Luca fell to the ground, the pain of the bullet tearing through his chest at such an angle that it narrowly missed his heart was enough to exceed his pain threshold and burn every nerve the man owned. The unparalleled pain of reality was only there for a moment. But that moment lasted.
He could vaguely hear the muffled sound of her voice. He looked to her, the words she had spoken, what was sure to be her last, sinking in slowly. He nodded, though what it meant not even he could be sure. He watched her, the crimson pool in such a setting as the basement a familiar sight. Though the memory of that fateful night was not his to claim, he knew it must have looked something similar to this.
As the dark tendrils of death found their way around him, Luca's eyes began to droop. When they finally closed on the scene that had become a blurred mess of colour and stillness, he saw stars.
Stars and blanket forts. And tea. Lots of tea. And who could forget the chocolate?
Peter's smile and warmth was comforting to Luca's damaged heart. The boy rolled over and kissed Luca on the side of the lips, a great smile obviously present on his own. Luca's eyes had been fixed on the dark grey dots on the folded paper that they had once again stuck to the roof of their make shift abode. Everything was good. Everything was warm.
That was until Luca decided to take another look into those big innocent eyes and see the world through such clarity and purity. He turned to find nothing there. There was no one. Luca was alone. He sat up in a panic, only to realise that the blankets, too, were gone. The stars were no where to be seen.
The walls fell away, leaving only the doorway in which there stood a blonde much smaller than Luca. Mia wore an expression of pain and of disgust. But the thing he noticed the most were her eyes; they were pitying him.
She turned away, the doorframe crumbled into ashes and everything was gone.
No light, no dark. No right, no wrong. No up, no down. No joy, no pain.
And in that state of nothingness, as Luca felt his very soul unravel to become one with the eternal void, there was silence. For the first time he could remember, there was true silence. Not so much as an angel to sing him to rest. No Lord to save him. No demon to taunt him. Only silence.
Reaching out for the bomb just a little too late, Mia stood, angry boiling over as tears welled in her eyes. “Don’t you get it?! We’re happy and we’re safe here. We don’t need saving - you only want to ‘save’ us because it means saving yourself for everything you’ve done, Luca!” Exhaling shakily, Mia continued on and planned to do so for as long as she could. “Look at everything you did and the destruction you caused; you need saving from yourself, not us!” With that, Mia brushed off the dust from her clothing, angrily gritting her teeth, unable to bear the thought of him taking away her friend’s lives for no reason other than his own selfish need to quench the guilty conscience he possessed.
Watching the clock dip to a single minute, Mia saw no other way. She could grab the bomb and run out of the asylum maybe. Throw it out of a window - anything. She couldn’t let people get hurt anymore because of Luca. He was her problem and no-one elses. All the good times they’d had were now shrouded in darkness, shadowed by the many times Luca had let Mia down. Even now, even in these precious moments left of life, Luca insisted on talking about this damn God of his that planned on destroying everything in it’s wake. “I don’t care about your damn God.” She growled through gritted teeth before making another attempt for the bomb, hoping to God she could figure out a way to rid the asylum of it before everyone went up and her efforts were futile.
Luca was paralyzed He couldn't move anything. Not a single muscle was his own to control. It was different from all those times he had been held in place by his own fear as he hallucinated Mia sliding the cold blade into different parts of his body. This time it wasn't fear that had forced him into stillness. It was realisation. It was recognition. It was revelation.
He had done so much bad. So much wrong in his life that he couldn't even remember. He was so tortured by his actions and yet unable to repent for them that he had chosen to take the lives of other people, innocent people, so that he may find peace. And in that frozen moment that seemingly lasted an eternity, Luca felt more lost than ever before.
It was Mia's words, the sound of her voice distorted with anger, that gave him freedom of movement once more. Had he been in his own mind, he would have pushed her away, stopped the bomb, saved the life of the only good thing in this broken and poisoned world which he had tried in vain to save.
But he wasn't in his own mind; he was an instinctual creature who's only conscious aim was to bring Kingston to ashes. And it was with such warped and primal hands that he grabbed Mia, words of comfort or pleading far beyond him now. He pulled the small framed girl close to his chest, his heart thudding so hard that he was certain that she, too, could feel it's beating.
