---Hey guys, moment you all have been waiting for!
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Chapter 9
Her beautiful smile, the gentleness of her eyes, the way she laughed; his heart ripped open as he remembered the way she bit her lip. None of it was for him. He slammed his fist against the garbage can in an attempt to dull the pain in his chest. Then he ran. He ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He leaped over the top of buildings, ran over the homeless beggars on the street, all so he could get away from her. The way she swept her blood red hair back over her shoulder as she smiled gently. He stopped mid-sprint as the pain caused him to double over in an abandoned building. His screams shattered the windows as he gripped his chest. "DAMNIT!" He screamed profanities to the walls, while simultaneously slamming his head into them. He couldn't get her out of his head.
The room finally began to spin from the brute force he was punishing himself with. What did I do? He couldn't bring himself to admit the reason he gave her the present was because he had memorized her birthday. He had memorized everything she ever told him. Even when he pretended like he wasn't interested, he held on to every word that came out of her mouth. God, he loved her. He just hated the fact he had to watch her cry herself to sleep at night looking out the window, for him. He hated the fact she screamed his name and he didn't have the balls to say, "Screw the world and everyone in it, I love you and that's all that matters." He hated watching those hazel eyes brim with anger and sadness over a piece of shit like him. But what he hated more was the fact he couldn't make her smile like that officer could. He loathed watching her giggle and smile for that pig. Why couldn't I make her smile like that?
Cuz you're a monster! Victor clutched at his aching head as Sabretooth began screaming an answer through his subconscious.
"No". Victor shook his head as he fell to his knees in protest.
You are and you know it. Like you said, "I kill people not because I have to but because I love the feeling of watching the life drain from their useless bodies!" Sabretooth laughed menacingly as he revealed the truth to Victor.
Victor screamed out in protest as Sabretooth growled out his confession to Carrie. "Stop!!" Victor felt his body giving up on him as he collapsed onto the dirty, cement floor. He gasped out the breath he had been holding in anticipation for Sabretooth's continuing rape of his mind, but nothing came. Suddenly, his acute senses picked up on a familiar smell surrounding the room. It smelled like fear, sweat, and filth. He smelled human. Victor shot up from the ground, rage taking over at the thought of being spied on by a cockroach human. Closing his eyes Victor caressed the air with his nose, breathing in every scent, but focusing on just one. He crouched down, ready to stalk his prey. Allowing the dark to cover his body, Victor silently moved towards the shadows, away from the moonlight. He stayed against the wall listening for any movement or breathing of any kind. Then, there it was, a muffled sob echoed from across the room. Victor proceeded to silently walk the edges of the wall until he found the human who dared to sneak up on Victor Creed. In the back of his mind, Victor prayed it was that pig who was talking to his Carrie.
Suddenly, Victor stopped, as Carrie's tear stained face returned to his memory. He closed his eyes as her gentle voice caressed his ravaged mind. "No, you're not a monster." Carrie never saw him as a monster. She never touched him with fear in her eyes. Victor fell to his knees in shame.
Then, out of the darkness, he saw his prey. A teenage boy huddled in the corner, fear enveloping his body. Victor had to turn away as the fear licked his senses and tempted him to tear the small boy apart. "Are…are you going to kill me?" The boy sobbed out as the terror radiated through his shaking voice.
Victor watched as the boy pushed himself further into the corner. Victor had always wondered why people huddle further against walls, as if the wall itself would protect them. He suddenly found himself standing over the cornered boy with a mix of disgust and pity. He couldn't have been much older than seventeen. He was dirty and covered in grime. Victor breathed in the boy's fear, resembling an addict taking his last hit. Carrie's face stayed plastered to his memory, she never turned away in disgust or fear. "No boy, I'm not going to kill you, but you better get out of here before I change my mind." Victor watched as the boy's saucer plate eyes scrambled for the nearest exit. The boy saw his chance and sprinted for the open door a few feet away. Victor watched the boy leave with a mix of regret and relief. He remembered how, before Carrie, he would have bathed in that boy's blood. He would have tasted the fear and innocence in that blood. But now, as he thought of it, all he could picture were Carrie's eyes as she woke up to see his body covered in blood. He never wanted to see those eyes again. The utter terror and anguish written in those eyes ripped at his heart.
It suddenly dawned on him how she had saved him from himself more times than he could count. She loved him without ever asking him to change. She had watched him kill her boss; then cried over the fact he pushed her away. God, what have I done? For a split second, he wondered if God was tired of listening to him. Then, with a new resolve, Victor exited the building completely confident in his decision.
