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Bodies surround me, but there’s only one that I care about. I want to breathe life into him, to tell him to wake up. Even though I know it’s not possible, I try anyway.
I grab at his clothes—the very same ones that we’ve torn off together.
I hate that I love him.
I hate that he put me in this position that now, not only did I manage to fall in love with someone I thought I could spend the rest of my life with, he should’ve known. He should’ve known that he would leave me like this and that this would destroy me. That even though I hear another breath come close to me—one that very well could belong to someone who could snap my neck—I pay no attention because the breath and the heartbeat I want to hear no longer exists.
That heart no longer beats.
And it will no longer love me.
That realization hurts more than words can describe.
“Talia.”
I know someone is saying my name, but my head just doesn’t want to lift from its spot on Max’s back to see who it is.
“Talia.”
I reach for something, but I’m not even sure what it is until it surrounds me. I put us in a cocoon that protects us both.
I can no longer hear my name being called, and I don’t want to look around to see the destruction that surrounds us. That will only remind me of his death.
Why couldn’t I stop it?
Why?
I curl myself up into a ball and slide my hands up his torso.
If I could breathe life into him, I would.
If I could give him my life, I would.
I hear knocking.
But I pay no attention.
I start to drift off.
And as I do, I hear his voice calling me.
* * *
“She doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
I hear someone say.
“And who are you, her slave?”
I know that voice.
“Leave her be.”
“I will do no such thing. You leave.”
“No, she needs protection. And since no one else seems to want to do that, I will.”
“You think you should be the one protecting her?” I hear a laugh. “Like you protected and served Viper?”