Her teeth clenching at the memory that had haunted her, Mia had to stop herself from giving another curt reply, knowing that a wrong move could trigger him - trigger the bomb. There was still the smell of iron, her eyes flashed to where she’d lay that day when he’d destroyed her trust as he’d dug into her chest with steel, leaving a signature there that did not belong to the man in the same room as her now. That man was long gone. His words turning cold, Mia couldn’t help but reply coolly, hatred bubbling up in her throat threatening to over-spill. “Oh no, you make sure I can’t forget it. That I won’t forget it.” The ugly scar that sat in the center of her chest was a constant reminder of the horror that Luca had once brought to her. Forgetting the sleepless nights and forever lost trust, it had taken Mia months to even feel confident enough to speak to people, having been left to bleed out on the floor of the Basement.
Lurching as he approached her and only realizing the wall was behind her, Mia yelped, hand instinctively shooting forward to give him a firm small across the face, terror in her eyes as she backed away from the male. The couldn’t be careful around him, not after the last time and the fact he was harbouring weapons and blowing up her home had simply gone far enough. Noting her chance, the girl ran to the device, dropping to her own knees as she turned it over in her hands, trying to find some sort of panel to try and open. She was far from experienced when it came to this thing, but as her shaken hands ran over the clock, she knew she had to try. Faye had to live - Trina too. All the people, all her friends would be lost if she didn’t try and if it meant throwing caution to the wind in an attempt to keep her companions from Luca’s wrath, it was worth a shot.
Luca stood carefully, slowly. He walked in a similar manner to where Mia was. He reached around her and snatched the device from her grip. "Don't want to detonate this too soon now, do we?" He placed it in the opposite side of the room in the corner. "You see Mia, they all need saving. Not only from each other, or from themselves, but also from the crimes they have committed. The pains they have inflicted upon innocent lives will be forgiven.The Lord will welcome them home in His light and mercy!"
Luca faced her, knowing that she was a threat to his life with the weapon she held but it didn't matter. All that mattered now was this. The here. The now. Mia and Luca. One final time.
"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and See. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death and with the beasts of the earth." He looked to the device behind him. "Revelation. Chapter six. Verses seven and eight."
Having figured out that Faye wasn’t returning from the kitchens that day, playing Alice’s last conversation over and over about being held in the basement, everything started to click into place. The kidnappings, the bombings; Hell, if there was anyone crazy enough in this world to destroy people that he supposedly cared about, it was Luca. So the sickly stomach she nursed had told her to go to the Basement, the place where everything started.. and hopefully the place where everything would end. She’d managed to beat one of his lackey’s with a piece of pipe she’d found amidst the rubble, snatching the small gun and concealing it well in the swathe of clothes she now wore to cover up as much flesh as possible.
Her mind racing as she took her own pace to the room she feared the most, it wasn’t long before his heavies found her, snatching her by the wrists and forcing her down the stone steps herself. It took a moment for her to register the body ascending from the darkness; Faye. Screaming and kicking, she used as much body weight as possible to break the strong-hold they had on her.. but Mia was simply too small and much too weak. Reaching the bottom, she was pushed into the depths, noticing the silhouette in the dark room. “You’re a monster!” Pushing herself against the wall as far from him as she could, it was in that moment she noticed the cube in the center of the room. It was smaller than she expected but Mia knew exactly what it was from the minute she saw the count-down on the front of the box. It was a bomb.. and it was going to detonate.
Luca blinked slowly, his hand steady as he ran it carefully over the cold metal and plastic of the device that was sure to bring the building above them to ruins and it's inhabitants to the Kingdom of Heaven. "Do you remember this place? What happened here?" He didn't turn to face her; he couldn't. Though his body was still, his mind raced. It ran though every moment the two had shared together. The first time they spoke. The garden. The bandages. The clear sky. All of it.
The swelling in his chest caused him to bark an almost laugh. "Of course you do." His eyes turned cold and vacant. "How could you forget?"
He turned to her, more on impulse than anything. "You see, I don't." He looked to her with pleading eyes, slow advancing steps were made. He knelt before her, his eyes brimming with tears. "I don't remember what I did! How I hurt you! That...that scar..." His voice was thick and trailed off into little breaths that bordered gasping. His eyes were vacant once more but fixed this time on where he knew the tarnished flesh resided. "I don't remember..."
Luca watched intently as two men dragged Faye's lump body away. Deep in his heart, beneath the religion and the God and even bellow the pain of every moment Luca could remember, there was a sting of remorse. If the man could see anything beyond his own delusions, he would have seen how wrong this whole situation was. But there was no turning back now, not that the screaming need to stop could be heard from the vault deep within.
As the two men began to lift her up the stairs Luca spoke, his voice soft. Teetering on the edge of caring. "Be careful with her." They nodded and began their ascension with greater care. The third stood, leaning against the wall, expression conveying little interest in the events that were unfolding before him. "Bring her down." Luca's commanding tone was one that this particular boy, he couldn't have been older that seventeen, wasn't accustomed to. Nevertheless, he followed the instruction and climbed the stairs to bring to Luca what he desired most.
