And who do you think you are

Running around leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

And tearing love apart?

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts

Word Count: 815

It was too late.

Too late before I realized who you were. What you were. Too late before I finally understood the warnings. Before I could warn anyone else.

I met all those other girls. The ones that don't mean anything to you anymore. You played with our emotions, deceived us with lies, twisted the knife in our backs and stole our hearts.

As soon as you left me, alone and cold, I vowed I would never take another step towards you. I knew if I did I would regret it more than anything.

I suppose I was one of the luckier ones, but we all learned to live half alive. When you left, you took our souls with you.

The other girls told me that you come back after so long, to break their hearts all over again. I managed, with their help, to avoid you when you came back for me.

Who do you think you are, doing this to all of us? Torturing us like this?

You are a demon escaped from hell. A cruel, heartless, selfish demon.

Another of your victims, Molly, my servant, rushes into my room to inform me that you were back. We gather our skirts and ran out the backdoor, many other girls running along beside us.

I will not fall for you again. None of us will. Not if I can help it.

We all run for the meadow hidden by the woods. All twenty some of us sit around in a circle, fearing and crying. Livid and distressed. I am at the center of them, obviously the one you want, since I did not entirely break by your hand. It is an unspoken truce between us. They defend me. They are my friends; we are united because of you.

How big is your jar of hearts now? How many scars have you made? How many hearts have you stolen?

It seems my mother did not keep her mouth shut. She always wanted me to marry you. You are wealthier than my family, but so, so cruel. Heartless. Is that the reason you collect our hearts? To try to fill the empty void where your heart should be?

You stand before us now, all of our eyes trained on you. Watching, calculating.

I refuse to let my friends be broken hearted again.

I remember how we all stayed locked up in our bedrooms, feeling dead inside after your departure. We wandered around like the living dead; no talking, no laughing, barely any signs of life.

Your charms will not work on me this time. I am sure of it.

You come closer now, slowly, seeing our reaction. With each of your steps, the girls crowd closer around me, compressed against me like being stuck under miles of warm, thick blankets.

Truth is…

I still love you.

I remember the first time we kissed. It was in my rose garden. You had talked so sweetly, like you actually cared about me. It was all lies, all lies.

Even so, my friends attack then slowly fall away, seduced by you once more. I can almost smell their fear. They still love you, but they wish not to be hurt. Why do you do this? Why?

A smirk grows upon your handsome face like the roots of a plant, winding its way around, showing itself everywhere. You smile in a cruel victory as they all fade away. I watching with saddening eyes as Molly too runs.

I think not myself so lucky anymore.

Four others stand now, alone to protect me. I can see they are determined, but all five of us know it is hopeless.

Amy falls, her words of wisdom doing nothing to affect you.

Mina fades, her talk of love doesn't even make you blink.

Lita manages to make you bleed, but she too is defeated.

Rei lasts the longest, her fiery spirit holding her up. Her hand is wretched from mine and too quickly, she is also gone.

It is just you and I now.

You believe you have won. It shows in your smile, in your eyes.

I think not.

I am glad you do not see the blade falling from my sleeve and slipping into my palm.

Goodbye, Darien.

The sharp blade pierces the place your heart should be. I inhale deeply as I feel my heart, my life, returning to me. I can hear the others' gasps as they emerge from the trees like sprites and faeries.

You fall to your knees, raising your head to look at me. The cold hearted smile you wore only moments ago now adorns my face. The light fades from your eyes, and you slump to the ground, lifeless.

Now you know how we felt.

I turn to them, meeting everyone's eyes evenly. They are all ready to burst with life and joy. Finally.

We are free.