"Rose?" Dimitri's voice was quiet but urgent, echoing through the apartment as he slowly walked inside.
He silently made his way through the hallway to the dimly lit living room, his eyes darting around for the danger he felt nearby. There was an unsettling stillness to the air. The apartment felt empty... too empty.
As Dimitri moved forward, the faint sound of raised voices reached his ears. He froze, listening carefully. The voices were angry—shouted words, full of venom and frustration.
"Get away from me!" Rose's voice was sharp, filled with the force of her fear and fury. She backed up slowly, her hands trembling as she faced Tasha. "I told you to leave me alone."
Tasha laughed, but it wasn't a pleasant sound. It was cold, cruel, and full of venom. "You're just a pathetic little girl, thinking you can get in the way of what's meant to be. You really thought I'd let you take him from me?"
"Take him from you?" Rose's voice was disbelieving. "He doesn't want you, Tasha. You're a liar and a manipulator! You broke his heart and you don't get to just waltz back in here like nothing happened."
"Oh, I get to do whatever I want," Tasha spat, taking a step closer. "You really think I'd let a slut like you keep him? You're not worth anything to him. I am!"
Rose's face twisted in disgust. "You're insane."
Dimitri's blood ran cold. He'd feared this. He couldn't believe that Tasha would actually show up here. He pressed forward, heart pounding in his chest. The sound of their argument was growing louder. He rounded the corner of the hallway and came into full view of the kitchen, where the two women were standing, facing each other.
Tasha stood a few feet away from Rose, her hands trembling with rage. Dimitri's breath caught in his throat as he saw a kitchen knife in Tasha's tight grip, the blade reflecting the dim light. Rose, on the other hand, was standing her ground, fists clenched at her sides, her jaw set in determination.
"I swear, Tasha, if you don't leave, I'll—" Rose's voice shook with fury.
"You'll what? Kill me?" Tasha snarled, her eyes wild with anger. "He's mine, Rose. He's always been mine."
"Tasha!" Dimitri called out, stepping further into the kitchen, his voice firm but filled with desperation. "Put the knife down."
Rose's eyes shot to him, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Her expression was a mix of shock and relief, but her anger was still palpable. Dimitri stepped forward, trying to be calm. His eyes met Rose's, silently asking if she was alright. She gave a small, almost unseen nod, but the undertone of fear in her eyes was undeniable.
Tasha turned toward him with a malicious smile. "Dimka, you're here."
Dimitri scowled at her, his fury evident. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Tasha?"
Tasha's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I'm fixing things. We can finish this, Dimitri. You don't need her. You need me." She stepped forward, the knife gleaming dangerously in her hand.
"You need help, Tash. Clearly," Dimitri said, stepping closer once again. "Something's clearly not right in your head if you think this is the right thing to do."
Tasha rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Dimka. I'm just protecting what's mine. I told her to stay away from you –"
"And I fucking did!" Rose shouted. "I haven't spoken to Dimitri since you threatened me to stay away from him."
Tasha turned her attention back to Rose, the knife pointing in her direction once more, glistening in her trembling hands.
"Then why hasn't he fucking realised I'm the one he wants?!" She screeched.
"Because I don't love you, Tasha!" Dimitri growled. "I fucking told you – I want nothing to do with you."
Tasha glared at him again.
"You want this whore?" She snarled, thrusting the knife dangerously close to Rose as she stood backed against the cabinets.
"Enough!" Rose shouted, suddenly moving with lightning speed. She lunged forward, pushing Tasha back. The two women tumbled, grappling with each other as they fought.
Dimitri rushed to them, his heart pounding. He hadn't expected Rose to make a move. He grabbed Tasha by the arms, trying to pull her away, but the woman was furious and far from easy to contain.
"Get off her!" Dimitri roared, his voice trembling with anger.
Tasha didn't stop. In a fit of rage, she threw her elbow back, catching Dimitri in the ribs. His breath flew out of him, but he refused to let go, determined to protect Rose. Tasha was screaming obscenities as she pushed Rose into the corner of the kitchen, her hands still swinging wildly.
It was pure chaos, a tangle of punches, scratches, kicks and grunts. Dimitri couldn't even tell where the knife now was – he just prayed it had been dropped in the midst of the grapple.
Tasha threw her hands back once more, her surprising strength knocking Dimitri out of the fight and to the floor. The small distraction gave Rose an opening, however. In a swift, calculated motion, Rose smashed her fist into Tasha's jaw. Tasha staggered, stunned, her grip on the knife finally loosening as she collapsed, hitting the floor with a loud thud, unconscious.
Rose stood panting, her breathing heavy, her heart racing. She looked down at Tasha, then around the kitchen, her entire body shaking. She could barely believe what had just happened.
But it was over.
Dimitri, catching his breath, slowly stood from where he had fallen, wincing slightly. He looked over at Rose, his expression softening with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.
Honestly? Rose didn't know. Her breath was shallow, her body too heavy to move. The adrenaline that had coursed through her for the last few minutes was slowly wearing off, and her emotions were catching up with her.
"I… I think so," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dimitri began to step closer, his eyes searching hers. "Rose, I—"
He was cut off when he suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his abdomen. A searing, white pain that spread rapidly through his body. His vision blurred, and he looked down, feeling something warm and wet spreading across his shirt. Blood. His blood.
Somewhere, in amongst the chaos, the knife had caught him. Deeply.
His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out Rose's voice as she gasped.
"Shit – Dimitri-", Rose rushed forward just as Dimitri stumbled, his legs giving way as he collapsed to the ground in front of her.
Rose screamed, her hands reaching for him, her mind reeling as she saw the blood pouring from his stomach. He gasped for air, his eyes wide with disbelief as he reached out, his hand shaking.
"I—I'm okay… I'm okay," he muttered, though the blood on his hands told another story.
Rose scrambled to kneel next to him, her hands trembling as she tried to apply pressure to his wound, but it was no use. Dimitri's breathing was shallow, his face pale, and the life in his eyes quickly fading.
"No, don't. I'm going to get you help," Rose trembled, her voice breaking as she pressed her hands harder against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
Dimitri looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and confusion.
"You're so fucking beautiful," he whispered, barely audible, before his body turned limp, his eyes closed.