Page 11

Chapter 10

Max

Hours felt like minutes as we stuck to the shadows, watching as Gus finally announced his retirement from the festivities and took May by the hand, leading her away in the direction of the brothel. I knew this would be the perfect time to act.

“They’re heading to the bar,” I chimed to him as he watched them disappear into the crowd. “You need to hurry!”

“Are you not going to join me?” It tugged at my heart to ask such a thing in a sour tone. I knew he wanted me there with him, but I wasn’t sending him off to murder them. I was sending him away so I could kill May myself.

“I’m going to hang back and cause a little chaos of my own.” He pondered a moment before kissing my forehead. “Give them hell, freckles.” He grabbed the axe, winking as he snaked around the alley and further into the shadows.

“Oh, I plan to.”

I quickly rushed in the direction of the brothel, catching up as the two entered the building. My hat jingled as I kept a safe distance, following them up the building and eventually lingering on the other side of her door. My ear pressed against the old wood, listening as I heard arguing.

“Someone’s in trouble,” I tsked, crouching to peek through the keyhole. Inside, Gus was shaking May, her hair waving in every direction as she sobbed.

“I didn’t agree to this!” May shouted.

“You don’t have a fucking say!” Gus ripped the shawl from her arms, pounding his pointer finger into her chest, tapping the heart tattoo. “Maybe I should brand you, cover up that hideous tattoo, remind you and everyone else here who you belong to! I bought you, May, fair and square!”

“I’m not property!” She tried to run towards the door, but he grabbed a fistful of her hair, and she screamed in pain as he tugged harshly on the strands. Gus pressed against her back, his free hand wrapping around her tiny waist as he mumbled into her ear.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He pushed her to the ground, kicking her side as she groaned and remained there like a broken pet. He tried to compose himself, adjusting his suit as she refused to look at him. “I’m going down to the bar for a drink, and when I come back, you better greet me like the obedient wife I expect you to be.”

As Gus headed towards the door, I ducked against the wall, hoping to remain unseen. He swung the door open, exhaling as he rushed down the stairs, too focused on himself to notice my presence. Before her door could shut, I grabbed the knob, the hinges squeaking as I snuck inside. May grunted, tossing her brunette hair aside as she rolled to look at who was there.

“Did you forget you—” Her face dropped at the sight of me. “Max.”

“In the flesh.” I bowed, the bell on my hat jingling. “Now,” I rose, locking the door, “let’s have some fun.” I pulled a knife from the inside the corset lining of my costume as May scuttled to her feet, trying to reach for her nightstand. I quickly cut her off. “I did warn you I was coming for you.” I glanced at her vanity, noticing Gus’ ring in its box and no longer on her hand. “Aw, trouble in paradise?” I pointed to it with the knife.

“What do you want?” Her question was more of a snarl.

“Oh, what a temper. I like it!” I laughed, slowly inching in her direction. “To answer your question, I’m here to handle my own revenge. Sure, he wants to kill you himself, but I think it would be much more fun if I did it.” I lunged at her with my knife, missing as she jumped back.

“Kill me?” She nearly fell over trying to move away from me, knocking into furniture. “Why? I haven’t done anything to you!” I lunged a second time, cutting her dress.

“You’re wrong, May,” I sang. “You have done everything.” My hand raised the knife as I charged her, the two of us falling as I tackled her to the ground. We struggled, her arms slapping and hitting at me as I straddled her torso, holding my knife firm, my knees pinning her arms beside her as she wriggled. “You poisoned him!” I lunged my knife down as she whipped her head to the side, the sharp tip of the blade sticking into the floor. “You have this grip on him that he can never escape, bleeding into his thoughts and mind, haunting his dreams—” I tore the knife from the floor, slicing the skin of her collarbone as she cried out. “You’ve consumed his heart, leaving little to no room for me.” I gazed into my reflection of the blade, watching as her blood tainted the image. “As long as you live, he can’t fully give himself to me. And I need him.” My fingers curled as her wound bled out, tears streaking her perfect face as she glared at me in horror. I raised my arm, smiling at what I was about to do. For him.

“Any last words, May?” I tilted my head as she desperately tried to escape me. As I stared at her, my breathing erratic, May did something I never expected her to do. She laughed.

“Go ahead,” she swallowed. “Do it. But know that killing me won’t fix him. Oh, Max, you can fuck him every minute of every day, but you’ll never have his heart.” My face burned and trembled at her words as I screamed and raised my knife, ready to prove her wrong.

“May?” The pounding on her door stopped me mid-lunge as we looked in the direction of his voice. “May, I forgot my—” He jiggled the door knob. “May, why is the door locked? Open it. Open it now!”

My head snapped back to her, her face plastered in a ridiculous smile.

“Looks like you're out of time,” she laughed. “What’re you going to do now?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

My eyes bolted around the room; noticing her window, my confidence returned.

“I guess this goodbye.” I slammed my forehead into her face, her nose instantly pouring blood. “Christmas isn’t over yet, May.” I quickly shot from the floor and bolted to the window, unlatching it as I turned to look back at her, tucking my knife into the lining of my corset.

Gus burst through the door, nearly falling over as he looked from me to May, rushing to her aid. He helped her up, trying to stop the bleeding. I couldn’t help but laugh at them both, marked for death. They watched me as I climbed from the window, scaling down the side of the brothel.

“So long, May-Martha!” I called out, my laughter dissolving into a Christmas hymn.

I’ll be back, and sooner than you think.