Page 101 of Serenade Me

“No, you are mine, I made you,” he bellows. And it scares me how much he believes it. How I used to believe it.

“You heard her! LET HER GO!” I suddenly hear a third or fourth voice in the distance shout. In my madness I can’t make out who it is, can’t even be sure I really heard it, but it gives me that last ounce of strength I need. I lift my leg up and bicycle kick down, praying that I meet skin and flesh and not a jagged rock.

“AHHH!” I screech for strength, slamming my leg down with all my might. I feel my heel slam against something with a sickening thud.

“UGHHH!” There’s a growl of pain and my foot is free.

I scramble to my feet and run, still blind.

“Anca!” The voices call to me and I turn in their direction, still running. My ankle twists on a rock, the blinding pain shoots all the way up to my knee and I feel myself buckle and fall toward the ground.

But I never reach it.

Something, someone, warm catches me around the waist and pulls me upright. I struggle, out of sheer instinct.

But they hold me tighter.

“Anca! It’s me, It’s Marius! It’s me, baby, it’s me. I got you. I’m here, I’ve got you!”

And suddenly I can see, the blindfold lifted from my eyes. And it’s really him. He’s here.

“Marius!” I cry, and feel my body buckle again, this time out of relief. But he doesn’t let me fall.

“You’re okay, baby. You’re okay.”

“You son of a bitch! I should’ve finished you off last time!” I suddenly hear Jez shout and I pivot around to see my brother running towards the Maestro, still crumpled on the ground.

“Oh my god! Jez, no! Marius! You’ve got to stop Jez, he’ll kill him!”

“Fuck. Stay here. You’re okay, just stay here, okay?”

Marius takes off, his arms pumping by his sides as he makes ground on my brother. I follow, ignoring his plea for me to stay put.

“Jez! Stop!” Marius calls out to his friend. But his words mean nothing to Jez right now.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” Jez shouts as he comes within feet of the Maestro.

I summon all the air in my lungs and beg my brother, “JEZ! Please no!”

Somehow, Marius gains on him, and slams his body into Jez’s back, pulling him to the ground. I run to them, the air rasping in my lungs.

“Get the FUCK off of me, Marius! He can’t get away with this!” Jez struggles, but Marius holds tight.

“And he won’t, man. We’ll make sure of it. He won’t.”

“Jez!” I pant, catching up with him.

I fall to my knees in front of him. “Jez, please. It’s not worth it. You’ve hurt yourself over him before. I’m okay, see? I’m okay.” I look him in the eye and give him the biggest smile I can.

He doesn’t say anything, but his eyes fill with tears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Oh my god, I’m so, so sorry.”

“Hey, hey hey… there’s nothing to be sorry for, big brother. I’m fine.” I nod, trying to get him to see that I really am okay.

There’s the sound of movement and we watch, as if in slow motion, the Maestro pull himself to his feet.

“You’re nothing but a two-bit talentless nobody. I can’t believe I wasted my time on you.” He spits, wiping blood from his mouth.

I close my eyes and let his words wash over me. They mean nothing to me now. I am free. I open my eyes again, just in time to see, Marius spring to his feet and run towards the Maestro. “Marius, stop!” I yell, reaching for him, but he’s too fast.