Requiem for a Mouse by Jamie Wang

apology. “Sorry. It’s my fault.”
    Sasha rolled her eyes. “You’re letting me off too easy.”
    “On the bright side, we’re almost done.”
    Sasha nodded in agreement. “Seriously, can you believe it?”
    “I can’t even imagine.” Prince chuckled. “I bet we’ll be bored within a week.”
    “No way, I have big plans for us.”
    “Oh yeah? Like what?”
    Sasha gave him an innocent grin. “We’re going to finish this last drop, escape this city, and see Paris!”
    Prince snorted. “Why Paris?”
    “So I can show you guys the stars.”
    Prince pointed toward the sky. “They’re right there.”
    “There are more stars than the ones in the sky.”
    Prince stared into Sasha’s eyes. “Do you know what a star is?”
    Sasha nudged Prince over. “Idiot, I’ll show you one day, then you’ll see.” She stuck her tongue out.
    Prince’s brow raised. “What are we, ten? And you come up with a new plan every week. Get back to me when you actually have something.”
    Sasha stared back and for what seemed like the longest second, she stayed silent. “Sorry Prince, but for now, this is all I can give you,” She said, her voice almost a whisper.
    The sincerity caught Prince by surprise. He looked away, his face already hot. “I couldn’t…” Prince stopped talking, realizing that he was speaking too softly even for himself to hear. Making sure to project, he said, “I couldn’t ask for more.”
    The silence stretched forever. Prince peeked at Sasha, and then, to his surprise, she started laughing. “Calm down Prince, you didn’t have to yell at me.”
    “What?” Prince clamped his mouth shut, thinking back to how loud he had been.
    Shit.
    But Sasha’s laughter was music. It was contagious, and pretty soon, Prince joined her. He glanced over to see her head tilted toward the full moon, just like his.
    We must look mad, laughing at the moon. The thought made him laugh even harder.
    “Anyway,” Sasha turned away from the moon to once again watch the silver ripples of the river. “I tried returning your money but the bartender wouldn’t let me. Can you believe it?” Sasha took a deep breath and dropped a handful of crumpled bills beside Prince. “You win. How you spend your money is none of my business. Sorry about, you know…”
    “Wow, an apology from Sasha?” Prince’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “And such a well thought out one too.”
    “Shut up.” Sasha’s face was so red, it was noticeable even in the dark.
    “Thanks Sasha.”
    Sasha grinned back in the stupid way she always did. “I’m serious about this one. Even if we fail tomorrow, even if it kills me, I’ll take us to Paris.”
    In unison, they returned their gaze back to the moon.

VLAD
     
    Vlad relished the dead quiet of the night, its stillness disturbed only by the grass snapping underneath his feet. He held his jagged blade in one hand. Though it was only a knife, he walked as if it was an anchor. His arm dangled behind him and dragged down his entire body in a lopsided gait.
    The moon stood high in the cloudless sky. It illuminated the flat landscape, casting shadows from the tents scattered around the riverbank. Vlad reached his hands up as if he could grasp its luminescence.
    How would I make you scream?
    “You know this is all your fault,” he said, shifting his gaze to the stars, talking to the heavens above him. “You said that you loved us all. You promised us a just world. How do you lie so well?”
    And if you can be cruel, why can’t I?
    Vlad walked through rows of tents with soft steps. Only now did he notice his drool, falling in thick globs from his mouth. He wiped it up, surprised to feel his lips curved into an uneven smile.
    “Don’t worry,” he told nobody. “Because however cruel you are, I promise you, I can be crueler.” Vlad approached Jericho’s tent and let out a squeal.
    He peeled back the tent to find Jericho asleep. Vlad moaned and dragged his fingers across his face. “I’m glad