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would you care to know what the truth nearly did to my sister..?
Shallow-panted gasps fell in line, in time and rhythm, to his movements. He'd push in, she'd breathe out.
when I finally found her again
too long after they had gotten their hands on her and did what they did to her
A breathy moan fluttered against his ear as he felt fingernails precariously drag themselves down the length of his back, encouraging him to go deeper. Harder. Faster. And his own breath began to pick up its pace.
“Mm, Bastian.” This came an enticingly erotic moan of praise through a sharp gasp.
she was holding a gun to her own head
tears in her eyes
“Yes.” She cried.
And he quickened his pace in her-her breath following suit as these confusing thoughts swirled around in his head to create a horrific medley of mental anguish and suffering mixed with physical ecstasy.
my sister was so desperate to have these memories out of her head
A groan left his lips as he felt her nails bite into the flesh of his back, causing him to push a little too deep as she let out a gasp against his ear.
that she was ready to blow her brains out
“Ah! Yes!” She cried in his ear. “Yes!” Her thready voice and the feel of her body being brought to the height of pleasure caused him to climax through low groans and a stifled cry against her shoulder despite himself.
there have been many times where I've been so close to doing the very same thing
He gasped to chase his breath as sweat dripped down his back and beaded along his brow. Oh, how he hated himself. Because this was wrong. Everything. It was just so incredibly wrong. And what was worse was that he knew this, while she remained oblivious.
Rolling off of Nina, Bastian gave a labored sigh as he heard her panted breath echo his own.
“How did I get so lucky?” Bastian gasped. “Being with someone as beautiful as you?” He asked in earnest in an attempt to drive away these darker feelings.
“Oh, Bastian.” Nina cooed. “You know I only keep you around because you're incredible in bed.” She playfully teased.
And Bastian couldn't help but chuckle at this. Because only Nina Fortner could make such a risque comment sound so sweetly wholesome and innocent. It was a gift, really. Because that's who she was at her core. Someone good. Wholesome. Innocent. Warm and loving. And sweet.
Which was why, in the end, Bastian felt himself wanting to become sick.
It felt so wrong-sick, and twisted-how her brother's voice and awful words seemed to be the only thing he'd been able to hear during their passionate love-making. The memories that had been all-but forced on him against his will.
...Nina's memories...
One's she no longer had-because of her brother.
And these memories began to color the way Bastian began to see her. The way he began to treat her, and interact with her. And-slowly-Bastian began to absolutely hate her brother for that. Because it wasn't fair.
He loved Nina-tonight being the physical declaration and outpouring of his love for her. Yet he could no longer even look at her without seeing the fabricated image of a desperate woman ready to take her own life.
...and he blamed her brother for that...
Because these lurking questions began to consume every piece and part of his happy and peaceful existence with her.
...just how badly damaged was Nina..?
...and...
...more importantly...
...exactly how dangerous was her brother..?
“Bastian..?” His name came quietly uttered through the silence that had claimed the holy sanctity of their bedroom as Nina finally seemed to catch on to his dour mood. “What's wrong..?”
Bastian sighed, chastising himself.
Here he though he'd been doing such a good job of holding it together after his latest 'visit' with Johan...
“Nina...” Bastian began slowly, his eyes held steadfast to the ceiling of their room as he spoke. “We-uh-” This came stammered from his lips before he found the courage to begin again. “We need to talk about your brother.” He finally said, feeling the body next to him move and adjust themselves in the bed.
“Johan..?” Nina lightly asked. “I thought the two of you were getting along.” She said, and Bastian couldn't help the caustic snort that left his nose.
..if only she knew...
Really knew.
“How well do you really know him, Nina..?” Bastian asked, watching how Nina's brows furrowed in confusion as she held his warm brown gaze. “I mean-” He faltered again, feeling her eyes on him. “you said that he's only just recently come back into your life, right..?”
“...what do you mean by that..?” Nina balked, in a bit of shock before the tone of her voice came a little more firmly. “He's my brother, Bastian.” She made this self-apparent statement, and Bastian sighed through his nose.
“What does he actually talk to you about, though, Nina?” Bastian asked, and it seemed to take some time for Nina to consider this and respond.
“I don't know.” She grumbled lightly. “Work, I guess.” She said. “School, too.” This fell slowly from her lips as she offered a little side-shrug. “Stuff like that.” A brief pause filled the small space between them before Nina's voice took on a bit of light accusation. “What does he talk to you about, Bastian?”
“You.” This left Bastian's lips too quickly-before he could barely even help himself. “That's all he ever talks about, Nina.” He said, finally turning his head along the pillow to face her. “Just you.” This fell a bit flatly from his lips in seriousness as he held her baffled expression. “And quite frankly, sometimes it's just a bit-” He paused, trying to navigate this conversation as delicately as possible. “creepy.”
