World Weary
Clash of the Titans
Part Three



Flowers scattered across a long, wooden coffin, surrounded by mourning friends who were covered in black. The grim reality of living without Marina Ferrer shadowed throughout of the crowd. The sky was already darkening, even more fitting of the mood of the mourners.

Shane shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to be here. The atmosphere filled with sadness and grim sorrow, she did not want to be around for that. Shane backed away slowly, wanting to escape. Bette looked over to Shane, their eyes meeting, Bette nodded in understanding. Shane felt relieved, leaving behind the memory of Marina. Shane walked away, lowering her head as she knew that her respected competitor for girls is gone and missing her wisdom and accepting who Shane is. Damn you, Marina. You are such a coward. Running away from yourself. Shane kicked the dirt angrily as she hopped into her old truck and squealed away, leaving the funeral behind the dust.

Bette looked over to Tina, she couldnt see her eyes as Tina hid her eyes behind her dark sunglasses. Bette looked down, seeing Tinas hand and putting her hand on Tinas hand and squeezed gently in comfort. Tina smiled as she squeezed back. Bette let go of her hand and walked over to the coffin and she leaned down. Bette put her hand on the coffin as Bette thought about Marina. Bette thought she knew Marina but now she has no idea who the ***** Marina was. Bette wondered what or who drove her to the edge because she only saw only one aspect of Marina, a seductress, who loved to play games with women and sleeping with them. She loved to have the challenge to lure women into her bed. But the sad thing is she never knew what love really meant. Bette smiled grimly as she tossed a white rose into the opening of Marinas gravesite. Finding anger inside her as she whispered to the coffin of the damned, “Marina, you will never experience the true definition of love and finding the happiness within love. That makes me mad, you ***** coward.” With those words, Bette walked away angrily but something stopped her as she slowed down, “And sad, dammit, so ***** sad.”

Tina, Dana, and Alice went up to her coffin and laid their flowers silently saying goodbye and knowing that their lives wont be same without Marina and her wisdom, her loyalty, caring listener, being there when they needed someone to listen, and showing them she didnt care what people thought of her as she lived the life the way she wanted. They came up to Bette; they nodded to Bette, signaling that they wanted to leave. All of them turned away, they linked their arms as they walked away, closing a chapter of their lives. All of them knew that Marina will never know that she brought some meaning to their lives.

Seeing Kit standing by the limo, they took some comfort that Kit will keep the Planet up and running, keeping that business as part of them to remember Marina by. Marina will always to be remembered and being part of them. They came up to Kit, all of them hugged together. Then they entered the limo, leaving behind the sad day of Marinas death.

Standing still, not moving as everyone moved to leave the gravesite. One companion stayed with her, seeing the sky darken and ready to rain onto them. Jenny didnt care as long she remained with ashes of Marina. Angry with herself and angry at Marina taking the easy way out and not admitting that she had feelings. Jenny figured that Marina viewed those feelings as a weakness, ignoring the fact that she is a human being. Jenny frowned at the thought of Marina preferring death than to really live and experience those forgotten emotions that she had buried deep inside of her and continued to live her life without really feeling anything, leaving a trail of careless broken hearts.

Jenny smiled and shrugged, ” I guess Marina deserved what she got, killing herself over for stupid reasons rather than to suffer and redeem herself. She chose death over second chances and a fresh start, seeing through the world in new way. Now she will miss everything.”

Jenny dropped the white rose to the ground and crushed it with her heel, not deserving a final goodbye from Jenny to Marina. Tim frowned at Jennys action, knowing that shes acting out as usual. He leaned down and picked up the battered white rose, his face turned to the direction where Jenny walked away angrily. Tim sighed. He walked up to the open grave, dropping the rose next to her grave. Tim ran up to catch up with Jenny and leaving behind the final goodbye that Tim made for Jenny.

Finally the rain came out, pouring and drenching everything including that white rose, pushing it into the grave. Those men appeared from nowhere then they lowered the casket into the grave, closing her off from the world then into the complete darkness where she simply stop existing.

*******************

Chattering remained throughout the Planet, ignoring the fact the owner had just died, as the patrons continued to stream in and out with their coffee in their hands. But one area remained stand still, as the solemn silence filled the air as the memories they remember about Marina filled in their heads, not forgetting.

Shane, slouched in her chair, drinking her coffee as the females all around gave her the eye and trying to catch her attention.

“Its bad enough that no one knows what happened to Marina or giving respects to her and today,” Dana exclaimed, noticing the females not being discreet as they continued to try to get Shanes attention. Not noticing that everyone in the group is wearing a black dress or suit or seeing the grim and seriousness wore onto their expressions.

“Dane, no one cares. They dont know who Marina is, just knew her as the friendly owner,” Shane shrugged and waved away the attention away from her as it start to annoy her.

“It bothers me that none of us noticed Marinas cry of help or seeing any difference in the way Marina has been acting lately,” Tina said, feeling guilty that she was too wrapped up in her life than seeing what have been going on around her.

“Its not our fault. Marina is mysterious like that when it came to her life and not letting us to be part of it. Its her way of keeping us at distance and keeping it simple,” Shane said, giving Tina a wry smile. Tina sighed.

“Shane is right, baby,” Bette looked at Tina as she nodded at Bettes understanding of what Tinas feeling right now. Bette was comforted at the fact that everyone were comforting each other, regardless what goes on in their lives and putting aside their problems, focusing on in the present. Bette was relieved at the fact that good or bad, they managed to unite and becoming as one as they continue to give support.

Everyone is here except one person which is Jenny. Alice looked down in her coffee cup, wondering what Jenny is feeling right now as she and Marina parted on bad terms. Hoping that Jenny will meet them at the Planet than being alone as it is in her nature. Alice sighed as she realized that Jenny still has Tim. Feeling someones hand on her arm,
Alice looked up, seeing Danas worried glance.

“Im just wondering about Jenny,” Alice told Dana.

Danas gentle smile comforted Alice, “Alice. She will be fine and Tim is there for her. If she wants to talk to us, she will do it on her own time.”

Dana looked around, meeting her friends eyes, knowing that friends are your life, no matter what happens. They continue to sit silently and holding the next persons hand as they continue to move on and will continue to remember Marina in any way and form. Also remember her every time they come here at the Planet.

***************

Jenny sat there on the bed, miserable, her redden eyes staring at nothing. Jenny stood up and walked over to her desk and picked up the laptop, threw it through the window. The laptop crashed onto the ground, breaking the screen, signaling the end of her writing. Jenny fell to the ground, curled up in a ball, and started to sob.

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Floating through the sky, everything is covered in a fog..
Marina struggled slightly, trying to break out of the darkness, she thought hazily.

Dammit. Pump those drugs out. The emergency doctor told the nurse. Marina groaned, wishing she were already dead. But someone found me. Who? Marina started to fade back into unconsciousness.