ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴠ

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩

~ mentions of suicide/self-harm

♛♛♛

The air was crisp and cold, loitering goosebumps on the human flesh.

Julius and Hazel sat high in the sky, beneath the city lights. A table atop the city's tallest building, with the entire world beneath their gaze.

The night was lively with people bustling all around the streets and roads, the laughter of children and the sways of drunk college kids forming insensitive curses into the night, all high as a kite.

But beyond that lay the rest of the world. So massive, yet so frail. Buildings in the cityscape and the lights that reflected directly into their gazes, and those gazes looked straight into one other.

The breeze has turned the young woman's cheeks crimson and her complexion pallid. His hair was disheveled and tumbled down to the point of falling, and his features were defined yet veiled by the shadows.

Under the stars, the girl smiles. A bright, youthful smile that represented love.

It was the couple's last night together, the night where they spent their last conversations, their last touches and gentle laughs. It wouldn't be forever, though for the intuition of both...it felt as if it were.

The past few days were spent with nights of kisses, movies, and tickles. Hazel's scent now lingered in his sheets from the number of nights she spent sleeping in his arms. And Hazel's wardrobe filled with the many puffer jackets, shirts and hoodies of Julius'.

She hadn't planned on returning them to him, not when he was to leave. And Julius knew well when she used his clothes, he wouldn't be getting them back. He was fine with it though, he didn't mind.

As the breeze brushed gently, Hazel snuggled her head into his chest further. He wore a large jacket tonight, one that made him feel like a teddy bear. His legs are adorned in dark jeans and red sneakers to compliment that.

Hazel wore a large shirt, baggy jeans, and one of his puffer jackets that kept her awfully warm.

The two are resting on a lounge outside the uproar restaurant's terrace. With a cigarette in one hand and her body in the other, he embraced her as she embraced him.

"I'm ready," Hazel speaks for the first time in a while, suddenly breaking the silence that was dead.

"Are you sure?" he whispers into her hair, the smell of his cologne and mint and tobacco comforting her. She nods with complete assurance, her eyes fluttering to so many places along his face.

Julius felt compelled by her gaze, every spot her eyes grazed seemed to leave a burning trail of fire along with his skin.

The woman shifts underneath him, she places one of her hands on the top of his chest and begins tracing patterns, calming her mind from the storm.

"The night Liana died was the night we were planning on seeing a movie," She breathes in deep, his cold touch pulls her closer and soothingly, his hand on her covered hip began to move in her favourite pattern.

"It was around six p.m, I had just gotten home from school. I was too excited to get changed into any new clothes and since I thought Liana would be ready, I didn't want to waste any time."

A star in the sky twinkles beneath her heavy gaze, it shines more brightly than the others and Hazel just knew inside that it could've been Liana.

"She wasn't answering me when I called her from outside her room. She was in her bathroom, I called and knocked many times but she never answered so automatically I thought she might've slipped and fell in the shower..."

A tear rolls down her cheek, one of pain from the memories flashing before her eyes, and one of the loss she grieved far too many times.

Her heart that hurt suddenly soothed over by the touch of her boyfriend's. His lips pressed soothing kisses to her cheek and his hands moved in motions to keep her steady.

A shaky breath left and another tear fell as she continues the story of her past.

"When I opened the door," She breathes in again, exhaling as she speaks. "Her eyes were the first thing I saw. They were open, dead. I briefly remember the panic I went through, the way I fell to my knees and desperately began to clean up the mess."

Her hands shook and Hazel had to sit up now, she felt her body spur with distress and a sob that threatened to come out any second.

Her hands went between her cheeks, and she cried silently, but it was evident as her body shook.

Julius stared at her, his heart pounding with concern for his girl. He had no idea something like this could happen to him, but the misery she was in made him want to hold her forever.

"Hey, angel, breathe baby." He takes her body into his chest, his large arms wrapping around her like a blanket in winter.

