Chapter 16 (Is it too much to feel?)

Mitchel

Zoning out is somewhat of a privilege. You get to dive deep into thought for a few minutes and forget about everything around you. Everything is in your head and so are you, and you don't even realize it until you do.

And then it ends. It's as if you fall out of sleep and you're awake and you have to get up and live another day even if you don't want to.

Reality hits like a truck and it almost hurts, but not as bad as it would if you were really hit by a truck. Your entire body becomes alert of everything and your brain kind of tingles from snapping back into reality. Your eyes focus again and you look up and around and you think, oh, yeah, that's what I was doing.

But when you zone out as you watch the light leave someone's eyes, you can't go back to normal. Everything changes. Some people panic. Some people don't. Most people might throw up on the floor, or have some sort of mental breakdown.

Is that what happened to Mitchel? Or did he just sit there, his body covered in blood like it was a normal Saturday evening?

Molly was dead. She was still warm, but she was gone and all that was left was her bloody corpse. Her long eyelashes sheltered her lifeless eyes, her lips spread apart slightly as if she were getting ready to say something. Mitchel waited for her to do so. He almost wanted her to say something.

"Fuck you, Mitchel!" would have satisfied him. But she didn't and it was disappointing.

He looked at her with half-lidded eyes, slightly shivering without his shirt. He looked down at his hands which dripped warm blood, and then at the knife that stood perched inside Molly's chest. He gave it a little flick before getting ready to stand and collect his clothes before going home.

But then the front door creaked open. The hinges whined in protest as the door swung open, and the lovely sound of Christian Anthony's voice filled the room.

"Hey, babe, I know I'm a bit early, but I was thinking we could head out soon if you're ready," he said and paused as he shut the door behind him.

"Also, you really need to lock your door more often, Molly. Who knows what kind of weirdos are out there."

His approaching footsteps slightly rattled the hardwood, and Mitchel could almost feel it on his rear.

He didn't panic. There was no need to. After all, Mitchel was defending himself from the madwoman and ended up hurting her enough that she wouldn't be able to blow up on him again. He sat crossed-legged on the deep brown floors, his heart rate at ease, waiting for the love of his life to come into the kitchen to greet his girlfriend. Instead, he'd be welcomed with the surprise of seeing his best friend.

"Molly? Are you home?" His voice echoed, pausing to pick up the water bottle that had been thrown across the room barely half an hour ago. Mitchel hummed to the tune of his song that plaid in his head as Christian called to his girlfriend again.

"Hey, is that Mitchel's shirt? What is he-?" He finally made his way to the counter. Mitchel heard the sound of the water bottle as it connected with the floor once more, yet another unsatisfying bang filling the room.

Still, Mitchel turned his head eagerly, a small smile forming on his lips as he saw his best friend's face. He stopped humming.

"Hey, Kras," He said and stood up. As he turned to approach his best friend, his shoes left red smudges on the floor. He watched with contentment as a white-faced Christian slowly backed away. His eyes widened to the size of golf balls as he gazed upon his girlfriend who lay crumpled on the ground.

"Molly?" He asked, his voice coming out in only a whisper. Mitchel glanced at the dead woman and then looked back at his best friend.

"Hey Kras," He repeated patiently. He didn't mind all that much that he hadn't yet realized that he was there. Instead, he strode over to the man and hugged him tightly, breathing in his hypnotizing scent.

"I missed you," He mumbled happily as Christian's eyes slowly shifted down toward him. He was frozen in place, his body shaking hard. Mitchel held him tighter in an attempt to put him at ease.

"M-M-Molly?" Christian asked again, his voice cracking and breaking. Mitchel pulled away and looked at his best friend.

"She's dead," He whispered gently and tucked a few stray strands of golden hair behind his ear.

Christian slowly looked back to the dead woman, his heart beating against his chest so quickly that Mitchel felt it too.

"Wh-what h-happened?" He stuttered, his eyes not leaving the corpse. Mitchel sighed and nuzzled into Christian's neck.

The man didn't move away to Mitchel's surprise. He figured that it was due to the shock. His body still shook and his breathing came out in short bursts. Mitchel licked his lips as he took his arms away from the man's body.

He slid his hands onto the sides of Christian's face and pulled him in gently. Christian let him lean in and lightly kiss his lips, his eyes still fixed on his girlfriend.

"That look on your face," Mitchel began after letting his hands fall to his sides. His crimson-stained hands left bloody tracks on the shorter man's cheeks. "Are you happy?" He asked. Mitchel's heart began to speed up as he smiled and leaned forward again. Strands of Christian's hair caught in between his fingers, sticky blood clinging to each thread.

Molly was gone. It was perfect. It was just the thing he needed.

When Christian failed to answer again, Mitchel sighed and pulled him into another warm hug. His body was like cold stone against his. There was no affection, no appreciation in his stance. Christian didn't seem to care or notice that Mitchel's chest and hands bloodied his shirt.

He didn't seem to care that Mitchel held him close as if that moment were their last.

"Aren't you happy, Kras?" He cooed, a hint of excitement creeping into his tone. He looked up at him with eager eyes and it filled his heart with joy as the blond man's eyes met his. He gave a little giggle and licked his dry lips again.

"You said it yourself, remember? Today you said it, you said that if Molly weren't here, you'd love me, remember? She's gone, Kras," Mitchel rambled, his grin never leaving his face. "She's gone, and all that's left is me and," He exhaled an excited sigh, his arms gripping Christian with such strength that his body shook more. His head felt light and he pressed up against the man for support, feeling his hard-on push into his thigh.

"Now we can be together," Mitchel said. His smile faded as he stared deep into Christian's eyes. "Forever."