Page 47 of Repossess My Heart

“I- I don't know what nitroglycerin is.” The man sputters, the drone now back at our sides, displays a holograph of the pills.

“Tiny heart pills. Don’t forget the sleep aid. Time is ticking.” Nine coos. Anyone that isn’t used to him, I’m sure missed the note of anxiety in his deep voice. It only makes my chest tighten further. The man runs as the pain in my back gives way fully to the one in my chest. I cling to Nine again, out of necessity more than solidarity now.

“She is losing consciousness.” The drone announces, “Her heart has surpassed suitable levels to maintain life.”

CeCe?

My mind fuzzes as I’m lifted off the floor and into Nine’s arms, “Why are you like this? Why couldn’t you just wait for me?” My eyes flutter closed on the bizarrely hurt look on his face as his arms tighten around me.

“I couldn’t be the one to tell you…”

“Tell me what, pretty girl?” His fingers trace my lips and I shiver.

“Why won’t you just let me die?” I ask, trying to force my eyes open despite their heaviness.

“I like you.”

What?

The golden umber of my eyes is no match for the scathing blue in his, so I let them close again. Squeezing my stomach to ward away the fluttering there. I’m not so sure you have a choice in the matter. I might just die anyway.

“You like my eyes.”

“Correction, your eyes disgust me. I likeyou,Reverie. I’ve decided you belong to me, all of you. Up until I kill us and everyone else. Either way, my ownership of you includes your secrets. It’s merely a cherry on top that your tight little body houses something even more valuable than your heart or those eyes.”

The tech… asshole.

“Then take it out. All of it, everything you want.” I plead, wanting him to use me as he sees fit. Needing him to destroy me thoroughly before he ends the suffering. He’s already well on his way.

“What happens if I want more than those things?”

Consciousness fades and I’m not sure if he said more, or if the silence that follows his confession was a true one. My heart screams and there’s a pressure behind my eyes as his lips brush mine. Then the darkness takes sensation from me too, long before I can feel the kiss he was waiting to give me.

14

A Little More Than a Secret

Myeyesflutteropento a familiar and crudely painted purple room. My fingers are already shaking as they run across crusted blankets just a few shades too light to match the walls. Sections are bleached and others sport a cracked ruddy color. The press of leathered flesh hits me next and my heart wrenches for it. I could never forget this room or the dented door my eyes land on. I’m only used to seeing it on the opposite side. Ever since that day, it was only ever the other side.

“Mom?” I whisper, refusing to turn my head towards her but letting my hand find hers all the same. It’s far from the soft touch I remember, but I know. I’d know her anywhere. When my own fingers find the large fake jeweled band on her wrist, I dig my teeth into my bottom lip, squeezing my eyes shut and picturing their shine and deep colors. Pinks to bright yellow. It’s the only piece she ever wore. I won it for her out of a stupid little game, one of the few times I ever left the apartment all to meet dad for a money drop he never showed up to. I squeeze her hand tighter, easing up out of fear of damaging her.

“Oh, that’s fucking creepy.”

I jolt at the sound of his voice, my eyes snapping open to glare at him. “You’re one to talk, asshole. Why’d you bring me back here?”

“Fair. You see, I don’t share your sentiment about starting our relationship off on a rocky foundation. I’ve kept nothing from you. Yet the more I look around, the more I find out about you…”

My eyes finally fall on his, and again I find myself grateful for their inability to show emotion. My inability to feel things fully as he holds the dismantled head of CeCe, but my gut wrenches at the sight. Bile and anger filling up my throat.

Don’t mess with her like that…

“We’re on a time crunch here, so forgive me for being brash…” My eyes widen as he lifts his hand, a glinting blade held in it. It’s not the blade that scares me though, it's where it's pointed, “What do you know?”

“I swear on everything Nine, don’t you fucking dare!” I yell, bolting upwards but staying seated too scared to move.

Please don’t do this to me.

A scream leaves me as he flicks his wrist sending the razor-sharp blade across the room where it embeds in my mom’s forehead, everything that leaves my voice next is a confusing mix of dry guttural sobbing and gags.

---