Chapter 54

A week later, Brooklynn stepped inside her new apartment, which was already fully furnished. She bought some used furniture from the thrift store down the street and had it delivered, not wanting to buy anything brand new. It was time to move on with her life. She spent so much time, almost a quarter of a century, pining for one man with a split personality, which was beyond messed up. After her talk with Beth, Brooklynn had a good, long cry and had to piece herself back together the next day. Trish assured she didn't have to leave, she was more than welcome to stay, but Brooklynn needed to be completely alone. Looking around, she drew the blinds to keep the sunlight out, set her bag down and didn't bother going back to the house to grab the rest of her belongings.

Flipping the lock on the door, she plopped down on the used, clean couch and stared at the wall. Cable and internet wouldn't be hooked up for another couple of days, which she was fine with. Her phone went off and it was Claira, asking if she was alright and if she needed anything. She responded with 'no, I'm fine, love you' and left it at that, setting her phone down on the floor by the couch. Just as she was about to fall asleep, Brooklynn heard a banging on her front door and bolted upright on the couch, slowly rising to her feet. She walked over to it, hesitantly, and frowned, reaching for the door handle since she didn't have a peephole.

"Who is it?" She called through it, feeling her heart pounding furiously.

"Your husband," He singsonged, practically feeling Brooklynn's hesitation and rolled his eyes. A second later, he walked right through the door, frowning. "Your roses are in the hallway, couldn't phase them through. That felt weird." Taker was pretty sure he was the last person she'd want to see, but… she had broken Mark. "So, Lynn, nice place… very dark, I approve." Not really. This was tiny. It was… boring.

What the HELL did Mark do?! Brooklynn actually JUMPED back from the door when he came through it, like a ghost, and for a split second, she thought for SURE he was one! The sound of his voice and his appearance sent chills down her spine…and they weren't good ones either. Were they merged? If this was merged…Brooklynn felt nauseous and wondered how fast he was, if she could make it out the door before he made a grab for her.

"Where's Claira? Is she okay?" Since their daughter JUST texted her a few minutes ago, or so it seemed, Brooklynn surmised she was. "What do you want…whoever you are?" Taker or Mark…she didn't know what to call him anymore.

"Claira is fine. She is…" He pulled out his cell phone, eyeballing it. "Doing schoolwork, or at least she better be. The house is warded, so only those of HER blood can get in. You and me basically. Neat?" She was obviously confused. "Taker, by the way, Lynn. Mark's a little broken. He did, however," His lips pursed in annoyance. "Make a deal for my temporary release, I am Bound on the magic. I can't do anything you would consider… naughty." Mark had already made it clear he would come out and destroy them both if he got physically violent.

"Neat…"

Brooklynn could NOT believe how STUPID Mark was to actually let this monster out after what he did! He put Claira in danger and had Bastet KILLED! Did she really break him so badly that he let Taker out?! All she did was tell him the truth! It was a harsh truth, she admitted, but he wanted to be on the same page with her and wanted to know how she truly felt.

"Christ…" She stepped away from him when he took one forward, keeping her distance. "I'm glad Claira's okay. But I want NOTHING to do with you."

Brooklynn wanted to strangle Mark! Hadn't she made it clear she didn't trust Taker and never would again? Yes, yes she had! Shit, Claira was staying in the same house, under the same roof, as Taker now too because she moved back in with her father.

"I want nothing from you. Not in reality and definitely not in my dreams. Just…leave and go away." The merger was off, apparently, unless Mark figured out the chances of it working were slim to none. "I don't know what could've broken inside of Mark to bring YOU out, after what you did, but I'm not THAT broken, and you can't manipulate me anymore. Get. Out."

"You broke him." 'Taker informed her coolly, still looking around her apartment, frowning. "You realize, he saw ALL those memories of us, right? And for all your words about seduction, that only goes so far. It's a bullshit excuse, just like his Warlock one, apparently. You wanted me and he could see it, in both the dreams and when I was present in reality. This place is really shitty on security, want me to ward it for you?"

