He didn’t.
So, who did?
There’s a determination in my step this time, like I know where I’m going and what lies ahead, and as much as I don’t want to face it, I have to get there.
The red of the carpet is deeper than I remember, almost black as the mud begins to seep from beneath the material and floods between my toes. I let go of the glass, knowing I don’t need it, craving to hold the gun in my hand.
I need to see this time.
Need to watch.
Ed is before me, the mighty rope restraining him, but rather than focussing on his tortured face, I look around.
A serpent rises next to Ed, a storm brewing overhead as clouds thicken above us, lightning striking against the bleak backdrop.
“No!” I shout, but it isn’t my voice that calls the word.
The serpent moves forwards, its tongue darting from its pursed lips, its eyes regarding the audience.
“Hussssshh,” it hisses. “It issss for the bessssst. For what did one exxxxxpect?”
“But I love him.”
It’s a female voice, but not my own. I search the darkness, but there’s no one there apart from the serpent, Ed, and me.
The gun shakes in my hand as Ed pleads with me, silently praying I will end his suffering as the bricks appear at his feet, one on top of another, cement lining them, the wall growing higher as more bricks are placed.
Ed’s mouth forms the words.
“Do it. Do it now.”
My finger slips against the trigger, my mind pleading with me to put him out of his misery, to end this torture.
The scream swells in my throat, and as it does, the gun is pulled from my hand.
And instead of closing my eyes, I look to my right.
A pale, slender hand takes the gun from me, aims it at Ed, and fires.
The serpent recoils, a hiss emanating from it as if it’s the one that’s been shot, but it’s Ed who slumps to the floor.
Dark hair billows around her tiny frame as she darts over to Ed. She’s young, beautiful, and bereft.
“I love you. I will always love you,” she tells Ed, cradling his face in her hands, the gun still clutched in her fingers. “And if we cannot be together in life, then let us be together in death.” She holds the gun to her temple, but the lightning strikes it from her hand as the serpent coils itself around her and drags her from Ed’s body.
Fingers intertwine with mine as Valdemar takes my hand, the pair of us watching the scene unfold.
“I will never allow a daughter of mine to fornicate with a Raven Hand. Never. And sssshe will not bear the weight of hissss death. That burden will be yourssss.” The serpent turns to me. “You sssshot him. You will pay the priccccce and forever hold your tongue.” At his words, the lightning strikes again,this time hitting my core and surging through my body, the current flowing with lies.
At the hiss of his last word, the serpent coils in on itself, the woman vanishes, and the storm blows over. Only Ed remains, his lifeless body limp on the floor.
And then he moves.
My eyes widen as Ed sits up and stares at the blackness surrounding him until he sees me.
Valdemar releases my hand.
“Go to him,” he tells me.
