Shattered Masks

Evelyn’s point of view:

I mutter, my voice shaking as I fix Dominic, "Tell me you didn't just say that.

"He is here before me, the air between us charged with conflict, dark eyes full of doubt.

Now he seems colder, almost far-off, and I have no idea why.

Though everything urges me to flee and turn away from him, something grounds me.

Something I cannot name, no matter how terrified I get.

With a rough voice full of sadness, he replies, "I never wanted this for us, Evelyn."

"But there are things you don't know.

Things I can't protect you from nowadays.

"I shake my head; my chest is tight and the air seems choked.

"What do you mean? What the hell are you talking about?

"Dominic moves nearer, his hand out, but I cringe. His eyes deepen; the anguish there is too real for him to cover.

He lowers his hand gradually, as though giving something up.

"You're in danger, Evelyn," he says, his voice just a breath. "And it's bigger than Marc or his men.

Someone... someone I've been trying to protect you from, someone even I can't outrun.

It's all coming for us."My heart leaps, a frigid sensation going down my spine.

"Who?" The word is almost too difficult to speak; a worry I have been harbouring for days but now... Right this is it.

Real: Dominic: "Who is it??"He closes his jaw in annoyance and swallows fiercely.

You would be better off not knowing.

I back off, a terrible fire growing in my chest.

"No, damned it! You can't keep hiding things from me, Dominic! This is my life, too! You should be protecting me like this!"Silence dominates for a minute.

I feel as though I'm drowning in his secret, which weighs thick and smothers down on us both.

His eyes veer down to the floor, as though he is lost in the struggle between what has been buried and what is still to speak.

He says, "I'm sorry," almost to himself. "It's too late now; I never wanted to drag you into this."The door bang deafeningly opens before I can reply.

Turning toward the sound, my breath freezes in my throat and I see the man in the doorway. Tall and strong, his form defined against the low corridor light.

Marc's here.The space seems smaller, the air weightier. Marc's eyes fix on us as his lips twist into a frigid, nasty sneer. "Well, well," he adds in a mocking voice.

"Did I break off something? Or are we at last ready to face the truth?"Dominic automatically moves in front of me, his posture both defensive and doubtful.

"Marc, stay the hell away from her," he says, although his voice seems to be somewhat weaker than it ought to be.

My pulse racing, I step forward. "What do you want, Marc?" I can hardly keep the shakes from my voice.

Though every instinct tells me to hide and flee, I am not going to back down. Not now. Not when everything I have ever known is falling around me.Marc chuckles gently; the sound almost too familiar, too pleasant. Steering closer, he replies, "I'm just here for what's mine, Evelyn."

"And, regrettably, your dear Dominic here doesn't seem to be in a position to protect you anymore.

"Dominic stiffens at his remarks, yet I can see the anxiety in his eyes and stance. Something changed between them.

Something I still find difficult."What the hell do you mean by that?" I ask, my voice getting louder and more needy of responses.

Marc's smile gets more broad. With a wink, "You'll find out soon enough. But don't worry." "I'm not here to take her away... yet.

That's not my style. But you," he says turning to Dominic, "well, you've made your last mistake."One hears a shot ring out.

The sound is so harsh and quick that my brain needs time to register what is happening.

My heart in my throat, I turn to Dominic and find him staggered back with blood blossoming on his chest.

Shock causes his eyes to widen, and he collapses to the heap on the floor."No!" I yell, hurrying to his side and trying to stop the blood with shaky hands.

Still, the bleeding never stops; the horror I experience is like a vice.With tears running down my cheeks, I yell, "Dominic, stay with me! Please!" and shatter.

I cannot go without him.

Not in this manner. Not following what we have gone through.

The chamber echoes Marc's dark and nasty laughing. "You told me; he's done."Furious, I glance up and spring for Marc, but he's already pulling back into the darkness of the doorway.

"Good luck, Evelyn," he says across his shoulder, his voice resonant far away.

"You would need it."I kneel next to Dominic, my head whirling with terror. I'm losing him here. It is evident.

In my arms, his body is getting colder; no matter how hard I try to halt the blood, it will not stop. It is too late.

But then Dominic lets out a quick gasp as I'm about to yell for aid.

Though they are clouded with sorrow and uncertainty, his eyes fly open."Dominic?" I gasp, relief tumbling in my voice. "You are living... you are alive!

"He glances at me, his eyes fogged far away.

"Evelyn... I..." His voice is low, just a whisper. "You have to leave; he won't stop; it's not safe.

"His hand wanders from mine before I can react, and his body becomes lifeless once again.

The corridor echoes the sound of feet.

I'm not really pressed for time.Shaking Dominic's inert form, I gasp, my breath short and terrified.

Blood covers my palms; my heart thundering in my chest; however, I find it difficult to get him to reply.

"Dominic!" I exclaim once again, my voice faltering as I frantically scan his face for any life.Then, out of the corner of my eye, I observe slow, purposeful, footfall.

My pulse jerks. My brain races. I know just who it is. Marc is here; his shadow moves across the floor like a predator pursuing its target.

Though there is nothing I could do to shield Dominic, I rush backward forcing him behind me.

I yelled, my voice choked with desperation, "Stay away from him!" Though my hands are shaking, I grasp for anything, anything that may be used as a weapon, forcing them to steady.

Marc walks into the room, his smile icy, deliberate.

He seems to be observing a drama come to life as he gently observes the surroundings. "What's the matter, Evelyn?" he probes, his voice tinged with sarcastic compassion.

"Are you unhappy that your knight in shining armor is on his last legs? Maybe you should have chosen better."With teeth clenched, I sneer and stand on wobbly legs facing him.

Though I'm not sure where I discover the strength, I do. Though dread still bites at the margins of my consciousness and my heart is still racing, anger has rooted itself.

"You won't win this. I won't let you.

"Marc laughs, a low, threatening sound.

His eyes flash with hate. "Oh, you really think you're in control here, don't you? This is just the beginning, Evelyn. You have no idea what you're up against."

"The game isn't quite finished."Trying to calm myself, I yell.

Then tell me what this is about! What do you want from me? Marc's eyes harden and his smile disappears just as fast as it had started.

"What I want," he continues, his voice darkening and more threatening.

"is the one thing that's always been in your hands." He moves forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Evelyn, you have no idea what you have started.

But you will soon enough."Paralysed, my brains swirl as I struggle to understand his words.

What does he mean? From me, what is his expectation? From behind me, there's a sudden loud crash, another noise, far but certain.

My voice freezes in my throat. I'm not sure whether Marc has reinforcements or something worse.

Panic starting in my chest, I turn toward the door.Marc's smile opens out, and I see the dark pleasure in his eyes.

"I would not turn your back on me if I were you.

"I hear it once again, another noise, this one closer. One or something is approaching.

My heart beats and the terrible cold fear crawling up my spine is intolerable.

The walls seem to be closing in on me, the very air choking as I stand divided between staying with Dominic and confronting whatever peril lurks.

The door smashes open with a ferocity that rattles the walls just as I am ready to respond.

In the doorway stands a shadow, tall, threatening, clearly recognizable.

The man advances, and my gut turns over.

"Don't even think about running, Evelyn," a voice screams from the gateway.

"Because you are not going anywhere."I stop; my blood is frigid.Then I can clearly hear a rifle being cocked clicking.