Internet 24

Through Marcy’s Eyes

Kate looks at Lou, who avoids her gaze. The frozen stares return to me.

KATE

What did you two talk about?

MARCY

It was just about us. Let’s calm down.

KATE

There was more. If you won’t tell me.

Golden flames spark from her tongue as she looks down at the kneeling Lou.

KATE

What did you two talk about?

Lou tries to resist speaking as Kate steps closer to his face. The golden flames spewing from her mouth singes his face.

KATE

Tell me. TELL ME NOW!

LOU

We talked about why she wanted to break up with me and how I’m a mess.

How she doesn’t trust you with the doll, and how I can see what you truly are.

Kate turns to me. Tear in her eyes. It’s at this moment a flash hits my mind. The tears the warmth smile, it was all familiar. I looked at Manny; it was here I made a connection.

We shared a bond. Kate stands there with his love in her heart, Lous will in her hands, and my being in her arms.

KATE

Is… this true?

MARCY

Do you want to kill Lou?

KATE

Why is this on me now? He’s the jackass who—

MARCY

Kate, please.

KATE

It isn’t my first choice but for you…

MARCY

Not for me. Don’t put this on me.

KATE

Break up with a monster, and you think you can speak up.

MARCY

I don’t feel comfortable with you having the doll.

I step to Kate. The entire time she spoke, she had tears running down her face. Everyone in the room can make their assumptions, but I know they are real. The pain she is feeling is true. Though, that doesn’t change anything.

I reach for the paper and Manny the doll. With every step we take, Kate takes a step back.

MARCY

Let Lou go, and we can talk about this.

MANNY

I’ll hold the doll so you two can talk.

KATE

Step back. This is for the best. Step back.

I snatch the paper out of her hand.

MARCY

I’m sorry.

I feel a tingle on my tongue. My mouth gets hotter as the words form in my mind.

MARCY

Lou, get—

KATE

DO WHAT I SAY!

My heart stops. It tightens as an immense pressure surrounds it. The pain is fast and grows as the paper falls out of my hand. I drop to my knees as I gasp for hair. My longs donated expand. It feels like all the air is getting squeezed out. I can barely keep my head up.

I see why. One scaled hand is squeezing my heart, the other my lungs. Kate grips the doll tight as he walks over.

Marcy grabs the paper, but Kate has a firm grip on it.

LOU

Marcy!

Lou tries to lunge forward, but he can’t move. Kneels in front of me, reaching his arm out. Manny stares at Kate in horror as she grabs the paper from the floor. Once she has it in her hand, she loosens her grip on my body.

MANNY

What are you doing?

KATE

What’s needed. I figured out a long time ago to

protect those I care about, I need to be there with one hand on the wheel.

Kate kneels and squats down to be at my eye level with Marcy. Kate’s face is sorrowful, but she still has a soft grip on my heart.

KATE

Once I kill him, I’ll let up, and we will talk about

everything that happened today. All I ever wanted to do was heal all the wounds.

MARCY

Let go of it now. You shouldn’t have it.

KATE

You don’t mean that.

MANNY

This is going too far!

Manny rushes to Kate, but she backhands Manny.

KATE

I said stay back.

Adam steps up with the bat and stares Kate down. His face is sweaty, and his stern tone trembles with every other word.

ADAM

I said I didn’t want any drama in here. I’m done with you.

Kate glances at him. With not a smile or frown, with a tone you would give asking for stamps, golden flames spark from her lips.

KATE

Lou, kill him.

LOU

I can’t stop myself. Run.

Lou burst from in front of me. Adam stands his ground, scared shitless. Manny tackles Lou’s side.

MANNY

Fight this, Lou! I know you don’t want to hurt him.

Manny looks up to see Lou unfazed and staring down at him with glowing red eyes.

MANNY

Or me, right?

Manny is thrown at a glass door on the drink refrigerator attached to the wall. Kate turns to watch the show. I try to stand, but Kate notices and tightens her grip. I can’t move, and I’m cursed to watch this. All because of my choices.

No, I won’t do that. This was our choice. I am not alone in this shitty night. I wasn’t the only one who had a plan for this night. We all did. Still, I need to understand that this happened because of all of us, and that includes me taking my portion of the blame.

I won’t let my life be dictated by that doll anymore. In my pocket is the answer. If I go down this path, I know I will be stuck this way. I can’t go back. Our paths will never truly be separated. They never were going to be. We carry all our choices with us. The time spent together was never going to be erased, but maybe I can use it to my benefit instead of looking at it as a detriment of time.

I opened the box Lou handed me and pulled out the necklace. I stare at the gem as I hear Adam swing the bat for his life, and Manny yells at Lou to resit. No more hesitation, no more looking for the right time. I put on the necklace.

The cold rests on the back of my neck where the chain rests. The smell of salt water fills my senses as my body is floating. In front of me is a vision of the ocean; I’ve seen it before. The rows of bright coral, the shining sand, and the variety of colorful fish. I am floating in the sea. Visions of Lous past with his family, practicing magic with his siblings, seeing vast spans of the ocean with his parents, and now him taking me here for the first time. This is Lou’s home.

I see our relationship through his eyes. The love he had for me, the moments of him adjusting to our new life. I see the moments that bother me. How he didn’t pay attention to my words, and the distance that grew. I see the day we signed the contract and then the times after.

My heart beats, and my lungs fill with air as I feel the magical energy they call the Source rush through my body. Waves of energy hit me as I stand.

MARCY

I want you to know this doesn’t mean we are still together.

But I know our actions caused this, Lou. So we both need to do what’s right.

I whisper to myself. He can’t control his body, but I know he heard me. I can feel the pain in his acknowledgment.

MARCY

Kate, I’m sorry I ignored how you felt and all the signs.

I should have been a better friend.

I stand, facing Kate. I can feel the scales grow, my teeth sharpen, and my nails calcify. I look down at my hands and see my scales are pink and spread around my body as my nails are gold. My hair floats as if I’m underwater. I imagine I look like Kate and Lou right now.

Kate stares at me, horrified, as if I am a monster.

KATE

Why Marcy? There were so many other choices.

MARCY

And I own this one.