Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (13 page)

“I know you are soo much better than me; well, while you’re up on your high horse, do you mind checking the view for the rest of us because us bad people down here can’t see over your pile of shit. If you think this is the life I wanted, you’re wrong but guess what it’s the life I have and if you plan on staying in it, alive, you will grow a fucking pair and wake up to the situation you are in now!” Marie got up into Tyler’s face.

Tyler held his hands up, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make you understand where I am coming from.”

“I don’t care where you are coming from, this is where you are now so get used to it.” Marie walked away from Tyler towards the stairs leading from the shelter. “Let’s go, sir.”

“It’s two in the morning. Don’t you want to wait till the am?”

“Do I look tired to you?” Marie took the first step up the stairs.

“No you don’t” Tyler replied, moving swiftly to catch up with her as she moved up the stairs. Tyler followed her as she moved across the field to the motorcycle, “Am I driving or what? I know where he is not how to get there since I don’t even know where I am.”

“Where is he?” Marie asked back pulling the motorcycle from under the brush.

“The same place you last saw him.”

“You’re serious. He’s still at that nasty apartment?”

“Yah that’s why I am wondering why you haven’t taken care of him yet? In four years he has been in the same place and yet he is still alive. How did you not know he was there?”

“I told you. I was busy. Plus, I figured he was already dead.” Marie replied starting up the motorcycle.

“Doing what?”

“Are you coming or what?”

Tyler took a deep breath and climbed on the back of the motorcycle as Marie revved the engine and took off.

Chapter 20

Marie knew the way to Justin’s apartment. How could she forget, that day was etched in her memory. Marie pulled up to the apartment complex. It hadn’t changed much in four years, it was still a dump. She shuddered, “I’m going to need another shower after this.” she laughed as she climbed off the motorcycle. “Come on, Boy Scout, time to meet a worthless waste of flesh.” Marie ordered to Tyler as he climbed off the motorcycle. They entered the faded red front door to the complex and took the stairs to the second floor where apartment 10B was. Marie walked right up to the door, Tyler stood several steps behind her. “I’m not in a knocking mood are you?” Marie said smiling at Tyler. She picked up her right foot and kicked in the door. She entered the apartment, Tyler following behind her. There he was, Justin passed out in his nasty chair. The apartment was exactly as Marie remembered it. She felt the rage fill her veins as she re-lived the night Justin betrayed her. She walked straight up to Justin, pulled out her gun and just stood there in front of him clutching to her gun. Justin was in worse shape than when she had last saw him. To call him a shadow of his former self would put it mildly. He was nothing but skin and bones, his face sunken in from the extensive drug usage. Tyler stood in silence. He knew he was about to witness a man’s death and he was frightened of what that would be like. Would she make it quick or would she make him suffer? Tyler could feel his breathing quicken as he tried to calm his nerves. She turned and looked at him. She could tell he was nervous. She smiled at him and turned back to Justin. She lifted the pistol and smacked Justin across the face with it.

Justin awoke suddenly from the blow grabbing his face, “What the hell!” Justin called out as he looked up and saw Marie’s face. “Oh my god!” Justin clung to his face. “I thought you were dead.”

“Ya, well, the same could be said about you. I guess neither the drugs nor the big boys decided to take care of you for me” Marie pointed her gun at Justin’s head.

“So you’re going to kill me I take it?” Justin asked relaxing his head back into the chair.

“Nope, he is” Marie stepped back and pointed to Tyler.

“Wait, what?” Tyler questioned he was shaking, “No, no, no, I don’t kill not my thing.”

“Take the knife out and prove you are here to help.” Marie ordered.

Tyler glanced down at the knife on his hip. His hand hesitated but he pulled the knife from the holster. Tyler looked at the knife in his hand, then at Justin. “I….I can’t” Tyler protested, as his hand shook. Marie walked to him and grabbed his hand and pulled him towards Justin and pointed the knife at Justin’s chest. Tyler could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead as he looked at the knife.

