"See what we'll do for you. To keep you safe," Swayze said.
I looked up, my vision still blurry. "That's not what I wanted. You're sick. You?—"
It was then that I saw the knife in Swayze's hand. His shirt was soaked in blood. Was that Uncle Carlos's, Monica's, or someone else's entirely?
"Domino, please step away from the edge. This ride isn't safe," Koi pressed.
"Why? Because your friend died here? That's one in thousands. What are the odds I'll die if I fall?" I leaned further over. "It's real dark down there."
"Domino, please." Swayze stepped forward, and I stiffened.
"Don't come near me!" I screamed. "I never asked for any of this. I didn't need you to save me. Fuck you."
Swayze stormed over, grabbing me and pulling me away from the ledge. I kicked and screamed and fought as we fell onto the hard platform.
"I'm not letting you go!" he bellowed as he wrapped his arms around me. I managed to slip out of his grasp and spin my body. I saw his face and brought my foot back and shoved it into his teeth. His head flew back as he yelled out.
"You bitch!"
I went to stomp him again, but he caught my shoe. I pulled and my foot slipped out of my shoe. He tossed it aside and tried to grab for me again, but I scrambled up and limped away as fast as I could, heading to the edge of the platform.
"Domino! You need your shoe!"
I stared at my legs.
"Not anymore. I think it's time I end all of this. I die, and everyone else will live." I closed my eyes, braced myself for the cold, and tilted forward.
"No!" they screamed and lunged for me, but it was too late. I didn’t want to keep fighting the inevitable. I could save the people who were left if I just sacrificed myself. My body tumbled over the edge, and when I collided with water, it was like hitting ice-cold glass, and everything went black.
Rule 51 - Koi
The more detailed the plan, the easier to execute.
Two weeks before.
"So Chitra's coming down the zipline next and then Domino." Blane rubbed his hands together and grabbed his Jason mask. "We gotta be ready to run the moment Chitra is off the harness."
"Do I have time to take a piss?" I looked toward the trees. "It takes time for the zipline to get back and put someone new in the harness."
"True, yeah, let's get Chitra and then you can piss. Hell, we may even have time for a beer. Are your viewers enjoying this shit?" He looked to the ring light stand where my phone sat. I walked over and waved to my followers.
"Looks like it. How's everyone holding up? We're gonna play a small prank, and then we're gonna head over to a bonfire. What kind of pranks have you pulled on others, tell me in comments, and keep those gifts coming." I stuck out my tongue and waved to them before returning to Blane. "Why don't you take my phone with you, talk to them a little bit. I'll get Chitra down, go piss, and catch up with you."
I paused the live to shoot Swayze a text.
Me: Don't let her go.
I turned the live back on and handed the phone to Blane.
"I'm glad you came around to all of this. I know it was kind of awkward since you wanted to fuck her and all, but?—"
I put up my hand. "Let's talk off-camera, okay?"
He'd already had a few drinks. It took a second for him to understand.
"Oh! Right. Yeah, okay, I'll go ahead." He slid the mask on and took off into the darkness. I waited around, helping Chitra down and seeing her off into the dark. She took the same path Blane did, and once I couldn't hear her anymore, I crouched down, pulling the knife from my boot. I stood, rolled my shoulders, and stretched.
I'd never done this before, but I wasn't as afraid or full of guilt as I thought I should be. Domino was a beautiful person, inside and out. I wasn't going to let her soul be snuffed out just because of some childish sibling rivalry.
