7 rings

Chapter 6

"Just look"... Days passed since, and I still don't know what to look at. Literal days. I didn't ask her again, maybe I really should "just look".

Mark Benson hadn't left the house in days, getting the only fresh air from walks in the garden. He couldn't go to class, there wasn't any internet and he didn't have his phone. The girls still were in an argument about whether they should let him go or not. In the mornings, they would go. In the night, they would come. Sometimes they would not come at all. Or not leave at all. Amanda was already back from the hospital, and, despite him explaining in all scientific details why she shouldn't leave the house for a while, especially if where she was going was the same place where she was shot, she always left with them. He started feeling used to the voices in the morning, the group running in at the middle of the night, days where they would just hang out around the house, not really doing anything. He started getting used to living in a house full of people but not really being a part of them. He had started to feel used to doors clapping, voices waking him up in the middle of the night, being alone all day, watching Dominica and the girls frantically running in the middle of the night. Used to being always there, already a part of them, but never really being that. Used to occasional small fires, usually started by Scarlet, or gunshots, or days passed in the garden, just doing nothing.  He didn't even feel like he didn't want to be there anymore. Like some weird, disorganized, big family.

Maybe I really should just see what is happening? I tried... I'm living in a small mansion with seven more people, each of those people went on a date with me years ago, some of them tried to kill me. Am I really supposed to understand anything that may be going on?

It was the middle of the night. The girls hadn't returned yet. he was able to go in the garden, but the garden was surrounded by a high fence that he couldn't climb.

Maybe it's time?

He had tried to climb it once, but he fell in the lake and decided to take some time before trying again. Maybe it was actually time?  He put his hand on one of the rocks that was slightly off and his foot on another one.  He tried to push himself. A rock near his hand exploded into pieces and he fell on the grass. Mark turned around. Violet was, once again, aiming him with the gun she seemed to carry around all the time. The girls were back.

- Violet!- shouted Dominica- Can you please not? How many times do I have to say this? Do. Not. Shoot. Him!

Can't you just stop? I already feel too bad for not being able to be strong. When you try to kill him and I try to stop you, it hurts even more.

- And you!- calmly said, Vanessa. She Had wavy gold hair and was wearing a nude chiffon dress. He knew immediately they just had a meeting. She was always calm and looked like she just rolled out of an old classic book.- Maybe you shouldn't always try to escape. we kept you alive. I mean, she kept you alive.- she looked at Dominica- Can't you just calm down? 

- Actually, - suddenly said Dominica. - Come with me. About that... we have to talk, Mark.

- About what? - asked Mark. Dominica looked at him with the most annoyed of looks.

- About that " she kept you alive" thing.

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Ok. Now I have two options. I can back down or I can go on. Let's have fun.

- I do. - I said.

- You... You know Dominica? You talk to her?

- I do.

- Can you bring me to her?- the shine in Evelyn's eyes was so bright that I almost gave in.

- No. - the shine in Evelyn's eyes disappeared as quickly as it came.

- Why? - she asked, looking like there was just not much sense to continue to live now.

No no no no...

Maybe...

- But I can help you. Look, Evelyn... Have you ever heard of The Play?

- Where two insane people choose three something and spoil their entire lives? Yes, what does that have to do with Dominica?

- Well... - I looked Evelyn in the eyes. - I am one of those insane people. I have chosen you. Years ago.