Page 28 of Your Soul Is Ours

“Did you say there was coffee?”

He lowers his head and kisses me before turning away and wrapping his hand in mine. “Yes, let’s get you fed and caffeinated for your fun day at the centre. I’ll go capture your aunt and uncle and have them ready, waiting for you.”

“Can we do tacos for dinner?” I ask, hope blooming in my chest. I know I’ll have to go home to my apartment eventually, but I’ll live this game of house for as long as I can.

“Of course. After everything is done. I’ll dig the hole while I wait for your day to be finished. I think we have to grab a few things from your apartment if you want to keep staying here.”

“Dig a hole? And I’ll have to go home soon. My landlord hates when people stay away too long.” I grasp the warm mug with my hands and take a sip. He hands me a plate of toast with peanut butter on it.

“Your landlord won’t care, but we can get your laptop and stuff if you want it.”

“Peter is an asshole. He will start harassing me if I stay away too long. He’s not like most landlords, he’s obsessive and creepy.”

A snort escapes Sebastian and I pinch my eyebrows when I look at him. “It’s not funny.”

He sits across from me at the table with his own toast and coffee. “I know it’s not funny, he was obsessive and creepy. But he’s also taken the long dirt nap, so when I tell you he won't care, trust me, he isn’t going to care.”

It dawns on me that he’s killed Peter. That’s why I’ve had so much peace in the last while–because he’s gone. I haven’t heard from the new landlords, but the building has improved in cleanliness and things are getting fixed quicker. “Why did you kill him? and why the hole?”

He sighs, setting his toast down. He looks at me and takes a long pull from his mug. “Because he was a creepy bastard to you. That night I got lost, I saw him trying to muscle his way into your apartment and he touched you. The way he talked to you that night? Fuck that.”

All these things he’s done for me, that I had no idea were even happening. My love for him surrounds me. It’s overwhelming and not enough all at the same time.

“The hole is for your dearest aunt and uncle. We’ll have to go out and buy more flowers tomorrow. I’ll even let you pick the colours.” He picks up his toast and finishes eating.

“The flowers all have people under them?” He presses his lips into a thin line and nods.

“Ready? Or do you have more questions?”

“I’m ready. What are your favourite colours for the gardens?” I ask.

He shakes his head with a small smile on his lips. “Just a variety. I’ve never really thought about favourites.”

After a depressing day at the centre, I wait for Sebastian outside, leaning against the white stone wall. “Can I bum a smoke from you?” Jess asks as she leaves the centre’s door.

“These things will kill ya.”

She laughs. “One day.” She lights the smoke, and we exhale together.

“What a shit day. I really was so close to the number, and they just like to crush all the hope you have.” I think about her words, and I realize she’s probably right. They give you an inch of hope and crush every single shred to heal into smithereens.

“I’ll see you next time. Don’t do anything stupid,” I whisper. I like her, and I’d like to hang out more, but currently my life is taking on a fresh adventure.

On the way to my apartment, I think about the next steps we will take. My aunt and uncle have never believed a word out of my mouth. They sit atop their high horses, and it will be a thing of beauty to watch them fall. I’m almost excited. Everyone who turned a blind eye, every single one of them who could have saved me, will pay for what they didn’t choose to do.

“I told you to meet me at the park. Get in.” I hear Sebastian’s voice from the road. He’s slowly driving along and pulls over so I can get in.

"I'm sorry." I don't recall him saying to meet him at the park, but my thoughts have been in one big fog lately.

“No, you don’t have to be sorry. Let’s go have some fun.” As we drive home, excitement runs through me, but my nerves make me shake. I can’t sit still and fidget with my hair, and my fingernails, and eventually let out a deep sigh.

“I can do it all. You say your piece and leave, and I’ll finish the job.”

I know he would do that for me. He would burn the world down if I asked him to, but I feel like this is what I have to do. “I think I want to do it. Honestly, I need to do it.”

Sebastian doesn’t say a word, just turns up the metal band playing on the radio, and I zone out to the music until we’re pulling into the driveway.

“They aren’t happy, I mean obviously not, but they turned feral.”

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