Carrie huffed and groaned as she stared at the outfit Jackie had brought over for her to wear tonight. After a few choice words in another language, Carrie was now being forced to go out tonight. She had even attempted the old 'I just fell down the stairs to my apartment and am now unconscious in the ER' routine. But her excuses went through deaf ears. She gave one good moan as she remembered Jackie's threats, "If you do not go out tonight I will let everyone know how horrible a singer you are, how badly you snore, and you will be known as the biggest prude in the office. Do I make myself clear?" Jackie was such a skank sometimes! Stomping her foot indignantly Carrie picked up the too short dress and the too long heals and threw them into the bathroom. She would go out, but that didn't mean she couldn't take her anger out on the outfit first.
"Carrie!! You ready yet?" Jackie let herself into the apartment when 8:30 rolled around. "Carrie, the dress isn't that ba…" Jackie stopped mid nag, as Carrie stepped out of the bathroom. Jackie started her inspection from the top of Carrie's head and worked her way down. Carrie's robust red wine hair was allowed to curl freely around her shoulders and neck. Her eyes were a smoky hazel and her lips were glossed just enough to look juicy. Her tight black dress accentuated her little curves and gave her breasts enough lift to look sexy but not cheap. Her beautiful legs ended with a pair of strappy, red heals. Jackie laughed at the color of the shoes. She thought it best not to tell Carrie they were her 'stop sign' heals.
Carrie wobbled out of the bathroom with a scowl permanently etched on her face for the night. "Jackie, have I told you how much I hate you today?"
"Yeah, I think you screamed it over the phone on multiple occasions this morning." Jackie stood up from the bed she was sitting on to languidly walk over to the full length mirror against the wall. "Damn, I look good." Carrie rolled her eyes as Jackie lifted her breasts to the point they were touching her chin. "I don't know why you are making this into such a big deal. I told you I would be buying your drinks."
"I know. It's just…" Carrie sat down on her bed as Victor's enraged face appeared into her mind. Her eyes began to betray her as she stared at the long-stemmed rose sitting in a vase by her bed. Carrie got a hold of herself as she noticed Jackie walking over to her.
"Oh, chicka, I know you're nervous about going out with officer sexy. But you're just gonna have to suck it up or get wasted." Jackie gave Carrie a playful smile. She then held her hand out to reassure Carrie she would not leave her tonight. Carrie grasped the hand thankfully, as another playful smile appeared on Jackie's face. Carrie's eyes only got bigger as she watched Jackie grab their clutches and then start pulling her towards the door.
"We are leaving now?!" Carrie barely had time to get the sentence out of her mouth before Jackie threw her out of her apartment door and into the arms of a very strapping young man. "Officer Johnson?" Carrie looked up into two dark blue eyes brimming with excitement. Carrie pulled back quickly as she realized she was still being held by the officer. As she adjusted her dress, she allowed herself a minute to give the kind officer an inspection. He was wearing a nice pair of blue jean, which appeared to be tight in all the right places, and a black button-up short sleeve shirt, which appeared to grasp his muscled arms and chest. It was tucked into the front of his jeans but not the back. She assumed that is where he was keeping his gun. The cherry, on top of the cake, was the black cowboy boots poking out from under the bottom of the jeans. Carrie brought her eyes back up to his, blushing at the fact she had been caught checking him out.
Officer Adam ran a hand through his auburn hair and gave the beautiful woman a cocked half smile. "I thought we were passed the 'officer', Miss Carrie."
"Oh I'm sorry Adam. Old habits die hard, you know?" Carrie smiled gently as Adam nodded his head in agreement, obviously just as nervous as he was. She then took his offered arm for balance in her shoes and headed for the cab. As she stared up at the beautiful man beside her, she couldn't help trying to imagine another man's body close to her own. Taking a deep knowing breath to calm her nerves, Carrie allowed Adam to help her into the cab to begin their journey to the 'bar'.
Carrie made her fifth trip to the club's bar to order another round for the group. She had stopped yelling at Jackie after about an hour of being at the club. Jackie had told her they were going to a bar not a Latino club. She stopped being upset when Jackie told her she could get as much alcohol she wanted. This helped, considering her spiked nerves. Adam was constantly trying to get her to dance. She had danced a few times with Jackie, but the thought of Adam holding her in his arms only made her sick with betrayal. She couldn't bring herself to say no to him, so she kept going to the bar to get drinks for everyone, every time he asked her to dance. "I can't help but get the feelin you are tryin to avoid me." Carrie's back stiffened as she felt Adam lean in to whisper in her ear.