-as she hears the dial tone a small and broken sob escapes her, but she soon pushes the pain aside, refusing to give him the satisfaction of breaking her. in what she supposes to be her last moment she fights against her restraints, voice turning to scream- Just kill me already you fucking cunt! Kill me!
-He takes a greater grip of his gun as he nods, getting into position- Not long now, little lamb. Rest will come. -He raises the gun high and strikes her at the side of the head, knocking her unconscious- Rest will come. -He calls one of the men down- Find her, bring her here.
Of course, they’re sound asleep right now. Tell Mia Claudia and Jenny are alright, too. We’re all okay, but we miss you. So don’t take too long in coming home. Ring me when you’re out, okay? -smiling a little though it falters, he rests his forehead against the door frame and sighs silently- I love you, Faye.
-Luca swallows the lump in his throat as he moves to take the phone. He terminates the call and looks at the device for a second as he blinks back the tears he refuses to allow to form- I'm sorry, Faye.
-her bottom lip trembling at the mention of the boy she would always love, if only a little, she resists the urge to stand again and hit him as she did before, the overwhelming pain that courses through her seems to keep the girl down- … Logan was nothing like you.
-Huffs a laugh as he pulls a mobile phone from his back pocket- Here. -Waves the phone in front of her- Don't let me stand between the whore of Babylon and what she chose for second best. Your final phone call. Don't say I'm not merciful.
-He walks behind her and ties her hands behind the chair with the rope. He dials the number and sets it in her lap on speakerphone. He then walks away with Faye secure to afford her some privacy with her last words-
Sure I don’t. -her mind slowly coming to the realization that this is it. that she’ll die down there in that cold basement, and never again will she hold her daughter or kiss her husband. that after everything she’s been through, this is how she’s going to die, alone and by the hand of someone she truly despises-
-with a quiet and almost defeated tone- …You’re gonna kill me soon, huh?
Not yet. First I want to talk. -He pauses for a second- It's hard to think of the right words, y'know? -Takes a breath before he looks at her once more- You lied to me. You told me I would be fine. You made it out as thought we would all be friends and that nothing would go wrong. Because that's what you do, Faye. You twist and turn and poison people with your lies. You hurt everyone. Push them to the bring of destruction You even managed to push Logan all the way off that cliff, didn't you?
-grumbling as she does, she moves over and sits in the chair as she glares back at him- Well it wouldn’t be the first time you maim a girl down here, would it Luca? As least you aren’t trying to kid yourself into thinking this one actually gives a fuck about you.
-her hands clawing at his, she gasps as she hits hard against the floor, scrambling as far away from him as he can- Harlot? At least I know I use to be a whore! Unlike a certain psychopath who’s still in denial about what he is!
-moving away from him once again, bile begins to rise in her throat- You won’t fucking touch me.
-knowing the others are gone, she’s determined to at least antagonize him to a point where he’ll just be forced to get her death over with. swinging with whatever strength she hast left, hitting him square in the jaw- C’mon then, fucker! Shoot me if you’re gonna shoot me!
-stopping just in front of him, she feels almost sick to be so close to the man but stands her ground all the same, hissing quietly as she does- …You better hope to fucking god I don’t get my hands on a gun.
-as her arms are dropped again, she glares back at him with murderous eyes at the mention of her children. though fully aware that he has no way of touching them, the mere mention of those who she loves more than life itself sends rage coursing through her, one she barely contains as she marches straight towards him- You so much as mention their names you worthless piece of shit and I swear to god-!
-almost stumbling on the stairs she’s dragged to them, small whimpers of fear escape her as she hears the yells of others down there, and the armed men stop to stare at them walking down- You’re a spineless little piece of shit, y’know that?
-The smile on his lips lasts a little longer as he makes his way to the center of the little gathering- Leave. -He looks up to Faye, his smile widening a little- She won't hurt me. -His eyebrow cocks a little as if challenging her- That is, if she want's to she her children alive.
-his words sending a fresh wave of terror through her, she pushes back against the men once more, stomping hard one of their feet. all it does is prompt the other to twist her arms into uncomfortable positions, making it easier for them to pull her along-
-she shouts ahead to him, her momentary anger keeping the fear at bar- If you’re going to kill me, just fucking kill me!
-Shouts to Faye without so much as a glance behind him as he rounds the final corner where he finds the door to the basement- All good things come to those who wait Faye.
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