(A/n: Just one more chapter after this!...)
I ran into Faryn today, and I felt that horrible thumping in my chest again. I wasn't jealous anymore... I was pissed. I wanted to tackle her and rip that terrible smile off her goddamn face. I feel myself changing. I see it and I feel it in the Warden too.
Are the Twins trying to take over Superjail?
Impossible...
I said to her, very quietly: "I won't let you hurt him."
She looked at me with such a darkness, I felt like a flower wilting and withering to dust. Then she became ---him.
"He's just too." She---The Twin droned, twirling blonde curls in between pale fingers. "Delicious to let go."
I grimaced, and my eyes felt hot. "What do you want? Why are you doing this?"
He smiled again. A hot, slow smile. "Oh, you miserable thing, does everything have to have a reason? A purpose? The Warden is a worthy adversary. If he really wanted to stop this, he would have many weeks ago."
"What a horrible implica--" they wouldn't let me finish! THE WARDEN WOULD NOT LET THAT THING TOUCH HIM. NO!
"And anyway," The other Twin popped up, "If We did have a reason, it may just be because we despise you." They chortled in a odd tone.
The Twin transformed again, her stunning features glaring as she poked my chest with her finger.
I spit on the floor in disgust, but my words were more jumpy and less self assured. "Do you have any idea what he will do to you, when he finds out?" My voice was panicked, on the verge of one of those laughing/crying fits.
"Oh, not more than he's done already--anything else and I will collapse in dizzy--"
"Euphoriaaa" They sang together. Colors swam and circled around them.
"You ARE hurting him you bastards! He's changing! He's chan--"
"You are OUT OF TURN when you SPEAK." The voice changed and grew, spiraling in my ear drums like huge brass bells.
---No---A silent scream that I swallowed like a lump of cold white coal.
"We might give you a moment of solace."
"A moment."
They disappeared.
So did I for a few moments.
--
"Ah, Jared! How are you feeling this fine, fabulous day?" Someone said, twirling that damned cane, smiling ear to ear.
I smiled. Glassy and dark. "Just fine, Warden."
"What, I don't believe you. You look a little ill, dear." He clicked his tongue against his cheek, leaning down and looking at me with a curious gleam, his hand reaching for my shoulder, lightly and tentatively. That made my heart rise a few degrees for sure.
"What's up? Need ta go home? Super Sick Ward?" He suggested. Silence arose. He has to add 'Super' in front of everything?
I wanted to say so much to him. I finally let go, looking up at him, I breathed in his presence like a fine wine, trying not to stutter. "I-I..I...re-re-really just-"
"Shh. Seriously, it's OK, Jared. I've been out of it, too, lately--you know?" He said in a breathy whisper. Was he getting closer?
Or was I starting to fall?
I was---and fluidly--he caught me.
Humanity. He caught me off guard, again and again.
He caught me. Sympathy.
Our eyes were still. My heart was still.
And he lowered his eyes like slits and widened them like huge glass mirrors unveiled by a drapery cloth.
Breathe. In and out. Like your therapist had said.
In.
Out.
Breathe.
Before I had the chance to even understand---all thoughts ceased---became still---
Still, my lungs filled deep, then,
Still
His breathing, trickling like liquid gas--poison---intoxicating----
I grabbed him by the collar of his coat---
And pulled his lips---
----------To mine.
Still.
I breathe.
In.
Out.
My heart is still.
I gasped. He gasped.
We started to breathe, too beautiful to see.
--