_________
disconnect

-

Here, give me your hand.
Okay.

Her slender fingers wrap around my thick wrist. With her free hand, she traces her trail lightly against the skin on my arm, sending chills up my back. Tickling me, she drags he nail down my palm, and to the tip of my middle finger, where it disappears into her thick, black coat pocket. She pulls out her pocket knife, one-handedly securing the blade in the upright position. Her hand, now wrapped around the pocket knife's handle, makes it's way pack to my palm.

Do you trust me?
Yes.
Good.

The knife presses against my skin. Slowly wedging it's way into my hand, parting the epidermis, and slicing through bare skin at an excrutiating rate. A trail of blood along my lifeline, just deep enough to part the skin. A red puddle fills up the palm of my hand as she withdraws the blade, tip covered in blood. Still holding my wrist, she presses one side of the blade against her tongue.

Open.

She presses the other side of the blade against mine, and she smiles. That copper taste on my tongue, she wipes it away and closes it, stuffing it back into her pocket.

You're interesting. You're not like the others.
I don't think so. There isn't really anything interesting about me.

She bites her bottom lip and looks downwards, at the creek, letting go of my wrist. She sits next to the water, and looks up at the sky, her black eyes almost shining from the sunlight. Kneel next to her and submerge the wounded hand. Blood clouding, slowly mixing with the clear water. Spreading, dissolving. Remove my still leaking hand, and admire the wound.

Before I know it, she's behind me, head over my shoulder, whispering gently into my ear. She does things to me. I melt.

It's not everyone who would gladly allow someone to destroy them.
I suppose other people have reasons to exist.
And you do not?
I don't see any. If my purpose was to make you happy by letting you destroy me, I reckon I'd be alright with that.
You're a very strange boy.
That'd be closer to the truth than interesting, that's for sure.
What is it you want?
What do you mean?
Out of this relationship. What is it that you're after?
Can't say I've given that much thought, to be honest.
Come, now. There must be some sort of angle.
I like your eyes. Your smile, when you cut into something. I wouldn't mind that being the last thing I see.
You're serious?
As serious as I can be.
Interesting. I suppose this shouldn't surprise me, but it does.
Why do you way that?

Suddenly, she's gone. Turn around to see nothing. Trees, tall grass, not her. She's gone. The only thing out here that really mattered.

Look down at the shimmering water. My face shines back at me on the clear sheet before me. Can't help but hate it. Can't help but feel repulsed.

Hand instinctively reaches for a large rock nearby. Grasping a heavy one, I lob it into the water, where my face was, distorting and destroying my reflection. Look away. Get to my feet. Dust myself off.

Worried. Frantic. Heart racing.

I'll just wait here. I'll just wait here until she gets back.

-

The wound she made for me has scabbed over.

Night came. Didn't sleep. Couldn't risk missing her.

Keep picking at the scab with my fingernails, gently prying open the coagulated, dried blood. Trying to keep the wound fresh, reopening it, causing it to bleed. Dab my tongue at the edge of the renewed opening. Just to get the taste in my mouth.

It all reminds me of her.

Day comes back. Still no sleep. Have to hold out.

Watch the sun crawl across the sky slowly, emerging from my left and disappearing to my right. As night returns, clouds form, like a blanket hiding the stars. Dark and thick. Rain falls. Lightning striking the distance.

Having trouble keeping myself awake. Dozing. Have to keep standing up, walking around in circles. Looking for her. Eyes hurt. Sit back down in the mud and wait. Day comes back, once again, and the rain still hasn't died out yet. Head is throbbing.

Have you been waiting here for me?

The devil's voice startles me, pulling me out of my daze.

She's standing to my right in a long black skirt, a white tee with a black lacy overshirt. Her head tilted, one of eyebrows raised slightly higher than the other.

Yeah. For quite some time.
Why?
I had nothing better to do.

She offers her hand, and I take it with the hand she cut, pulling myself to my feet. Looking into her eyes, I'm filled with the same excitement as the first time we met. She breaks eye contact, looking down. Her face looks troubled.

You disappeared.
Yeah.
Where did you go?
Far away from here. I wasn't going to come back.
Why?
I'm starting to have... feelings for you.

Not sure how to respond to this, I just look away and scratch my head. Like an idiot.

I can't, I.... I just.... I can't, you know?
No. I don't.
That's okay. You'll understand someday, I hope.

She turns to walk away.

Wait!

Stopping, she doesn't turn around or say anything. This is the best opportunity I'll have.

Aren't you going to destroy me?
....No.

And with that, she was gone.