The handsome stranger hands me his book ready to check out, but I’m still lost in deep thought.

I open the book ready to stamp it.

“Miss, are you okay?” The stranger says with a voice that makes me wanna think about OTHER things.

It’s stupid really.

Sitting here in almost complete silence in this small library to keep myself sane, when it’s doing anything but that.

I miss going out with friends and dragging random strangers into the crazy mix. All of this is new and unusual. PLUS, it’s been a whole YEAR doing this.

How much longer do I need to lay on the low..?

Nahhh fuck this.

I close my eyes and slam the book back closed, “Listen kid, I’m ditching this job to do something better with my life. So if you have a problem take it up with someon- “

I open my eyes and I immediately stop talking when I see Xander standing in front of me with a stupid smirk on his face.

Fuck meeee. internal cough Anyway.

I realize I’m still in shock with my mouth hanging open when his smirk gets bigger.

“What exactly are you doing here Xander?” I feel confused and a little annoyed he fucked up my rant.

“I thought you would’ve missed me Percy.” His smirk turns into a cheesy shit-eating looking grin.

Pause Let me give some back info on my boy Xander here. Yes, he’s hot. Yes we fucked-on multiple occasions-. And yes he’s the reason I’m not out kicking the German mafias ass right now. Okay, let’s get back to what Xandy has to say to me.

---

I scoff, “In your dreams, I bet I do” I roll my eyes.

“Persephone”, his voice gets a little deeper than the last time I heard it. I look back at him scared he’s here to give me bad news. “Keep up that attitude and I’ll give you a better reason for your eyes to roll back.”

HOLD THE FRONT DOOR, SAY WHAT!??!

I dont let my utter shock and shyness show because I look him deadass in his eyes, stick my tongue out, and roll them again.

A sexy laugh comes out of his mouth and he begins to walk around the desk I’m standing at, but I’m not an idiot so I run.

“GOOD CATCHING UP, BUT I HAVE TO FEED MY FISH. BYEEEE!” I scream as I’m running out the front door of the building I was considering setting on fire just 30 minutes ago.

Thinking I’m safe and sound, I start walking to the sidewalk when a figure next to me catches my attention. They reach for my shoulder and I quickly grab their wrist pulling their arm until I’m close enough to them to elbow them in their ribs. They reach for their ribs, while I turn around and knee them where I assume they have a dick.

Weirdly familiar sounds come out of the figure that’s now rolling on the ground when I realize it’s Eres. My brother.

I roll my eyes again getting more annoyed, “Okay, first Xander, now you. What’s up?” I stare at him with a hand on my hip using one leg for more support than the other.

I feel hands quickly slide around my waist to my stomach and I get pulled into a hard chest.

Xander’s dark husky voice rings in my brain, “That makes three times,” he whispers in my ear.

Before I know it, my flustered and shocked self is turned around and getting thrown over his shoulder.

When I realize I’m basically getting kidnapped by the hottest and most annoying man alive, I start beating on his back, “Put me down you toned monster!” I screamed at him.

I feel a sting on my ass, and I gasp. I push my hands into his lower back to attempt to see in front of him better. But when I see his ass moving I get a better idea.

I bite my lip trying not to laugh as I use all the force I can muster to slap his ass back.

But I can’t hold it in any longer, my giggles carry through the air like I’m the meaning of happiness.

He lightly laughs to and continues taking me into the abyss.

THE END

Then it begins.

My vision blurring of what’s dangerous and what’s safe.

That depressing state where nothing is fun.

All because he caught me when I was drunk.

He was drinking to, but he’s 37 and I’m 16.

Everyday before it, I was finally happy and dancing and now I don’t wanna leave a car when I have to go out.

I wanna curl into a ball, cry about the small comments and the physical stuff that happened between us because of him, and hopefully heal without it ever getting out to anyone else.

I thought of calling my ex boyfriend and letting it all out. He’s the only person I trust letting it out to. I’m sure he wants to forget me, so I’ll just heal on my own. I’m mean, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ right?

So I’ll heal from it alone.

