The Bad Ones

by Stylo Fantome

All you ever wanted to do was draw. It was like you were on another plane from the rest of us, nothing could touch you. Not Frannie and all the shit she used to give you, not our break up, nothing.

A shot was fired and she screamed. Actually screamed, like a scared little girl. Before that moment, Dulcie hadn't really ever felt true fear, but when she heard the shot, it blossomed in her chest. Con had been shot, and he would die, and she would be as good as dead without him. Life wasn't worth living without the technicolor he provided.

“Do you really think it's that easy? That you can just walk away, little girl? Oh no. We're in too deep, now. You can't leave me anymore than I can leave you. So I hope you're ready to buckle up, cause it's gonna be a bumpy fucking ride.”

“The first time I saw you,” he kept his voice soft. “I mean, really saw you, we were in eighth grade. They were having an award assembly for some basketball thing, I don't even remember. You were in the front row, and while everyone was clapping and cheering, you were drawing in a notebook. Then when it was my turn and they said my name, you looked up. First time in the whole assembly. You looked up and stared right at me.”

it was like … without even talking to you, I knew you knew me. It sounds fucking stupid, but that's how it felt. So before I even registered to you in your little Dulcie-world, I was having conversations with you in my head. You were just so shy back then, I was so worried I'd scare you. That I'd scare you and ruin us, and we'd never have a chance to be … to be …” he was at a loss for words. “Greatness.” See? You know me so well. Just trust that, and we'll get through this.

It feels like I've known you for so much longer than you've known me. I would go to all the art shows the school had, would sneak into the art room before football practice. I kept waiting for you to notice me, to see me, for you to get it. I almost began to think you never would. And then I saw the drawing you did of us, the shadow man and the little girl, and that was it. I didn't worry anymore. You weren't ready then, and you still weren't ready the following year, but I knew we'd be together,” he let it all out.

“So you stalked me all through high school,” she clarified. “Kind of romantic, isn't it?” “It's creepy as fu...

I waited for you for years. I'll wait however long it takes,”

Her eyes were huge amber pools, trying to drown him.

Please. Please trust me. Please understand me. Please let me love you in the only way I know how. Please don't let me destroy us.

She wanted to know, because they were together. Because they were partners. Because they were lovers.

it was after midnight, it'd been three years since we'd last talked, and I was thinking of trying to call you. You've turned me into a puppy dog,” he laughed. “You did that all on your own, stud.”

I thought of trying to find you. It's a small town, couldn't have been too hard. I didn't want to do that, not without you.

if she wanted to walk away, he wasn't sure how interested in life he'd be anymore.

Dulcie was pretty sure no one had ever fallen for anyone the way she'd fallen for Con.

“I could never be scared of you,”

“Still trust me?” “Always.”

“Do you have any idea how perfect you are?”

“Only when I'm with you,” she managed to answer, then gave him a deep kiss.

I love everything you do.”

now everyone will know. About us.” “I want everyone to know. By the time we're done in this town, they'll never be able to forget us.” Her eyes fell shut again. “Promise?” “I promise.”

“But I heard ...” “Heard what?” “Heard some stuff.” She turned away from what she was doing and fully faced him. “If you have the balls to bring it up, then at least have the balls to say it,” she told him. “Heard what, David? That someone walked in on us having sex? That I was fucking him? Yeah, that all happened, but last I checked, sex didn't equal dating someone, and even if it did, I'm still not sure how it's any of your business.”

I'm nothing to you, Jared,” she was almost yelling by the end. He looked blown away. “What is that supposed to mean!? You're not nothing to me,” he insisted. She took another deep breath. “Let me rephrase it – you're nothing to me. You don't exist to me.

He did this on purpose, I know it. He did it to end my marriage, and then he made sure Frannie saw you two together. You just can't see it.” See it? I orchestrated it. Con is just the star of the show – I'm the producer.

Come stay at my house, I can make sure -” She burst out laughing. A loud, harsh sound. More like a cackle. “Is that a fucking joke? Come stay with you!? Jesus, I'd rather just slit my wrists now and get it over with. You know what, fuck this. Fuck this place, fuck this town, and fuck you.”

“What's the matter?” she yelled, turning in a circle as she walked and looking over the whole room, at the staring customers. “You all just love to whisper about shit, but when it's in your face, suddenly you've got nothing to say? Cat got your tongue? C'mon! Can't you say anything? Why can't you say anything!? Jesus, none of you are real! None of you are actually alive, and you're all just too stupid to even fucking realize it!”

As she ripped her hair out of its bun and stalked out of the building, she did realize one thing. There was a very distinct possibility she was also completely insane. So what'll it be? Exist on a higher plane from mere mortals and be crazy? Or retain some sanity and live amongst the flat people of the word?

She'd never left Con in the dark, about anything, but he loved to let her wallow in it. Loved to leave her blind.

“I know what your problem is,” he said, pulling the blanket away from her head. Then his arms locked around her, cradling her to him and preventing her from getting away. “You're my problem,” she complained, refusing to look at him. It was the truth. Things at once seemed clearer yet murkier when she was around Con. Were they in the dark together? Or was he blinding her? Swallowing her whole?

You're upset because you think you might be in love with me and you don't know what that means. You're scared because you think I don't love you back.” Dulcie held her breath for a second.

You do know me better than I know myself,” she whispered. He nodded against her. “I know. It's very frustrating.” “Why?” “Because I keep hoping you'll get to know me.” “I'm trying. I'm just ...” “ … scared.”

“All I've ever wanted was to be myself, all the time,” her voice was shaky. “And for you to love me.” “Just trust me. Trust us, and you'll ge...

Resisting him had always been impossible,

I like that you're the perfect size, made to fit inside me,” he replied, and his arms came around her. He was right, she could stand in front of him and his whole body was able to wrap around her. Envelope her. Consume her. “I like that I can tell you anything, and I don't have to worry about what you'll think

“Such a clever boy, Constantine Masters.” “Such a good girl, Dulcie Travers.”

What a beautiful darkness we are.

They were simply too dangerous together.

They had no self-control when they were together, they indulged each other. It was too much. At the rate they were going, they really would destroy each other, and she couldn't allow that too happen.

“We're just two fucking crazy people, making each other crazier,” she told him.

“I told you I'd bleed for you.”

“We are,” he said, finally looking right at her. “Both of us. We're the bad ones. Together.”

You made me promise to never leave. It works both ways, you know – don't you get it? You own me, too. I'm a part of you, you can't just push me away when you get scared.”

tell me whenever you're scared, and I'll take away your fears. Tell me when you're hurting, and I'll bleed for you.”

Some day, you'll really love me, and if it's even half as much as I love you, we'll set the world on fire.”

“Together ... the two of us … forever,”

“I love you,” he was fighting for breath. “I love you so goddamn much, I would tear apart this whole world for you.”

You saw right through me, even before I could see myself. You saw through the blacks and the reds and you saw this beautiful horror, these terrifying dreams, and you just loved them. You knew me. You pinned me down and you ripped me open and you showed me things inside me that I didn't even know were there.

between them. It was as serious as … … as a heart attack.

They knocked over a can of paint, and as they pushed and pulled against each others bodies, screamed and cried out as they tore into each others souls, everything was coated in black.

you're a fucking crazy bitch … “You better fucking believe it,” she breathed.