“Just do it” Justin said calmly “I knew this was coming it would be a relief.” He took a deep breath.

“Do it” Marie ordered.

“No, this is not what I am here to do, please don’t make me do this.”

“Either you do it or I leave you here with him,” Marie replied calmly

Tyler felt his hand thrust forward but he felt no control as the knife pierced Justin’s chest. Justin let out a gasp. Tyler quickly removed the knife and watched as blood poured out of Justin’s chest. His eyes grew dark and his breathing grew weaker and within seconds Justin was dead. Tyler dropped the knife and started to wipe his hands repeatedly on his black shirt as he backed away from the body. Marie stepped up and picked up the knife and thrust it back into Justin’s chest and released it planting it deep in his chest. “What was the point of that, he is already dead!” Tyler let out gasping for breath as the sight of the body being stabbed again shook his system.

“It’s a message” Marie said, going over to the mattress and flipping it up. Under it she found a small wooden box. She opened it, and inside she found needles, a small amount of heroin and a picture of Justin and Michael from when they were children. She closed the box and grasped the box in her hand. “Let’s go,” she said, grabbing Tyler by the shirt and walking him from the room.

Chapter 21

Tyler struggled to control his emotions as they rode back to her hideout. He had just killed a man, something he knew one day he may have to do but never wanted to. He knew why Marie wanted Justin dead but he had no beef with Justin and yet he took his life. Tyler knew the blood was no longer on his hands but he felt like it was still there. Marie was so calm. It was easy for her, Tyler thought. How could it be so easy to kill a person no matter what they had done? Tyler couldn’t tell how long they were riding, but it was physical shock when they arrived and she pushed him of the motorcycle. Tyler struggled to his feet and saw her walking to the bomb shelter. He followed as she opened the doors and walked down the stairs. She was still clutching the small box she found under the mattress. Once they got to the living area, she instantly went to her dresser and placed the box on top; she slowly opened it up and just stared at the picture of Michael. She envisioned James. He would be almost five now and would look so much like his father, was all she could think. She placed both of her hands on the dresser and struggled for a breath. She was brought back to reality by Tyler.

“Do you do drugs now?” Tyler questioned sitting on the floor against the far wall, he had struggled on his feet down the stairs and had lost control once he got to the living area.

“No” Marie was trying to keep her composure but was not looking up from the picture staring back at her.

“Then why take it?” Tyler asked. He figured if he talked about anything else he wouldn’t have to talk about body he had just left at the apartment.

“It doesn’t concern you,” Marie was still not moving.

‘It doesn’t concern me’ Tyler thought to himself, how does it not concern me? Tyler could feel himself getting angry. He regained his strength and stood, “Yes, the fuck it does concern me! I have done what you asked me. I killed a man for no dam reason, a man you had a problem with, not me. He did nothing to me for him to deserve to die by my hand.” Tyler continued to yell walking towards Marie. “I am blind here. You tell me nothing but you expect everything from me. Do you even know my fucking name? No, you never bothered to even ask! I did what you wanted and yet you still won’t clue me in on anything!” Tyler went on still yelling as he approached Marie from behind.

Marie just stood silently staring at the picture. “It doesn’t matter.” Marie said calmly still staring at the picture.

Tyler’s blood was boiling. He was sick of her avoidance of his questions, of showing him any level of respect. Tyler grabbed Marie by her right arm with his left hand and turned her away from the dresser. He shoved her into the wall next to dresser pinning her against it. “I want my questions answered I have done nothing to you to deserve to be treated like this!” Tyler yelled in her face. Marie just stared at him. She was shocked by his aggression and his strength. Marie didn’t say a word, she just looked back towards the box. Tyler followed her eye line and looked into the box himself and saw it for the first time, the picture. “That’s Michael isn’t it?” Tyler relaxed his grip. “I’m sorry I didn’t see that.” he said, letting go of her arms completely. Marie said nothing. She just shook her arms off and went back to the box and ripped the picture to separate Michael and Justin. She held on to the remaining piece with Michael on it and placed it on the dresser. She put the remaining half with Justin on it back in the box and closed it. Tyler could just stand and watch her. He was feeling guilty for his rage and for not seeing her pain. Marie moved across the room to the two large chests sitting against the far wall. He had seen them earlier but assumed it was supplies in them. It wasn’t. As she opened one of them he saw it was more clothing, weapons, and trinkets. He realized two chests and two additional containers were filled with trophies from her kills. She placed the box in the chest and closed it. “I know you’re in pain right now and I am sorry for making it worse.” Tyler said holding out his hand to her as she walked by.

