Red Blossom
Red blossomed upon his white t-shirt in the form of abstract art. It then slithered down his body and onto the wooden floor of the secluded home. My heart raced as he stumbled backwards; falling into the mattress as we watched.
He landed upon his back. His bright blue eyes losing their luster as he stared aimlessly into the emptiness of the ceiling. The fan spun slowly above our heads, causing my hair to lightly wave in and out of my eyes. My stomach felt sick and threatened to forced my food back up. My mouth was now filled with saliva.
His breathing was uneven. Each breathe sounded painful.
"Damnit." Giovanni whispered as he looked over at him. "You didn't get his heart. You got a lung."
My eyes moved to him. His words bring me back to the reality of things.
"Wa-what?"
He huffed and put his hand out. "Give me the knife."
I looked down at my hand. I had forgotten it was me who had done this. I was the one who had plunged the knife into his flesh and threw his bones. My body began to tremble and I lost my grip. The knife fell at my feet with a thud as it came in contact with the wooden floors.
Giovanni sighed as he bent over and picked it up. He walked over to the dying boy and studied him.
"Yeah, you stuck a lung." He held up the knife and without a warning plunged it into the body.
A small scream slipped from my lips as blood splattered onto my face.
"That's the heart." Giovanni said; to no one in particular.
The heavy and painful breathing had ceased. The air became still and silent. The pungent order of the crimson liquid and cigarette smoke lingered in the thick air. I touched my forehead and looked at the blood that would stain my hands forever. My breathing became heavy and my thoughts flustered. I soon found myself on the back porch vomiting over the wooden railing.
The toxic mixture of stomach acid and digestive fluid poured out of my mouth in chunks. The river of spew slowed to a stopping point allowing me to breath. I greedily filled my lungs; sucking in the pungent air as I broke into a cold sweat. My hands shook lightly as I sloppily wiped my mouth clean.
Giovanni walked out onto the porch as rain threatened to fall from a sunless sky. His olive skin appeared flawless against his blood stained white shirt. He ran a quick hand through his thick black hair and sighed as he pressed his palms onto the the splintered wood. He looked over the wooden railing as I tried to get myself together.
He placed a gentle hand upon my back and soothingly stroked back and forth. I looked up at him like a child hungry for guidance. I needed some reassurance; some comfort.
"Breathe." He spoke softly now. "I'll take care of everything." He added as I slowly wrapped my arms around his slim torso. "Here." He broke the hug and held me at arms length. His hand fished into his pocket and retrieved a light brown leather wallet. He took out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to me. "Go into town and pick up some garbage bags, a mop, mothballs, and a twix." He tucked my hair behind my ear. "It'll be gone when you get back. Just try to calm down."
I bit down into my lower lip. My eyes closed for a few moments as I nodded. It all happened so fast. I felt his lissome fingers as they lightly lift my chin. My brown eyes met his hazel ones.
"Clean yourself up." He said. "Get something for yourself from town if you'd like." He let go of me and opened the door; allowing me into the cabin first. "Be quick. Be discreet."
Within a few minutes I found myself behind the wheel of his old red pick-up truck. The redolent scent of his cologne mixed with cigarettes within the small cabin of the truck. I drew in a few deep breathes before starting the car and pulling onto the dirt road.
Twenty minutes felt more like forty on that drive into town. I felt as if every passerby could see right through me. Every tree and even the clouds in the sky knew exactly what I was hiding. Every bird threatened to spoil my secret and rip me out of the comfort of my partial denial.
I parked in the partly empty parking lot of the Food Depo. The lot was almost always vacant; with little to no people within its grounds. I turned the key and rested my forehead upon the steering wheel.
"Calm down, Pierce." I whispered to myself.
I took a few deep breathes before sitting up and getting out of the car.
The shopping list Giovanni had given me was very short. It shouldn't have taken me long to get everything, but my body was partly paralyzed with anxiety and fear. I felt as if all eyes were on me. Everyone knew my secret and they saw the blood on my hands; and yet still I pushed the small plastic cart and continued to pretend like things were the same. I acted as if I was still innocent and ask if Eric was still alive. I acted as if Giovanni wasn't in the cabin taking care of a body and as if I wasn't buying things the aid him. It was simply easier this way; in ignorance.