Be stronger.

And not let anyone ever make it happen for a third time.

Because I don’t like the repetition. I don’t like having that constant feeling someone is gonna get me again. And I don’t like giving someone else so much power over my physical or emotional state.

I don’t know the future, but I know I won’t let it happen again without fighting like I’m dying and I need to live to protect everyone else.

So it ends.

(Will fix up later)

“We’re in this together, but I’m not sure I can trust you”, he confessed under his breath.

Gunshots continued firing in the background.

I looked back up at him from our crouched position in the corner, panting I agreed, “yeah, I don’t trust you either pretty boy”.

He smirked, “awwww, you think I’m pretty?”

“Yeah now shut up and help me boot these run-down bums.” I said annoyed, rolling my eyes.

Then we stood up, counted down from three together, and ran around the corner with our guns aiming at their heads.

“When nightmares are all you’ve ever known, dreams can be a truly frightful thing.”

Yeah right.

I’m still living in fucking hell.

“JUST GIVE ME MY MONEY BEFORE I FLIP THIS MONOPOLY GAME AND COME AT YOU” Eres shouts at Persephone.

Kingston holds his hands up between them, “Calm down ladies, it’s just a game.”

Eres puts his hand over his heart acting like his feeling are hurt, “did…..did you just tell me to calm down?” No one can tell if he’s going to fly over the game at Kingston or tell us he’s joking around.

Trying to ease the tension I awkwardly laugh, “Y’know what, fuck Monopoly. How does everyone feel about playing truth or shot?”

All five of the goons agree. And relief runs through my stressed mind, none of these idiots ever get mean when they’re drunk, it’s always a good vibe.

Nothing can go wrong.

---

4 hours later

---

OKAY SOMETHING DEFINITELY WENT WRONG.

But I’m in a fuck it mood.

I guess I can trust these whores a little more.

I read a poem once about how death is just someone’s last breath. Before my first last breath I couldn’t agree more, but now that I’ve met Death I can’t say I’ve ever felt more alive. Death is beautiful.

Every time my heart fails me and it’s just the two of us my mind is completely relaxed and the sight of him makes my heart want to start again. And sadly it eventually does. I have small hopes that it will permanently stop in the real world so I can spend my dead days with his timeless beauty. 
  

It’s safe to say our small laughter and great friendship has turned to love. At least that’s how I feel about him.

He wishes me to live a long life so I can achieve greater things; Although, I believe he just doesn’t feel I should be stuck down here with him for all eternity. But he’s greater than the rest of us. 

The real world. Maybe because he’s always existed and he knows how stupid humanity happens to be, is why he always looks so wise.

 Sometimes his wise face is stupid. I haven’t met many men with a resting bitch face, but my first assumption of him was Kristen Stewart vibes. I’m not gonna lie, it’s hot, but sometimes stupid. 

He teaches me things.

                     For example:

As I walk up to him and put on my most innocent face I ask, “Hey Death, have you ever had a sexual fantasy?” WITH HIS STILL RESTING BITCH FACE- he says, “I do tend to imagine some things but 3% of people on earth have none. In fact, 75% of women don’t even tend to orgasm.” My face must look a certain way of wanting to laugh and being interested because he asks me what’s wrong.

 I walk up to his seven foot frame and look up at him with a cheesy grin on my face as I wrap my arms around him, right above his hips. He looks down at me and you can see the slight tint of red on his pale cheeks. I’m proud to say I have enough power to erase his resting bitch face.


I just stare of him a few minutes before I get an idea.  
I run my small hands up his long arms and state, “You know Death, with my condition I can’t have sex.” I pause and look at him, “But I do have fantasies” I attempt to hide the smugness in my smile about what I’m insinuating.

“Well you know Amara, if you feel you must then go ahead, but may I ask who with..?” He looks a little disturbed and disappointed when he looks away slightly.

“This guy named Death.” I roll my eyes and look to the side trying to hide my smile but I can feel his eyes burning holes in the side of my face so I look back up at him. He has a huge grin on his face as he squats down a little and picks me up from the back of my thighs. I gasp and involuntarily wrap my legs around his torso getting butterflies.

