A TEARDROP IN AN OCEAN - PART FIVE

After two slightly twisted rounds of Moneyhungry, Todd and Tea had been reduced to collapsing haplessly on the cream colored couch. Tea suggested they settle down to a nice, quiet evening in front of the newly installed TV. Todd took full reign over the remote while Tea retrieved various necessities for their TV marathon from the kitchen. Flicking through the channels, Todd brooded over watching a Mets game or a Leafs showdown. Mets quickly won out.
Tea returned from the kitchen, laden with burdening objects of glucose and grease.
Glancing at the pile of junk food, Todd raised an eyebrow."What the hell's all that crap?
"Dumping the 'food' on the coffee table, Tea placed her hands angrily on her hips.
Cantankerous, she debated "It's not crap, it's good stuff. Haven't you ever marathoned before?"
"Yeah, just not with all this," he gestured dubiously to the contents on the table. Picking up a bag of Doritos, he examined the bag's ingredients list doubtfully. Throwing down the bag unceremoniously, he retorted "Half the words on there aren't part of the English language!"
"God knows you're A-list on that." Tea quipped smartly.
Eyeing the television set, Tea immediately protested. "Oh, no, you can have your Mets and beer, but not tonight. Uh-unh, nope, we are watching something worth squabbling over."
Grabbing the remote, Tea switched to Judge Judy which promptly began Todd's feuding.
"Hey, I can take all lawyer games but this is gone too far! No woman of mine is gonna watch garbage like that Judge Spanky stuff."
Intercepting Tea's reply, Todd swiftly reclaimed the remote and the Simpsons flashed before the screen. The first shot revealed the character of Homer running half naked through the quaint little house screaming "I'm gonna get you, boy!"
Tea's eyes widened as she faced Todd's chuckling one. Collecting the TV's 'cerebrum', Tea guided the panel to another station. Displayed was something they both agreed on: romance, death, mystery, vampires-Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Thirty minutes passed, and somehow, Tea found herself snuggled comfortably in Todd's arms. Unanimously, the voted the Cordelia/Xander relationship most complex, but the odds won out - they were the best coupling.
So, one remark led to another and a most trademarked, historic event occurred: the broom closet. Xander, the lanky high schooler referred to as a loser in the nicest of cases, was trading insults with his girlfriend of sorts when the idea sprang."Do you wanna go make-out in the broom closet?" He suggested amiably.Immediately, Cordelia snapped "God, is that all you ever think about?" A short pause is followed by a cheerful "Okay."
Todd trades implying glimpses with his smirking wife. Lifting her eyebrows, Tea's jumps up from the sofa and begins heading upstairs to the infamous broom closet. Todd trails not far behind

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The penthouse door rattles slightly. Slowly, the door knob turns and the entrance slides open quietly. A figure steps out mysteriously, blending with the shadows as the black engulfs him. Reaching gloved hands into the intruder's pocket, the trespasser withdraws a small, thin package. Sneering evilly, the stranger breaths deeply, enjoying the filling hatred that consumes him.
As the tide rises, he begins to shudder violently, the thrilling feeling of revenge encasing his soul. The tremors, cease, replaced with an eerie resolution. Planting the envelope on the office desk, he skulks out, slamming the door and jamming it ajar, but leaves behind an instinct. Killer's instinct, the flame that pursues us all, presses tightly against the our skulls. Pounding, pounding, it releases and a sense of glamour. But glamour portrays a spectacle, and a hollow feeling lingers. Slowly, it dies. Misery is the end.

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Dazed, Tea stumbles down the staircase, a jittery happiness circling her entire being. Drunk on joy, she pulls on Todd's sleeve and whisper "I swear, I heard a noise. It-" Abruptly she stopped talking. Striding towards the entrance, confusion filters through her eyes. Then a sudden fear.
Quivering, she whispers "Todd, I didn't leave that open. Someone must of…" Her voice trails off as her eye catches the silhouetted form of an envelope.
Cautiously, she approaches it and grasps the end of the rectangle shaped parcel. Curiously, Tea peels off the edge, exposing the contents. It spills to the floor, scattering the objects wildly.
Stooping, Tea hurriedly reorganized the inarticulate mess. Finally, with everything in order, Tea is able to see exactly what was so conspicuously wrapped. Staring, her heart stops, breath becoming short and ragged. Flipping faster and faster through the articles, she begins to hyperventilate.
"Tea? Tea? What's wrong?" Todd, who'd since then been standing idly, impatient to get back to business, was now bewildered with anxiety. Tea looked up, feral with terror. Her eyes rolled back and she sank to the floor, unconscious.

TO BE CONTINUED