All of the Reasons Why Hayden regarded his empty glass cup with a cool expression. His brother could be bluffing for all he knows. Besides, there had been no time for Jarrod to put on the poison. The prostitute he called ‘Red’ had washed the cup and brought back a clean one. Unless she had slipped something in when he wasn’t looking? Hayden’s mind began to race. He searched for the girl with his eyes and found her behind him on the floor, entwined in the arms of her colleague, both naked. They were so deep in their own world that every other thing went unnoticed. What were the odds that she would have poisoned his cup before handing it over to Jarrod? “Do you want to know?” Jarrod asked with a smirk. He watched Hayden’s movements with amusement, marveled by his fast thinking and his questionable glances. Hayden took his eyes off the girls and on Jarrod. “I’d say you’re bluffing. There was no way you would have done it.” Jarrod laughed. It was low and full of humor, as though eve

Another Love, Another Time “You just killed someone,” Hayden pointed out, motioning to the dead girl on the floor. “What is wrong with you? You just fucking killed someone and you’re still thinking of ending it with me?” Jarrod rolled his eyes as he staggered forward. “Don’t be such a prude, baby brother. You know how this goes; you’ve killed a couple of people too.” His eyes widened in surprise when Hayden said nothing. “Ah, don’t tell me brother. You’ve never killed anyone?” Hayden looked around him, seeking for a weapon. Jarrod’s jacket was on the chair, and he knew that a gun was in it. He glanced at Jarrod and the jacket, gauging the distance between the three of them. Jarrod laughed maniacally. “What is this? You want me to be your first kill? The gun isn’t loaded, Hayden.” “I wasn’t planning on using it on you.” “No? You’re so used to little humans adoring you and doing everything for you? I saw those men out there, Hayden, risking their necks for you. Tell me how much yo

Flowerbeds and Lilies Lolita was reliving her nightmares over and over. It sometimes started out as a fantasy dream, where she was a fairy and she was flying high above the clouds. In the middle of admiring the beautiful nature below, she would then see a large black bird rushing towards her. At first it looked like a crow, but when it grew closer it grew into a larger, terrifying bird. It was ten times bigger than her. It would grab her off the air with its claws, cutting into her arm and abdomen. She would scream in pain and try to break free, only to discover that the claws had materialized into hands, and that it belonged to Hayden, who in turn changed into Jarrod. Every single time, she would try to break free and pull herself from the abyss of pain, but all she encountered was a dull emptiness. There was nothing to pull herself into, no rope to drag her back to the light. All she knew was emptiness; dark and dull. She had begun to grow accustomed to it. Perhaps she would even

Farewells and Backtracks “I’m sorry,” Hayden responded quietly. “Do you want me to leave? I can leave right now.” “Yes, please.” He stood up on a shaky foot. He walked to the door, then stopped. When he looked back at her, his eyes were shimmery with tears. She’d almost forgotten how beautiful he can be. How stunning and incredibly attractive, even though he looked broken. “It’s three in the morning,” he said to her. “I don’t think it’s safe for me to leave just yet.” “For me or for you?” He was shaken by her answer. Hayden leaned on the door and watched her instead, preferring the space between them instead of just out rightly leaving. Lolita sat up slowly on the bed, her eyes on him. “Is he here?” She asked. His forehead creased at that question. “Who?” “You know who.” Hayden looked down at his feet, but before then she saw shame and fear cross his face. Lolita’s heart spiked again, alerting the machine. She glanced at it in horror, wondering if it was going to alert the b

The Trials of Lost Love Hayden stood up slowly. They stared at each other for a moment, none of them taking a move. Lolita’s eyes quickly scanned the environment, discovering that Izan was not around. Her eyes went back to him. He looked leaner than before, but still built. He’d grown out his hair; they flowed past his neck and around his shoulders. His face was clean, neat. He looked like a god standing before her, taller than she’d last imagined. He still had that oppressive aura around him, the one that made her fall to her knees for him. Lolita looked at him and all she could see was just Hayden, lost in his own mind. He regarded her as she regarded him, but he still didn’t make a move towards her. She remembered the last time she saw him, in her hospital room. He looked mad back then, as though the earth would stumble over him if she didn’t let him touch her. Lolita didn’t know what to say. The air was calm and awkward at the same time. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, so low that she