She cries into his chest silently, sniffles escaping and the tight grip of his jacket inside her fists.

"She had shot herself with a revolver and had also used something to slit both her arms. It was brutal."

Her delicate whispers coursed through him. Her tears soaked through his shirt and the strong grip of her palms had him trying to soothe her further.

After she calmed down, after the deep voice that told her to breathe to which she did, Hazel continued with the story.

"I'm not sure how long I was there for...I was covered in blood and coincidentally it looked as if I were the one who..."

Julius shook his head once, his jaw clenching as he took both her cheeks into his rough palms. "My parents were away on a business trip, so I had to eventually get up and call the police. They were notified straight away as I was also taken to the police station."

"They questioned me. Asked if I had done it. I said briefly that it was suicide and that was all I could say for hours. They had proof because her fingerprints were on the gun, as her arms were cut too."

Hazel's heart sped like crazy. Her mind was all over the place, but her gaze was purely on his.

"It was the worst night ever. It's been engraved in my head for years now, I did have nightmares but they stopped once I moved into your home." She smiles gently, watching his plump lips part as he speaks.

"Our home." He says, the pad of his thumbs moving on her cheeks. "Our home." She repeats, leaning into his touch.

"Ever since that night, I've never liked the police. I know they're supposed to make you feel safe, but that night I felt the complete opposite."

Julius forms the tiniest trace of a smile. "I don't like them," He shrugs casually, bringing his lips to her forehead.

She giggles through her tears, scrutinising his features.

"After that day, my parents started acting distant. They were grieving, just like I was. But after the funeral, that was when they started to drink. That night."

"From then on it was just me and myself." She smiles sadly, her eyes watery and solemn, expressing every ounce of pain she's gone through.

"But not now," She says and takes his hand on her cheek, lacing it through her own. "Now, it's you and I right?"

Her head tilts as her question lingers in the air. The look in her eyes held so much hope.

Julius' mind swarmed with the inevitable. The continuous thoughts of Hazel down on her knees, crying, panicking by herself without anyone.

At some point, he even felt a fit of certain anger toward the sister. Leaving Hazel alone in the world without a person to look up to. And knowing Hazel would be home that day she'd still done it and left Hazel traumatised.

But maybe this was meant to be. Because now Hazel and Julius were together. Just him and her.

"Right." He replies deeply. "You and I, Angel." He pressed his lips to the side of her mouth, lingering them there for a couple few seconds.

"I'm so glad I met you, Julius. You really are my best friend." She wraps her arms around his neck, hugging him close to her. "Of course my boyfriend too," she giggled and kissed a spot below his jaw.

"You're my best friend too, Hazel." The words came out as soft as the touch of a feather. It blazed through her skin and openly replayed in her head.

"Thank you for listening to me blabber, I know the story isn't so joyous but I'm glad I had shared it with you. I feel better now."

Julius sighs over her shoulder, his chin resting on the curve of her neck while his eyes were fluttered toward the sky. "I'm glad."

With another deep hug, her hands were forced by her brains to let him go, even if she wanted to stay.

Julius could feel his phone buzzing on the side of his thigh, the sound was muffled and due to all the noise coming from the city, he could tell she couldn't hear it. So, he left the oncoming phone call.

"Hazel," He parts from her, the opened glimmer in his usual emotionless gaze shook her out of whatever daze she was in. Now, Hazel became fully aware.

She watched as he gulped, the apple in his throat bobbled and Julius became nervous. A feeling dwelled deep in the pits of his stomach, one he's never felt before.

As he looks down at her, switching his eyes from her red hair, to her dark bows, down her straight nose and perfect round lips, then back up again to the perfects of her eyes.

The soft hazel mix softened his cold, stone heart. The way her pupils dilated and sunk through the bright eyes she donned. Julius was once again mesmerised by her pure, innocent beauty.

