"Can we go on?"
It had taken him forever to voice that thought to the man who killed him. Walter gave absolutely no reaction and for a brief second, Henry wondered if he had heard him. Henry waited patiently as Walter sat on the couch in Room 302, staring at the t.v. as if the damn thing was on.
Moments ticked by before Henry tried again.
"Can we go on?" he sounded braver this time.
Walter cast a wary glance at his victim. He seemed bored or sad, or maybe angry. Or maybe he was just feeling normal-you know-for Walter Sullivan.
"What are you talking about?"
"The others and I have been talking. Now that you have your mother, can we go on? Leave this place and go wherever the afterlife is?"
Walter's sad look turned to one of disgust.
"I hope you have no delusions that there's a heaven out there waiting for you."
Henry didn't care to hear about Walter's views on the afterlife. He just wanted out of this place and he knew that Walter could let him leave if he wanted to.
"Please. We're fed up and we're only in the way of you and your…mom. Can't you let us leave?"
Walter took a moment to ponder this rationale. Henry waited, standing awkwardly in front of him. The other male suddenly stood up to face Henry.
"Why do you want to leave?"
"I told you. We're done with this place. Just let us leave, please? Let us all leave."
Walter pondered for a moment.
"Okay."
The response brought an elated grin on Henry's face, the first smile since he was alive. But before he could thank Walter, the killer held up a hand to silence him.
"But you stay. Everyone else can leave."
Henry couldn't believe what he heard.
"Me? Why just me?"
"If you agree, I'll let everyone go. Surely that will feel good on your conscience, right?"
"But why do you even want me to stay? I can't do anything for you."
A predatory smirk appeared on Walter's face that took Henry back to the time when this guy was chasing him with a killer instinct. Henry backed up awkwardly. The action made Walter's smirk falter just a tad.
"I want you to stay here. I don't need to give you any other reason than that."
"But I….was hoping to leave."
An awkward silence followed. Then, Walter's face contorted in rage. He threw himself over at Henry, towering over him threateningly.
"You want to leave me."
It wasn't a question but a statement of fact. Henry was too confused to reply, too stunned when he felt Walter's lips crashing down on him. Walter withdrew.
"You're mine, Henry. You're not allowed to go on. But if you let me have your heart, I will give you that eternal paradise you want. I will give you whatever you want. No false heaven can promise you the same."
Henry opened his mouth but no sound came out. Walter kissed his forehead.
"Mine."
And Henry believed him. He would've cried if he had any tears left.
