Kris stared at the red Swiss Army pocket knife, and caressed it gently. She then traced the tiny scars along her wrist, and smiled slightly.
Almost hypnotised, she shut her eyes, and sighed.
She pulled the large blade out from its sheath, and tested it on a blade of grass, eyes still closed. Almost numbly, she touched the knife to her jeans, and pulled. The thick material tore, and she travelled up to her thigh, where she stopped, and did the same to the other side.
As if in a trance, her hand drew the blade along her calf, drawing a thin lin of blood. As if painting like a child, she cut curlicues into her skin.
A man and dog passed by, ignoring her. Kris continued her mindless artwork, and started onto her arms.
A shout went up, making her glazed eyes fly open, but she passed it off as the dog's owner. Kristen continued to cut. As the blade curved around to the inside of her wrist, parallel to the tiny scars, a flash from the corner of her eye was picked up, and then her hand was knocked aside.
Taylor walked slowly along the riverside, looking for Kris. Just as he was about to give up and return, he saw a small hunched figure under a tree close to the water.
"Kris!" he greeted, but the figure ignored him, and sat there. It appeared she was wiping something off her legs... red paint...
A shudder ran through Tay's body as he realized what Kris was doing, and he shouted. "Kristen!" When she didn't reply, his walk burst into a run. Oh, God, I pray I'm not too late, he prayed silently.
As if in slow motion, Taylor saw the blade move to her wrist, and slowly begin to cut...
"NO!" he cried, and seized the knife. His body fell flat across hers, and wet sand flew up.
"What did you do that for?" Kris yelled angrily. She shoved him off her, and glared.
"I was saving your life!" he yelled back.
"What?" she whispered, and looked down at herself. "Oh, my God..."
Kristen couldn't believe what happened. One minute she was sitting there, the next, Taylor had knocked her over. All energy left her, and she sank to the ground, as if boneless. She gripped her head in her hands.
"I really am suicidal." she said softly. Taylor sat down next to her, and patted her back awkwardly.
"You okay?" She shook her head.
"God, Taylor, you've got to believe me that I didn't know what I was doing! It was just-" she said brokenly, but was cut off as a sob reached her throat. She looked at the knife in his hands, and grabbed it before he could react. She threw her arm back, and flung the bloody blade into the river.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Everything! Reagent, school... Just everything! All this pressure." she keened softly. "I'll give you one bet how Zodiac was successful. It involves Reagent, me, mother's talents, and a heap of other big wigs." she said bitterly.
Taylor clenched his eyes shut, and fought down a wave of nausea. It didn't take a genius to figure that one out.
"I just can't bear it. It's too much..." she cried, her voice rising.
"No! Don't think that. You have your career, your parents, Jamie, Jess... Me." he said. Kristen shook her head fiercly, and Taylor looked on helpless.
Suddenly, as if a voice commanded his body, he wrapped his arms around her, and rested his chin on her head. Her sobs shook his frame, but he held on tight, and soon she quietened.
He gently let go, and looked at her face. It was shiny with tears, and large dark circles adorned her eyes, but she still struck him as pretty. Beautiful, even. Her eyelids fluttered, and opened to reveal large, liquid green eyes. He pulled her close again, not wanting to see her anguish.
As the two held each other in the twilight, a car passing by blared a song: "I need some love like I've never needed love before... I had a little love, now I'm back for more... Set your spirit free... It's the only way to be...."
