赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Axel let out another groan as the knife moved into the wound again. He was beginning to feel the effects of the blood loss. His mind was getting foggy, and his body felt heavy.

He licked his lips, focusing his eyes on Roman to steady himself.

Roman grabbed his chin roughly.

"It's not going to be that easy, old friend," he growled.

Roman let go of Axel's chin and stepped away.

Axel's head tipped forward. His body was held up only by the roots that still bound him.

"Can't let you ruin the plan," Roman whispered, suddenly appearing beside him.

"AAHHH!" Axel screamed out as the burning pain of a heated knife spread in his belly.

"Cauterizing the wound should buy us some time," Roman smiled as he held the knife to stab the wound in Axel's belly.

As the pain passed through his body, Axel's mind drifted away into his memories.

***

Just before the attack on Winter, Axel and Alice had found a few hours to sit together and talk in her hospital room. The subjects ranged from silly to serious. But eventually, they found their way to talking about Roman's attachment to her.

"Do you think that he really loves you?" Axel asked hesitantly.

Alice swallowed and looked away from him.

"Have you ever been afraid of the dark?" Alice asked, looking away from him toward a dark corner of the room.

"Maybe… I'm not sure," Axel replied. He let out a soft chuckle and furrowed his brow at the change in topic. "I guess you could ask my mother. Why?"

Alice took a breath before answering.

"When you're afraid of the dark, you have two choices…." she began. "The first is to turn on all the lights and prove to yourself that there is nothing to fear. You hold to that feeling tightly, like a life preserver. Then you turn off the lights and lean into that feeling, remembering nothing has changed."

"Okay," Axel nodded, "and what's the second choice?"

Alice brought her knees to her chest, leaning forward and resting her chin on them, still looking at the dark corner of the room.

"To stare into the darkness and give yourself over to it. Embrace it and surround yourself with it. You hide in the dark until you forget there ever was light."

Axel licked his lips. He didn't understand what she meant, but how she watched the corner made him uncomfortable.

"I don't understand what you're getting at…." He said, leaning forward and reaching out to touch her leg.

Alice smiled at his touch, turning her eyes away from the corner and toward him.

"Roman found a home inside the dark a long time ago. A place where the pain of losing his mother, of being hated by his father… where none of those things could touch him."

Alice paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"He has been frozen in that darkness for most of his life… and he sees me as a light that warms him," Alice whispered sadly.

Axel listened, looking away as he felt a lump in his throat. He swallowed it down and looked back at her with a gentle smile.

"He's a monster," he said. "But even still, that doesn't sound like a bad thing to be for someone."

Alice smiled, but her eyes turned back to the dark corner of the room.

"What happens to ice when it's introduced to a warm light?" she asked.

"It melts," he replied, surprised by her question.

"It melts," Alice nodded with a knowing smile, "it sounds simple, peaceful even. A smooth transition."

"Okay…"

"Have you watched it?" she asked, glancing back at him.

"Have I watched ice melt?" Axel chuckled. "Alice, I live in the snow and ice. I've seen ice melt."

Alice grinned and nodded.

"Of course," she said. "But I don't just mean the start or the end."

Axel leaned back in his chair but focused on her as she spoke.

"I mean the process," she continued. "At first, it's slow and subtle. Layers of water falling, dripping away. But eventually, when you reach the heart of the ice, it becomes… violent."

Alice paused, licking her lips and swallowing.

"A crack inside the ice as the bonds weaken. Then it thins into sharp, jagged points, crashing in on each other until it falls away."

Axel felt an uneasiness from her words.

"Once strong and capable of burning flesh with a touch, now, a puddle," she whispered.

"That's…." Axel started to reply and then paused. "I've never thought of it like that."

Alice looked down again with a nod.

"Roman has found comfort in the screams of dying women. In watching the light leave their eyes," she said.

Axel swallowed. He could only look at her as he took slow, deep breaths. His heartbeat picked up as her words settled over him.

"He has been frozen in the dark all of his life… and I am a light that warms him," Alice whispered.

Axel took a shaky breath.

"When you put it like that…." He whispered, "it's not such a nice thing to hear…."

They were quiet for a moment, neither saying anything.

Alice laid back in bed and looked carefully at Axel.

"Axel," she said, her voice cracking. "You are one of the kindest and most honorable men alive… I know you believe in a fair fight, honoring your opponent and punishing those who have done wrong."

She paused, taking a deep and shaky breath.

"I have the utmost respect for you and your family and the ways of your pack… but…. Roman is a different kind of beast."

Axel could feel the sincerity in her words, the ominous warning of experience.

"Alice…." He started, wanting to reassure her.

"Some people in this world do not deserve an honorable death," Alice interrupted quickly. "Some just need to die. For their own sake, as much as everyone else's."

Axel sighed deeply as he reached his hand up to her cheek.

"Alice," he said. "Roman can't cross the border of Winter, and if he did find a way, I would bring him before our people to pay for his crimes. I promise."

Alice shook her head.

"No," she said. "I want you to promise that if you are given the opportunity to put your life ahead of his. You will take it."

"Alice…"

"Not just for me," she whispered with tears in her eyes. She took his hand from her cheek and lowered it to her stomach. "For them."