Page 55 of Alamort
My throat clogs with emotion. “I want to do something. I want them to hurt as much as I do.” The admission is freeing. It is what I want. Even if it makes me as evil as they are. It is a longing so powerful that it trumps my need for oxygen. It’s bad enough to hurt me, but it’s even worse to bring my dead sister into it. Anything but her.
A Cheshire Cat smile slowly creeps across her face, mischief glinting in her coca-colored eyes, making her look a tad bit impish. I’m still getting used to this devious side of River.
“I think I have the perfect plan for Bennett.”
“I’m listening.”
“One thing he always talks about is the ‘love of his life’.” She rolls her eyes. My first thought is Amber. “He is one of the very few students who are allowed a car here. He parks it in the teachers’ parking lot. Talks about it all the time. His classic Aston Martin he built from the ground up. Maybe…” Her melodic voice trails off, but her smile lingers, accompanied by a knowing look.
I know what she’s insinuating without her having to finish. I’m burning it. This will be the last time they fuck with me. Energy renewed, I jump from the bed, the blanket revealing my disheveled clothing. It’s going to be my best fire yet. My flames have a nice date with his car tonight. The sooner the better.
“I’ll take care of the parking lot cameras. He’s going to kill you.” She snickers behind her hand.
“I’m already dead.” Priya died the day my sister did.
For once, the outside world doesn’t bring my close friend, dread, along. Instead, it welcomes me with a sense of tranquility. That could be because River insisted on coming with so I’m not alone. We’re both dressed head to toe in black with matching black beanies, she swears we had to wear. Personally, I think our dark hair would have blended in fine with the night if we tucked it into the beanies. But she begged. It’s hard to say no to her most days. That’s false, I don’t think I’ve ever directly told her the word ‘no’, now that I think about it.
River leads the way to the teachers’ parking lot. Since we’ve come up with a plan, I’ve had tunnel vision. Counting down the minutes until I could act on my need for revenge.
There’s a keycard to open the gate to get outside the school’s premises, like a prison. The light silently blinks green when she holds the key up to the locking mechanism, doing a silent fist bump and a dancing wave with her arms before holding the gate open for me to cross through.
I don’t need to be raised like the people here to know nice cars when I see them. Even as ‘sheltered’ as I was, I still had access to the internet and movies. Still allowed to see the outside world. In my household, at least, it’s better to be seen thanheard. Scratch that, being invisible and silent has always been better for me.
There are BMWs, Skylines, Audis, Porsches, even a few Lamborghinis sprinkled in the mix. River said a “few”. I’m wondering what that word means to her, considering the lot is the size of a football field. What catches my eye is the black Aston Martin with two car spaces on each side, ensuring it doesn’t get scratched. My heart flutters in my chest at the sight. There are only 75 of those made in the world. I’ll fact check that later to be sure.
“That’s it.”
My eyebrows raise with a whistle. Damn, that sucks. For him. As I take my bag off of my back, a wide grin spreads across my face and adrenaline courses through me, making my hands tremble. Marching towards this beauty’s funeral is bittersweet. I’ve never had the chance to see one in person. I’m honored to be the one to destroy it.
Running my fingers along the glossy black paint, I can’t help but admire the polished, mirror like finish. It could be a dark blue. The color won’t matter after I’m through with it. Maybe I could steal it. Where would I keep a whole ass car when I have no cash to my name? Cards are traceable.
No. He deserves to have this taken from him and sullied like he did to my sister’s name. Now we can both lose something we worship and love.
Where to start? With cautious precision, I navigate around the car, my steps gentle and almost noiseless, from the back to the front. The only noise that accompanies my footsteps is the gentle shifting of rocks beneath my boots. River props her hip on the hood, letting me take my time. Automatically, my fingers find the comfort of my match book, rubbing the edges.
A loud crack shatters the peacefulness of the night, causing the windshield to shatter into web like cracks and the crickets tofall silent. The car rocks from the impact. I stand, stunned, my mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. I stare at River with wide eyes.
Rapidly blinking, I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.
“Where the hell did you get a baseball bat from?” I whisper-yell.
“I found it. Handy, huh? You were taking too long.” I stare at her, and she stares right back. A lightness in her eyes I haven’t seen before. My lips clamp together, and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle in the manic laughter that threatens to spill out. Her eyes widen before she looks at the bat in her hand and bursts out laughing. It doesn’t take long before our cackles become the dominant sound in the air. My hand grips the car in order to keep my legs from falling out from underneath me. Who the hell finds a bat and brings it with them? She is crazier than I am. She must’ve pulled it out of her ass. The thought is so amusing I can’t help but laugh harder.
Tears are streaming down her face, her hands grabbing her sides that ache from laughter. I know, because I’m doing the same.
“Okay, okay.” She sniffles, inhaling some much-needed air. “Back to the task.”
I drop the familiar black bag, my constant companion, onto the ground with a satisfying thud. My hand delves into the depths of the contents, desperately searching for what I need, my fingers clumsily fumbling a few times for the lighter fluid.
This beauty deserves a fresh, unopened bottle for her glorious demise. One to ensure it’s completely ruined. The car’s weight moves a little as I clamber onto the hood. Popping the seal on the red cap, I pour the liquid all over the top of the car, the sound of it splashing against the surface echoing around us. I swiftly jump off and move towards the hood of the car where I was standing, feeling the oiliness of the substance on myskin. Per my MO, I write Addison’s name. Remembering who I’m doing it for, gives me a little more strength for the possible fallout. I’ll deny that I had anything to do with it.
Stepping back, I take a moment to admire my handiwork. The two-seater car is pretty small. I don’t want to risk the flames only damaging the frame. I want it all.
“I need inside.” I tell River, my eyes fixated on the interior. River’s footfall seems deafening now than it was before. A quick smack to the corner of the window has it shattered entirely. The breeze brings the strong, acrid odor of the liquid to my nostrils as it penetrates the air. I start my process by treating the driver’s side, meticulously coating the seat, steering wheel, and then moving on to the dashboard. Then, with the urge to speed up the process, I empty the whole bottle inside before tossing it in the passenger’s footwell.
Dusting my hands off and pulling my head out of the broken car window, I look at River.
“Ready?” Giddiness makes my voice rise. A simple nod and a slight retreat is her response. My unsteady fingers struggle for my matches, the thrill of the moment making it difficult to focus. With an unsuccessful first attempt at the match, I throw it inside to get rid of the evidence. It lights on the second try.