Excerpt: Roses/Recuerdo

now

'Sarah,' she says, 'we haven't ever really talked you and I.'

She doesn't really feel the urge to talk now, tell the truth, but she has an uncontrollable urge to distract Sarah as much as possible from the other two people in the room - people she cares for far more than herself - and it also helps to distract herself.

Laine pushes down the desire to fade from the scene, to slip into the recesses of her mind where some kind of safety hides, and draws her confidence from the set of Michelle's jaw. She can do this, if only to show Michelle she can.

Sarah doesn't look like she wants to reply, not yet at least. She's still checking Michelle's restraints. Laine's skin prickles, with fear and something more like anger. She wishes, wishes, wishes, that she had never come back into Michelle's life, and never more than in this moment. She wants Sarah away from her.

'That's a bit ironic don't you think,' she says, loud and unmistakable, if only because the word usually has Michelle's head snapping up with interest.

Now is no different. Michelle has not changed so very much.

'Well, maybe not ironic,' Laine amends, 'tragic. Given the circumstances. Given that you clearly hate me, and I have no idea why.'

'No idea?'

At once Sarah is infront of her.

Laine struggles to keep her eyes from catching on the glint of her gun.

Sarah laughs, and it is high and sounds chemical - helium induced.

'That's just it, Laine...'