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Confrontations Arlene ushered Ben into the kitchen and offered him a drink. He declined as he sat down at the small kitchen table. He also turned down her offer for something to eat.
“This is not a social visit, Arlene,” he said. She sat down across from him. “Why are you here, Ben?” He reached inside his coat and pulled out a roll of papers. He pushed it toward her. A pen soon joined the papers. She stared at the papers for a moment. “What is this?” “You know what it is,” Ben said. “Just sign them.” “I thought you were going to give it a chance,” she said, finally looking up at him. “It’s been two years, Arlene.” “I’ve done what you’ve asked of me, Ben. I’ve worked so hard to get you back. This isn’t fair.” “Fair? It wasn’t fair for me to find you screwing one of the Connelly boys in our bed.” “It was a moment of weakness, Ben.” “You had been doing it for months,” Ben scoffed, “as many people were willing to tell me.” “I’ve changed, if you would just give me a chance to prove it.” She appeared to be pleading with him, but he knew it was all a ploy. “You haven’t changed, Arlene. I know about the stream of men still that come in and out of this house.” “It gets cold out here in the desert at night.” “And what was the excuse for the Connelly boy?” All traces of pleading were gone. “You’re a bastard, Ben Jackson.” “Then you should be glad to get rid of me, Arlene. Sign the papers. You’ll get the house, but the support payments will stop. You’ve already moved on. It’s time I do the same.” “You’ve found someone else?” “That’s really none of your business.” She studied him for a moment. Then she surprised him. She picked up the pen and began signing. * * * * * Vash paused just inside the doorway for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust from the bright desert sun to the dimmer light of the facility. Seeing no henchmen, he holstered the guns. But he kept his hands near them. The interior was cool, at least compared to the desert. But he was sweating under the coat and body armor. He could feel the perspiration sliding down his back. He kept his step light as he made his way inside. He mentally searched for the baby and felt its presence somewhere just further to his left. He began to move that way. He found them in the third room. Meryl was strapped to a metal chair. Her head lolled on her shoulder, signaling that she was unconscious. He searched for signs of injuries. A bruise marred her right cheek. Her lower lip was split. But the sight of her mangled left hand stopped his breath. It barely resembled a hand. It was swollen with the skin discolored with deep purple bruises. The fingers were contracted into odd angles. It was a serious injury. The baby as far as he could tell was okay but he wasn’t a doctor. They both need medical attention and soon. “Not happy with what I did to your pet spider, brother?” “What have you done to her?” Vash growled. Knives laughed, stepping from behind a partial wall Vash hadn’t noticed earlier. “Nothing permanent, I think. Though that hand is looking pretty bad.” “She has nothing to do with this, Knives. This is between you and me.” “But you keep bringing these spiders into it.” “What?” Knives strolled over to Meryl, stroking her hair. Vash stepped forward get his hands off of her but stopped when Knives twisted his fingers in her hair. A savage yank on Meryl’s hair and accompanying groan made Vash step back. “You keep running to these weak creatures,” Knives said, locking eyes with Vash. “Your affection for them kept you blinded to their dark nature. They’re mindless and destructive. They always will be.” “You’re wrong.” “Am I?” “Yes. If my affection blinds me to their dark side, your hatred blinds you to their strengths. They have built a civilization in the endless desert.” “You call this civilization!” “And they can love.” “Love,” Knives scoffed. “Yes, you carry the scars of their love in your flesh.” He glanced down at Meryl, pulling her head back to look at her face. “We are superior to these creatures and yet you prefer their company to mine. Why is that?” “You killed Rem.” “Ah, yes, that stupid woman. I had almost forgotten her name.” He kept his gaze on Meryl. “Does this creature remind you of Rem?” “What?” Knives turned to look at his brother. “Does this spider remind you of Rem? Has she become your new tie to humanity? Is this the new tie to be severed?” “Leave her alone, Knives,” Vash ordered, drawing his guns. “Are you going to shoot me, brother?” Knives demanded. “Are you going to shoot me yet again?” “If I have to.” “You can’t kill, Vash. You can’t kill your own brother.” “I have killed, brother.” Vash pulled the hammers back on the guns. The simple clicks echoed in the room. “Or have you forgotten that you had your henchmen drive me to it?” “You don’t have it in you,” Knives scoffed. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Vash countered. “Some day, you’ll thank me for this.” Knives moved his hand, beginning to twist Meryl’s head. Without hesitation, Vash squeezed the triggers. The guns roared, the noise building with the echoes. Yet, despite the sound, he heard Knives hit the ground. For a moment, all was still. The echo of the gunfire faded. Soon the only sound in the room was Meryl’s gentle breathing. “I’m sorry,” Vash whispered. Tears streamed down his face as he holstered the guns. He prayed that this would be the last time he would ever have to use them. |
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