Colour Me Red

Chapter 32: Dune Airaldi

Recap: Dune killed Ellie in a showdown with Beathaven.

Chapter 32: Dune Airaldi

I swore in an undertone as Ellie's limp body dropped to the floor with a sickening thud.

I'd just killed my girlfriend; my first, and only, girlfriend.

What was I thinking?

I looked up at Beathaven with what I hoped was indifference, but I feared that he could see the hint of regret in my eyes.

"What the hell did you do that for?!" he shot at me, but there was a slither of resignation in his voice, like he was an old man ready to sit down and put his feet up.

"Why did you want her anyway?" I asked curiously, watching him carefully, tracking his movements to see if he was preparing to strike.

He scrubbed at his hair, frustrated, but his weapon was no longer pointed at me and he seemed distracted from what I was saying.

"Do you have any idea how special she was? Huh?" he asked with vigour.

"We could've used her as a weapon, you stupid boy. She could heal herself like that," he said, clicking his fingers. He started pacing furiously and I calculated how easy it would be to take him out.

"You're assuming that I'd want to work with you," I said a little slyly.

Beathaven looked at me incredulously.

"Just think of the publicity! We'd be the most feared duo in the world!" He laughed manically and I started to question the level of his mental stability.

"There's just a teeny weenie problem," I said, holding my fingers mere millimetres apart. "I kill people like you, whereas you kill innocent people, just for the fun of it."

"Don't you see? They're sacrifices, to the Gods."

My eyebrows shot into my hairline.

"You're joking," I blurted.

"If I didn't make these sacrifices, many more people would die. Don't you understand?"

My mind struggled to comprehend the absurdity it was being faced with. This man, who was clearly insane, was trying to convince me that the reason he killed people was for the greater good.

"Don't you watch the news? The number of natural disasters has decreased since I started my work. I save lives – just like you."

I laughed. I couldn't help it; I was gulping in air by the gallon and releasing it in endless chortles. I could see Beathaven going red in the face. He threw his gun to the floor like a stroppy three-year-old and stomped over to me with outstretched hands. I stepped over Ellie's unmoving body and swatted his hands away as they reached for my throat.

"I'll make a deal with you boy," he said, reaching for me again. I pushed him back a step and shifted into defence mode, my hands curling into fists.

"I won't kill you if you sign a contract saying that you'll work with me for one year." I blocked a series of blows as he paused to take a breath and I swept my leg at his ankles with the intention of tripping him, but he merely stumbled and stayed with two feet fixed on the ground.

"And the cherry on the cake?" I asked, knowing that there was more to come.

"I'll let you kill me."

I paused and he managed to land a blow on my right shoulder. It knocked me back a step but I quickly recovered and slammed my fist into his face. He blinked in shock and held his hand up to his face, feeling the blood spilling from his nose. He sneered at me with blood stained teeth and attacked like a viper. His movements so fast and practised I was reminded of his talent in the field of killing.