A/N: Well, I somehow managed to finish this new chapter despite a fresh bout of writer's block... which will hopefully make most of you happy! (Except maybe you, SamandAndy2418)...
It has a different style than the earlier two, but it does also have the return of our beloved Olivia (in a slightly different role than before) so hopefully that might make up for it if you're not too sure.
So, please give it a read and send me a review to let me know what you think... I'm definitely going to carry on with it, but the question now is how exactly to develop it... because I can see at least five different directions I could take it in.
Beloved reviewers:
epsilonfool, I'm so happy you liked it and that it was worth dropping everything to read! Thanks also for all your support via PM, and I'm definitely going to continue with this story... I think it could develop into something really interesting.
Hailey, you have as ever been amazing to bounce ideas off while I've been writing this, so thank you for that, and also for your lovely review. And yes, Facebook has indeed been a bitch lately.
Sister of the Light, I'm glad you liked it... and yeah, despite his best efforts, he really is making a mess of the whole 'covering everything up' thing. Part of his problem is that however objective he's trying to be, he's constantly distracted by how awful he feels and how terrible what he's done is. Plus, when it comes to her, he's always been really bad at being objective. Also, you're right, he is being really delusional, and I don't think she will be inclined to forgive him at first once she actually starts thinking straight.
lou3174, I'm sorry if I gave you nightmares too =( If it helps, after I wrote it, I didn't sleep at all that night. I mean, I always get really emotionally invested in my stories, but this one? This one really got to me. This chapter did too, I was actually crying for some of it... but hopefully you'll like it anyway?
LissaLikesLeopards, I adore you. But then, we've been through that already =)
SamandAndy2418, I am afraid that I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Please accept my utmost apologies, and rest assured that I will mourn the loss of your good will for ever more.
PiperOnlyFanFic, I'm really sorry, but she is... but she'll still be a presence in the story, if that makes you feel any better?
Cfhonan, I'm really sorry =( However hard the story is to read though, I hope you think that it's worthwhile.
firebird1029, it's lovely to meet you! I don't think I've been reviewed by you before... so hi! I do always try to do something a little bit different in my stories - even in ones that are based around a common theme, like 'Heritage', I try to present differently than I've seen before, so I'm glad that you think that. She's my favourite character too, so I hated doing this to her, but she'll still be in the story, even if she won't interact with the other characters so much. I know what you mean about the 'hoping he gets away with it' thing too - it's one of the reasons I wrote it from his point of view, because it makes you feel almost complicit in what he does, and a part of you wants to root for him to find a way to wriggle out of it...
inspirationimagination, I've missed you! I'm so happy you like this story too, because I know I can always trust you to be honest and detailed in all your reviews. Yes, it is a reference to the JHF necklaces - which I actually have in the silver version at home - and I'm glad someone spotted that... You're right, Elliot definitely does have the rage to do something like this, it just took an unfortunate combination of alcohol and various stressors to make him snap - and sadly she was the one who was there when he did. Also - and this is going to sound really weird - I'm happy that I made you cry? That sounded mean, but I really wanted to try and do a more emotional chapter after the mindless violence of the the first one, and I'm glad that it worked out.
Wow, this has been a really long note, even for me.
Also, I somehow forgot to put this at the beginning of this story like I usually do, but the speech marks key on my computer does not work and I can't afford to get it fixed, hence having to use the apostrophes instead... my apologies, grammar fiends, but sadly my computer seems to be possessed by demons of some kind.
Anyway... here's the new chapter, I hope all of you enjoy it, and please send me a review to let me know what you think!
'God, Elliot, that's NOT how you do CPR.' Olivia rolled her eyes and snorted, settling back against her couch cushions. 'If you're going to do it, you might as well pull your head out of your ass and do it properly.'
She shook her head, wincing and rubbing the back of her neck as it cracked. This is a really weird game.
Fuck knows why I ever agreed to play it.
Actually, when did I agree to play it?
She couldn't remember.
God, Olivia, when you start having blackouts it's a sign to lay off the wine.
She frowned. But I didn't even drink that much tonight...
Oh, thank God, he's stopped, he's getting up, maybe we can go now...
She smiled hopefully. 'Are we done yet, El?'
He ignored her, reaching over her to grab the brown blanket from the couch beside her, and she felt a sudden burst of horror. 'No! Not that blanket!' She tried to snatch it from him but missed, her hands (almost) seeming to go straight through it. 'No, that's the blanket I use to protect the couch when I'm using the foot spa thing Alex gave me! It's had my dirty feet all over it!'
He stopped and went to put it back, and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Oh thank God, I really didn't want to have to wake up with that hideous thing covering my face...
Why is he just standing there? She felt a twinge of impatience. Put the nasty blanket back and be done with it, and for the love of God don't look too close because I think it might still have a couple of bits of toenail clinging to it-
Oh shit.
He was leaning over her again.