"Then he's a fucking IDIOT! I never said that! I never said I wanted JUST you! What the fuck is WRONG with him?!" Brooklynn was on the verge of ripping her hair out, fed up with this situation and the miscommunication her and Mark were STILL having. "I protected you and kept you secret because I thought you changed. I thought you were different and I was WRONG." Dead wrong on that assumption. "I don't trust you and I never will again. I'm not your wife; I'm not anything to you, so get out. The ONLY thing we need to converse over is Claira, that's it. You broke my heart and my trust when you put Claira in danger with that mother fucker Rollins and got Bastet killed! And I don't care if you didn't know what Seth was planning, you STILL teamed up with a psychopath anyway!"

"I did. Chances are, I'd do it all over again because ta-da, I'm here, out and free." Taker shook his head. "Lynn, you are the same now as you were 17 years ago. Nothing but a selfish bitch. Ah, ah," He clicked his tongue when her mouth dropped. "My turn, precious. Seventeen years ago, you pushed at him until he brought me out. And then you pushed at me out of regret. And here you are, doing it again. Pushing and pushing, and you never ever stop to think about anyone but yourself. You blame him for not manning up and giving you his name, yet, you never once asked for it. You never said a word. You never broached the topic of sex with him, you just expected him to read your mind. You wanted him to Figure. It. Out." He even said it in her voice. "And when he offered you a solution, you were pissy about that because you could lose him. What's REALLY fucked up, Lynn, my darling, is that you're OKAY with losing him by YOUR CHOICE. You'd walk away from him, breaking both your hearts, because of me, but that's okay because you know, he's alive, and you made the call. If he dies trying to give you what you want, well fuck him then! You can't bear to lose him even though being without you is killing him."

"Because he would be ALIVE. He wouldn't be DEAD." That was the difference. She could live with Mark being alive, even if she wasn't with him, but dead…there was no coming back from that. "That is the POT calling the kettle BLACK if I've EVER heard it! I care about only myself, huh? Who the fuck was there for the past 17 years making meals, changing diapers, being a mother, dealing with tantrums and comforting him when he felt like the world was tumbling on top of him?! Who was THERE for Mark and supported him when he wanted to open his shop, huh? IT WAS ME. I've been there for him every step of the way, through every obstacle and I NEVER wavered in the 17 years we've been together. You don't know us, you don't have a CLUE what we've been through together! You don't know our lives or what we feel for each other, even if you ARE sharing the same body! And since when does the woman have to ASK for a marriage proposal because, last I checked, the man is supposed to ask the woman for her hand." What a terrible failure that was. She had surprised him in a sexy getup in the kitchen while he was working on it and the next thing that popped out of his mouth was an IDEA to go to Mexico and get married. "And I'm not the same as I was 17 years ago. I pushed him to bring you back because I was terrified of what Nemesis had planned, especially since it revolved around my family. And I was wrong to do that and apologized I don't know HOW many times! And as far as you coming back now, even though you literally made a deal with the devil, you have no remorse. Your Familiar is dead because of YOU. And the daughter you claim to love so much, YOU put her in danger! Nobody else – her own goddamn father did! The man we're supposed to trust and love, the man we're supposed to depend on to protect us…YOU put her in the line of fire for your FREEDOM! You don't care about her! You don't love her! You care about and love ONE person, Undertaker, and that's YOURSELF. And I swear to god, no matter what it takes, if ONE thing happens to her, I WILL kill you. I'll find a way to do it and I'll go to hell for murder if ANYTHING happens to her." Mark had officially lost his goddamn mind for letting this THING out to have complete control all because he couldn't handle the truth. "By the way, newsflash: I'm not a mind reader either! He sucks at communication as much as me and I REFUSE to take the complete blame for this happening. Tell Mark don't worry about being pushed anymore. I won't EVER push him again. He never has to worry about me again because we're done. We share a daughter and that's it. I want nothing from him and especially not you. Now get the fuck out of my apartment and out of my life."

