32 31. Old Songs (1/2)

It was Thursday, Samara's surgery day.

It had been almost two days of me trying to reach Augustus and finding it impossible. Guilt took its toll on me, yet here I was, standing in front of Samara's door, waiting for her to come out as Amanda glared away at me.

A big part of me kept wishing that Augustus would call and come back. I know I acted like I didn't care; like I was an iceberg, despite my heart's furnace that could burn hearts with the care it carried. I didn't deserve him.

I shifted in place, feeling my heart sink at my last thought. But I mean, why would anyone deserve me? God forbid having anyone who'd deserve me. I mean how bad could they be?

Samara appeared at the doorway in a breath-taking smile, a simple, white shirt topped with a brown jacket, faded jeans, and boots. Her hair was held high in a messy bun and her lips glistened with light-pink lipgloss in the sun. And I simply forgot. Forgot who I was and how bad I could hurt her.

I smiled.

”You ready?” I asked, reaching for her hand and bringing her to my side. She nodded enthusiastically as Amanda slammed the door shut.

”I'm so full of adrenaline! I think I'm scared or excited! My feelings are so confused-” She blurted, smiling as I chuckled.

”Don't worry Samara. It'll go by fast.”

Her hold around my hand tightened and my smile widened as we started walking.

I stood in the room's corner, watching the doctors and nurses ready Samara for the operation. Her head snapped in all directions as she frowned, her milky-white eyes desperately trying to look for something.

She sat on a bed while the doctors surrounded her. Her calm demeanour was gone. She looked frantic, terrified even.

”Alright. She's ready.” One of the nurses announced and I stood straighter, alert for any instructions. Another nurse started wheeling her bed away.

”Wait!” Samara said, putting out her hands and clutching one of the nurse's arms frantically. ”Caesar?” She then called out urgently, surprising me.

All the nurses turned toward me and I straightened up, raising my eyebrows. I pushed myself off the wall, walked to her bed, and asked the nurses for a few moments of privacy. They left and I sighed as I sat next to Samara on the bed.

”I thought you left-” She breathed as her hands found mine and squeezed hard.

”I would never-” I said, caressing her fingers. I watched her take deep breaths and smiled. She couldn't even help being adorable when she was nervous. If only she could see what I could see, she'd understand why I'd never leave.

She squeezed her eyes shut and started muttered something. I think she was praying.

She then opened her empty eyes and smiled warmly. ”I prayed that God unites us again.”

I smiled, resting my right palm on her cheek. ”He will. Don't worry-”

”Worry? Am I being too clingy?” She started, suddenly removing her hands from mine and pushing away my other hand from her cheek. I cocked my head back in surprise before grinning and cutting her off.

”No, it's-” I reached for her hands again with raised eyebrows but she backed off.

”I have absolutely no romance history. I don't know if I'm acting right-” She blurted honestly, looking away and I grinned.

”I mean-”

”Also, I just have to get it off my chest, Caesar, before the operation. In case you want to run for your life before I know how you look like, do it! I wouldn't know you. I will be okay-” I chuckled, taking her hands back into mine. She didn't resist this time before she broke into a magnificent, heart-melting smile.

”I like you, Samara,” I found myself saying. ”I wouldn't leave that easily.”

She took a deep, shaky breath. ”I think I like you too.”

I grinned. ”That's great-”

”Yup, feelings are mutual-” She said in a psychologist-like manner and I couldn't help grinning.

”They are-” I whispered. ”I think it's time to go-” I then said softly, glancing at a nurse who opened the door and pointed at her watch.

She clutched my hands, scared and I gently removed them.

”Be brave,” I finally told her before planting a kiss on her nose tip. The nurse then came in and wheeled her away.

I took a deep breath. It was Amanda time.

I jumped in from Samara's room's window, careful that I didn't hit the shelf that carried her frames. I stealthily moved around the piano and out of her neat room into a hall that branched into two with a staircase right in front of me.

Not knowing where Amanda could be, I searched the whole floor. I entered a room where the little kid -Bianca- was sleeping peacefully, smiled satisfied, and slowly closed her room's door.

This should be easy.

I carefully went down the fancy, spiralling stairs and was about to proceed to the dining room when I stopped dead in my tracks.

And maybe the old songs,

Will bring back the old times,

Maybe the old lines will sound new.

Maybe she'll lay her head on my shoulder,

Maybe old feelings will come through

I smirked and took out my gun, carefully entering the huge kitchen where she stood over the oven, mixing something and singing. I smiled, clenched my jaws, took one big step, and forcefully brought my hand to her mouth and my beautiful gun to her bulky head.

”You will not scream. You will not be stupid. We have a kid sleeping and trust me when I say that she wouldn't want to see that,” I whispered harshly in her ears as she dug her fingernails in my hands. ”Now let's leave the rice to stew and have a nice talk. What do you say?” I said, pushing the gun harder.

I felt tears and mucus from the bitch's nose wet my hands as I harshly directed the plump, short woman out of the stifling kitchen into the air-conditioned corridors. I took her to the living room and pushed her roughly to a chair on which she collapsed.

I tilted my head, watching her adjust herself as my gun faced her. ”Look, love-” I started with a cold smirk. ”My ways are difficult because I don't believe in killing as much as I believe in torture. I want my answers straight to the point. Lie, and you get a bullet in one of those beautiful legs of yours. I'm quite sure you can tell I'm not the type who jokes around. And when I say don't lie,” I said, looking straight into her eyes. ”I would advise you not to. Like my terms?”

She looked at me, terrified, her eyes firing darts in my direction. I raised a leg and rested it on the coffee table. She glared but said nothing.

”Who are you?”

She looked around the room, but I was quick to lean in and push her face toward mine with my gun. ”I don't have time, so the faster you answer the easier it is for both of us. Okay?”

Her green eyes swam in silent tears as she looked away, her double chin prominent and her eyebrows thin and precise.

”Dan-Dan-” She trailed off and I pursed my lips.

”Dan, what, bitch?” I said harshly and her face screwed in anger.