I know I should run away, scream,
do something. But I stay frozen, my rubber flip-flops
stuck to the ground as if they had suddenly grown roots. I stare at Drina curiously, wondering how I
am found there and what she may have in mind.
What filth, love, eh? she continues, observing me, her head tilted slightly to the side. It’s when you meet
the man of your dreams, a guy too good to be true, that you
realize that it is indeed too good to be true. Too pretty for you, anyway. And then you find yourself alone,
unhappy and drunk as a barrel most of the time. I admit that I had a lot of fun watching you sink into your teenage addiction. It was so predictable, in short, a real textbook case. The lies, the secrecy, the pilfering, all your energy aimed at one goal: your next dose. This made my task much easier. Because every
A sip of alcohol had the effect of weakening your defenses and, at the same time, blunting all unwanted stimuli, which also made your mind disarmed, and therefore easily manipulated.
She grabs my arm and digs her sharp nails into my wrist to pull me towards her. I try to free myself, but she has incredible strength.
Ah, you mortals, she continues with a little pout,
You are so gullible, what perfect victims you leave! Do you really think I came up with such a diabolical ruse for nothing?
Of course, there were simpler ways to achieve my goals. My poor ! If I had wanted, I could have gotten rid of you in your room, while I prepared the production. The issue would have been quickly resolved, so saving time, but not as much fun. For you as well as for me, don’t you think?
I observe her flawless face, her impeccable hair, her perfectly cut black silk dress that hugs her curves,
fitted here, baggy there, and which highlights its breathtaking beauty.
When she runs her hand through her beautiful, shiny hair at the
copper reflections, I see his ouroboros tattoo. But as soon as I blinked, he disappeared.
Well, let’s recap, did you think it was Damen who lured him here, who called you in spite of yourself? she continues. Sorry to disappoint you,
Ever, but that was just me. All this charade, it’s me who
organized it. I love December 21st, don’t you? The winter solstice, the longest night, all these ridiculous goths partying in
a dingy canyon. (She shrugs her elegant shoulders, while her tattoo intermittently appears and disappears.) You
You’ll forgive my taste for theatrics, but it adds a little spice to life, don’t you agree?
I try to free myself, but she tightens her grip and her nails cut into my skin, causing a sharp pain in my flesh.
Let’s pretend for a second that I let you go. What would you do ?
Would you run away? I’m faster than you. You would call your
girlfriend help? Oops, sorry, Haven’s not here. Let’s just say I sent her to the wrong party, to the wrong canyon. Right now, imagine, she’s taking a crowd bath and pushing around
hundreds of ridiculous pseudo-vampires to find me. But I preferred to offer you a little private party where you would be the guest of honor.
I hear my bones crack as she crushes my wrist.
What do you want in the end? I said, my teeth clenched against the pain.
She narrows her beautiful green eyes.
Everything in its time. Let’s see, where was I before you interrupted me so rudely? Ah yes, we were talking about you,
how did you end up here? You expected anything but that, huh?
But hey, it’s the perfect illustration of your whole life, right? And if you want to know, it’s not new. You see, Damen and I are
of ancient history. And when I say “old”, it really means very, very, very, very, very old… In short, you understand. Yet,
despite all these years of living together, our longevity, if I may say so, you persist in creating difficulties for us.
How could I have been so stupid and naive? This story was never about Haven, only about me.
Oh no, don’t be so hard on yourself. That is not here
first time you’ve made this mistake. I am personally responsible for your death since, let’s see… how much
of existences? Pfft… I don’t know, I’m not counting anymore.
Suddenly, I remember Damen’s words in the school parking lot, saying he couldn’t bear to lose me again. But seeing Drina’s face harden, I quickly chase away these
thoughts of my mind, aware that she can read me like an open book.
She turns around me, pulling on my arm to force me to turn around, clicking her tongue.
So, if I remember correctly, and I’ll tell you that I have an excellent memory, the last few times, we played a game called Trick or Treat. It would be
dishonest for not warning you that you never really did well. But hey, since you seem to be asking for more, I thought you might be ready to give it another layer.
My head is spinning from the circles she’s forcing me to draw, the smell of alcohol that’s still clouding my brain, and the thinly veiled threat she’s just made.
Have you ever seen a cat kill a mouse? she adds, her eyes shining, licking her lips greedily. You have observed how felines play for hours with their poor
little defenseless victim, until they have had enough and decide to deliver the final blow?
