The first gunshot was heard at around seven. I was in the middle of finishing a slice of cake while watching others dance to the lively music. Laurie was standing right next to me. I was proud of him. He laughed, danced, and even joked with Emma like in the old days, knowing that this might be the last time. When the shot was fired, his shoulders jerked. I looked over and held his hand. The faint fear in his eyes gradually ceased as he became serious and determined.
The room turned silent. Another shot was heard, and then another. The silence erupted into chaos, and the guests scattered, hoping to escape the sudden terror. I placed the plate onto the table next to me and watched in stillness as Thomas calmly made his way upstairs to his office. I locked eyes with Wesley, who made a great effort to get through the crowd so he could reach Laurie and me.
Expressionlessly I made my way to the office. At the bottom of the stairs, my arm was grabbed hastily, and I was turned around by that sudden force. In distress and concern, Wesley told me firmly that he was coming up with me.
"No," I said, "no."
He shook his head. I sighed. Any time spent persuading him to let me go alone would be pointless. Without any further exchange, I ascended the stairs with Wesley and Laurie behind me.
"Stay by the door," I told Laurie. Before he could voice his rejection, I repeated: "Stay by the door."
He didn't protest any further. Like I knew it'd be futile if I were to try to convince Wesley, it'd be equally futile if Laurie were to try to persuade me.
Thomas sat at his desk, his pistol lying in front of him. He had the newer edition of the same revolver as mine. I remembered him laughing when I told him there was no need to get anything new as I was a loyal and faithful companion to what I had.
"Should we talk?" As I stepped in with Wesley, he slowly lifted his eyes to meet mine.
"About?" I said coldly, "It's obvious enough."
"Bad idea," he smacked his lips. "You're more desperate than I thought."
"All I can say is that I've had enough," I pointed my revolver at him. "It's over, Thomas. I'm leaving."
"I'm sorry we've come to this," he scorned. Locking eyes with me, he slowly reached for his pistol.
I could've shot him then. I should have. But I longed for a pathetic closure I didn't need nor deserve.
It happened fast, too fast. With a loud bang that I was made to be familiar with and a dull thud, I was faced with the horror that Thomas had shot the man behind me.
I wanted to scream, yet I couldn't make a sound. Dropping to my knees, I held Wesley in my arms as the color of his white shirt began to change.
"Why?" My lips quivered. "Stay with me, please, stay."
A cold, metal object touched the back of my head, and I was forced to look up. Mercilessly, Thomas stood behind me, dictating my life as he always had.
"Turn around," he ordered.
I did. Kneeling on the floor, my hands were covered in blood. Wesley lied behind me. His whimper had grown quieter. The position had switched; this time, it was my forehead that had a gun barrel pressed against it.
"I was wrong about you," he said ruthlessly and softly. "I thought you'd come to me before you do anything stupid."
"If I had asked you, would you let me leave the family?" I scoffed as the tears began to form. "Don't take me for a fool, Thomas."
"No. But I'd say it wouldn't hurt to try," the corner of his mouth twitched like he was struggling to fight off his own emotions. His gun barrel pressed harder against my skull. "Well, it's too late now. You're a traitor, and traitors pay the price with their lives."
I closed my eyes. A shot was heard, but I didn't feel anything. I opened my eyes again. In shock, I saw that Thomas had fallen to his knees. He was shot in the chest. In a state of stupor, I remained still. Laurie rushed over and seized the pistol from Thomas.
"Get up," Laurie yelled as he grabbed onto me. I felt weak.
"Lawrence." Thomas mumbled. His head was down, and his speech was slurred. "How dare you? I've given you everything you could ever ask for."
"It's time for us to part ways," Laurie replied dryly, ignoring Thomas' claim. "Goodbye, brother."
With that, he yanked my arm to pull me up, and I was back on my feet.
"We have to go," he was firm, "let's go, come on."
"Hyuk," I muttered. There was no response. I whimpered. "Hyuk, wake up. Oh God, Hyuk, please, wake up."
"I'm sure he'll be…." Laurie couldn't finish his sentence. His voice cracked. "Anne, we have to go."
My hands were covered in Wesley's blood. It had also gotten onto my dress. I was too broken and petrified to speak. Nodding, I let Laurie hold onto me and led me out of the door. As we were rushing down the grand staircase, Lizzie was running up. As she passed us, she brushed against Laurie's shoulder. She neither said a word nor did she look at us. Emma stood stiffly in her beautiful dress by the grand stairwell, mumbling a prayer. Seeing us, she tried to smile, but that effort was quickly overtaken by sorrow and tears.
Antonio De Rossi was standing in front of the door, blocking our way.
"We're in a hurry," Laurie said frustratedly.
"I'm aware," he pushed up his spectacles, "I just want to tell Mrs. Murphy that I look forward to seeing her soon."
"What?" I murmured. "What do you mean?"
De Rossi smirked and threw his hands. He stepped aside so Laurie could drag me out of the door before I could get an answer from the Italian. I didn't have time, nor did I want to think about what I had just heard.
The moon was up, and night had fallen. It was quiet and peaceful outside the Bel Air House.
-----
I was on the train to Chicago again. But this time, it wouldn't be the final stop. From there, we'd catch another train to New York, where Laurie and I could start over. I had changed out of my dress and washed the blood off my hands like it was never there in the first place. On this train, I could pretend to be ordinary – as ordinary as someone who looked like me could be.
Sitting by the window, I stared into the darkness and aimlessly watched the passing trees. I clasped my hands and prayed for Wesley. And when that was done, I was left in a bottomless void.
"I'm sorry about Wesley," Laurie said while holding my hand. "I'll call Lizzie as soon as we get to New York. I hope he'll pull through."
When the train crossed the county line, I felt relieved in a way I had never felt before. I thought about Thomas, Lizzie, Emma, and Victoria. There were much unknown still, though it was no longer of my concern. I began to rotate the ring around my finger out of habit, only to stop in suddenness. I realized that I was no longer tied to that bond. I was released from it all right, but at what price? I paid more than I could afford for the freedom I might not deserve. I slid the ring off my finger while Laurie watched in silence. I contemplated throwing it out of the window before deciding against it. It was a souvenir that worth keeping.
It now lay on the table as I stared at it with nothing but hollowness. Slowly, Laurie reached into his coat pocket, took out what he had kept for all these years, and gently grabbed my hand. Looking into my eyes and still without a word, he slid the ring that should've been there in the first place onto my finger.
"Does it worth it?" I asked quietly. "This whole thing."
"Yes," Laurie didn't hesitate. "Why did you ask?"
"Why me?" I asked the same question that I had asked the man from before.
He was confused for a second. Then he smiled, a bright, happy, and grateful smile: "Because I love you."
I, too, smiled. This time, I knew the man on the train was telling me the truth.
THE END