Chapter 65
Oswald and Ruby separated, both their cheeks flushed, as a tall figure entered their line of sight.
"Ed!" Oswald exclaimed, both parts embarrassed and excited. Ruby quickly combed some hair over her face to hide its redness. Edward stopped at the sound of his nickname. His expression relaxed as he saw his friends. Relaxed, but still glowing. Ruby noticed immediately. She closed her eyes with a sigh.
Oswald kept his eyes trained on his love, trying to sound casual. "How'd she take it?"
"What?" For a second, Edward sounded genuinely clueless. Then, he brightened. "Oh, uh, everything is..." He sucked in air through his teeth. "...wonderful." He giggled like a schoolboy as he stepped further into the light. His face and suit were painted a vibrant orange. It matched the light in his eyes. "Isabella showed me that I was worried over nothing."
Something cracked in Oswald's expression, as though his face were a porcelain vase that had withstood too much pressure. Yet he managed to keep it together...somewhat. With some difficulty he rose, hobbled towards Edward, and gave him a tight hug. Edward returned the embrace, looking giddy. Ruby immediately felt regret pinch her heart like a crab's pincher. He was so...happy. Had she signed off that joy like an unwanted FedEx package by promising to stand by Oswald, no matter what action he takes? Of course, she still hoped that Oswald would not do anything, but...she rubbed her forehead, wanting more than anything to undo the last few minutes. Even though that spot just above her eyes was still tingling. Right where Oswald's soft lips had been.
"I'm so happy for you!" Oswald sounded like an amateur actor. It was a wonder that Edward didn't hear the phoniness. Well, that was easy: because he was too happy to be aware of anything beyond his own bliss. "But..." Oswald frowned. "Why are you back?" There was a subtle trace of bitterness in his voice.
"Oh, she had to go to her conference. I insisted." Edward smiled. Ruby placed a hand on her chest, moved by the man's sweetness.
"You're a good man." That, at least, sounded genuine. "But you look done in! I will hear all about it tomorrow." Oswald clapped a hand on Edward's arm. "Get some sleep."
Still smiling like a man who'd stumbled across a diamond cove, Edward stumbled out of sight. Ruby listened to his creaking footsteps fade. Even his movements sounded lovesick. She closed her eyes. As a result, she didn't see Oswald. The look on his face. She read the thoughts burning within those icy-blue orbs.
He knew that if he did indeed kill Isabella, Ruby would uphold her promise and keep it a secret. Why? Because she did not want Oswald to be hated by the very person that he most loved. She also knew that, as a full-grown adult, Oswald had to make his own decisions. But even if she did so, and never complained about it to his face, Oswald would feel it. Ruby would feel nothing but remorse from this night forward, torn between two different loyalties. She may even subconsciously hate him for putting her in this awful position. As if she did not have enough reason to hold a grudge already. Oswald had pushed her to suicide once. After that, he'd done or said something that had caused them to drift apart. If he involved her in this, it would be the final straw. Ruby would either leave and resent him, or feel that way while staying here.
Oswald would burn his empire to the ground before he'd let that happen.
That was why, when he turned around, he gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry." He assured her. "I...I've grown tired of this war of love."
Ruby blinked. Slowly and deliberately, like a frog.
"I, too, see that Ed is happy. That is all I want, truly: his happiness." He let out a weak laugh. "Besides, Isabella has little going for her. Sooner or later, Edward will see what he's missing." He gave a theatrical gesture that made Ruby chuckle. Yet concern still lingered in those indigo eyes. "Are you sure?" She asked. "You're not just telling me what I want to hear?"
"Of course not." Oswald tried to convince himself as much as her. "But I do appreciate your pledge. Honestly, I..." He trailed off, smiling sincerely. "I would not be here without you."
Ruby waved him off. "Ah, yes you would." At last, an undiluted smile. Nodding, she gave him a quick, tight hug. "See you tomorrow." Her warm words tickled his ear. "And thank you. Really."
That was all the conviction that Oswald needed that he had done the right thing. Squeezing tightly, then letting go, he smiled at his friend. "You're welcome. And sweet dreams."
"I'll try." Ruby winked, then was gone. As she climbed up the steps, she reached into her pocket. Finding her cellphone, she extracted it. Flipping it open, she saw that her message had been sent. It had been read. The one that she'd sent in secret, to a number that she'd momentarily swiped Edward's phone to copy down. It simply read: Beware the Penguin. If you need help, call this number. While she doubted that this would hold any water, considering Isabella had stayed despite being threatened, Ruby had still felt compelled to at least try.
At the end of the day, we cannot persuade people to change their course. No matter how lethal, they long for it. The free will to choose.
Trying to accept this, Ruby disappeared in her bedroom, locking the door behind her.
Before the fireplace, alone, Oswald felt both relieved and saddened. Inhaling deeply, he slicked back his hair.
As if by magic, the hulking form of Gabe appeared in the doorframe. Good ol' Gabe. Oswald smirked at him. "Gotta give her credit. She fought for him. Too bad she underestimated her opponent."
Gabe said nothing. Just looked at him with those heavily-lidded eyes.
Quickly growing tired of such dull company, with anxiety closing in, Oswald asked, "I'm assuming it's done?"
Gabe reached into his pocket. His meaty fist emerged, a pair of dense scissors trapped within it. "Yup."
There was a dreadful finality to it. Oswald was ready to dismiss it when Gabe added, "Feel kinda bad though, boss. I always liked librarians."
Oswald narrowed his eyes at him. "You? What about poor Ed? He'll be heartbroken." Sighing, he added, "Well, at least he'll have a shoulder to cry on."
That night there was a screech. A train whistle. A scream. And finally, silence.