“Creepy?” Nina balked before a helpless little laugh left her lips to wave away this tension. “Come on, Bastian.” She said through a little, amused smile. “He might be a little odd, sure. And over-protective sometimes, maybe. But, creepy? Really?”
Bastian sighed again, gazing back up at the ceiling.
Nina really had no idea...
...maybe he didn't, either...
Bastian felt her sit up in the bed as Nina brought the covers to her chest before her knees followed. Wrapping her bare arms around her covered knees, her long blond hair cascaded over her shoulder with the delicate move of her head when she rested her chin on her knees.
“Look-” Nina whispered quietly, her voice taking on a slight edge of sadness. “Johan wasn't a part of my life for a really long time, Bastian. You know that.” She said. “And-even though he shouldn't-I think he blames himself for that.” Bastian finally rolled onto his side as he propped his head in his hand, listening as Nina spoke. “You may think it's weird-or creepy-but-” She paused in consideration with the little crease of her brows. “I think, deep down-in his own way-Johan's just trying to make it up to me, you know?”
“Nina-” Bastian breathed her name in hesitation, biting along his lip as he internally fought with himself. “Has Johan ever said anything to you..?” He lightly asked, desperately panicking inside as he tried to decide how best to navigate this precarious conversation. “...about wanting to hurt himself.” He said. “Or anyone else.” Finally deciding to keep the conversation as close to Nina's brother as possible to start with as Nina silently stared at him through a guarded expression.
Bastian sighed through his nose. This obviously wasn't going well. As his eyes held those of his lover, Bastian wondered just how much he should actually reveal to her right now, in this moment.
“Um, no...” She slowly said, though it seemed as if there was some underlying suspicion. “Why..?” Nina asked, her ocean eyes-like those of her brother-holding his gaze in a pointed look as she searched his face for answers. “Did Johan say something to you?” She asked, her eyes narrowing on Bastian. “What aren't you telling me, Bastian..?”
A lot...
The answer was, a lot.
Bastian sighed again, trying so desperately to avoid the scrutiny of Nina's gaze as he looked away.
“Bastian...” He heard Nina's voice next to him. “What's going on with you and my brother?” And the tone of Nina's voice began to make Bastain wonder if she didn't already know-or at the very least suspect-that there was something terribly wrong with her brother.
“Nina.” Bastian sighed through his nose as he met her daunting gaze-so very much like her brother-until this precarious standoff was disrupted by the sound of Nina's cell-phone ringing.
Nina grabbed her phone, and Bastian happened to catch the look in her eyes as he registered the familiar number.
“Great.” Bastian groaned bitterly. “Speak of the devil...” Nina all-but-rolled her eyes at him as she answered the phone.
“Johan...” Nina spoke a bit too firmly as her lips drew in a thin line and her eyes narrowed at nothing in particular. “You have impeccable timing.” She said, and Bastian couldn't help the caustic snort of agreement that left his nose before a little smirk lifted the corner of Nina's lips. “Bastian's turned a shade of white, and I'm pretty sure that you have him convinced that you're psychic.” She said as Bastian's mouth all-but-gaped open before he scowled at her, causing Nina to playfully stick her tongue out at him before speaking into the phone again. “What do you want..?” She asked in a softer, more loving and affectionate tone as she paused to listen to the voice on the other end of the line.
“Really.” Nina almost chuckled as she spared Bastian a side-glance. “I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to hear that.” She said in a slightly mocking tone before her eyes met Bastian's curious gaze. “Johan says he wants to talk to you.” She said before looking down and away as her brows pinched together in a stern little crease. “And you'd better be nice to him, or else you'll be getting way more than a lecture from me.” She warned before subtly handing Bastian the phone.
Bastian couldn't help the brief pause of hesitation as he took the phone from Nina, hearing how she giggled at his expense.
...great...
Placing the phone in his hand, Nina practically grinned at him as she slipped herself from their bed.
Bastian took a breath and a heavy sigh.
...great...
Finally bringing the phone to his ear, Bastian breathed a sigh of relief that he could hear Nina starting the shower.
Good.
He and Johan would have some privacy, then.
“And what do you want..?” Bastian quipped into the phone as harsh as he possibly could.
Because he actually wanted the man to know how angry he was.
'I wanted to make sure that you were okay. I've been dreadfully worried about you.' The disembodied voice softly lilted, sounding genuinely concerned. 'You see. I just had the most awful dream...' The voice lightly murmured through a tone-shift and slight lowering for effect. 'In my dream, you were dead, Bastian. It was terribly upsetting.' And Bastian scowled at nothing in particular.