I close my eyes, I don’t want to hear it anymore. Why don’t I
does it not delete it as quickly as possible, instead of playing overtime?
Well, it will be Delight, as far as I am concerned, in any case,
she concludes with a laugh. And the Torment? Don’t you want to know?
Pfft, you’re really hard at relaxing, she sighs, like I don’t
don’t answer. But hey, I’ll tell you. The Torment is when I pretend to let you go, I watch you go around in circles
trying to escape until I was exhausted, and there we returned to the Délice box. So, what do you prefer? A slow death? Or a
excruciatingly long agony? Come on, hurry up, the clock is ticking!
Why do you want to kill me? Leave me alone. Besides, Damen and I are no longer together. I haven’t seen him for weeks!
She bursts out laughing.
I have nothing against you personally, Ever. But I have the distinct impression that Damen and I get along a lot better once you’re… out of the loop.
I, who thought I wanted to end it quickly, suddenly changed my mind. I refuse to give up without a fight. Even if I have to lose the battle.
Drina shakes her head, disappointment written on her face.
And There you go. You chose Torment, didn’t you? Okay, here we go!
As soon as she let go of my arm, I sprinted across the canyon, certain that nothing could save me, but determined to risk everything.
I push the hair out of my face and run
blindly, splitting the pea puree, hoping to find the path and return to my starting point. My lungs threaten to explode in my chest, my flip-flops give out, and I find myself barefoot, but nothing stops me, neither the cold, sharp stones which cut the soles of my feet, nor the side stitch which burns to scream, nor the sharp branches that tear my
coat. I gallop out of survival instinct, even though I’m not sure if my life is worth it.
So I remember having already experienced the same scene. In my dream… But I don’t know how it ends.
I arrived at the edge of the clearing, where the path opens, when Drina emerges from the fog and appears in front of me.
I try to dodge her, but she lazily lifts one leg and trips me, sending me flying full length.
Sprawled on the ground, nose in a small puddle of blood apparently mine – I hear Drina scoff shamelessly.
As I raise my hand to feel my face, I feel my nose move incongruously and realize that it is broken.
I stagger to my feet, spit out small stones and shudder when I see teeth and blood mixed with the gravel.
Drina grimaces in disgust.
Oh, Ever, you’re horrible. You should see yourself, it’s disgusting. I wonder what Damen might think of you.
Pain twists my body, and I breathe with great difficulty because of the blood which sticks to my tongue with a bitter and metallic taste.
Well, I suppose you would like to know the details, even
if you don’t remember next time, she laughs. It’s always funny to see your face when I tell you the truth. I do not
I don’t know why, but I don’t get tired of it, even if it’s the thirty-six thousandth time we’ve replayed it. And then, to be honest, I
You admit that this deliciously prolongs the pleasure. A bit like foreplay, except you have no idea what that means, of course. Since then, you have always managed
to die a virgin. Basically, it would be sad if it wasn’t so funny, she jokes. Where will I start? (A sardonic grin
distorts her features, while she taps her hips with her red-lacquered nails.) Let’s see… I exchanged the painting which
found in the trunk of your car, but I’m not telling you anything.
No, honestly, you as Woman with Yellow Hair? It’s so funny.
Between us, Picasso would not have appreciated it. But I love him anyway, you know. Damen. Not the painter. Anyway… And the black feather is me too. Damen is sometimes so… dripping with sentimentality. Oh, and then it’s me who has you again
inspired this dream months ago. It’s called premonition. And, no, I’m not going to explain to you the why and the how, because it won’t end and you don’t really need it where you’re going. Too bad you didn’t die in that accident, it would have made life easier for both of us. Do you have any idea of the harm you have caused? It’s because of you that Evangeline died. As for Haven, it was minus one, did you see? Really, Ever, how selfish you are!
I refrain from reacting and wonder if this is an admission of guilt.
But yes ! she giggles. Since you’re about to leave the stage, a little confession couldn’t hurt.
She raises her right hand as if to take an oath.
