You & I

Chapter Eight:

Work

No sleep, no chance, no need
Forget about it
One life, live free, big dreams
We're all about 'em

You're finding it, take it, take it in, it's all here
You and me, no one else, nothing else but us right now

- You & I - Crystal Fighters

After being out of that damned dress for those two days, the feel of the scratchy material back against my skin was enough to drive me mad. And the stripes - God, the stripes. Were we in a 1950's novella? Christ.

You paid no attention to such things, of course. You were in your element, and I was very near entranced to see it. Every ounce of you exuded excitement and terror as you ordered us about, allowing me to first spray paint letters onto the wailing men's white straight jackets before pushing them toward Helzinger. He was the strongest so, therefore, the best one to push the men off of the building.

I quickly sprayed the 'A' onto the whining man, almost glad that he was not able to look at me. I know that there's something wrong with me, because I know I should have felt guilty when we sent those men to their deaths. I didn't, though. None of us did. I always recognized that we were crazy, Jerome. You just never admitted it, and I think you honestly believed that you were the sanest of the bunch.

I got up from my crouch and let Greenwood push the man toward Helzinger, who took the man by his shoulders and gave a great, big push. You sat on the wall at the edge of the building we pushed them off, long legs dangling and mouth twinkling with a smile. I started on 'Mr X', fingers a little red from the spray paint, but head whizzing with excitement all the same. Impulse told me this was good; this was fun. Impulse told me to stand on the edge of that building and spread my arms like I could fly.

I watched as Dobkins ran to look over the edge, a giddy little smile on his face. You stared down, the back of your head to me, and said, 'Perfect'. And it was. The idea was so perfect for what we would stand for, I was entirely impressed at your mad mind for thinking up something so diabolical. Had I been surprised, though? Of course. You were capable of anything.

'Next!' You called, turning to look over your shoulder at me. You eyed my work and grinned. 'Mr X please, beautiful'. I took the man by his shoulders and shoved, ordering him to walk and following him to the edge. There was a moments pause in which I waited for Helzinger to push him, but you kept your eyes on me, dark and smirking. 'Push,' you said, voice like velvet.

I did. You remember that, of course. You watched me align him just right, and I had grinned cockily when you nodded in approval. Impulse said yes, otherwise I would have said no. I'd only ever killed one person, you know. He was my second - my one of many.

That's later, though.

'Perfect,' you purred once again.

'What shall we do with the, uh, spare?' Dobkin's inquired, arms held close to him as he pointed at the blinded hostage that stood behind us, held in place by Greenwood. I considered him, then looked to you, watching as you bowed your head and stared hard at the art we had already created on the side walk below. I thought quickly, imagining how much better it would look with-

'Oh, I know!' you piped up, swinging your legs over the side and grabbing my arm as you passed me. You dragged me in front of the man and murmured, 'You know, beautiful,' and smiled and smiled like the maddest and most beautiful thing in the world was about to happen. I took the spray can once again and ducked, painting a big ol' exclamation point across the struggling man's torso.

You grinned and took the spray can off of me, tossing it to the side. 'Aaron, would you kindly?' Helzinger started forward, taking the man and gathering him in his beefy arms. Watching him do that to a man...it made me worry even more about how weak I was compared to the rest of them. I mean, they weren't the most trusted companions, were they? He could flick me and probably break me.

The moment the the man's (Exclamation Man, that is) scream faded to the ground and stopped with a sickening end, we all leant over the edge in eagerness, taking in what we had created and hoping that Theo would be happy. Our name, bloody and horrific, shined back at us, imprinted on the dead bodies of our first victims as a group. With my skirts billowing in the wind and my hand tugging at the hem of your shirt, I grinned.

'Maniax,' Helzinger drawled slowly, spelling each letter to pronounce the word.

You gave a short laugh. 'Now that's a headline,' you cracked, letting out your usual crazed laugh. I peeked further over the edge, holding my hair back from my face to get a view of the people gathering below, all of their eyes scanning the buildings above to find where the bodies had come from. Your laughter was cut short by my tugging on your shirt.

