Norman lay down on the cold, tiled floor in his sitting room watching his ticking clock. Amidst the nothingness and empty feeling that consumed him, that was the only sound that could be heard; the hands that moved by the second.

He'd been lying there for heaven knew how long, witnessing everything he'd worked so hard to build, crumble around him.

Since their last unpleasant encounter, Leonard had gone awol. He disappeared without as much as a note or a phone call like the coward that he was.

Norman had perceived Sara's distress in her text and the series of voice-mails that preceded it. However, he wasn't going to return her calls or offer any help. He'd done his best in getting her a husband. It was not his fault she couldn't keep him.

If only that bitch Elaine had just moved away quietly like she was supposed to, none of this would've happened. He didn't think it'd be possible to hate a person more.

Then, there was the case of his wife, Beatris, living with another man. He'd discovered the disgusting man was just a mere teacher with a meagre income. There was no way in hell he'd be able to take care of her needs maybe except he sold himself.

Even if all of this hurt him deeply, the thing that bothered him the most was the thought that his brother literally doing the victory dance.

Mac had won. He'd succeeded in taking everything away from him. His wife, his friend, his happiness and even his sanity.

I hate you, Mac. He cursed under his breath with a smile on his face.

He sat up and looked around his house. The quietness and emptiness was drowning him. Maybe suicide was the way out. He'd tried that before, he could try it again and probably succeed this time.

*No. Everyone would just be happy you're gone. No one would care. Not Tris, not Leonard, not Mac.*

He picked up his phone and searched for the world's current population. "Seven point eight billion people and still no one cares," he said with a sigh, before dropping his phone and with a smile on his face, he closed his eyes. But even then, he found no comfort. 

---------------------------

"Mac, who are these people? Where are they taking me?" Norman asked, his innocent blue eyes filled with tears as he watched his brother, who stood in front of the door of his car that was ajar.

A woman and a man stood behind Mac and even though they had smiles on their faces, little Norman knew there was something wrong.

Mac scoffed as he took out a cigarette and lighted it. "You're just gonna pretend that these folks are your parents, okay? Easy-peasy. I hope that stupid, little brain of yours gets it because it's apparently very selective."

"Why?" He asked and this time, tears had rolled down his cheek. "Why are you sending me away? I don't want to go, please."

"What the fuck is wrong with you? I wouldn't have to be wasting my time dealing with your nonsense if you didn't get yourself expelled for the third time!" Mac yelled at him taking a smoke of his cigarette.

"I told you it wasn't my fault -"

"Sure it wasn't. Nothing ever is your fault, Norman. Trust me, if you do anything stupid in this school, I'll drag your ass and dump you at an orphanage home. After all, that's where you belong."

The thought of that frightened Norman. How would he live without his brother who was the only person he'd known all his life?

"Do you want that?" Mac inquired.

Norman got out of the car and glanced from the scumbags Mac had paid to act as his parents to the large school building where his brother was about to abandon him. "No." He shook his head as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

The woman took his hand in hers as her husband took out his bags. They were walking towards the school when Norman pulled out his hands from the woman's and attempted to run towards his brother.

Mac, intentionally turned away after seeing his little brother's desperation and got into his car before driving off.

All Norman wanted  was to say goodbye.

--------------------------------

This was the first time Norman Patterson was feeling as little as he'd felt all those years ago. That moment Mac had left him in an unknown place. A place he learnt to fight. A place he learnt to manipulate every situation to his own advantage. A place he learnt to live.

"I'm not going to give up without a fight," he muttered to himself with a smile on his face.

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Beatris tiptoed in the dark out of Marcus' guest bedroom, she clutched her purse tightly, scanning the place as much as the almost nonexistent light permitted. She walked towards the door and twisted it's knob, about to open it when the lights were turned on.

"Beatris?"

She sighed in frustration.

"Where are you going to?" He asked with as much concern as he'd shown her for the past three days.

Beatris knew sneaking out of Marcus' house into oblivion was not the best way to repay him for his immeasurable kindness. But she was genuinely tired of it. All he talked about was therapy or calling her sister. All topics she wasn't particularly interested in. She could sure as hell take care of herself.

"Beatris..."

"Marcus, I need to get out of here. Thanks for your concern. I'm fine now," She said walking towards him.

He stared at her in disbelief. "You still scream in your sleep. You're not fine. Why are you doing this?" He asked.

"Marcus, you've done enough for me. Fine. I was having a mental breakdown and you came to my rescue. Thank you. You don't actually get to control me," She replied.

