True Romance Part 2

III

Marek was very surprised by what he saw when he opened the door. Standing in the doorway, slightly confused and smiling, was the same pretty brunette who had helped him two days ago on a rainy evening. She looked at him with her large, brown eyes, slightly brushing back her long, black hair.

"Hi, I called the hospital and they said you were already out..." she said cheerfully. "I decided to visit you, see how you were feeling and give you your driver's license...

" "Um... I just lost them." Marek didn't know what to say, feeling a bit lost. "Come in... please. "

The girl smiled sincerely and accepted his invitation.

"I apologize for my strange reaction," the boy asked, hanging up her jacket. "I just slept a little and wasn't expecting a visitor at all...

" "Maybe I came at a bad time?" – she asked.

– No, no... that's not the point... I'm glad you came... besides, I wanted to thank you – he weighed his words to say everything he wanted to say as briefly as possible – if it weren't for you, things would be tough for me…

Magda smiled again.

– No problem, you know, I still owe you for that hit-and-run…

– I'll make it up to you somehow – Marek replied. – Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee… maybe something stronger…

– Do you have a beer…? – she asked.

– Sure… and are you eighteen yet? – the boy asked with a sneer.

– No, I do – she replied, slightly pouting

. – I'm joking – Marek laughed. – Sorry for the mess, I rarely have guests here…

– Do you live alone?

– Yes.

– I thought a guy like you had someone – she smiled.

– No.

They entered the room. Magda sat down in the armchair, while Marek went to the fridge and brought two beers. He felt a bit awkward; girls rarely visited his apartment. Lately, he'd been trying to focus on his goal and avoid things that might cause problems. And pretty girls were one of the sources of his problems. Besides, he was afraid to confide in another person about his feelings.

"Here," he approached Magda and handed her the open bottle

. "Thanks," she replied. "It's nice to have you here... I see you exercise a lot." She nodded toward the other room, where a punching bag hung and various equipment was located. "Nice..."

"I try to stay fit," he ran a hand over his face, which was covered in three-day stubble. "You know... it's essential in my job...

" "And what do you do?"

Marek asked, curious. He pondered for a moment.

"This and that, generally I try to help people.

" "You're so mysterious... I almost forgot, I brought you something else." The girl pulled a packet of cookies from her backpack. "You need to get back on your feet..."

"Thanks," he smiled, "I'll definitely feel better now...

" "Oh, and how are you feeling... honestly, you don't look your best..."

She was right, after knife wounds, two days in the hospital, and a nightmare, few people look well.

"I'm slowly recovering," he replied, a bit evasively

. "What happened that night? Were you attacked?" Magda was clearly concerned.

"Never mind." Marek's face darkened and he replied curtly. "I don't want to tell you about it... it's none of your business

." There was a moment of silence. The girl tried to pretend she wasn't affected by these words, but she wasn't very good at it. She took another sip of beer.

"You know... I'm sorry," the boy felt he should explain, "it's not about you, I'm just a little irritated, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that, I don't want to talk about it, that's all...

" "Okay," Magda brightened slightly, "after all, we don't know each other well enough for you to have to tell me everything...

" "I'll tell you everything someday," he said, a bit dismissively, to end the topic. "I don't like talking about myself, but I'd love to learn something about you..."

The girl laughed. They began to talk in a cheerful atmosphere. Marek learned that Magda was twenty years old and a Polish studies student at the local university, lived in a dormitory, liked poetry, good movies, and sensitive men. He promised to take her somewhere as compensation for helping her and getting knocked down on the street. He didn't reveal much about himself, just enough to satisfy her curiosity.

"I'll get going," Magda glanced at her watch. "It's so late... It was very nice... I hope I didn't bore you too much...

" "Well..." he replied hastily. "I'm glad you visited. Wait a moment, I'll just get dressed and walk you home...

" "No, no need, I'll manage...

" "You have no choice now," Marek called from the other room

. After a moment, he emerged, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. He helped the girl put on her jacket, and she smiled. They went outside. A cool November wind blew dead leaves in all directions. The cold light of the streetlamps illuminated the empty street.

"You really didn't have to... You should be resting," she said, lightly nudging him with her shoulder.

"It's dangerous on the streets today..." he replied, looking off into the distance.

He glanced at her, thinking she had a beautiful smile.

IV

6 months later

"Fuck, I guess I didn't light up again," said the average-height brunette, holding a cigarette in his mouth. "This smoking is going to kill me... oh... oh... oh." He

took out his lighter and lit it.

"So, Marek, tell me, how's your search going?" he asked, exhaling smoke from his mouth.

The boy shuddered, his mind elsewhere.