My heart’s racing.

I’m getting horny, hot, mafia vibes from death as he looks at me like that. Before I can even think another second, my back is up against a wall and his lips are on mine.

My hearts beating faster.

When did that wall get there?
    

He moves his lips to my neck and starts to slide down my black sweatpants with one hand and his other is making it up my shirt.

I didn’t even think I could hold myself up on my own.

I close my eyes as he kisses a spot behind my ear and when I open them again…..I’m in the hospital again.

Dammit. Fuck everyone.

2-1-2024

Dear Mr. Kingston Grey, you massive, disgraceful, douche,

 I despise your class with every inch of my heart. (Sure it’s ALSO my favorite) 

BUT I WASNT EVEN “FLiRtInG” WITH THAT UGLY RAT! (I’m talking about Artemis here) Sure he’s not tooooooo ugly, but I don’t LIKE him. And even if I did, you had no right calling me out like that you old geezer. Anyways, it’s not like you’ll see this anyway so bye you treacherous toad. - The only kid in your class worthy of passing.

2-10-2024

Diary, Artemis keeps being insufferable- I can’t stand the way he constantly flirts with me like I’m one of his bimbos! It’s like he can’t see that I’m way out of his league. I mean he’s hot, and his few tattoos up his left arm make me feel a certain way that I can’t quite explain- but GOD get a life dude!

2-1-2031

Diary, apology in advance, I stopped writing when me and that hog got together. But now that I have 4 kids and I’m divorced because he cheated on me(and I maybe cut his dick a little. (Maybe.)) I thought I’d come back to my origins. But my oldest is currently trying to tie my youngest to the balcony so Til next time.

Parts of me misses it.

The laughter, the memories, and my innocent view of the world.

I know we all have to grow up and get older, but who wants to leave childhood?

I have long realized that it’s for the better to be aware of how the world is cruel and unfair, than to be oblivious.

It’s part of growing up.

It’s a bittersweet and contradicting feeling because I know I shouldn’t but I do.

I still miss it.

This was the day when the robots went rogue. Right after the picture of Arianna and the robot were taken, the robots eyes kept flashing red before it went on a killing spree.

It spread like a virus. It started with this one and as it moved throughout the mall it magnetically lured the other ones into the same ungodly, destined mission.

Today is the 3-year anniversary for this occurrence.

Those of us who survived like to relate this situation to a zombie apocalypse. Most of us enjoy turning pain into a pleasurable feeling.

We were currently all in hiding. Stephano (our Italian visitor who happens to be smart) took down a satellite allowing us a safe space from the robots who can only arise if they have a good signal.

Now you may be asking at this point: why didn’t Stephano just take down all the satellites?

Well your stupid.

Could you alone hack into every countries satellite and take them down? Didn’t think so.

The world is shit. Not only are we at war with robots, but we are also at war with each other fighting for the only safe space. Phone, computers, tvs (even vacuum cleaners), are all against humanity.

Which sucks ass because I never got to finish my Netflix show.

Anyway, I gotta go be a bad bitch and take out my built up anger on evil electronics like I’m in a rage room.

Until Tomorrow dear diary.

I utter in the most bored tone, “Listen, I can spend 5 minutes talking to a walking brick that doesn’t give two craps about if I walk out of here alive or lay in here dead; Or, I can pull some bad bitch moves. Your choice.” I smile, knowing I wouldn’t let my death be by a man.

“Then I guess you’ll lay here dead.” He showed his cracked teeth through his vile smile. And I burst into tears from laughing so hard. I can’t believe this man was over here looking like Zac Efron with no teeth.

I glance back up to see him look confused. Still laughing, I pull my gun out from the back of my waistband and shoot him in between his eyes without missing a beat.

His body falls to the floor but I’m still laughing as I walk out the door.

As I’m driving back home I’m filled with regret.

Should I have taken a picture and send it to Emily?

Nah. It’s not funny anymore.