We are alive.
My hands clutch the end of the bat tighter, twirling it slowly keeping a close eye on Xena’s movement from the corner of my eye.
“I don’t have all night.” Xena’s voice pulls my attention back to her. She looks out of it, sweating and her eyes are bloodshot. “WHY?” She shouts as her hand drives the machete deeper into him before ripping it out.
“It was the only way to keep him safe,” I reply honestly while preparing myself to run, because I won’t attack her, not when she’s still so fragile. If anything, I hope to draw her closer to Roman. That’s the least I can do before I go off on my own. “Just like you have Roman.” I press my hand over my chest, “I have Kai. He’s everything to me. All I have left is him, Xena.”
Her mouth opens but quickly slams shut before her eyes move towards movement in the tall corn stalks. A drunken scarecrow stumbles out with a girl dressed like an angel—both looking freshly fucked, and a pang of jealousy hits me. I wish I could be like them, carefree and in love, and completely unaware of the dangers around me. That’s just not my reality unfortunately.
Xena shakes from the anger, or maybe the withdrawal, turning her face up towards the sky; the red and green strobes illuminate her face. A macabre dance of lights. Dread coils deep in my spine as a mechanical laughter echoes through the field. The high pitch sound causes me to turn my head in the direction of it.
It’s like a scene cut from movies, and I can see why Roman is obsessed. Their darkness truly matches; his might be bloodier, but I’m afraid I’ve awakened something far worse.
I open my mouth to speak, but the words won’t come out. I’m just standing there taking in the eerie calm that radiates from her.
“Does Alec want to kill me?” She asks quietly, not bothering to look my way. The machete still in her hand drips crimson that's now collected in a small pool within the soil.
“I – I don’t know what his plans are besides the one that got you here,” I reply honestly, my eyes darting around the area as partygoers draw closer. The wind is ripping through the cornfield, making the stalks shift. The beat drops, just as she lifts the machete, and this time she looks at me.
All I see is darkness.
Roman.
Both of them blended together as if their souls were carved from the same stone. “You drugged me; you helped him,” She seethes, pointing out my obvious betrayal. Her words are like daggers aiming straight to my barely working heart.
“I’m so tired of people making me a victim.” Her head cocks to the side, making her dark hair fall over the side of her shoulder. I was never worried about my safety with Xena. One look at her sends a chill down my spine. Maybe I underestimated her—maybe we all did.
“I wanted to protect Kai. Alec is not right in the head.” The music shrills around us; the techno blends with evil laughter to get the people into the dread of Halloween. More screams fill the night air; the sound high pitched and laced with gurgling. It grows fainter as the music gets louder, and a couple dressed as Storm Troopers exit the maze, both looking at us, swaying to the side.
“This is so fucking cool, man,” the moron beside the brunette brims as he takes in the bleeding body of the Michael Myers and the two broken dolls ready to dance in a fight of survival. The brunette laughs out a loud and obnoxious sound that causes my nerves to go shot.
“No rules. No phones. No way out!” the man shouts, lifting his cup in the air. “I swear, babe, we are making the next one.” Xena and I both watch the young couple as he wraps his arm around her waist, and they continue on their merry path.
“Help me kill Alec.” Her tone is menacing but final, giving me no room to argue. “If not, I'll cut you down now.”
I swallow hard; the lump in my throat latches onto my esophagus, choking me. “I was hoping you would say that.” But just as the words leave my mouth, Kai cuts through the clearing, and my knees almost buckle from relief. He’s bloody and banged up, Roman put him through hell, I'm sure. We all stand frozen for a moment before Kai inches closer his gaze fixed on me;
“Trouble?” He mutters. It’s a question and a statement, not just my nickname. One that asks if I’m okay while reassuring that he’s here in the same breath. My heart skips a beat, tears brim my eyes, but I blink it away.
My lips stretch into a smile. As much as I don’t want to beam with joy at the same time, I can’t help it. My heart sings, the melody drifting all over my body. I extend my free hand out which he takes with no hesitation while Xena just glares.
“Where—” Xena breaks the silence. “Where is Roman?” Her voice breaks a little at the mention of Roman’s name. Her body quivers despite trying her best to hide it, eyes scanning the area—her mind fighting through the fog. While the need of the drugs kick in. You can see it in the tremor of her body, the unfocused eyes and the irritability. Despite all of this I can focus on the firm, calloused sweaty and sticky hands that squeeze mine,ripping my attention from her to Kai. Brown eyes searching mine, worry etching in every line on his face.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, running my thumb up the soft part of his skin before lifting my gaze to Xena.
“He’s inside,” Kai says, taking a step forward as her neck twitches, her body certainly trying to claw its way out of her skin. “I can take you to him,” he adds before turning towards me. “But you don’t let him hurt her.”
“You ca-an take me to him.” Her body is losing the rush of adrenaline that one gets when fighting for your life. No matter how much she’s trying to fight it, her need is winning. I never knew how deep of a hole she had clawed her way out of, until her and I grew close. A pang of guilt flips in my stomach; the music drowned by the raging rush of blood in my ears.
“Yes, I can.” Kai inches closer, dragging me with him, my angel pleading for me. Since the day we met in that police station, he’s been nothing but genuine, loving and protective of me.
Blood or not.
Kai and I are family, being related is just schematics.
Chapter Eighteen
Roman
