Page 13 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

How beautiful she’ll look when she’s old and wrinkly.

All the people she’ll touch and be around her deathbed.

At least she won’t die alone.

Not like me.

Alone without her.

God…I love her.

Protect her…

That’s the last prayer I can dare wish for as my consciousness finally begins to fade into a forever abyss of darkness.

Farewell…my love…

Beneath The Mask Of Perfection

~ARES~

No….

No fucking way.

The world stops making sense the moment we find Zander's body. He’s lying there at the end of the alleyway; bodies littering around, proving he not only put up a fight but had to be the last one standing…

Until he wasn’t.

Everything I've learned about keeping composure —every lesson from years of modeling where appearances mean everything- shatters like glass. I know I shouldn’t panic that I’m supposed to hop into gear like Matteo who’s already dropping to his knees, despite surely having a concussion, broken arm, and injured ribs.

Yet, here I am, trembling like a leaf.

No. No. No. This isn't happening.

I’m fighting hard to think this isn’t real. As though this is some foolish test. Heck, even be a part of some test in place of us attending this fucking ball.

That’s the least of our concerns.

My best friend lies motionless on the wet concrete, those normally vibrant green eyes staring lifelessly at the stormy sky above. We’re all completely drenched, but I can only imagine how long he’s been lying there.

In his own blood…all fucking alone as if there aren’t so many who care about him.

I also grasp that our Ruthles Maiden is missing.

Sweet Canary isn’t here.

I immediately knew it wasn’t her choice.

She’d never abandon Zander.

I have no doubt in my mind when it comes to that because they’re madly in love with each other. Even if they try to dim just how possessively beautiful their love is.

Thunder rolls overhead, but I can barely hear it over the roaring in my ears. I can barely focus on anything as I’m forced to see the situation unravel before me as the useless status I am.

I can’t help.

But I need to.

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