"What were you saying, Gregor?" he asked.

"I'm asking if you learned anything new...?"

"I caught a ghoul yesterday..." He wouldn't say anything...

"Did you kill him?

" "Yes," Marek ran a hand over his face, "I'm still wandering... I think he's here in the city... I'm almost certain of it, but I can't find him... "

Gregor drew breath.

"I wanted to meet with you about something related...

" "What's the matter?" the boy asked. "Something happened...

" "I've decided not to take you on missions... until you settle your case... one way or another.

" "What do you mean?"

"Either you don't kill that vampire... or you leave it alone...

" "Leave it alone!" Marek raised his voice. "Never!

" "Or you die yourself..."

The boy looked at his commander, who was staring off into the distance with an absent gaze. Gregor's words surprised him. "Has there been some change in my behavior lately?" he thought.

"I can handle it... I can handle it... Why did you make such a decision... I always give my all, I don't spare myself...

" "That's the problem..." Gregor threw away his cigarette butt and frowned. "Do you even care about life... or does anything other than revenge matter to you..."

Marek stood with his head down, not understanding why the commander was addressing him like that, not understanding what he meant.

"I don't think so... The only thing that matters to you is this stupid revenge..." Grzegorz finished.

After these words, he turned and walked to his car.

"This isn't stupid revenge!" the boy shouted at him. He was angry, he wanted to talk to Gregor again, but Gregor was already getting in. "You don't know! You haven't survived this..."

The commander simply turned to him, closed the door, and drove away. Marek stood there, stunned for a moment, then, furious, kicked the garbage can.

"Fuck it!" he shouted, as if to himself, and clenched his fists. "What does he know about this!? He's not going to tell me what's stupid and what isn't! Fuck it all!"

People passing by hurriedly scurried by, trying not to attract the boy's attention. Evening was approaching.

Marek

tried to get his key in the lock, but the blood dripping from his cut head kept flooding his eyes. Irritated by the situation, he lightly banged on the door. A moment later, it opened, and Magda, dressed in a T-shirt, stood in the doorway. Her large brown eyes stared at him with concern and terror.

"Aren't you sleeping?" the boy asked, after a moment he realized the question was inappropriate. "I told you I'd be back late..."

"You know I never sleep when you go out at night..." she replied in a trembling voice. "What happened to you again..."

He noticed a tear roll down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.

"It's okay," Marek approached and hugged her. She nestled in his arms. "Nothing happened, I'm home now...

" "I was worried," she said through her tears. "Every time you leave, I don't know if you'll come back..."

The boy went inside and, exhausted, sank into a chair. He touched the wound on his head; it was bleeding quite heavily. A moment later, Magda came from the bathroom with a wet cloth and gently began to wipe away the blood flowing from her cut head, crying softly as she did so. Marek gritted his teeth; he didn't like her being sad, and he was angry with himself for making her cry.

"It's okay, Little One," he said, kissing her tenderly. "It's okay... don't cry... please...

" "It's okay, I won't anymore," she whispered, rubbing her eyes. "But I'm so worried... and the worst part is your secrecy..."

Marek looked at her, her big, beautiful eyes puffy with tears, turned his head away, and stared at the floor. Magda continued:

"You don't know how I feel..." she sniffed every now and then. "Sometimes it seems to me you don't care... and that would be the worst..."

She couldn't control her tears again, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed loudly.

"What are you talking about?" the boy asked, stroking her cheek. "You know it's not like that...

" "I just don't know..." she replied, sobbing. "I don't even know where you go at night... where you disappear during the days... I don't know... you won't let me in... I often notice that your thoughts are elsewhere..."

Marek remained silent, having no idea how to respond to Magda's accusations, knowing she had the right to feel this way.

"I think there's something in your life... something very important to you... but you don't want to tell me... why don't you want to trust me... why are you afraid to trust me...? Why are you so sad... all the time...?"

"You know, Little... it's not like that," he interrupted, "it's not like that..."

The girl brushed back her hair and looked at Marek. Her eyes glistened in the light of the night lamp, which cast a subtle glow around the room.

"Tell me... what's happening to you... tell me who you are... trust me..." she whispered

. "But... but..." The boy wanted to explain, but this time he couldn't find a good explanation, he lowered his gaze

. "At night... you scream... you cry..." Magda continued, sniffing, "and then I hug you with all my might... I want to chase away these nightmares..."

A tear ran down Marek's cheek; he felt he was hurting this girl deeply.

- These terrible dreams... - he said - I don't want them to ever concern you... that's why I don't tell you about it... I don't want to drag you into the dark side of my life...

