Epilogue

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Stacey asked for what seemed like the one hundredth time. It was a month later, and she was taking Matt to visit James in rehab.

“Yes. Why d’you keep asking?”

“Because I’ve seen this kind of thing before, and it’s never pretty. I had one guy, who I asked, just once, if he was sure. He said yes, went in, left straight away, punched me in the nose, and asked me in a scream why I let him go in. So now I ask about twenty times so they can’t do that.” She came to a halt outside the right door, “One last time, are you completely, totally, 100% sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She leant back to address the nurse with them. “Is he chained to the wall?” she asked him in Dananic.

“Yes.”

“Good. The last thing we need is for him to hurt Matt.” She turned to Matt and smiled, “You can go in.”

Matt led the way in, and Stacey shut the door behind them. James was in the corner. He was much thinner, and his face looked sunken, his hair was a mess. He looked terrible. He looked up as they came in. “Matt!” he jumped to his feet, but his face darkened as he saw Stacey. “What are you doing here?”

“Law. No-one else would come here with him. Don’t worry; I’m just here in case you try to attack him. I have no need to eavesdrop on your conversation.” Stacey smirked at him. “I’ll be by the door,” she told Matt.

“You brought her? Out of everyone else?” James asked Matt in a whisper. Stacey rolled her eyes at his attempt at secrecy.

“Sorry. She was the only one who would come with me.”

“Then you shouldn’t have come.” James’ words stung. Matt stared at him. “I’ll kill him anyway, you know,” he said in Dananic. Stacey’s eyes widened.

“Matt. Get out. Now.” She commanded.

“But-”

“Sorry. I need to cut it short. Wait outside.” Matt left quickly, sensing the urgency in her voice. She took a step forward, “Who are you kidding, Klein? You could’ve. So many opportunities were right in front of you. But he’s still alive. And you’re trapped in here. You got nothing. You hear me, nothing.”

James flew at her, but she was standing out of reach as long as his hands were still chained. “You know I can get out of here.”

She smirked, “Even if you do. You can’t kill him. Face it, you’re done.” She left. James glared after her, and the next words he spoke were a promise, a curse, almost:

Go and live your life in an imperfect bliss

Only to be put to sleep by death’s rotten kiss.