Oh GOD- Her stomach lurched. 'NO, NO, put it back, seriously, I don't mind, I really don't-'
Too late.
She shuddered a little as she saw him pull it up over her face. Well, that is just disgusting...
The second this is over, I'm taking a shower.
Hell, I'm taking TWO.
She felt a fresh surge of impatience.
What the hell is taking him so long?
Is he really still fucking around with that damn blanket?
She rolled her eyes. 'Leave the fucking blanket alone, Elliot!' Why the hell did I ever agree to do this?
Well, at least the thing's not touching my face anymore, that's good-
OH SHIT DON'T KISS MY FOREHEAD-
She pulled a face. Oh great. Now he probably thinks my face has always tasted like foot.
No wonder he looks nauseous.
This is so embarrassing, I can't believe I'm going to have to work with a man who thinks I taste like foot...
Elliot bit his lip. 'Liv...'
Olivia frowned. Wait, is he actually crying?
Why the fuck is he crying?
Suddenly her jaw dropped. Jesus Christ, is he actually kissing me on my fucking MOUTH now? 'Elliot, that's not cool!'
Now he was holding his forehead against hers and stroking her cheek with his thumb. 'Oh my God, Liv, Liv...'
What the fuck? Olivia squirmed uncomfortably. OK, that's enough. This is just too weird to watch.
She sighed and got up. 'Elliot, can we stop playing this now? I'm bored.' And really, really creeped out.
He ignored her.
She rolled her eyes. 'Elliot, it's me, say something.'
He didn't even look up.
What the fuck is his problem?
'El-'
She stopped.
Wait...
How can I be lying on the floor at the same time as I'm standing here?
Well, because that thing on the floor isn't me, obviously.
Are you sure about that?
Olivia felt the first twinge of unease. 'Elliot.' She squatted in front of him as he picked up the pieces of wine bottle and waved her hand in his face. 'ELLIOT!'
Why is he ignoring me?
Because he can't see you.
She rolled her eyes. Of course he can see me, don't be stupid... 'Elliot? Elliot, it's me!'
She saw him bite his lip, and she felt a rush of hope before he suddenly stood up and walked away. 'Elliot? Elliot, where are you going?' She tried to stand up and felt a stabbing pain in her abdomen.
What the hell-
She looked down and saw that she was covered in blood.
What happen-
Oh my God, oh my God...
He shot me...
I remember now, I remember everything...
No, no, that's not right, it's just a game!
Olivia, this isn't a game. It's real. This is really happening.
She was suddenly filled with a creeping feeling of dread. What's really happening?
Olivia... you're dead.
No, no, I'm not, of course I'm not...
She ran to the bathroom and tried to grab Elliot's shoulder. 'Elliot, come on, talk to me.'
He ignored her.
'Elliot?' Olivia fought back a rising sense of panic. 'Elliot, please!'
He closed the door of the bathroom cabinet and she froze. Where am I? Why can't I see myself in the mirror? 'Elliot, Elliot, talk to me!'
I'm not dead.
Of course I'm not dead.
Why would I be?
Because he just killed you, he shot you and he beat you and he choked you to death, and now he's hiding all the evidence so no one will ever know he did it.
But... but...
That's not possible...
'Elliot, come back!' She bit her lip and ran back into the living room. 'Elliot, please, don't do this to me!'
Now he was kneeling over that... Thing... that wasn't her, clipping off its nails and weeping over it...
Wait! She quickly looked at her own fingernails. They were still carefully polished, neatly filed ovals.
Ha! I knew it couldn't be true!
She smiled triumphantly, holding up her hand and wiggling her fingers. 'See, that's not me!'
It used to be.
'NO!' Olivia burst into tears and sank onto the floor. 'It isn't fair, I don't want to play this game any more!'
It's not a game, Olivia. You're dead. You pushed him too far and now you're dead.
But I don't want to be, I don't want to be...
You are.
Elliot walked past her, heading back towards the kitchen, and she jumped up and ran after him. 'Elliot, please, why won't you talk to me?'
He stopped in front of the kitchen cupboard and her stomach lurched. Oh God, he'll find the cookbooks he gave me and he'll know I never took them out of the shrinkwrap...
How is that your main concern?
Well, I don't fucking know, do I?
She shook it off and ducked in front of him, waving her hands in front of his face. 'Elliot, please, are you mad at me?'
He didn't say anything, just looked straight past her and kept ransacking the cupboard.
'Elliot?' Olivia was trying and failing to keep the desperation out of her voice. 'Elliot, please don't be mad, please...'
He sniffed, closed the cupboard and took a deep breath, and she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. 'El, please, just talk to me-'
He turned and walked straight through her.
Oh my God...
'Wait, Elliot, you felt that, I know you felt that!' She bit her lip and ran after him. 'Elliot, Elliot, please don't be mad at me, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I made you do this to me, please forgive me, I know you can hear me, Elliot-'
She stopped, staring down at the Thing on the floor.