"But I want to know all of you, just as you are, with all your fears... I want to be a part of your life... both the happy and the sad..." She fell silent for a moment. "I want to be with you, and I want you to find support in me, to open up to me..."

She approached him and ran her hand over his cheek.

"Sometimes you're so sad... and I don't even know why... when I ask you about it, you answer that everything's fine... but it's not, I know that..." She kissed him. "I found your poems... they're full of regret... why are you like this?" What happened...

- Please - Marek replied - no... I don't want to tell you about it...

- The saddest one is the short one - she took out a roll of paper and started reading - Will it always be like this? / Will I always be alone? / I would like to turn back time / I would like to erase the pain and fear / but is it possible?...

- This poem is unfinished - the boy said after a while - I decided to finish it... when I finally find peace and be happy...

- Marek, you have to tell me everything... today... tonight... please... I want to know... about your family, friends, about those scars you have so many of... each one is associated with pain and some experiences...

- Little one - Marek interrupted her - you... you won't understand this... people don't understand, you'll think I'm crazy

- Try... give yourself and... me a chance...

The boy was silent for a moment and then began:

- My life is a constant fight... I'm a vampire slayer... whatever that means - Magda looked at him in surprise, he noticed it - eh, it doesn't have It makes no sense... for people, as well as for you, it's incomprehensible... never mind, let's end this... you're probably already thinking that my head is spinning from these wounds...

- No... I don't think so... I just...

- You just can't believe it, right? – Marek interrupted her – Maybe I wouldn't believe it either, if as a little kid I hadn't witnessed someone drinking the blood of my parents and brother right in front of my eyes…

- No, it's not like that…

- Fuck it all… - he stood up and walked aimlessly around the room – you don't understand… you won't understand…

- He will… and I want to believe you, but it's hard…

- You know, Little… every day… I wish… I wish I could turn back time… I wish all this hadn't happened… I wish I could wake up one day as a seven-year-old… in the morning… my mother would prepare me breakfast for school… and it would all turn out to be just a very bad, long dream… – Marek was dreaming this vision, staring somewhere far away outside the window – his parents would be alive, his brother too… and my whole life wouldn't be tainted by these events… I would have a normal childhood… peaceful… full of warmth and love…

Magda came up to him and hugged him.

"You know," he continued, "sometimes I wish I hadn't seen this... that I hadn't witnessed it... children shouldn't see scenes like this... because it's not a Hansel and Gretel story... this is real... and there's no happy ending..."

He looked at her with tearful eyes, and she snuggled into his chest.

"The Old Man took me in... I had no one else to turn to... Grandma couldn't raise me, she was too old and too tired... she died two years later...

" "It's so incredible... so hard to comprehend... and so sad..." she sobbed softly. "

Come, let me show you something..."

He went to the next room, rummaged through the closet, and pulled out a medium-sized box with a sturdy lock.

"I keep things related to my life here... the life I don't want to talk about... and at the same time, I have to remember... When you moved in with me, I hid all the materials here... I didn't want you to ever find them..."

He handed her the box and took the key from around his neck.

"Look..." he said quietly.

Magda unlocked the box and peered inside. She slowly leafed through the newspaper clippings, each headline painful: "Seven-year-old escapes massacre," "Brutal murder on Świerczewskiego Street," "Parents and child murdered without remorse." She looked at Marek through tears; he, meanwhile, was turned toward the window, staring into the distance. The girl looked into the box again. At the very bottom lay a videotape. She slowly pulled it out.

"What's recorded here...?" she asked uncertainly.

Marek turned around.

"I don't know if you should watch this, Little..." he said. "I don't know if you want...

" "I want..."

Magda walked over to the VCR and played the tape. A film recorded with a handheld, amateur camera appeared before her eyes. Several men were trying to take down one rather well-built individual. One of them drew a gun and fired a few shots. Chaos reigned everywhere, the action constantly shifting to another part of the room, with the image lagging behind. A moment later, the cameraman focused on the group's massive opponent, and the shots were aimed at him, seemingly unfazed. The man, who had just taken over ten bullets, ran up to one of the men and effortlessly threw him against the wall. It looked so absurd that if the man hadn't been screaming and moving during the flight, Magda would have thought it was a rag doll. A moment later, he ran up to another man, who was constantly shooting at him, and with a powerful blow, he displaced his head, causing it to tilt unnaturally backward. At that moment, the camera's image shifted to the ground, and it became clear that the person filming had begun to flee.

Marek approached, turned off the VCR, and looked at Magda.

- Was it really...? - she asked uncertainly, not hiding her horror

- Unfortunately...

He approached her and hugged her tenderly, she cried quietly on his shoulder.