Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 57

==Matteo==

Was it...was it possible to turn the hands of the clock and go back in time? Was it possible to get to bed, only to wake up the next minute and replace yourself in another dimension, or perhaps, an alternate universe. It was times like this that fuelled my hatred for SciFi, and movies/fiction in general. 'Cause right now, I was as eager as a five year old who innocently looked forward to having the utopia borne in movies come to life. I was as eager as the kid on Christmas eve, whose parents heaped up boxes around the tree. I was eager. Eager to escape this godawful present. I could give anything to have that happen.

My sleep-deprived eyes shut tightly, conjuring up a throbbing headache at my left temple. As I opened them, the calendar met my gaze. June 12. June the f*****g twelfth. The day Hell boiled, totally enraged that their very own had been taken away from them to be dumped on an innocent couple. Or perhaps, it was the day Hell sighed that long-held sigh, because one nuisance had been exiled, but then, at the expense of two innocent persons.

Could someone tell me why such a day ever came to being? I thought. Right, there was no answer to that. Even my other half...whole who would have been in the right position to give an answer to the question had gone on a sabbatical. It was just me and me alone. I was 24. Twenty four years of misery, and possibly still counting. I couldn't understand, couldn't explain why all these were happening. I mean, after all these years?

"The evil that men do live after them, you know."

My only reaction to the voice was a grit of my teeth. The little devil was here again.

He walked past me and got to the window, pulling the curtain an inch apart. "Beautiful day, isn't it? A breath of fresh air from all the rain and gloom."

"What do you want from me? Why are you here?" I asked. I had to.

Still looking out of the window, he said. "You talk like her, you know. What do you want from me, Matteo?"

"What the f**k are you talking about?"

"Your s*x toy. Olivia Haynes."

My eyes widened. But my shock was quickly replaced by anger. "You won't speak about her that way!"

He turned. The fucker turned and on his face was a smirk. "Someone's offended, huh? But I'm right. I mean, she looks every bit a Barbie. Tell me though, what's special about her?"

I glared at him. My glare enough to set the him ablaze.

He gasped. "Shit. I forgot. You haven't had s*x with her yet. So...yes, true, yup! She's special. So, spill the beans, man. What about her tickles your balls?"

The line was drawn. All I could see was red. Pure red. I lunged forward to hit him, but instead, I got hit by his next words.

"Lay your hands on me, and it is confirmed. You're officially insane."

I hated that he was right. It was crazy enough that I was speaking to someone that no one else could see. Now, to have a fight with him? That was way gaga.

I plopped heavily on the bed, exasperated. Too tired to argue anymore.

"I thought as much," he said.

"What do you want?"

"The question should be 'How can you help me?' Because you clearly are the one in need of my help or want."

I slowly lifted my gaze to him.

"You killed Peggy. It's-"

"I did not!" I slammed my fist on the bed.

"Keep saying that. No one's gonna give you audience. It's bullshit."

"It isn't. It's no bullshit." I knew I sounded like a ten-year-old but I didn't care. I couldn't bear having my name soiled. "I..."

I covered my face as emotions wore me down. I was at my wit's end. A dry laugh left my lips. I was at my wits f*****g end. It was surprising how I still hadn't totally gone crazy.

"You can't run away from your sins-past, pal. We're in this together. Retribution is here."

True..

"It's not gonna be easy for you. Reason why I'm here. To help you bear the burden."

"I didn't kill Peggy..." I said in a whisper. For some reason I didn't know.

"Technically. But you are culpable, or should I say civilly guilty," he said.

"I liked her." Yet in another whisper.

"But you didn't stand up for her. You were a coward."

No. My eyes began to sting. Before I could do anything, a tear escaped. I let the other eye expel its own tear.

He was right. I was a coward. One hell of a coward. I sniffed, blinked my eyes and looked towards his direction. He'd left. I frowned, glancing to sideways to know if he was hanging around.

He stood by the door. His eyes roaming around the room.

"This place has changed a hell lot. Tryna brush off the past, huh?" he said. "Tried you best, pal. Good job."

He made to speak, but stopped. A grimace on his face. "Whoa! When last did you have a bite?"

I ignored him. The same way I'd ignored the growling of my stomach.

"You need to eat, pal. You need all the strength you can muster to carry the burden."

"I don't need your help." I'd found my voice. I knew I had to say something, to take my stance. Otherwise, this turd would keep blabbing, pushing me off the edge.

He paused, but his eyes displayed a contrasting emotion. I could see the spark in his eyes. They were sharp, cutting, piercing. He regarded me with scorn.

"You are nothing but a phantom," I said. "You and your words can f**k in hell."

He blinked. Slowly, like someone witnessing something unbelievable. Je blinked, once, twice-before the table turned and I became the fool. His laughter, high-pitched like a hyena's was a slap on my face. Nodding as he was at it, he gave me a thumbs up. Then, disappeared in a puff.