"You hear that, Mark? She doesn't care if you die as long as it's on her terms."

"Leave her alone."

"Well," Taker spun in a circle, ignoring Brooklynn. She was still a selfish bitch who only looked out for number one. She was there. She did this. She did that. She never once looked at what had been done on her behalf, or what he had given up. Nope. "She hasn't even NOTICED! WHY do you love her?" He held up a finger at Brooklynn. "He's projecting, you can hear him, right? You see, Claira thinks this merger is a good idea. It's the only way I get to not die and, if he tries forcing me out, I'll take him with me."

"This isn't what we came here for."

"Oh right… ratios. I don't think she cares anymore, Mark. And she'll prove me right." Taker clicked his tongue, watching as Brooklynn turned to take in the projection. "I think she's going to kick us out. You know, because she likes being the eternal victim, so… punish Mark, that's her M.O. You heard her. She said you're done. You find the perfect way to give her what she asked for, and she's done with you."

"You stupid son of a bitch! What the HELL were you thinking letting him out?! After what he did to Claira and Bastet – have you completely lost your mind? Don't answer that!" Brooklynn wanted to hit him, kick him, slap some sense into him, ANYTHING, but the projection was just that…he was like a ghost in front of her. "Do you really think I don't know what you've done for me, Mark? Do you honestly believe all I've done is push you around and bend you to my will? You never knew me at all then because it was YOU bending ME. I never thought I was good enough for you, not ONCE! And I've told you that and I know you know it's how I feel, how I STILL feel. I know what you've done for me, I'm not as selfish as this asshole claims I am. You and Claira are all I think about, you've been my world for the past 17 years. You wanted the truth, I gave it to you. You wanted to be on the same page, now we are! But letting HIM out, letting him have CONTROL, with SETH ROLLINS out there, is the stupidest, most idiotic thing you've EVER done! He'll turn on you, on me, on Claira…if it means having his precious freedom and, if you don't realize that, you're dumber than I thought! Bastet is dead because of him! Claira is in danger because of HIM!" All the energy and feeling drained out of her as Brooklynn stared at Mark brokenly, not able to develop tears because her ducts were dried up. "I have nothing left. I'm tired and I'm done yelling and arguing with you. You do what you want, however you want. No pushing." She held her hands up, backing away.

"He's out for a reason, Brooklynn."

"She doesn't care. You heard her, you're a stupid son of a bitch. Which is kind of hilarious when she was so keen on me, every time the thought crossed her mind to snitch, all I had to do was bend her over." Taker began cursing a blue streak as he was crammed back into his box. "You'll regret it if you do…"

"Fuck…" Mark hissed once he was back in charge, wincing as the pain of those now gone bindings shot right the hell up his arms and into his chest. He hoped that went away soon. "I got the memo, you don't want me." He said finally, once he was able to talk without a hitch in his voice. "But Claira needs me yet. You're the one who knows what you want from a merged me… maybe not right now, but you do, and it'll be in your blood. I need a few drops."

"No." Brooklynn shook her head, those poisonous words from Taker flowing through her mind. He was right, and she hated herself for it. "I don't care about the merger anymore. You're not getting anything from me, neither of you. You know where the door is, don't bother me again unless it's about Claira. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to my room because the sight of you right now makes me sick. And don't bother trying to come into my dreams either. You're locked out." Mickie had cast a spell on her over the phone, which was weird, to say the least, but it would block him out completely, both versions. "Goodbye, Mark."

Ending the heated argument, Brooklynn walked away from him down the hall and didn't stop until she was in her room, locking the door behind her. She slid down the door and buried her face in her hands, wishing she could rip her heart out of her chest and dispose of it. Dying, is this what dying felt like? Could someone die from a broken heart?