"No, I was just getting us more to drink." She knew she sounded too snippy, but all she wanted to do at that moment was crawl into bed and forget about this whole night.
"Come on Carrie, just one dance. I promise I won't bite cha." She took a deep breath as the word 'bite' caused her to remember Victor's teeth raking against her body.
She felt Adam lay his hand gently against the middle of her back, sending chills throughout her body at the warmth of his touch. It would have felt nice had it not been his hand, but someone else's. "I can't dance…Okay?! Now, stop asking!" She felt the guilt come rushing over her as she saw his eyes look down as if he were a child being scolded. "Adam, I'm sorry…"
"Did I do something wrong?" His eyes looked back into hers with such guilt and embarrassment, she had to do something.
"Maybe, just one dance…" She saw his eyes light up and felt him grab her hand as he pulled her out to the dance floor, the drinks completely forgotten. He wrapped her arms around his neck as a sensually slow song began to play. 'Oh know' she had no idea a song with a slow beat was coming on. He pulled her body close to his and slid his arms to rest respectfully against her lower back. He was smiling so kindly at her, but all she could feel was guilt rising up into her throat. She had to get out of here. Suddenly, she watched as Jackie waved at her from across the club the universal sign of 'I'm going to go home with this guy, but I will call you tomorrow', so much for sticking with her till the end. Carrie felt her heart begin to race as she pictured Victor watching her. What if he is watching me betray him? Her heart felt like it was fixing to explode out of her chest. She felt Adam shift her body so she was pressed harder into his chest. Oh God, she had to get out of there! "I have to go…" She felt his surprised eyes on her back as she sprinted towards the exit, which she found was a miracle in the shoes. Carrie burst through the door and continued running down the street, the chilled night air calming her flushed skin. She finally stopped and leaned against the wall of a foreign building. She slid down the side of the wall into a sitting position, only too aware of how bizarre she must look. In a sudden fit of anger she pulled the deadly heals from her sore feet and chunked them into the alley beside her. She would buy Jackie a new pair. Placing her hands against her heated face Carrie began the slow process of simmering in her guilt. "Victor, I'm so sorry."
Then she heard it. She heard the shifting of feet in the alley next to her. It was as if, whatever it was, was sitting right against the wall listening to her. Out of curiosity and a blind hope, Carrie stood up and turned into the alley, only to be greeted by nothing. Carrie walked further into the alley out of desperation to find what she was looking for, whatever that may be. Just as she was about to scream out in frustration, she felt a presence come up behind her. Carrie slowly turned, to be greeted by the beaten figure of Victor Creed. Carrie placed a hand over her mouth to hide the gasp at the sight of him. He looked horrible. He looked like he hadn't taken a shower in weeks or slept either. Carrie reached out a tentative hand towards his face only to have his cheek turn away from her. Then, she heard his voice, "Do you love him?" It sounded like a mix of gravel and sand grinding together. He obviously hadn't used it much for quite some time.
Carrie stopped her musings as she finally processed the question, but still had to ask again, "What?"
Victor finally lost his patience with the woman in front of him, "DO YOU LOVE HIM?!"
Carrie stepped back as the question was roared at her. She was tired of his petty attitude, but she had called it. He had been watching the whole time. "No, Victor, I don't love him."
"Why not?" That question caught her off guard.
"Why not what?" She asked it slowly, confusion written all over her features.
"Why do you not love him, Carrie?" His head bowed in its agony. The words appeared to cause him physical pain.
Then it dawned on her what he was trying to do and anger filled her to the brim. "Because I love you, you stupid ass!" Carrie finally lost all control over her body as sobs began to wrack her small frame. He was here with her after over a month of no word, and he was still trying to push her away. "I waited for you every night Victor Creed! You never came to me! You never came back!"
Victor bowed his head further pressing it against the wall. She was so beautiful tonight. He couldn't look at her or his resolve would fail. "I'm sorry Carrie…"
"You're sorry." Her voice lowered a complete octave in her anger. She watched him lower his head further against the wall. "Victor, look at me!" She watched him slowly lift his eyes to hers, as if looking at her was the hardest thing he ever had to do.