“You can’t make it any worse. Have you ever broken a plate? Once it is broken it is broken, there’s no fixing it, no making it any worse no matter what you do to it.” Marie said having reestablished her composure and moving towards the dresser again. She picked up the picture and opened the first drawer and put the picture gently in a small white box with a jasmine blossom etched on the top. The picture rested gently next to her damaged gold band that sat on a small piece of fabric with little monkeys on it. She closed the lid and the drawer and took a deep breath. She turned to look at Tyler who was still standing in the middle of the room just watching her. He looked so pathetic she thought to herself, like a small child who had disobeyed a parent and was waiting for his punishment. Marie walked towards him and gently touched him on the left cheek with her right hand. She moved her hand running her fingers through his soft brown hair. “You’re a sweet boy,” she said. She then continued on towards the chests again. She pulled the second one out from the wall and revealed a fold out cot stored behind it. She pulled it out and put it against the wall next to the chests. She opened the second chest and pulled out a blanket and pillow and threw them on the cot. “There is more clothing in here I’m sure you can find some items to wear from now on.” Marie made her way back to her dresser; Tyler was still frozen in place. She started to undress again, stripping down to just her underwear and climbing into her bed. Tyler hadn’t turned away this time his eyes were fixated on her. “Good night,” she said noticing his staring. Tyler just nodded his head and made his way to the cot and sat down on it. He continued to stare at Marie as she slept. She had fallen instantly to sleep. How could she do that after what had happened today? She looked peaceful as her dark hair rested gently on her pillow. Tyler looked at the pillow and blanket and took his boots off and placed them under the cot. He arranged the pillow and blanket. He removed his glasses and placed them on the chest next to the cot and laid down facing the wall so that she wouldn’t think he was watching her. He closed his eyes and slowly started to calm his mind and fall asleep.

Marie’s sudden scream woke him. He jumped from his bed grabbing his glasses and quickly putting them on his face. Marie was sitting straight up in her bed gasping for breath. Tyler quickly ran to her bed and grabbed her face with both his hands.

“Are you ok?”

Marie said nothing, but started to breathe rapidly, her blue eyes darting around the room.

Tyler held her head “Look at me, look at me you’re ok,” Tyler tried to reassure her.

Finally her eyes made contact with his, her breathing calmed as she looked directly into his soft brown eyes. He saw her eyes begin to fill with tears. Tyler grabbed her and held her tight against him, “I’ve got you, it’s going to be ok.”

“No it won’t!” Marie yelled pushing Tyler off of her and the bed and knocking him to the floor. Marie began rocking clinging to her knees, “Stay on your own bed” she ordered pointing to the cot.              

“You had a nightmare I was just making sure you were ok.”

“Stay on your own bed!” Marie repeated running her hands through her dark brown hair and holding her head. The rocking had stopped and she was now just holding her head, hands behind it.

Tyler moved back to his cot and sat down, “Does that happen a lot?” he asked.

“You and the dam questions just stop.” Marie called out at him, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I’m sorry” Tyler replied, laying back down on his cot covering himself up with the blanket this time facing her. Marie laid back down and covered her head, this time with the blanket. She was trying to cover it up but Tyler could hear her quietly weeping for the next half an hour until she finally fell asleep. Tyler closed his eyes as he felt a tear coming to his eye. He wiped it away and drifted to sleep.