The Grey's Curse

Chapter Forty One - In Memoriam

~Tanner's POV~

I barely had the strength to breath and when I did, I could feel every cut, scrape and bruise, causing a sheering hot pain to shoot through my beaten and battered body as it struggled to gasp for air.

When I thought about what my death would be like it wasn't this.

I didn't imagine myself bloodied and battered by a creepy stalker monster with knife wounds and claw marks littered all over my body.

But here I am, gazing into Mars's eyes; knowing they could very well be the last thing I see.

My body felt like it was paralyzed in pain, my previous knife wound had reopened and now it was accompanied with many other slashes and stab wounds, I felt dizzy from blood loss and I could see Mars fighting against the monster's control but it was too late for me, at least, it felt like it was anyway.

My body struggled for small shaky breaths as I fought to say the words that's been on the tip of my tongue for awhile now.

I stared at her bloody and tear stricken face with a bloody smile.

"I...love..you"

I couldn't even see her reaction as after I uttered those words, I felt darkness envelope me and images and moments of my life start to flash before my eyes; starting with my childhood to the day I met Mars, I could remember hating the feeling of her glare directed at me and I could remember the fair and the fear I felt when I saw her start screaming and throwing up, I could even remember the day I knew I loved her.

*Flash back*

I had met up with Mars the day after the fair, well she snuck me in, I knew she was having a hard time after what happened so I let her unleash all her worries on me, knowing that it was well overdue for her. she first started talking about her constant nightmares and lack of sleep but then the subject changed to her Mother.

"I don't know what to do Tanner, I want my mom" Mars sniffled with her face tucked in the side of my neck as I held her tightly; comforting her the only way I knew how 'She's an idiot but I love her' Her sniffles hurt to hear.

"I already lost Dad, I can't lose her too" I rubbed her back comfortingly as she cried in my arms "I know Mars, someone will find her, I promise you, you'll see your mom" I tightened my arms around her; my own eyes tearing up.

Her crying had slowly calmed down to just sniffling "I'm sorry if I got any snot on you" her voice was muffled from still being tucked close to me. I chuckled as she rested her head on mine.

"It's okay Mars, that's not my concern at the moment" a few minutes later I could tell that she was dozing off in the comfort of my arms and I gently leaned my head on her's; nearly dozing off myself when we hear footsteps approaching her door.

I say up quickly and she looked at me like a deer in headlights, I made a muffled yelp as she quickly pushed me and made me roll under the bed and out of sight. I could feel my heart racing when the door opened and I see her Grandmother walk in and gulped.

"Hey Grandma, what's up?" I cringed at the nervousness in her voice.

'And she wonders why I think she's a terrible liar'

"Oh nothing dear, just wanted to check on you and tell you that dinner will be done in a few minutes" I quietly shushed my stomach that growled at the thought of home cooked dinner.

"Okay thanks Grandma, I was just reading some articles on...clothes" I shook my head at her 'Such a terrible liar' "Okay dear, now don't mind me I'm just going to check on the food now" I could tell by her Grandmother's voice that she didn't fully believe her.

'She may not fully believe her but at least she's not aware that I'm here'

I sighed h in relief when she closed the door and I saw Mars motion that I can get back up "That was close" I nodded with my heart still racing "Yeah and I really don't want to get chased by your Grandma" She punched my arm lightly and laughed.

"I think she would win too" She nearly burst out in loud laughter, having to cover her mouth with her hand to muffle any laughs trying to escape but I was in no better shape; having to bury my face in her pillows to muffle my laughter.

"If we keep laughing like this we're going to get caught eventually Mars" She waved her hand in a dismissive manner "Nah, we should be fine...I think" I shook my head, still laughing "We're playing a dangerous game here, dear ole Gran Grans gonna catch us" she threw her head back and laughed.

"Yeah, maybe if you don't shut up" I gasped and put my hand on my chest in mock offense "Oh how your words cut through my heart" She playfully slapped my arm "Come on, if you're so worried let's take a walk or something" She suggested not wanting me to be uncomfortable.

I thought about it for a minute before nodding slowly "Yeah, let's do that" The only bad part about visiting her like this was I had to go through the window in order to not be seen.

"I hate doing this" I muttered as I heaved myself out, tensing up when I tripped and fell right on my back, no doubt knocking the air out of me. Mars poked her head out the window to make sure I was okay before laughing at me.

I glared at her as I tried to catch my breath, after a few minutes I pointed at her accusingly "You're evil" in response she stuck her tongue out at me with a playful grin.

On our walk she saw a movie theater and nudged me in the side, pointing at the theater "Do you wanna watch a movie?" I shrugged "Yeah sure, I wonder what movies their playing?" When we got there we saw they didn't have any interesting movies so we picked the most cliche and cringe worthy movie they had.

We kept laughing and making fun of the movie; nudging each other every now and then to irritate each other. however unknown to her, I barely paid attention to the movie, I was tempted to do the old 'yawn and slide your arm behind her' move but I'd lose my courage before I could execute it.

"Well that was officially the worst movie I've ever seen" She commented chuckling at how bad the movie was, I nodded and laughed with her "Oh yeah, it's definitely in the top ten worst movies" She looked at me in surprise.

"Only top ten? Name one movie worse then the one that we just watched" I brought my hand up to my chin and acted like I was thinking hard "You know what, you're actually right, that was the worst movie I've ever seen" She smiled smugly and crossed her arms "Psh of course I'm right, when am I not?" I instantly smirked and turned to look at her with a sly smile.

She stopped and glared at me "Don't you dare say anything" I slowly rose an eyebrow; still slyly smiling at her "Do you remember when-" She sped up ahead of me and childishly covered her ears "Nope, I can't hear you, la la la" I laughed and ran after her.

"Come on Mars, you know exactly what I'm talking about" I couldn't help but tease her. She uncovered her ears and looked back at me "I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about, nada, zilch" I jogged up to her side.

"Someone is fibbing" I said in a sing song voice "Remember that night when we saw what you said was a 'cute little kitten' that turned out to be a raccoon with foam coming out of it's mouth?" I teased with a smile.

She looked to the side "Well it did look like one" I heard her mutter "That 'Kitten' chased us for twenty minutes down the road!" I let out a loud laugh at that "And do you remember who screamed like a little boy when it did? Hm?" She teased back with a smirk.

I stopped laughing and gave her side eye "It probably had rabies! And I was just protecting you, I was distracting it okay?" She let out a loud laugh "Protecting me my butt, I know you'd throw me to the wolves if you had to!" I cracked a smile at that.

'She really is clueless huh?' I don't know if I was really good at hiding my feelings for her or if she just never noticed them.

"Someone's gotta live to tell the tale" I shrugged nonchalantly, knowing full well that I would die for her.

And now I could peacefully leave this world knowing that I did.