He couldn't breath. She was completely stunning. Her hair was tangled and wild around her head. Her face was flushed red from the chill and anger filling her body. But what made his breath catch in his throat were her eyes. They were nearly black in her anger. They were filled with a passionate fire meant only for him. He could read every emotion in them at once: astonishment, anger, sorrow, and love. He couldn't take it anymore, with every last bit of his resolve gone Victor grabbed up the small woman and pinned her against the wall with his body. He heard her gasp once before he claimed her mouth with his. He felt her give back just as much as he gave. He felt her trying to pull him closer to her and wrap her legs around his waist. He growled deep in his throat as he felt her bite his bottom lip in frustrated passion. She moaned his name when he grasped her butt with one hand to pull her closer to him and rake his other hand down her back. He could taste her tears as he continued to ravage her blood red lips. All of her pain and rage slipping away in those tears as she continued to give her soul over to him.
Victor suddenly snapped his head back as he heard the ominous sound of a gun cocking behind him. He looked into Carrie's eyes as she looked behind him and recognition dawned in those passion-filled eyes. "Adam…" Victor placed Carrie back on the ground and watched as she stepped in front of him, as if to protect him. "Adam, please put the gun down."
"Carrie, get away from that thing!"
Victor snarled at the man in front of them. He was pointing that pistol too close to Carrie. Victor grabbed Carrie's arm in an effort to move her away from the dangerous weapon. Then with one quick movement Victor had Adam by the throat against the wall. "DON'T EVER POINT A GUN NEAR HER!" Victor watched as the man tried to struggle unsuccessfully in his grasp to get away. Fear wafting off of him in waves.
"You…were…goin…to…hurt…her." Victor was oddly surprised the man had enough balls to talk back to him.
"I LOVE HER!" Victor watched in mild amusement as the man's features went from completely scared shitless, to complete shock, then to complete anger.
"Victor! Stop it! You're going to kill him!" Carrie's enraged and frightened voice finally reached him through all of the screaming. Then, growing tired of the pathetic human, Victor dropped him unceremoniously to the ground. He watched the man stare up at him with such rage written on his features Victor couldn't help but be a little amused. He turned around and placed a hand against Carrie's tear-stained face. He basked in the complete devotion shining through those eyes. He watched as those suddenly turned into complete fear as she looked behind him. He didn't have any time to notice the angry Adam pointing the cocked gun at his head, and he watched in horror as Carrie pulled herself in front of him as the trigger was pulled back. No one heard the gun shot over the roar of anguish emitted from Victor Creed, as he watched Carrie clutch the left side of her chest in pain. Victor looked up at the shocked man in front of him.
Adam dropped the gun as guilt and shock washed over his entire body. "Oh my God, I shot her." Adam didn't even attempt to move as Victor reared back and punched the man with a force strong enough to break a brick wall. He watched as Adam shakily got to his feet after a moment of gasping for air.
"Go call an ambulance." Victor's voice was shaking from the effort it took not to rip this man apart. He watched as Adam ran shakily around the corner and down the block to the payphone. Then he looked down at Carrie as she grasped her chest in agony. Victor sat down next to his Carrie and pulled her gently into his embrace. He took his coat off carefully so as not to move her and wrapped it around her shivering body. "Why did you do that, you stupid woman?"
He watched as she smiled gently through blue tinged lips, "Because I love you, you stupid ass." Victor smiled and pulled her closer to his body as he felt her shake a little more violently at the loss of blood.
He started to panic as her eyes began to flutter shut. "Don't you dare pass out on me, Red." Victor rubbed a place on her cheek where blood had splashed up onto it. She looked up into his eyes, fighting the oblivion trying to take her. She reached out a shaky hand to touch his cheek in reassurance. Victor took her trembling palm and kissed the center of it.
Carrie watched as he looked down at her with a look of complete terror on his face. "Don't worry, it's gonna take more…than a gun shot…wound to get rid of…me." She gasped at the effort it was taking to whisper to him.
Victor laughed, in spite of his pain, at the fire she still held on to. "You are one tough bitch." Carrie laughed and then gasped at the pain it caused. Victor pulled her closer to his body as she cried out in pain. "I love you, Carrie."
He felt her nuzzle the gruffness of his chin as she whispered against his neck, "I love you too."
Then he felt complete silence surround them. He couldn't hear her breathing anymore. He heard the distant wail of the ambulance. He looked at the limp body of the woman he loved more than his own life and silence was all that greeted him. "Carrie! Carrie look at me!" He gasped out her name, he kissed her lips for any response, and then, out of desperation, he rocked her limp body against his chest, as the paramedics finally arrived on scene.
----So what do you guys think?
----I have to be honest. I kind of got the inspiration for Adam from my fiancé. HAHA!
----Please Review!!!!
