His arms linger by his side for a moment. He hesitates but finally returns the embrace. I softly sob, resting my head in the curve of his neck. I fight to keep my composure but it seems the more I try the more tears cascade down my face. "There's blood?" he says as he slowly leans back to look at me. His confusion implodes the awkward silence. I tremble under his intense gaze. "Who hurt you?" he asks. I pull my shoulders back and take a few steps away from him. "Its not my blood." I say and even to me it sounded bitter. He grabs my wrist and yanks the blade out of my hand. I struggle, knowing that its futile I collapse on all fours. "He deserved it." I whisper as I slowly look up only to find that his already running towards the hallway.
I'm completely confused so very confused. Didn't he deserve it? Well did he? Why the fuck isn't anyone answering me? Why can't anyone give me the answers that I so desperately need to sustain my sanity? "Maria…" I hear his voice echo in my head. "Maria!" he says again but harsher. I pick myself up, cradling my body to where Michael stands over my mother's dead body. Her mutated form lying on the carpet, she seems so insignificant. Bones broken, blood drying on her wounds, such a beautiful picture, one that I know is going to haunt me.
Horror stains his beautiful brown eyes. "Michael-" I stutter. "Maria did she hurt you? Is that why you killed her?" he slowly walks near me as if I'm going to kill the fuckin' hostages. "Michael! No its not like that-" I whisper. "Maria, we'll hide the body okay! No one will ever know. If the police question you then I can be your alibi but please don't lie to me okay." He says as he stares at the body. That's all it is, just a body." Michael shut up! I didn't kill her, for god sakes." I scream. I need some air. I can smell the blood, which remains in the atmosphere. I can almost taste it at the back of my throat. Its sort of has a metallic and sweet tang to it. I think that's what did it because I vomit up the little amount of food I ate tonight. I vomit until I have nothing left in the pit of my stomach. Michael pulls back my hair while I sob quietly to myself. If he didn't my hair would have been in the mess that I've made.
I slowly regain my composure and get up from the blood stained carpet, pushing Michael off me as I walk back into the room where I left William. I have no recollection of the time and it scares me. His not here…what the—"Michael he was here! I wounded him. I would have killed him if you didn't come. Damn you." I whisper the last bit. I look behind me and Michael is right beside me. How the hell did he get here so quickly? "Maria, its okay…everything is going to be okay." He whispers into my ear, filling me with false hopes and dreams. I'm not a child anymore; he can't hide the monsters from me. I've seen them and yes they haunt me but I'm to old for him to turn on the light and pretend that there not really there. I know better. "How is it going to be okay? Have you not seen my mother's body? Have you not seen my clothing, there's blood all over me and what scares me the most Michael, is that none of it is mine!" He raps his arms around me. Affection let alone emotions he rarely shows but still knowing that still doesn't make it better…nothing ever will. But this is the closest I can get.