'We gotta go,' I reminded you and the others, already backing away from the edge. You laughed and hopped ahead of me, long legs carrying you quickly to the rooftop door and swinging it open quickly. The others followed, crouched and moving quickly against the light, chilly wind. I hung back for a moment, eyes jumping up a taller building next to the one we inhabited and it was there that I saw her, black figure contrasting with the light sky behind her.

Tabitha. I never told you that I saw her, knowing that you might be offended or angered that Theo did not trust you enough to lead the 'mission' without her watching our every move. To an extent, I understood and still do.

With one last look at her, I followed you all quickly to our ride home.

Theo sent me to Tabitha and Barbara, insisting that I spend time with women having been so long in the company of men. 'I am a gentlemen,' he told me. 'And I know that where you have been, you have not been treated as a lady'. He accompanied this with a kind smile, to which I had been almost grateful for. He was right, you know. Men are forceful and crazy, women are smart and mad. I kind of missed that.

I hadn't really expected to see the two pushing a man between them, whips out and maniacal smiles on their faces. The man had a metl box on his head, and that was enough for me to grow even more confused. They looked up when I entered, smiles sliding from their faces and curiosity replacing them. Barbara eyed me, though not unkindly.

'Look after her, won't you? I fear that her abilities are something that need working on after so long locked away'. He looked down at me, smiling softly and then, with one last look at his sister, he left me to the wolves. I knew where you were. You were having some kind of brunch with the others, talking over our mission. I could bet my money that was where Theo was heading. Why hadn't he wanted me there, I wonder? Was it to see you without me? Was it to push me away from you; my voice when others were there?

Tabitha's smile slowly coiled back onto her face. 'How fun,' she remarked, holding the whip higher. The man on the floor shuffled backwards, whining from beneath the confines of the box.

I tilted my head at him. 'Who is that?'

Barbara looked down at the man and kicked him. 'This?' she pushed her shoe hard into his back. 'This is Mayor James. Say hello Mayor'. He groaned and flattened his pudgy body against the wooden floor. 'Impolite,' Barbara reminded him, raising her arm and bringing the whip down hard. Why whips? Who even used whips?

Barbara looked closer at me, pretty face tilted to the left. 'You know, you shouldn't let a man like Jerome do all the talking for you. You've got a brain in that head of yours'.

The comment annoyed me to no end. I narrowed my eyes at her. 'And I'm using it. I talk when I need to, and lately I've been stuck for conversation due to current company'. I blinked at her and smiled sweetly, and I know you would have cackled. My eyes flashed briefly to Tabitha. 'A day in and you've already found a new friend? Helzinger will be distraught, I'm sure'.

Tabitha bristled, whereas Barbara simply bit her tongue and smiled at me, walking slowly forward. 'You have got a voice, Madeline. A bitchy little one, apparently'.

I frowned at her. 'Was there a point to your brother bringing me here?' The question was directed at Tabitha, who still seemed to be staring at me like I was some kind of maths puzzle.

She shrugged and slung the whip over her neck, both hands holding each end. 'Probably so we could talk. My bother is so much more about words than actions'. To me, that didn't seem the case, but I let her talk anyway. 'What you need to do is prepare yourself'. She looked me up and down. 'Both mentally and physically. You dress like a fourteen year old'.

Barbara scoffed and turned to me, a sly smile on her face. 'You know, I like you. I like that you get on with it, no questions asked. I like this whole brooding, silent thing that you got going on. What I don't like is how...passive you are. Didn't you kill your mom? Where's that fire gone, little girl? What does Jerome see that we don't?'

Tabitha scoffed. 'What's between her legs, probably'.

Barbara continued to stare at me, smile spread still over her face. 'Would you like a go?' she indicated to the whip in her hand and I quickly caught onto her meaning. Yes, I thought. Impulse says yes. Impulse says fuck it. Was it an attack without meaning? Had this man done anything to me? Did I want to prove myself in some sick little way? Was I simply bored?

Who cared?

There was something so good about hitting him with all of the force I had. I was in control, Jerome, and I wish you could have seen me in that moment. I smiled whilst I did, a big 'ol smile that was plastered across my face as I hit and hit and hit. He cried, the Mayor. He trembled and yelled and part of me was so very glad that I could not see his face. Do you think that makes me weak or a coward? I don't know. All I know is how good it felt to make someone hurt - to let go.