It doesn't look like me.
It doesn't look anything like me.
She sat down next to it, peering carefully at its face.
I mean, yes, it has the same hair and some of the same clothes, but it could be anyone...
It's not me.
I would know if it was me.
She leaned forwards and touched its hair, realising with a jolt that she could actually feel it beneath her fingertips.
Oh my God...
What the hell is happening to me?
Suddenly Elliot was kneeling beside her and she broke into a wide smile, reaching out to touch the side of his face. 'Oh, El, I knew you could see me-'
He ignored her, leaning down to take off her necklaces.
My necklaces.
Oh my God. Her jaw dropped. Those are my necklaces.
Why is that Thing wearing my necklaces?
Because...
Oh God...
Oh God, it's true...
'Oh... oh my God...' She shook her head in disbelief, wincing as she felt her neck crack. 'I can't believe you killed me... you absolute bastard...'
He didn't say anything.
Well, of course he won't say anything, he can't hear you.
No, he can, I know he can, we've always had that special connection, of course he knows I'm here...
Then why won't he talk to me?
Olivia bit her lip, tears streaming down her face as she watched him put her jewellery into his pocket and walk towards her bedroom. 'Elliot, come back!' She felt a surge of desperation. 'Elliot, please don't be mad, please just talk to me, you're all I have!'
Why did this have to happen?
She hugged her knees against her chest, wincing a little as they pressed against her abdomen, and stared down at the Thing as it lay on the floor.
Oh God...
Oh my God...
There was so much I still wanted to do...
She started to cry harder, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed. 'Why, Elliot? Why would you do this to me?'
Because you made him do it.
'No, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't make him do this!'
Yes, you did. You provoked him.
Olivia reached out and started to stroke the Thing's hair, not really sure what else to do.
I look so peaceful... She bit her lip and traced her fingertips along the dark marks on its throat, feeling her neck crack again as she bent forward.
I wonder if I have those here too? She rubbed her throat. Probably.
She gingerly touched her forehead, her stomach turning over as she felt the rough edges of a deep gash beneath her fingers.
Oh God, that's actually really me, that's what I look like now...
She suddenly noticed the collar of her shirt peeking out from underneath the blanket.
Fantastic. I would have to die wearing that shirt. She sighed. I won't have to wear it for eternity, will I? I only wore it today because it was laundry day.
That's a really fucked up thing to say.
Well, excuse me. I don't know if you'd noticed, but this is a really fucked up situation.
She stared down at the Thing, still stroking its hair.
You should be angrier than this.
Why aren't you angrier than this?
There was a loud crash and then suddenly he was beside her again, snatching the Thing away and hugging it against his chest and crying, begging her to forgive him...
Olivia rolled her eyes impatiently. 'Oh God, will you just stop apologising? You never did when I was alive, so why are you doing it now that I'm dead?'
He ignored her, crying harder now with his face pressed into the Thing's hair. 'I'm so sorry, Liv, I didn't mean to do this to you, I swear, I would never mean to do this to you...'
Oh, El... She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. 'I know you wouldn't, El...'
Why aren't you angrier at him?
Because it was an accident, he didn't mean to do it, I made him angry...
What do you mean? He did this to you! He ended your life! He's why you're in this position!
She bit her lip. But why should I blame him? It's still my fault, I'm still the one that made him do it...
He was still quietly sobbing as he rocked the Thing in his arms, and she leaned forwards and laid her head against his back, wrapping her arms around his middle. If she concentrated really hard, she could almost feel him. 'Elliot, please talk to me, I know you didn't mean it...'
He sniffed, slowly eased the Thing down onto its back and sat up, and for a minute she thought he was about to say something, to tell her that he knew she was there, that of course he knew she was there, they'd always had that special connection-
Instead he yanked the blanket off the Thing and started tearing at its clothes, and Olivia's jaw dropped.
Oh God, oh my God...
She felt as if she was going to be sick.
He's just staging it, you know he is, he doesn't want to do it, and that's not you, not any more...
But... but...
Oh God, I can't be here for this, I just can't...
She went to her bedroom and lay down on her bed, trying to block out the sounds of him crying and heaving in the other room as she chewed on her lip and stared up at the ceiling.
What am I meant to do now?
Do I have to find my own way to... I don't know... the next world?
Is there a next world?
Am I just meant to stay here?
What if I never figure out what to do next?
Tears were running down her face again. I don't want to be alone...
Suddenly she heard the front door opening in the other room and she jumped up, fighting down an overwhelming feeling of panic as she raced down the hallway.
'NO, NO, ELLIOT, PLEASE, ELLIOT, I'M SORRY, I'M SO SORRY I MADE YOU DO THIS TO ME, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE-'
The door slammed shut behind him.
A/N: What did you think? I know it was a little different from the last two, but I hope you think it worked well anyway. Please send me a review to let me know, and I'll get started on chapter 4 for you!