Several hours had passed since the conversation in the car. I was just sitting on the terrace with Kian and enjoying the evening air together. We talked about everything and everything and drank a glass of white wine at the same time. I could spend such evenings more often with the man I loved.
In the sky you could already see the stars, which I admired so much. They were so far away, yet their luminosity was so precise and strongly recognizable. Nature had so many beautiful sides that were pushed more and more into the background by the bad.
"What's going on with your mother?" Kian wanted to know, breaking the comfortable silence between us. It had been a day so far, so I hadn't really thought about it. I didn't know if I wanted to keep in touch with her or if I could talk to her again. She was acting so strange, like she wasn't quite there yet. Maybe it was the years of consumption that had psychologically rubbed off on her health and thus left its mark. I didn't know all that stuff, but I wanted to better understand why she was like this. "I don't know," I answered him honestly. "Are you familiar with the whole thing? I mean consumption and what it does to the body.« I asked my friend. I had absolutely no idea
Kian twirled his glass and looked very thoughtful. He was silent for a moment before beginning to speak. 'Well, I haven't really had any experience with it. It also depends on what substances you are taking. Every drug has a different effect on you...' he murmured absentmindedly. I listened carefully to the man and waited for him to continue. “I had a friend at college once. Both he and I studied law. Dakota had been a very open and happy person. Unfortunately, the stress and tragedy steered him in the wrong direction.” Kian stared into the distant darkness as if reliving the memories. »It was normal as a student to go partying and try something new every now and then. The first thing we got our hands on was marijuana, which was still very harmless. Then at some point mushrooms, LSD and other pills came into play. I quickly realized it wasn't for me. Apparently it wasn't enough for Dakota and he found a taste for other intoxicants that made him stronger and more addicted."
The idea of Kian being involved with drugs was weird. A successful lawyer who was rebellious at a young age. Hard to believe. The story with his then-student boyfriend also reminded me of my mom. It started out harmless until it became dependent because you wanted to escape from reality. That's how I felt about my mother, who couldn't cope after my father died.
“Anyway, Dakota was secretly addicted at some point. He saw it as an exciting trip, so he didn't let that dissuade him. Well, until he died from it. Cocktail mix overdose,' he explained. This made me think of my father. He was found lifeless in a back alley and died from it as well. Only he had injected himself with cocaine and amphetamines. "I'm sorry," I whispered, squeezing his hand. It doesn't matter if it's family or friends, it wasn't nice to experience something like that. Kian smiled weakly at me and laced his fingers through mine. »We almost share the same past.« , he smiled at me encouragingly. I nodded in agreement. It felt like we were soul mates because of it.
"How about we think of other, nicer ideas and end the evening with another glass of wine?" he asked me, already getting up to pick up our glasses. "Would be a great idea." He kissed my lips and disappeared inside.
I thought a little bit about his friend who had to die at his young age because he had overestimated himself. Drugs should never be the solution to every problem. I was lucky that my mother was still alive. Maybe I should talk to her again and also to the doctor who was treating me. As far as I could tell she was on medication because it was better than cold turkey. He could have killed her as well. Although my mother was not an inpatient in a clinic, she was under regular observation through Owen. I needed to know more about their current situation. That's the only way I could bring peace between us, whether we keep in touch or not. It had to be clarified.
A noise brought me back to the here and now, but there was no sign of Kian far and wide. I was probably getting so paranoid and imagining things. Although the garden was illuminated by the pool, it was already getting dark at the back corner. And again there was a rustling of the hedge, which is why I got up and wanted to go closer. If Kian really had the guts to scare me now, then it wasn't the right time. "Hello?" I called, but of course there was no answer. "Kian, that's not funny." I still thought my friend was playing a bad joke. "Please stop it!"
In fact, out of the dark corner, a black figure came running toward me. The stature was perhaps my size and because of the loose clothing I could not tell whether it was a man or a woman. Since Kian was more than a head taller than me, I was sure it couldn't be him. "Who are you and what are you doing here on this property?" I asked the person, hoping they would communicate with me. There was a sneer that sounded very high pitched and feminine. Only when the hood was removed from my head did I recognize the person.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I yelled almost hysterically. "You're not sticking to your rules! Get out or I'll call the police!" "Shut your fucking mouth, Saphira! I just want to take back what's mine. Kian is so blind and doesn't realize that I'm the one who can make him happy.« Ruby hissed angrily and pulled something out of her black sweater. It's only when I discover the cold metal that I realize this wasn't supposed to be a normal conversation. Ruby had never intended to speak to me normally, but this was beyond serious. A clicking noise triggered even more fear in me. Ruby cocked the gun and pointed it squarely in my direction. "Why are you doing this? Why don't you understand that he doesn't want you? And I don't have much to do with that Ruby, and you know it.” I held my arms up defensively, trying to steady my pulse. My heart was pounding against my chest so hard it was starting to hurt. I was afraid that this would mean my end.
"Ruby, what's the shit?" came the calm voice of Kian, who just came out through the terrace door. Her eyes fell on him, but she kept the gun trained on me. "Kian, I love you! Why don't you understand? We're made for each other!' she said in a tearful voice. I became more and more aware that she couldn't be quite together in her head. It was rather pathological and resembled an obsession. She was obsessed with Kian and couldn't let him go. She firmly believed that she belonged with him and that they were made for each other. “Ruby, our time is long gone. You yourself helped make it end this way.' he said calmly. I looked between the two and watched the whole scenario with wide eyes. Kian approached Ruby with slow steps, but which dodged backwards and forwards more and more. »I didn't want to cheat on you, you have to believe me! I love you and I never stopped doing that! Please give me another chance.' she begged. Ruby seemed so weak and frail to me at that moment.
Surprisingly, Kian nodded and the following sentence made my heart ache: "I believe you. Let's try again.” Secretly I knew it was a lie. Still, it hurt to hear something like that. Kian just wanted to keep Ruby quiet so she wouldn't get any stupid ideas. "Please put down the gun and come to me."
I admired my friend how calm and composed he was in this situation. I, on the other hand, was dying of panic inside. Ruby didn't move, however, and looked uncertainly at the gun she had turned away from me. “Now you put the damn gun on the ground and come to me. That's an order!' he said with more emphasis, which she did immediately. I stared at them both, shocked that Ruby would respond at a commanding tone. Did she like submissions and stuff like that? Was that her fetish that Kian knew?
"You're going to kneel down and look down!" he commanded, which she did this time. She stopped in front of him, eyes down, and knelt on the floor. Kian removed his belt, told her to cross her arms behind her back, and then tied her with the piece of leather. "You don't move an inch until I tell you what to do." "Yes, master."
Kian went inside the house and meanwhile got his mobile phone out of his pocket. I followed him unobtrusively to talk about this strange behavior. What on earth was that?! Before I could say anything, he spoke into the phone and informed the police. I glanced at the patio door where Ruby was still in the same position. When Kian hung up, he now looked at me. "What was that about?" I voiced my thoughts. I finally wanted to know what this game meant. But he didn't say it, just stared at me blankly. "Kian!" I shouted angrily. Why didn't he speak?
"You must know something...", he said and looked down.