I, Drina Magdalena Auguste, confess to having eliminated Evangeline, aka June Porter. Which, between us, does not represent
a great loss for humanity, because it was content to occupy
space, so it’s not nearly as sad as you think. I had to get rid of her to have free rein and reach Haven,
she specifies. Yes, as you suspected, I deliberately stole your friend. It’s so easy with these poor, unloved losers who need attention so much that they would be damned, even for someone who would agree to tell them the time. And, yes, I persuaded her to
wearing a tattoo that almost killed her, but that’s because I couldn’t decide between destroying her for real or giving her immortality. There is
It’s been a long time since I had an accomplice, and I must admit that it’s very pleasant. But what do you want, indecision is my guilty pleasure. When there are so many possible options and we have
with eternity ahead of you to see them all come true, it’s hard not to be too greedy and to stop yourself from choosing everything!
She smiles like a child who has made a big mistake.
But then, I hesitated too much, and Damen got involved – this big naive guy with his beautiful altruistic ideas –, and then… you know the rest.
Oh, and I also managed to get Miles to get a
role in Hairspray. Honestly, I think he would have gotten it on his own, he’s really talented, this kid. But, not wanting to take
no risk, I got into the director’s head
and I tipped the scales in his favor. Oh, I almost forgot Sabine and Jeff
! It’s me again ! Basically, it works pretty well, right? Who would have imagined that your aunt, such an intelligent woman, with a good head on her shoulders and a great career, could fall in love with this loser? It’s pathetic, but at the same time it’s funny, right?
But why ? Why did you do this? I can’t speak since I’m missing most of my teeth and I’m choking
in my blood, but I know it’s useless, because she hears my thoughts. Why did you involve all these people in this story?
I wanted to show you how alone you are, prove to you how easily everyone is ready to abandon you for something
better, more exciting. You are alone, Ever, isolated, loveless, lonely. You are dragging out a miserable existence that is not worth living. I’m doing you a favor, actually. Even though I know you won’t thank me.
I wonder how someone so incredibly beautiful could be so hideous inside. I plant my eyes
in hers and steps back imperceptibly, hoping she won’t notice.
But I’m not even with Damen anymore. We have since broken up
a very long time ago. So why don’t you go find him? Let me go and let’s forget this ridiculous story!
I try to distract her attention, but she just laughs.
You’re the only one who will forget this story, believe me. And then
it’s not that simple. You have no idea, right? A point for her.
Damen is mine, she sums up. He always was. Except that, alas, you come back again and again, stuck in your stupid little cycle of reincarnations. And because you persist, it’s become a habit to find you and eliminate you every time.
She takes a step forward, and I, stepping back, place my foot on a small sharp stone and grimace in pain.
If you think it hurts, wait until you see what happens next, she chuckles. I look around the canyon, looking for a way out, an escape. I take another step back and stumble again. But, when my hand touches the ground, I close my fingers on a sharp stone which I throw in his face. I hit him in the jaw and tear his cheek.
She bursts out laughing, despite the gaping and bloody wound that
reveals two broken teeth. Then, seized with horror, I see the wound close and his face regain its beauty without
default.
The stone hits again, she squeaks. Come on, make a
effort. Couldn’t you renew yourself a little for a change? Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to amuse me for once.
She stands in front of me, looking at me condescendingly,
but I don’t move. I refuse to take the initiative and offer him the pleasure of another headlong race whose outcome is known
in advance. Besides, she’s right, my life is a disaster of solitude. Especially since everyone I approach finds themselves caught up in this mess.
I watch her move forward, relieved to know that the end is near.
I close my eyes and remember the moment before the accident. When I was still a sane, pampered teenager,
surrounded by her family. I think about it so hard that I almost feel the warm leather of the seat under my bare legs and Caramel’s cock.
beating against my thigh, I hear Riley’s voice singing at the top of her lungs, completely out of tune, I remember the cheerfulness of my mother turning around to pat my sister’s knee, I see my father watching me again in the rearview mirror , his intelligent, generous and amused smile…
I hold on to this moment, cradling it in my memory, I
relive the sensations, the smells, the sounds, the impressions, as if I were there. This is the image I want to take with me, the last time I felt truly happy.
I am so immersed in my memory that I relive the scene.
But what…? Drina exclaims.
I open my eyes. She looks upset, her eyes wide with surprise, her mouth gaping. I notice that my nightgown is no longer torn, that my feet no longer bleed, that my
knees are no longer scratched, that when I pass my tongue over my teeth, the count is there. And as I feel my nose, I realize that the wounds on my face are also healed. Even though I have no idea what this means, I must act quickly, before it is too late.
Drina steps back, undecided, so I take a step forward, without much
know what I’m going to do. One thing is certain, I don’t have much time.
So, Drina, Delight or Torment? I said, gaining momentum.
