the strength to kill. She had brought him to his knees, buried his morals and soaked him in the fear of the Beast.

"Let's leave, now." Dennis encouraged, taking a step back and pulling her along with him. Casey couldn't speak, couldn't find the words to reject him after creating him.

He led her back into his bedroom as she followed numbly. A bag was already placed on the bed filled with a few shirts and such. Casey closed her eyes, trying to shake the cold imposing feeling that spread across her body.

"We'll buy you clothes when we get out. I figured it's easy to find you something nice and new." He smiled, shuffling through the bag and piling up his socks. "I would have been ready for tonight, but I wasn't expecting you to run off with that boy last night. But never mind, we'll be off soon." He smiled again, without any bitterness.

Casey stood frozen by the doorway, watching him move hopefully and swiftly across his room. His bag was easily packed as he zipped it up and swung it over his shoulder, finally noticing Casey's resistance.

"You ready to go? Let's just leave." He smiled, stepping forward to meet her by the door. Her eyes were hazed as she tried to hold back tears, avoiding his blue concerning eyes.

Dennis knew she was withdrawing, noticing her inability to response. Casey was torn between her feelings. She needed him, much like he needed her. Casey wanted him to be hers, but was counteracted by each second thought that reminded her of the Beast that was lurking between them.