PRELUDE(part 2)

The man writhed in agony, his left hand over his right hand blood drowning the bedroom floor.

"Kevin!"

The man at the receiving end of Michael's vicious glare was supposed to be Marie's friend. The one question ravaging his mind was self-explanatory but he was struggling to came to terms with the answer.

Standing at 6', Kevin's skin was of a dark tone. He compensated for his not so alluring looks with a Muscle-toned physique, enough to swoon many women, which he did. A ladies man is what he called himself.

Of course Michael never did approve of this friendship, but he had long come to accept it, incapable of breaking them up. Furthermore, Marie claimed that their friendship had transcended the test of time since their early years, there was next to nothing he could do to server their bond.

And now this very friendship appeared to have transcended their relationship. Kevin was half naked, in his closet. What else did he expect, Kevin being who he was, his friendship with Marie was bound to pour into more intimate grounds. He had done well in ignoring this possibility, but who was fate if not a cruel bitch.

Marie wasn't scared of a possible burglar in the closet, it was apprehension of Michael finding out about her infidelity. The realization settled in and anger corroded his rational mind. His face was contorted by rage and his nostrils flared with every breath. A suffocating murderous intent almost palpable in the air. He was furious.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!" He managed to squeeze out the words between his clenched teeth, throwing his hands over his head. Marie flinched, Kevin on the other hand, was trying to clear his mind enough from the numbing pain to plot his escape. Somehow he had to get the gun from Michael.

"EXPLAIN!!" Michael demanded aiming the gun at Marie's face that was slowly being drenched in nervous sweat. She was too paralyzed by fear to think clearly, her throat felt dry and heart racing in her chest."If I don't like your answer, I pull the fucking trigger" he added, the threat becoming more apparent with every word.

"I- I- Michael I'm sorry, I didn't want you to find out like this-"

"Wait, this isn't even the first time?" Marie stared at Michael, hoping the question was rhetorical, afraid that Michael would make real on his threat.

"HOW LONG!"

"After you failed to get that promotion and became distant I-" She tried explaining, every word barely a whisper. The gun on her forehead cut her shot. The Heat from the barrel burning at her skin.

"Really? Fucking really Marie, that is your excuse for why you went behind my back, 'because i was distant'? And with... Kevin people" He finished the statement swinging his the gun over Kevin's face, ready to knock a few teeth out. Kevin wasn't just waiting to be hit, this was his chance.

He reacted, this time faster. With his good hand he grabbed Michael's hand pulling him in and crashing his forehead into Michael's face breaking his nose. The blow sent Michael staggering and falling backwards towards the door. Kevin was already up, his figure looming over Michael. Rage twisting his face into a hostile grimace. Making one quick step forward, he swung his arm into Michael's face. He was stronger, his fist heavier. It was too fast for Michael to block and it connected perfectly. A flurry of fists followed, turning Michael's face into a bloodied mess.

'How strong is this guy, I need my gun'. He brought his arms above his head as his eyes darted around the room. 'where the fuck is it.' Blood was spilling all over the floor and Kevin's fists were painted red, the art work spread to the walls.

"Get of him, you'll kill him!" Marie screamed at the top of her lungs jumping off the bed and grabbing Kevin by his shoulders, attempting to pull him off her boyfriend. She was too weak. He swung his right elbow into her face with the grace of forge master's hammer, breaking her nose.

Michael finally got the respite he needed. Seeing the gun on the floor, he reached out but was a few millimeters short. Desperation settled in. Not being much of a fighter he placed all his hope in the gun, but he could not reach it. However, he reached something else. Uncaring of what it was, he hoped it would do it's job or at least give him an opening.

Desperately, he lifted it with his left arm and hurled it over Kevin's head. Kevin fell off him and onto the floor, the object shattering into many pieces. Michael reached for the gun and dragged himself by his elbows, preparing to take the shot. His aim was off, but he pulled the trigger like his life depended on it.

BANG!

The shot rang, his hand shook from the recoil as smoke escaped the muzzle followed by a thud. His eyes went wide in horror. He had missed Kevin by a wide margin.

'no no no, it can't be. Maybe it only grazed her.' His stomach sunk. The world around him turning into muffled noises as Panic dimmed his anger. He felt the gun escape his grip snapping him back to reality.

BANG! the shot sent a bullet through his abdomen. A blinding pain ensued as his vision became tunneled. He frantically kicked the air and his foot hit something. Adrenaline coursed through his veins dulling his pain.

Kevin retrained his aim on Michael, firing more rounds into him. Michael, impervious to the crippling pain, got on his feet, his fingers closing around something sharp. He dove in for a final brawl, his rage demanding penance.

A bullet went through his gut, another through his shoulder, jacking his body to the side. Unfazed he swung his arm forward, the crude blade connecting with Kevin's stomach. He didn't stop there, pulling back his arm he thrust it forward several times.

His senses were dulled by the blinding rage and the thought of having killed Marie turning him into a blood crazed beast. His rage was unending, rising whenever he caught a glimpse of her limp body. A few click sound were heard, the gun was empty. Michael was fighting like a trapped beast, and Kevin was determined to make his escape no matter the cost.

He curled his hands into fists pounding at Michael, but with every stab his strength dwindled. Their bodies were battered and bruised, each movement a mammoth task. Michael swung his hand towards Kevin's face and stabbed him through the eye. Kevin struggled for a few seconds, his body twitching as a gurgle escaped his lips then he went limp and dropped to the ground.

With no strength left Michael dropped to the floor close to Marie the hole in her head fueling his pain.

'It was an accident.' was all he managed to say. The cost of the tumultuous battle was just too much for Michael's heart to bear. "We could have avoided all this." he whispered, his breath ragged. "I shouldn't have become distant maybe then- Why did you do it? You didn't have to die. How the fuck am I supposed to go on without you? Answer me dammit!" The speed of the events overwhelmed his mind, their blood painting the gruesome picture. Two dead bodies of people he knew lay next to him and he would soon join them.

He lay on her bosom, death slowly robbing her off her warmth. His mind was in disarray, clouded by pain and regret.

"it's your fault, I knew letting you close would ruin me, why did you have to convince me? I- I shouldn't have… shouldn't have let you close. Now look at us." He wanted to scream at the top of his voice, but he lacked the strength. Beyond his living room, he could hear a banging and muffled voices calling out to him. He ignored them, assuming his mind was tricking him. Anyway, he would soon be dead. The scent of blood filled his nose with every ragged breathe.

The pain of loosing Marie opened a flood gate of old scars and pain. First his parents and now the one woman he allowed himself to love. There was nothing worth living for anymore. A piece of him had died today. The piece he had given Marie. In his eyes ,he was already dead, only his body hadn't accepted it. It was as if it wanted him to experience the pain, torturing him for giving into hope and love.

'Fate must hate me.'

He was devastated. Ravaged by all that pain he lay in the blood drenching the floor in a scarlet hue, waiting for death to reach out and take him from this suffering, resigned to eternal peace in the cold embrace of non-existence.

How wrong he was!