Til Death Do Us Part

Chapter One

The day had just ended. The shop was illuminated with the sun's last rays. Orange. Red. Crimson. The shadows moved around the room slowly. Our shadows. Tired. Exhausted. But not from the hours of posing to those girls, pretending to be nothing more than ordinary guys working in a flower shop. Not from living our so-called lives. But from the night that stretched before the day. A night of violence. Blood. Darkness. Death. Our true selves. Our true lives. Dark. Barely having the chance to rest. Saying goodbye to the dream world before we can actually float into it. I wish I had not gone up. I should have stayed in bed. Maybe then things would have been different. Maybe. I guess I'll never know. Never.

I could barely move. And just by looking at the others, I knew they'd like nothing more than crawling back into their beds. Safe. Relaxed. Protected. But my trail of thoughts was broken by the tinkling sound of the chimes hanging on the door. Damn! I told that kid to hang the closed sign.

I waited for someone to speak up, but the others continued their own work. I knew no one had enough strength to tend to the customer. and I had no choice. I sighed.

"Sorry, were already closed."

I said not bothering to turn around. It already took up all my strength to bring my voice up to something more than a whisper. Annoyed. Frustrated. Hopeful that whoever it is would get the message and leave.

But the door remained closed. And the person remained inside. Must be one of those pushy students. With another sigh I turned around to see the tall familiar redhead who had been watching us intensely. We should have been relieved. But it didn't made any of us feel the least bit better to find out, it was.

"Manx"

I heard the others groan. She was pretty. Yes. probably for Mr. I'm- so-gorgeous-every-girl-likes-me. But right now. for all of us, she meant work. Another mission. More blood. more death. I hated it. I hated her. But there was nothing I could do. But seems that's not what the others thought. Complains came one after the other. And soon, the room erupted with noise. And I could barely understand what the others were saying.

"Again?!" ". busted a drug syndicate. cracked kidnapping case. mass suicide. all in one week." ". need rest!" ". gate-crashed a party of blood thirsty criminals. got trapped. almost getting killed in the process!" ". deserve a break!" "Got a date!" ". one day. forget it." "You trying to kill us?! . no way!!!"

I ignored them. They were beginning to give me a headache. I could see Manx' frantic efforts to calm them down, but all were in vain. They were enraged. I began to start moving again. Whether we accept the mission or not, we still have to continue closing the shop. Might as well do it now.

I pulled the metal gates, and with a screech it banged hard on the floor. Silence exploded in the room. The noise got their attention and they were now looking at me dumbfounded. They stared at me as though I was an alien. They probably forgot I even existed. It annoyed me. And I was about to snap at them when Manx spoke up. I bought her silence for her. And she was thankful for that. I saw it in her eyes. But she did not bother to thank me. She got her chance, and she used it well. I didn't care then. now I regret it.

Lady Lucifiel: So? So? Do you guys like it so far? Please review.