"Control you? I'm trying to help here. Beatris, you have to realise that running away doesn't solve problems. No matter how far away you go, it'll go along with you and interfere with your life. You should know that by now." He warned her.

"Let me worry about that," she said, turning away to leave.

"Have you gotten so used to suffering that you've somehow forgotten that they're other options, perhaps?" His words hit her hard, causing her to stop.

"Marcus, I'm fine."

"You're impossible." He tried to protest, right before the door was pushed open and Norman barged in with a gun in his hands, startling both of them.

"Oh my God!"

"Norman!" Both yelled simultaneously.

"This is the Norman?" Marcus asked disparagingly and one could not blame him. He was most likely expecting some gigantic man or at least a tough looking guy.

Beatris' heart was beating frantically against her chest and her lips were trembling as she nodded.

Norman laughed, probably finding delight in her plight. "Let me make this easy for you. Come back home and let's just forget about all of this," he said gently, yet remorselessly.

"How dare you!" Marcus yelled trying to move forward but Beatris' hand prevented him from moving. "You're not going to do anything this man says," he whispered to the trembling woman standing before him and she nodded even amidst her fear.

"Fine. If you're going to make this difficult for all of us, then so be it." He held up his gun and both of them shivered. "Who do I start with?" He asked moving his gun from the terrified Marcus to Beatris who was struggling to breathe.

"Norman, please no. Don't do this. I know you still have a heart." Tears blurred her vision and streamed down her cheek uncontrollably. More than not, she didn't think Norman had a heart left.

"You think I have a heart? No. You're wrong. I don't! I gave you everything, Tris. I fucking gave you everything!" He yelled, fixing his gun on her. "You ruined my life. You left me!"

"Your actions made her leave you! She shouldn't even have gotten involved with a sick man like you in the first place." Marcus couldn't help but intervene.

"Shut the fuck up!" Norman pointed his gun to Marcus, running his hands through his disheveled hair. His face was all red and his eyes had hint of tears. "One more word from you and I'll blow your brains out!" He yelled.

"No!" Marcus tried walking forward but Beatris stopped him.

"Marcus, please, stop. Please..." She cried. She couldn't believe Marcus was acting like this. Norman was a mentally unstable man with a gun. Was he trying to get himself killed?

Norman laughed at their misery. "Aww. I'm so touched. She's so scared for her poor lover." He pretended to be concerned. "Tris, come here. It's time to go home. You're not allowed to fall in love with this wretched man. You're my wife." His reminded her with a quiet voice, acting like a lunatic as his eyes were permanently fixed on hers.

Beatris knew what she had to do. She wiped the tears from her cheeks bravely and walked slowly towards him. This was her fight. She couldn't get Marcus into it. It only seemed like there was no way out.

Norman wiped the smile from his face and it was quickly replaced by a sad expression as he took her soft, cold hands in his, while his other hand was still holding his gun up. "Let's go home, Tris. I have forgiven you for everything," he whispered.

She nodded as she wiped stray tears that had streamed down her cheek again taking slow steps further.

Norman pulled her close and embraced her as tears filled his eyes too. Wrapping his hands around the woman he admired. He seemed to have forgotten where he was as he held her in his arms. "You belong to me, Tris. Tell me you love me," He said desperately.

Her lips were trembling as she replied with a stutter. "I-I..." Beatris knew she just couldn't say those words when she felt the exact opposite.

"Beatris, go ahead and say it. You know we belong together," he said quietly as he closed his eyes and in his moment of weakness, Marcus pulled Beatris out of his grip and attacked him.

"Get out of my house, you monster!" Marcus said punching him in the face which had caused him to fall to the ground and his gun flew out of his hand. Beatris only stared at them, shaking with her mouth agape yet unable to utter a word.

Norman got to his knees and rushed to pick up his gun but Marcus had dived on him to prevent that from happening. They struggled till they got up, both fighting for possession of the fully loaded gun.

"Stop, please!" Beatris yelled from a safe distance. The last thing she could do was get in the middle of these two enraged men. "Stop!" She cried.

Both men were grunting and panting heavily and none of them seemed to  pay any heed to Beatris' warning until the sound of a loud gun shot echoed through the room, causing both men to freeze on the spot.

"No!" Beatris yelled with her hands on her ears and dropped to her knees, unable to believe her eyes.

A/N

Cliffhangers... Cliffhangers! Who doesn't like one of those? 😶

What happens? Who got shot? I'm just happy it's not Beatris. Who's with me? 😅😈

Comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter.