—I’m so sorry, Mark.
I hung up the phone. Sighing over my sister’s lack of backbone and the narrow-mindedness of my entire family, I continued dressing. I began tying a bow tie, squinting at my harried reflection in the mirror. It struck me then that my forehead had acquired a few more lines since Claire broke the news about her pregnancy. But I’ve made my decision, and I’m going to stand by it. Even if the rest of my family has decided to turn their snobbish, uppity backs on our mixed union.
At that point, I heard a soft rustle behind me. Before I could turn back to investigate the cause, I saw the reflection of a second face emerging in the mirror. The face was pale and gaunt, with mesmerizing scarlet lips.
—So you’re getting married today.
I should have done something at that precise moment. Something to defend myself. But I merely stood there, fingers still frozen in the act of tying my bow tie, like a mouse in front of a snake. A hissing killer cobra with crimson lips. The next thing I knew, she’d placed an icy-cold knife blade at the base of my throat.
—I also hear that she’s a Mono. A stupid little Mono. What’s gotten into you, Mark?
I felt the tip of the blade grinding through my skin, causing a jolt of pain to radiate across my throat. I watched, transfixed, as a determined rivulet of blood began snaking downwards. It pooled onto the band of my white bow tie, staining it a bright red.
—What are you doing here?
My words spilled out in a quivering whisper. I could only gape as she transferred the cold metal to an unblemished spot a few millimeters away.
—I’m here to offer you my congratulations. And my commiseration, if you need it.
—With a large knife, it seems.
—Pinched it from the Fort St. George pub when no one was looking. A couple of hours after it all came back in a rush. After you left me behind. Even thought of using it to kill myself. Because it was all too much to take in at once. But I didn’t. Not after I realized that you do care about me, underneath it all.
She paused for breath, lips trembling. I realized that I should keep her talking before she decided to puncture my throat in a second spot.
—I’m glad you didn’t do anything stupid.
Anna merely rolled her eyes in response.
—I’m a stayer, Mark. I’m going to stay on track.
I was tempted to ask her why she was still holding the knife at my throat, but I decided that it was a bad idea to draw attention to the weapon in her hand.
—Definitely on track, I see.
—You’ll never understand what happened, Mark. That evening on Jesus Green.
—I thought you’d forgiven me.
—I thought you loved me.
It hit me, right then, that a girl wielding a knife belonged to a particularly dangerous species of humanity. Especially as the weapon was still placed across my throat and had already drawn blood.
—You’re an arsehole, Mark. One who goes off and falls for a pretty face. Even if it belongs to a stupid Mono.
—But Claire’s preg—
—All I could think of, after you left my bedside, was that “other girl,” the one you’re marrying. Memory makes you play things over and over again in your head. Makes you angry.
—I’m sorry I was so abrupt. I really am.
—And there I was, dreaming about my perfect white dress just before you showed up at Addenbrooke’s.…
Tears began to streak down her face.
—You like screwing other people, don’t you, Mark?
I was tempted to launch into a spirited defense of my position, for if anyone was screwed at that point, I was (after all, as she’d helpfully pointed out a minute earlier, I was about to wed a Mono). But I’d also realized that Anna had lowered her knife and was frowning at her own tear-stained reflection in the mirror, as if she were seeing herself properly for the first time.
My elbow shot out, slamming into her ribs. She staggered a yard or so backwards, face contorting into a grimace. I spun round and threw myself forward, catching her shoulder and sending her crashing backwards. She hit the floor with a thud, nostrils flaring in shock.
—Help! I shouted.
But she was still holding the knife despite her fall. I dropped to my knees, desperate to extract the weapon from her hand. She squealed as I dug an elbow into her right shoulder, reaching forward for the knife. I was on the verge of extracting it when she twisted her arm away and brought a knee upwards to meet my groin. I winced, momentarily incapacitated by the pain. Just then, I saw the knife glinting upwards in my direction, its blade reflecting the rays of sunlight streaming through the window.
—Help!
I threw myself sideways, attempting to dodge its path. But I was too late. A searing pain shot across my lower arm. I looked down to discover that Anna had managed to cut me a second time. Her knife had torn a neat path along the lower sleeve of my white shirt, penetrating the skin below.
Something bright flashed in my direction again. I looked up; Anna had raised herself to her knees and was aiming the knife at my head. Her face was flushed red. Her scarlet lips were drawn back. Her teeth were bared in a snarl. Her eyes, I could have sworn, had turned into raging whirlpools of madness.
This time, I couldn’t move at all. Nor could I breathe. I merely stared at Anna. Perhaps it was the shock of seeing my white sleeve turn red and feeling the pain surging through my arm. Or perhaps it was the horror of realizing that she wanted me dead.
The knife arced downwards.
I remained frozen, like a sacrificial lamb destined for slaughter.
Yet the knife veered sideways before clanging onto the floor. I wrenched my eyes into focus only to discover that Anna and I were no longer alone. My best men, William and Paul, had rushed in to rescue me. William, bless him, had reacted by knocking the knife out of Anna’s hand while Paul pinned her to the floor (it helps that he is still the scrum-half for Trinity’s rugby team).
—She tried to kill me.
I raised myself back to my knees and pointed my forefinger at Anna.
—She’s mad!
—I’m not.
She spat her denial from the floor, still trying to wrestle herself free from Paul’s grip.
—I was just trying to prove a point. We’re soul mates, Mark. We had a chance together. I saw it in your eyes the first day we met. The sparkle of recognition. But you’ve gone and ruined everything.
William pointed at my right arm. I looked down. My lower sleeve was soaked red.
—She’s gotten you already, Mark. I’m going to call the police.