"Can I tell you something?" He speaks unexpectedly and places his palm at the base of her temple, tempering with her hair on the side of her face.

"Of course," She spoke with total sincerity. Hazel sensed the rise of tension and significance. Whatever he had to say would be big; she just didn't know whether it would be good or bad.

The way his eyes were hooded with adoration yet hesitance, the way she could see it. Because he never showed anything other than nothing, the fact that he was expressing his feelings right this second had her so utterly excited.

She embraced the tingles and electric shots she got from his touch. His rough fingertips fell delicately on the side of her cheek, his gaze travelling with his movements.

He cups her cheek, their eyes meet as he speaks ever so softly.

"Hazel, I love y—

And the magical trance was broken. The walls that cracked and were just an inch away from crumbling down into nothing, had now built back up within milliseconds just by the sound of a single gunshot.

The door to the rooftop bursts open and his men come through like an army about to fight in a war. He could feel Hazel's grip clutching his arm, the faint voice of hers in the back of his head as she asks what was happening.

One specific male marched up to them in turmoil.

The face of a scared, almost heartbroken male stood in front of Julius.

"Sir, the Ricardo's are about to—

Bang.

An explosion.

Suddenly, the world around them became slow. Hazels' terrified expression, her ears ringing as Julius swiftly takes her into his hold and takes them down a fire exit.

Gunshots and screams could be heard the further they got closer to the ground.

"Julius..." Hazel hugs her head into his chest, utterly shaken with terror. No further words could be formed, not the millions and billions of questions that swarmed her mind, they couldn't be formed as the guns and the explosion she couldn't see yet was now taking over everything in her body.

"I've got you, Hazel."

His arms tightened around her, his toneless words somehow managed to reach her ringing eardrums.

The fire exit door opened with a sound of a large bang, Julius pushed through and immediately the cool air gave her instant relief.

But, no, the commotion was far worse than it was from up there.

Men in suits, women in black, all guns strapped to their sides or in their hands. Some of which looked to be protecting her and Julius. But the others, they were all aiming their guns right at the two.

"Fucking hell," JJulius mumbles and drops Hazel, dragging her behind his broad back and shielding her with one arm.

Around them, a man who appeared to have the most authority stood in front of the burning building. He was tall, young, and his hair looked like it had been dipped in oil. He smirks and raises his gun into the air, then begins shooting erratically.

Hazel, like many other people watching the awful tragedy, screams and covers her ears.

"Julius Santo." The man chuckles darkly, his gun swinging lazily around his finger as he begins striding up to them.

Hazel's eyes were screwed shut, her hearing was blocked, and her entire body was paralysed by fear. She felt her hands tremble and her knees almost quiver and give up on her; she just knew she was going to pass out.

The man began speaking nonsense, certain words stuck out to Hazel, ones of which included Mafia, money, and Julius' name ending with the word, leader.

Her mind spun round and round like a merry go round, increasing its speed every few seconds. Julius squeezed her hand reassuringly, his voice never speaking once as he allows the male to continue with his psychotic rant.

Momentarily, a hand landed on her shoulder which made her jump and let out a squeal. Julius didn't move, already knowing who it was, but neither did anyone else around care. Hazel turned her head to face the stares of her two companions.

"Come, Hazel," Trace says softly as she crouches with a gun held at her side. Hazel did as she is ordered, squatting with her and almost falling due to a weakness in her knee, but Gracie was there to support her.

They make it behind an alley, Hazel behind the two girls who turn to her in concern.

"Are you okay, baby?" Trace places her hand on her cheek, wiping at her tears. Hazel shakes her head, unable to talk as her flushed cheeks continue to become wet by her tears.

"Were sorry you had to witness this, Hazel. We promise we'll explain everything, obviously not now, you're way too fragile..." Gracie trails off as she looks behind her shoulder, making sure no one had followed them.

Hazel couldn't believe a word they were saying. She couldn't believe everything. Was everything a lie? Everything?

