"That was such a bad choice, oh my God. I’m going to go get drunk now.”
Dylan watched from behind as Erika pulled herself away from the water, suppressing a smirk as she expressed just how uncomfortable she was. He quietly walked behind her and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her toward the water again and pulling her back before real damage could be done.
The guards had been given the next couple of days off- starting immediately, he’d added when the two of them didn’t seem to take the hint. They probably couldn’t have been happier about it. Both looked relieved despite any attempts to appear otherwise. If Dylan had to take a guess, he’d be willing to bet they were going to get wasted off their asses tonight and spend the couple days recovering. When was the last time they would’ve been able to enjoy the freedom liquor presented? Back to adolescence they went; a trip down memory lane, just as he and Erika were about to do. Which pretty much brought them up to the present.
Erika was a brilliant actress. Dylan didn’t suppose he’d ever given her enough credit for the skills that could have landed her any number of jobs in the Capitol entertainment industry. The addition of her own blood helped to make the scene more convincing for sure; she’d sliced her arm just enough to raise blood, not enough for real concern. Her tears, though- those were a different story. They were enough to sound anyone’s alarm with the way she was holding her bloody arm. The man who was now making his way hurriedly toward her wasn’t random in the least. Not tonight, anyway. They had chosen him days in advance, simply because he was the first one they’d laid eyes on. Someone who wouldn’t be missed, and who had such a run of the mill job that he would be easily replaced. He’d be noticed, but never missed. Never questioned. He was ordinary.
Dylan watched from the narrow alley he’d chosen as his hiding place. Nearby by enough to move in quickly without raising alarm, but totally out of sight of the man. It was dark out by this hour but the two in the street were illuminated by street lights, where as Dylan was protected by the dark. He was close now and he could hear the worried tone in his voice.
“You alright?"
The blonde felt his pulse quickening. His fingers played with the ends of his sleeves, because it was almost time to move in and this, well, it was the fun part. The chase was what made it worth it. Out here, it wasn’t as good as it was in the arena, but it was something.
And now Erika’s reply, strung together with a sob that was worthy of an academy award. He could practically hear the tear rolling down her cheek.
“You remind me a lot of Kane, ya’ know. So goddamn stubborn. Always losing yourself in the training, in the fight…” She smiled softly. “Maybe that’s why I can’t for the life of me find a way to let you go.”
“I know you’ll never get the revenge I took from you back, and you have every right to be angry—but either way, Michael did suffer. Everyone I kill suffers, you know I always make sure of that. And like I said, I know I can’t make what I did right but if it helps you any to know… He did suffer. I promise.”
It didn’t change anything- not really. He was supposed to be the one to end him. He’d been there when he’d died and had seen Erika do it. That was what burned him. On top of being so close to being able to do it himself, he’d witnessed the way he really did end up dying, and no matter what Erika said, it wasn’t slow enough. He hadn’t suffered enough. His pain hadn’t lasted long enough.
He did suffer. Just not enough.
"I know he did.” It took everything to hold back what he really wanted to say. She’d heard it once and it hadn’t changed anything. He wished he could forget again. It had been simpler before that nightmare. “Look, let’s just drop it.”
“Yeah, and so are you. We both are. That’s kind of the point I was trying to make.”
Erika spoke cooly as she continued to jot down her grocery list. At the very top of said list was fit, lean, fresh human. She was going to eat right this time, actually take the time to cook the meat and drain all the blood beforehand appropriately. After a moment of silence and writing down a few more various spices, Erika looked up. Her voice softened on it’s own accord.
“I mean it, though. I’m sorry, okay? Like I said, I never knew. …I don’t like to fight, not with you.”
Silence was always loud at times like these. Apologies were just another word for awkward and uncomfortable. Add them to the list of things Dylan was no good at.
Another few seconds past when Erika was done speaking; Dylan searched or the words to respond. He was angry and that wasn’t going anywhere, but the past couple days without speaking to Erika had been somehow lacking. He just didn’t know how to push past that anger the way she seemed to be able to do.
“I don’t really know what to say,” he admitted, finally bringing his eyes up to meet hers. “It’s not okay and I’m not going to say it is. But you didn’t know and I fucked up too… Like you said. I shouldn’t have said shit about Kane. So… Sorry.”
“Rose rose rose red, will I ever see the end? I will marry at thy will, sire.”
"For this freedom I have given all I had, for this darkness I gave my light. For this wisdom I have lost my innocence. Take my petals and cover me with the night…”
Dylan folded the paper he still held in his hands. He’d stared at the scrawled apology a little too long; Erika was right, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still angry. For a second, he wasn’t sure if she even knew he was there. Her back was turned to him and she was singing- multitasking- so there was still that opportunity to slip away. He didn’t have to say a word.
His mind still wasn’t made up when he opened his mouth.