I understood Barbara a little more then. I understood the well respected woman who fell from grace and into the darkness. I got it.

I wanted to show you.

'Can he stand up?' I asked, turning my head toward the two other women. Tabitha shrugged, dark shoulders rising and lowering smoothly. I turned to the whimpering man and hummed to him, toe prodding at his sweaty back. 'Stand up,' I ordered. 'Now'. With both mine and Tabitha's whips at his legs, he did, crying and sobbing behind the thickness of his cage. Tabitha pushed at him, whip meeting his back with a resounding crack every five seconds.

Barbara stopped me before I could leave the room. 'C'mere,' she murmured, turning me around and hands going to my jacket. She slid it off of my shoulders and threw it to the floor, then tucked my shirt into my dark jeans. 'Don't hide yourself,' she insisted, voice softer than I had ever heard it before. The almost maternal instinct that she showed me startled me enough that I did not even push her away from me. She jutted her chin upward. 'Go'.

I did. I followed Tabitha all the way to the room where you and the others sat. You, in your luxurious red dressing gown, tied tightly around your body. The others looked up when when we entered, but you simply carried on pouring your tea like you could not hear the sound of whipping and torture behind you. At the dinner table, of all places.

It was when I came into your vision, whip raised and smile on my face that you stalled, blue eyes meeting mine and tongue darting out to lick your lips. Is that when you saw what I could really be? Is that when I became her?

Barbara slid past and in front of the cackling Tabitha, taking the whip from my hand and saying, 'my turn'. She hit him hard, doing a little spin at the end and turning to Tabitha, a filthy smile on her face. For a moment, I was actually surprised that I had been right about the two of them. The way in which they looked at each other, though, did mirror the way in which Jerome looked at me when I did something particularly bad.

I looked away from them and looked to you, a breathless grin on my face. You could only smile into your tea back at me.

'I am so glad that you three are getting along,' Theo said, more to the older two women than myself. 'But we're a little busy here, so if you could leave the poor Mayor alone?'

I slid past him and instead toward the food. Already, in your hand, you held a pink doughnut for me to grab. 'I could only amuse them for so long,' I countered Theo, taking the doughnut from you. 'And I agree with them. I don't understand why I was dumped upstairs when I'm part of the Maniax'. I bit into the doughnut and shrugged at Theo's displeased look.

'Yeah,' agreed Barbara. 'Why do the boys get all the fun?'

Theo ignored my statement. 'Your time is coming,' he said to Barbara. I looked down at you, catching the way in which you gazed up at me with plans behind your eyes. I was vaguely aware of Theo questioning whether we had, in fact, killed the Mayor but with a simple whip to the stomach, we found that he was alive.

You considered me with a calm look, back straight and fingers playing around your teacup. 'Having fun?'

I simply grinned back at you.

I ducked onto my knees, hands plucking out odd assortments of knives and other little, lethal weapons. Theo had said to have fun with what we found, and fun to me was finding the smallest, most dangerous little knife that I could slip into the back of my shoe. I wasn't about the swords and the axes like you were - no, I liked something subtle and quiet that could slit a throat and end a life simply.

I was only partly aware of you in front of me. It was only when I heard the sound of metal against metal and a dangerous growl in your voice when you said, 'Give that back,' that I looked up, knowing it was never good when your voice took that tone. I was right. Greenwood had a samurai sword in his hands, whereas you held the sheath. You looked at him, eyes unblinking and mouth stuck in a frozen, angry smile.

'I saw it first,' Greenwood said, holding the sword at a stance.

'No,' you countered. 'You didn't'. You held out your hand for the sword, back stiff. 'I said give it back'.

And then Greenwood did something that had be shooting to my feet, the first knife I could grab in my right hand. He held the sword out to you slowly, letting it drag along your pale neck, and said, 'Make me, you little brat!' I stared at him, hoping for nothing more than him to look at me and see the look in my eyes. Maybe then he would know I would slice him up into tiny little pieces if he proceeded with his actions.

Dobkin's ooooo'd behind me, and I turned to quickly glare at him. You backed up, hand lowering and a little smile on your face, until you were standing just in front of me. I saw immediately what you were going to grab at, and I couldn't quite help the smile that settled onto my face. You were okay. You always were, weren't you?

