If you are reading this, I am sorry. What follows shall be a non-chemically induced traumatic trip into a tormented mind. And for once, I am not talking about myself. Except... it comes from my mind...
I hope you all received the straight jackets I sent. I tried to guess your size, but they are kind of a "one size fits all" apparel. Anyhow, you'll need them. If for no other reason than it will help you get a hold of yourself.
* * *
There she is. She has come to me as anticipated. She always does. It is her job. She leans down and kisses the mob boss vampire. I should be jealous. I am. He is dead. I cut a fine thin line between his life fetter and reality. That is my job. She pulls away from him. His soul is still embracing her. She loves all life. She is death. She absorbs him. His soul. She walks to me. I can't hear anything. My heart drowns out the voices. She kisses me. No not me. She kisses Anthony. She is right here. I want to hold her. I will never let her go. Not again. I can't touch her. She pulls away from me. I can not fight her. Anthony follows her. She absorbs him. Anthony will not help me. Not anymore. She looks at me. Through me. Those burning coals roast my soul. All my souls. This skeleton measures me. All of me. Her cloak hides all but her hands and face. Skeleton hands. Skull face. Burning eyes. Have I sacrificed enough? How many souls would I pay for her? All of them. All of you. All of me. I have already payed all of me. I will collect all of you. I am getting mad. I want to collect another. She will not come to me. Not unless I do. She closes with me again. She closes her eyes. She closes my eyes. She kisses me. I kiss her. I lower her hood. I feel her face. Soft and smooth and warm. I hold her neck behind her ear. I pull her into me. I cry. Is it finally over? Can I be with her? She is always with me. I run my fingers through her hair. Soft and smooth and warm. She pulls from me. I wrap my arm around her waist. I wrap my other behind her back. I will not let go. Not again. Someone is saying my name. My heart beats them down. I lay her down. I look into her green eyes. I trace a hand down her body. I kiss her again. Someone says my name again. She looks at me. She is sad. She is happy. She is crying. I am crying. I say something. Nothing comes out. Venge! What? There is no one over my shoulder. I look over my shoulder. Alex is impatient. Death is gone. No! No, no, no, no, no. And no! I punch the floor. The floor has a hole. I am still mad. I am also mad. There is a copying machine. The copier is over my head. It is not so heavy. It fits through the window. It missed the fire escape. Overshot it by at least six feet. Six feet under. Copiers are not quiet. Copiers do not fall gracefully. They splat better than people.
"She is gone, Venge."
Alex is annoying. Alex wants Posey dead. Posey hides well. Alex is the loudest. They are all loud. My heart is quiet. They all want someone dead. Some are already dead. They just curse me. They distract me. Alex is annoying. Alex is my best friend.
"It is time to go, comrade. The police will come to check into that copier."
Splattered copiers. More love for machines than people. Money makes money makes. I feel purple. I am tired. I do not get tired. I need rest. I have energy. Voices know it. Souls all want death. Window is open. Fire escape escape. Should be fire.
"I know that bastard"
I like stairs. Ladders good too. Someone taps my shoulder. What does Mary-Belle want?
"There he is!"
I see him below. He likes spattered copier too. He looks at open window. I am falling on him.
"That's the punk kid that raped me."
He doesn't see me. I could splatter kid on splattered copier. I don't. Did he kill Mary-Belle?
"No, but..."
Punk is surprised. I think I broke something. I don't feel pain. My knees hurt. My knuckles hurt. Pavement doesn't make good holes. I fix my knees. It sounds like bubble wrap. Wet bubble wrap. Slimy wet.
"So that's it?"
Mary-Belle is sadder.
"You're just going to let him go?"
I don't baby sit offspring. I don't check on your estate. I sure as Oblivion don't kill people who don't kill.
"Uh, Venge?"
"What?"
Alex notices something. Punk kid is confused.
"You are talking out loud again."
Kid better run before someone hurts him. Kid runs well. Mary-Belle cries. Mary-Belle could be banshee. Destroyer of worlds, people! Fine. Who has been taken by this kids. Taken advantage. Too many to ignore. I could ignore them. Crowds move better in one direction. Fine. Kid too slow. One jump with a twist and flip. Land in front of him. He is running. He doesn't miss me. Now my chest hurts. Kid is sitting on ground. Not fast enough. Punks need to leave old ladies alone. Perverts don't need equipment. Punk's equipment is broken. I broke it. Blades cut it from life. Punk screams. Kid holds his parts. Let's go find Posey. You coming Alex? I invite everyone. We'll make it a party.