“Is that supposed to be another one of your 'jokes', Johan?” He quipped bitterly.
'No. Not at all.' The voice delicately responded. 'Quite the opposite, in fact. Because, in my dream-' This came breathed through the receiver. 'I'm standing over your dead body, with a gun in my hand.' The voice lightly spoke into the phone as Bastian's eyes slightly narrowed. 'You see, I was forced to pull the trigger because you'd done something-stupid.' The voice spoke in a highbrow tone as Bastian felt the anger rise within him before the disembodied voice lilted. 'Now-you weren't planning on doing anything stupid, were you..?' Bastian scowled, feeling the flames of rage inside of him flicker as they threatened to devouter his peace and calm.
How did this man always seem to know..?
Was he truly clairvoyant?
Or was he simply that intuitive?
Either way, it was as uncanny as it was horrifyingly unnerving.
“You really need to stop threatening me.” Bastian practically snarled into the phone. “Because it's getting really old!” He hissed. “And it's not working!”
And, it was true.
Instead of feeling afraid, Bastian just felt angry.
'I think you quite misunderstand me.' The voice on the other end of the line softly lilted, as if to wave away Batian's angry words. 'I'm merely warning you, Bastian.' The disembodied voice said. 'I know how much my sister cares about you.' This came lilted through the phone. 'And-' A pause fell along the line before the voice picked back up. 'I'd hate to see anything bad happen to you.' The voice on the other end of the receiver said. 'You see, it would cause my sister to become so distraught.' The voice said. 'And I simply won't have that.'
“Then you tell her the truth!” Bastian snapped into the phone with a horrific scowl along his face. “About everything, Johan. I mean it!”
'Still with that, are we..?' The voice lightly asked in an eloquently chiding tone.
“Always!” Bastian bit back. “Either you tell her! Or so help me, I will.” He lowly threatened into the phone.
'You know that I can't do that.' The voice on the other end of the line warned in a featherlight whisper. 'I really hoped that-by now-you would have come to understand...' This came through a sigh from the other end of the phone.
“Well I don't!” Bastian snapped in anger. “Nina deserves to know the truth!”
'How very disappointing, Bastian.' The voice lightly murmured into the phone. 'I thought you had better sense than that.'
“And I thought you said you actually cared about Nina.” Bastian bit back bitterly.
…
A soft, delicate sigh trailed along this harsh rebuke, followed by silence.
Oceanic eyes gazed out sincerely towards the night sky and city lights as a little flicker of a smile attractively curved along lips to softly shape the words that followed.
“I do care about her. A great deal.” This came whispered into the phone the man held up against his ear as a light evening breeze gently tousled champagne tresses. “Everything I do is for her, Bastian.” He said. “Whether you agree with what I do, or not.” This fell in a pointed tone from his lips as he paused before speaking again through a sigh. “And it seems that things from here on out will only become more-complicated-I'm afraid, which is why I'm calling.” This came softly lilted into the phone as those eyes remained on this nighttime scenery.
“There's been a slight-delay-in my plans.” He lightly hummed into the phone through the makings of a little frown. “It seems that someone-a lot like you, actually-went poking around where he shouldn't, looking for the truth.” These ominous words fell along a brief pause. “And-unfortunately for him-he found it.” When the voice on the other end of the line demanded to know exactly what that meant, he couldn't help but chuckle as he leaned against the railing of the building, glancing down to the pavement far below with a little smile. “For your sake, Bastian, I suggest that you learn to ask fewer questions, hm?” Another little pause fell along the moment as that skylit gaze lingered curiously along the scene below him. “I'll call again when my plans are back on schedule.” He said with a faint, humorless smile before hanging up the phone-no doubt cutting the other man off mid sentence.
Gingerly placing the phone in his pocket, Johan crossed his arms against the railing of the building's edge as he braced himself against it again. His attention once again became wholly captivated by the grotesque scene below. A lifeless body, sprawled in an unnatural position on the concrete pavement.
This rooftop was several stories high. Johan imagined that the man had perished fairly quickly on impact after jumping. It had been terribly rude-Johan thought-for Hans Georg Schuwald to have sent someone to poke about in the matter of Edmund Farren's suicide. Of course, Richard Braun's investigation into Farren's sudden death had begun to take him down a very dangerous path. One that led him directly to The Monster, though he hadn't known that-until it had been too late.
Far too late, for him...
And-so-Richard had ended up meeting the same exact fate as Farren. He deserved it, really, for placing his nose where it didn't belong. It was such a shame, though. When Johan stopped to think about it as he stared down from above at the corpse on the pavement below.
...Richard's daughter, Rosemary, would be so disappointed when her father never showed...
THE END
...until next time...
