Shattered Soul

Shattered Soul

         Sitting in a room the darkness lapping at the man's skin he waited. His legs were drawn to his chest, his arms wrapped around his knees. He stared into the darkness seeing nothing beyond his own pain. Over and over again the scene flitted across his vision, and every time he felt the crushing pain wash over him again. HE had long ago cried his final tears and now he merely tried to keep his mind from coming apart at the seams. As the pain reached its peak a boom echoed around him. Suddenly the room flooded with unnatural light as a large steel door swung open.

         Squinting into the light a woman's frame was silhouetted in the door frame. As his eyes adjusted to the light he saw the woman's face and a fresh and stronger wave of pain washed over him. Standing there staring at him with sadness in her eyes was the woman that had caused him the original scar that had led down this dark path. He averted his eyes and spoke his voice feeble and weak.

"Hello Natalie, have you come to kill what remains?"

Tears formed at the edges of Natalie's eyes, "No James, I have come to ask forgiveness."

James looked up at her with suspicious eyes.

"What has brought about this..." He paused thinking for the right word. "Charity."

The tears fell over as Natalie collapsed at his feet. Over and over she cried, "I didn't know."

James expression changed to one  of anger his voice his regaining a hint of its once powerful tone.

"Liar, you knew. You knew and still you acted." His tone fell again. "Forgiveness was given long ago, but forgetting is far harder.

Natalie turned away from James lifting her hand to wipe her tears. Like a snake James lashed out and caught her wrist. Staring at her hand the shimmer on her third finger was unmistakable. Pain unlike any before washed over him and he dropped her hand. A silence fell over the room, when he finally spoke his voice was hollow.

" The final blow has been dealt." As he finished speaking what life remained in his eyes drained away and he became motionless. He was still alive but had receded deep into his mind surrounded by his pain. Natalie stared in horror, before doubling back into her tears. For an unknown length of time she cried until nothing remained. Standing slowly she leaned over and kissed James first on his forehead then his lips. After another minute she walked out of the room closing the door behind her. The portion of her heart that belonged to James now constantly throbbed. Stepping out of the building she walked to her car. As she climbed into the driver side her phone buzzed loudly in her pocket. With shaking hands she answered it.

"Hello?"