4

JUSTIN

I found myself standing in a room. It’s design was that from two years ago. The space was empty, I didn’t know what this was or why I was here.

But then I heard it. That laugh I never thought I’d ever hear again. I walked in the direction the voice came and that was when I saw them.

Before me were my most precious girls. Audrey, my mate, was seated on the couch with my sister beside her, chatting away.

Seeing them again when I thought I’d never again knocked the wind out of me. I stood frozen, overwhelmed but fucking glad that they were here.

This is a dream, isn’t it? It has to be. I thought to myself.

Almost as soon as the thought left my mind, they spotted me. Audrey beckoned to me, calling me over to them.

“You have been standing for forever, Justin. Get over here. Come sit with us…” Goddess, it was good to hear that voice again.

A little laugh on the side I recognized as my sister’s rang in my ears as well.

How were they here?

Could I just stay here with them and never wake?

It was a dream no doubt but I was in shock, trying to make sense of what was happening. But whatever it was, I preferred it here a thousand times than the hell that was out there.

Whatever this is, I never want to wake up.

I didn't waste any more time before I ran to them. And with open arms, they welcomed me and I enveloped them both in a hug. I stayed in Aubrey's arms longer, I missed her the most. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling her scent that I hadn’t realized just how much I had missed.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby. You have no idea just how much.” I mumbled and she pulled back and she looked at me, confused. I almost wanted to explain what I meant to her but I didn't want to jinx whatever this was.

“Justin, oh Justin.” I heard Astrid call out to me. Of course she’s here too. Her voice was an annoying contrast to the calm I had come to relate to this new reality. “You’re my mate and I am yours. Why are you with that bitch?” She insisted. I shut my eyes momentarily to shut her out but even that didn’t do much.

And when I tried to ignore her, her calling out to me became insistent and I was forced to turn in her direction.

I couldn't ignore it anymore.

Big mistake.

I stood in front of Kris and Audrey shielding them from her because I knew how this was going to play out.

Her eyes were wild, craziness dancing in them. She looked absolutely feral and it was the truth of who she actually was. Her words were even crazier than she looked.

“You’re mine, Justin. If I can’t have you, no one else will.”

These were nothing more than the ramblings of a mad girl.

And then it changed. One second I was shielding them away from Astrid, the next second she was standing over them in that very familiar scene I could never get over no matter how hard I tried. Even being here, it haunted me.

Astrid smiled evilly, grinning despite the blood plastered on her face. My mate’s and sister’s.

Once again I was taken back to that day. And again I could do nothing. I was too late.

"You see, Justin. I told you. If I can't have you, well...she can't even if she tried now..." Astrid had the audacity to say to me, her smile widening.

Anger surged through me, shooting adrenaline into my blood and I charged towards Astrid, this time intent on killing her off.

But then my eyes snapped open. It had been a nightmare all along, the first in two years. It felt too real. It was almost like it was a manifestation of my greatest regret and fear mixed together.

I sat up straight with a banging headache, and a chest racing like I had run a marathon. I wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead and looked around to find that I was indeed back to this hell hole called life.

Its just a dream, Justin.

My mind said to me like it was supposed to make it all better but I should have been there sooner, two years ago. I should have been able to save them. My life would have been perfect if I had just gotten to them in time. 

I was getting angrier by the minute not at anyone but myself. The rage was coursing through my veins, growing fast. The reality I was living and the nightmare I just had pissed me the fuck off and I got out of bed.

I went to the balcony, noting Astrid’s absence. Where the fuck is she? Not that I cared about what happened to her. It was more out of relief that I didn't have to deal with her than anything else this morning.

But in the state I was, even if I had found her here, I wouldn't have needed anymore excuse to kill her off. Her crazed face in my nightmare came back to me, causing me to ball my fists. 

“It doesn’t matter. Soon she will pay for taking them from me…” I spoke under my breath as I walked over to the bathroom.

The water had a calming effect on me immediately. I stood there for as long as I could spare. Until the chill settled in my bones.

I got out of the bath and picked out what I was going to wear. The activity kept my thoughts occupied for a while. And I nearly forgot about everything. Nearly.

I dressed up and I marched down the stairs. The short break was over which meant that I unfortunately had to go back to school. 

Astrid was just walking out of the door when I got to the base of the stairs. I paid her no heed. But that also meant that I had to remember my dream and two years ago all over again. And my blood ran cold in anger.

“Morning son, why don't you catch up with Astrid so the two of you can go to school together?.” I heard my mother say. I could see her with her bowl of fruits in hand but I didn't acknowledge her. 

I tuned out everything in my surroundings, including whatever my mother was saying before heading out of the house with one thing in mind.

No one can find out I married her. I told myself.

I got to school a few minutes after Astrid did and I immediately went searching for her. It didn't take too long to find her.

Astrid had a habit I studied these two years. She always waited until everyone else was gone before she got her books and this was perfect for me.

The sight of her was nauseating enough but I needed to do this. I walked up to her, just in time for her to close her locker. She gasped, eyes widening for a moment at the sight of me unsure of what I wanted. 

I looked around, making sure the halls were completely empty. I didn’t want to be caught talking to her. “Take off your ring.” I ordered through gritted teeth as I pulled her to a corner.

Touching her felt dirty, not to mention the burning sensation I got at the contact so I minimized putting my hands on her. 

Astrid’s stared at me confused, a little fear flashing in her eyes before she spoke. “What? Why?” she had the audacity to ask me.

I grabbed her by the chin and pinned her to the wall.

“Take it off. Don't make me repeat myself.” She was defiant. She didn't want to do but she was going to, eventually. She knew better than to try to go against me. It wouldn't end well for one of us. And it wouldn't be me. 

“I'm not doing that until you give me a reason why I should, Justin.” She glared back at me, placing both hands against my chest and pushing against me like it was supposed to do anything. I didn’t budge much to her dissatisfaction. And one glance from me had her confidence withering away and her eyes went down. 

“You think I want people knowing that I have something to do with a murderer?” She looked up to me and inhaled. I had struck the chord I wanted and she knew this. 

“Take. It. Off.” I repeated and she fiddled with her fingers, slowly.  I had expected her to put up more of a fight but even she couldn't deny the truth about what I had said.

She was a killer. 

Astrid took the ring off and a wave of relief washed over me. I backed away from her when she held the ring in my face, and wiped my palms against my jeans to wipe of the filth I had just smeared my hands on. “I don’t want anyone finding out that we’re married.” Talking about it made my mouth instantly bitter. Hurt flashed in her eyes, making me smirk.

“I mean it, no on can ever find out. I don’t care how you fucking do it, but one word or a fucking sentence about you and I and I swear I will rain down the fucking heavens on your fucking ass and you will wish that you had been the one who fucking died and not them.”

This was no threat, it was a guarantee, and it was good to know that she understood it from the way her eyes widened a notch.

“Its not like I wanted to marry you too, Justin. Get off your high horse.” She bit back at me and my smirk turned into a full grin. She had a mouth to her but soon she would learn.

I charged towards her in one step, grabbing her by the hair, messing up whatever the bird’s nest she had as a style and forced her head backwards, craning it.

I wanted her to feel pain, and she would have had a voice not interrupted.

“Yo, Justin. Uhh…what are you doing?”

My best friend, Jonah, stood holding his hockey stick in hand and a look of confusion on his face.

He didn’t know I was married to this bitch, and I intended to keep it that way.