Another force was initiated to the sky, this time Julius stepped forwards and raised his shoulders. The two women stood in front of Hazel, despite the fact that she had an unobstructed view of everything.

In a matter of seconds, everything she's ever known, everything she's ever had, blew away with the wind.

The man that looked to be the enemy was now held back by two larger, bulkier men. He screamed and cursed, fighting with his legs with the strength he had left.

All the other men and women who looked to be on his side stepped back. Fear crossed over the expressions as their eyes were only pointed at one male in particular.

Julius has never been so terrifying to her. Julius appeared to have grown a foot taller, his glare was murderous, and his shoulders were broad and high. He towered over the men and women, as well as the shooter who had previously had the gun pointed up into the air.

Power exceeded from his body, now a familiar black gun was held in Julius' hand. The fatal weapon was designed to take lives, but it ended up taking both lives and the love he'd formed with Hazel tonight.

His two arms raised the gun, and he stood immediately in front of the man who was urgently trying to free himself from the grasp of the larger men on his arms.

Hazel's mouth fell open. Her world crumbled to her feet as her eyes welled up with tears and exhaustion.

Her heartbeat was ringing in her ears, drowning out Trace and Gracie's voices imploring her to look away.

With every ounce of strength left in her, she just couldn't.

Though, she wished she did.

The world slowed as Julius mercilessly pulled the trigger. A pool of blood formed through the male's chest, his eyes shooting closed as every muscle went limp and Hazel knew his heart stopped.

Her hands flew to her mouth as she stumbled back, her face morphed in pure terror and shock. Her Julius stood there completey emotionless, watching his head collapse to the ground and nearly crack open.

A sob crippled through her body like a tidal wave, and amongst the burning building, the loud sirens emerging forth, and the current screams from women and men, Julius had heard her small sound.

In the darkened alley stood three women. Two of them attempted to help the other in overcoming her obvious panic. Julius gave a firm order for his men to depart as ambulances and officials arrived.

As everyone parted ways, the streets bustling with murder, Julius strode his way motionlessly toward the alley.

Though he seemed calm and collected, emotionless and cold. Julius knew the woman had seen everything. And deep, deep inside, Julius' heart sped for the wrong reasons.

He was scared.

The gun was back inside his jacket, his hand was covered in blood while the other was clean, not even knowing or caring about how it ended upon him.

As soon as he steps into the streetlight, the three girls notice him, which causes Hazel to become even more anxious. The scene of him pulling the trigger so brutally was haunting her mind, Hazel refused to look at him.

"Leave." His strong voice commanded the two other girls. They walked away with apprehension, looking back over their shoulders to ensure the devastating girl was okay.

As they walked away, Hazel was acutely aware of their presence since all she could feel was the cold.

Her cradled body refused to look anywhere until she calmed down, the panic heaving inside and outside her body. She was listening to recollections of his voice comforting after her last panic attack, despite the fact that her panic attack was caused by the same male.

She could only hear the sound of his footsteps now, her shaking body now somewhat calm amongst the mess inside her. Julius was near, she could feel him.

With all the strength she had left, Hazel removed her arms from her legs and slowly lifted her head. Tears fell silently, thoughts, heart, running wildly.

She kept her gaze to the ground, his shoes in front of her gaze as she slowly stands, wiping her nose with her sleeve and sniffling.

Her shoulders shook, her palms were clammy. Hazel was in utter despair.

"Hazel..." His voice was soft, so soft. She hated that it calmed her, she hated that amongst everything, Julius could still calm her soul.

She shook her head, listening to her mind instead of her heart. Her eyes blinkered with tears as she looked up one second further, she looked at his clothed stomach. Her arms fell around her own stomach, clutching her clothes for dear life.

He lied to her. He killed somebody. Julius wasn't the man she thought he was.

"Look at me, Angel."

That nickname. She loved it. But now it only brought her pain, unconsumable pain.