Epilogue
RUNO
Nearly a decade in that stuffy little space as I to tried shield myself from the world hadn’t worked.
The others believed that Finn separated himself from me so much so that he created an entirely new reality.
The truth was that the real world terrified me as a kid.
The voices and things that weren’t there had me confused.
Doctor after doctor just said that imaginary friends were a part of growing up.
They never went away though. Dr. Harley mentioned that they’d grow stronger over time if I didn’t find a routine and stick to it which would include pills to dull those extra senses.
Not wanting to medicate, I found something else—someone else.
Finn. He became my best friend even if he was just another version of me.
We did everything together but the voices got worse.
They beckoned. They threatened to swallow me whole so I soon crawled into my head and let Finn drive this boat to hell.
Unfortunately, the voices followed me instead of Finn and the others.
My little space flooded with people who weren’t real and realities that didn’t exist.
For nine fucking years, I found myself tormented by my own mind as I tried to push myself through the bars.
Each time, I produced another version of myself that I thought would save me.
It never did. I watched them fuck up the life I was meant for.
So, I pushed back. Little by little, setting myself back into my life until I was ready.
I’m still not ready but now there are four of me to combat whatever the fuck is going on.
How did we not die from that accident? I saw pictures of the car.
Beats me.
“Couldn’t tell you either, guys. “ I blinked a few times, groaning as the dim light reached my eyes. It took me a few moments to remember where I was and even longer to understand that the continued groaning sounds weren’t coming from me.
My gaze moved to the three individuals wrapped up nicely in the middle of Samael’s basement, all of them fear-stricken as they stared at me. They were gagged and bound, unable to move or make enough noise to signal anyone other than me.
I only vaguely remembered snatching two of them. Well, no. I only snatched one of them. The other walked right up to me when I said I wanted to talk.
Because she still fucking loves Finn and was hoping to help him one last time. Then you showed up.
I grinned at that achievement, a low purr dragging me out of my head. Lucy rubbed against my legs and I eagerly picked her up, letting her rub against my chest. If I were to play the villain, all I would need would be a really, really good chair and a suit. All good villains had suits.
Already done, Runo. Look down.
I did, pleasantly surprised at the black and red attire, everything perfectly ironed and flattened against my chest. We had prepared well.
My plans were well done.
You had help.
I fucking loved having them here with me, enjoying these moments.
It felt like having real friends but ones that would always be with me.
My gaze darted to the three tied up again, admiring my handiwork.
I hadn’t lost my edge. “Time to finish the plan, Finn. I’ll have to admit. This was a good one.”
Of course, it was.
I pulled out my phone and dialed my father, ready to start things in motion. It had taken three days to get everything together, three days to make sure that everything fell into place. It had to be perfect or we were all going to suffer together.
“Finn?”
“Try again,” I purred into the earpiece.
“Runo? Fuck. No. Just… come home. Whatever you’re about to do, you don’t need to fucking do. We’ll talk to Dr. Harley. We’ll get the meds. We’ll—”
Our father continued to run through his spiel, promising us that we’d get better if we just came home. I knew from experience that I’d end up in a mental institution faster than I could say no. There was no point in returning, not now that I had everything back.
Well, almost everything.
I needed to meet my men once and for all.
As me.
Runo Matthews.
“Yes, yes. All that stuff. I’m not coming home.
Just wanted to let you know that I’m alive and Finn is very neatly tucked up in my head.
They’re all safe. We’re safe.” I hung up on him, letting Lucy climb up my shoulder and rest around my neck.
Villain mode, excellent. My father would find out the second part of this plan after it happened.
After all, he was my original Samael—the clean-up crew part.
Now, it was time to make the last call. The most important one. I stared at my three contestants, the newest players of a game they didn’t even know they had signed up for. The dial tone barely ended before I heard Aeron’s panicked voice on the other line.
“Finn? Thank fuck. Where have you been?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. Just a few days ago, they were a little terrified of Finn. “Actually, it’s Runo. And I’ve been around.”
“Where the fuck is Finn?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
Slash’s voice filtered through the speaker, a hardened version of the one I was used to. “Cut the shit. Where have you been taking all these goddamn people? Where is Finn?”
I wasn’t taking all of those people. There were just three.
Three lovely people who were now bound and gagged in Samael’s basement, ready for their punishment.
“You really didn’t pick up all the clues?
God, I thought you were smarter than that.
Well, then. I’d like to introduce myself.
Hello, I’m Runo Matthews. You might have picked out that I was Runo Ipse but Ipse just means myself. I thought it was clever.”
A heavy breath fell from Aeron’s lips as everything clicked together.
“Where are you, Runo? What is going on?” Aeron asked. I could almost imagine him clutching the phone in his hand, ready to run to me when I gave him my location. Little did they know that I had been beneath them for the last twelve hours.
“I had to get everything ready or as Finn would say, there was a plan. Come downstairs and I’ll show you.” Lucy purred just then, adding to the dramatic effort. Then I heard their heavy steps as they raced toward the basement door and down the steps.
They paused at the opening, staring from me to my three victims, realization dawning on their faces. I wanted to spend time with them, get to know them, to truly understand how they ticked—just as I understood myself.
So, I prepared them presents. Jade. Niles. Brent. Three people who didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as my men any longer.
Samael stepped forward, moving to stand beside me. “What is this, Runo? Is this for us?”
“I prepared everything,” I pushed out, clapping my hands together. “Isn’t it perfect? We made it perfect. All of us.” For several seconds, they said nothing. I thought that maybe I hadn’t actually dragged anyone into the basement or that they didn’t want my present. “Samael—”
“It is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Maybe next time we could start with dinner.”
I blew a raspberry at him. “That wouldn’t be any fun.
This is just as romantic as Italian. Tell me I’m wrong!
” Slash and Aeron came to stand on the other side of me as I waited for their approval, my victims whining for release.
The recognition in their eyes made this moment worse for them but I was still waiting for my men to love it.
To accept me.
It took a long fucking time for someone to move.
Slash was the first. “As long as I get to slice up some bitches, I’d say this is a pretty fine date to me.”
“Excellent! Make sure to save the loin for Aeron. Finn said his curry was fucking fantastic.”