'Your samurai skills are excellent, Greenwood-San, but they are nothing compared to mine!' you said, donning a ridiculous accent. I sighed as you grabbed at the chainsaw, sliding the knife into the space between my belt and jeans. 'Prepare to die!'

'Can to you stop your little testosterone filled feud, please?' I watched as your chainsaw and his sword clanged together, sparks flying. 'No? Okay'. I crossed my arms and settled with watching the two of you, knowing full well that I could jump in and slice Greenwood's throat if need be.

'Enough!'

'Finally,' I sighed, watching as Theo entered the room with long strides. 'Boys, we're a team. We don't fight amongst ourselves'. The two of you stopped, sullen looks on both your faces. I could have laughed at the way he settled a hand on both of your shoulders like a disappointed school teacher. I didn't like it, though. It made no sense to be that you work for someone else - it just didn't fit. Who was he to tell us how to create anarchy?

'Yeah, we're a team, boys'. I looked over my shoulder at Dobkin's, unnerved by his child-like attitude. The helmet on his head fell over his eyes, and I couldn't help thinking how much like a child doing dress up he looked. How had this man raped women? How could he sit there and play and pretend?

Greenwood slung the sword over his shoulder. 'And I'm the captain'.

I could have laughed - couldn't you? I don't say this because of what you were to me, I say this because it is the truth: you were the smart one. You could lead an army of nuns into hell, Jerome. The idea of Greenwood being captain or boss or anything of the sort was both laughable and ludicrous. He was nothing but a speck of annoying dust on our radar.

You glowered and dropped the chainsaw. 'Captain of my foot'. I rolled my eyes, arms crossed and mouth pressed into a thin line. My eyes stayed soley on the back of your head, wondering where you would go with this.

'I've murdered a dozen women,' started Greenwood, teeth bared like a dog. 'Terrorized the city. What have you done - chop up your mommy?' You shifted on your feet, and I could see the anger building up inside of you. His words, although true, would only send you into a fit of trying to prove yourself. Still, even I narrowed my eyes at Greenwood's words.

'Everybody has to start somewhere,' you breathed.

'There was nothing smart or memorable about your murders, Greenwood. They were just messy,' I hissed, baring my teeth at him.

You nodded, shoulders rising in tenseness and head twitching back and forth. 'See, I have ambition. I have ambition and brains and her - you're just a nutty old cannibal. I mean, how many people can you eat before that shtick gets old?' You raised your arms, your body showing just how wound up you were. And yet, although I never mentioned it, my stomach dropped at your words. You had me.

Greenwood sneered out a smile. 'I could eat one more'.

Theo, still holding onto you both, finally spoke. 'I can see we're going to have to resolve this one once and for all'. You lowered your arms and linked them behind your back, regaining your build once again. I watched Galavan, eyes jumping to the small handgun that he brought out of his jacket pocket. I clenched my jaw in surprise. Don't. You wouldn't forgive me for being weak.

The moment Theo pulled out a single bullet, I knew where the situation was heading. 'I trust you know this game?' he asked.

You scoffed. 'Oh, love it'.

'Who wants to be the boss?' he asked, handing over the gun.

You smiled and cocked your head. 'Ladies first'.

Greenwood took the gun with a crazed, confident smile. Sword still thrown over his shoulder, he took the gun and held it up to his curly head and, with bated breath, we all watched as he pulled the trigger. Fuck. I hated the smile that spread across his ugly face, but in that moment I hated you more than anyone. You didn't even look at me. You didn't even try to give me one last look before you took the gun from him and held it to your head.

'Hey, Greenwood'. You cocked the gun and leaned forward, mouth opening into a smile. 'What's the secret to good comedy?' If you die I'll kill them all. If you die I'll crack in two. The gun clicked. No bullet. I breathed out, surprised and worried at how relieved I was. When had you come to actually mean something to me? When did I start to care so much about you? 'Timing'.

But then you kept fucking going, didn't you? You cocked the gun yet again and I took a step forward, my stomach turning and my head clouding with fury. You held the gun to your cheek this time. 'And what's courage?' The gun clicked. Empty. Stop now, Jerome. Fucking stop. 'Grace under pressure'. My head hurt. I didn't like caring this much. I felt like my mind was going to explode. Stop caring. Stop caring. Grab the gun out of his stupid fucking hands and beat the shit out of his pretty little face with it.

I could hear the madness in your voice and I watched the smile slowly disappear from Greenwood's face. I knew then, with absolute clarity, that I was going to murder you.

You moved slowly then, gun coming up under your chin. I bit my tongue and watched you, heart hammering and mind whirring. 'And...' you looked at him, eyes dark and jaw set. 'Who's the boss?' There was a moment of bated breath in which Greenwood stared, Theo ducked and Dobkin's giggled nervously. I could only stare at the back of your head, wondering how the hell you had woven yourself so deeply into my mind to make me care this much.

The gun clicked. I closed my eyes, hands unclenching and mind clearing somewhat. Theo laughed a little, eyes trained on you like you were greatest thing he had ever discovered and I saw your cheeks rise in a horrible little smile. 'I'm the boss,' you told Greenwood. You laughed, low and hollow and backed up a little when Theo took the handgun off of you. You stared at Greenwood, showing him why you were not to be fucked with and why you were the boss.

'I believe you are, Jerome,' said Galavan. 'I believe you are'.

You turned suddenly away from Greenwood and plucked the sword from him, bowing at Theo and saying, 'Arigato, sensei!' You spun on your heel, sword raised as you cut it through the air, a smile spread across your face in victory. Theo watched you only for a moment before turning away, eyes flickering briefly to Greenwood. The crazed man looked only at you, before growling and storming past everyone, fists clenched.

'And that, as they say, is that,' Theo said, rubbing his hands together. 'I see you've found a liking for knives, Madeline. Very fitting'. I smiled tersely at him, eyes only fixed on you as you played and cut at the other end of the room. 'I'll leave you then,' he said, taking long strides out of the room. I waited until you met my gaze, and I hated you for how you looked at me.

You looked pleased with yourself.

I turned and stormed out of the room, biting my tongue so hard I was sure it would bleed. I was furious at myself for caring if another human being lived or died - when did I care about such things? When did that matter to me at all? I was Madeline and I was empty and I had been for years. Then you came and ruined me and you expected to just leave without saying goodbye? Weak girl. Why care?

I knew you would come for me. You looked at me best when I was angry, so I knew you could not miss such an opportunity when my anger was aimed at you. So I waited in front of the door, fingers playing with the knife in my right hand and eyes unblinking as I stared at the grand wooden door. You would come. You'd make me wait, but you would come. How could you miss my fury?

When you did walk through the door, hand brushing through your hair arrogantly, you scarcely jumped when the knife whizzed past your face and embedded itself into the door frame next to you. You looked at it, then at me, and you sighed like I was a petulant child. Quickly, you closed the door and swaggered forward, still donned in the red robes.

'Well,' you said, in front of me now. 'That was a silly move, Mads. Now you don't have a knife'. You suddenly grabbed my shoulders and slammed me into the wall behind, face drawing close as you grinned wide. 'Throwing knives at people is considered rude in some places, dear'. You touched your nose against mine. 'Why so serious, Mads?'

I glowered at you, arms straight at my side. 'You could have died'. I shook my head and spit my words out at you. 'That's not how you die, Jerome'.

You bit your tongue and grinned. 'Mads, you care!'

I grabbed your waist and stuck my nails into your side. Since leaving the Asylum, they had finally been allowed to grow. 'You tell me if you do shit like that. You look at me. You don't do it to show off-'

You pushed me again. 'Sounds a lot like you're tellin' me what to do, beautiful'. You tutted. 'None. Of. That'.

I kissed you. I pressed my mouth against yours and kissed you with everything I had, leaning into your form and feeling your hands loosen their hold on me. I pressed myself on my tiptoes, tasting every part of your mouth and pushing you backwards. Pulling away, I grinned wickedly. 'I'm the only one that can make you like this. We're together in this and if you're going to and get yourself killed, you're going to fucking tell me first'.

You didn't disagree.

Long wait, sorry! On my reading week now, so more updates to come! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews and follows, means a lot!