Plenty of bad things happen to Charlie. But what stung the most was definitely the day of the 'church burning' and the following committal.
Tw: Rape, assault, suicide baiting, attempted murder, implied future medical malpractice. Idk probably more but if that doesn't give you enough of a warning just don't click the read more.
It's important to note b4 this sordid tale begins: Charlie and Christopher never technically have 'traditional' sex. Christopher pays Charlie for a lot of things, both sexual and nonsexual, but there's no penetration involved. (Chris, has gotten at least 200 blowjobs from a crossdressing hooker that he abuses on the regular: IM A VIRGIN!!!!) In Christopher's mind, it's pure denial. They have never had sex. They will never have sex because Christopher is waiting until he's married. Whatever he pays Charlie for is a service.
It's no secret tht Charlie delights in pushing Christopher's buttons. That's what he does. They get together, they do the job, Charlie needles Christopher the whole time until Christopher is a trembling mess of nerves, Christopher pays Charlie to relieve the tension. Sexually, violently, sometimes both. You get the picture.
Charlie wants her money, above all. She's homeless, and she's in debt with some seriously nasty people. She needs all the money she can get. She's willing to put up with a lot from Christian, because they rely on each other, and Christian brings in a lot of money, and... She cares about him. Ough she fucking hates him, but. She adores him. He's so, so funny. (In the way a clown is that you laugh at, not as in. He has a good sense of humor. He's horrible at telling jokes.)
There must've been a straw that breaks the camel's back, but from Charlie's perspective, it's a day like any other when it happens. The most recent con went pretty good, as a matter of fact. Sure there were some minor inconveniences, but nobody saw them at the clinic. They can't be linked to anything tht happened there.
Monroe leaves first. He asks Charlie to come to his apartment after. Tells Charlie she can sleep there. Charlie pays Monroe no mind. Her attention is on Christopher.
Christopher has to stop by the church before he drops Richie off at the shelter. Charlie agrees, because she always finds it very... Quaint. Being in the church after hours, when it's not filled to bursting with hypocrites and assholes. The stained glass, at least, is pretty. Charlie likes pretty things, when they aren't people.
Charlie drinks the communion wine left on the altar. Absolutely drains the whole bottle while she's waiting for Chris to get done in his office. They argue. They always argue. This is nothing new.
Charlie says Chrristopher is a hypocrite. You bring your hooker mistress here in the house of the lord bc it gives you a little thrill but you get mad when the altar is desecrated. Just because you weren't the one to do it. You can't even let your own best friend have a little wine. Very mean!
Christopher comes unglued. I think in the aftermath of the rape what offends Charlie the most is the fact Christopher didn't pay him after. That's what she claims at least, as Christopher drags her naked and bloodied out of the church (she imagines it burning. It must be the pills she took earlier. Always something with the pills. That's what Chris tells her.) and drives her into the desert.
Charlie is ready. This is how it ends. This is the inevitable conclusion to their... whatever they've got going on. (I hesitate to call it a relationship.) Christopher, killing Charlie after a brutal rape, and Richie getting buried in the dirt to rot. Perfect ending. Charlie is at peace.
Christopher has the shovel. He's kept a shovel in his car for weeks now. Just in case. He raises it up. He hesitates. Charlie is quick to assure Christopher that if he lets Charlie walk away from this, Charlie will make him regret it. Maybe not immediately, but one day. One day, Christopher will wish he went through with killing Charlie here. She'll tell people what happened. Go to the cops. A rape kit, a court date, and Christian's face on the news.
Think about it, Chris. This could all be over. You kill me, you kill yourself after in this empty desert warehouse. Hang yourself from the rafters once you bury me. Hell, hang me up there too. Decorations for a lonely place, the two of us, together. And it's all over. No more pain, right?
Phase two of this boss battle begins when Christopher can't go through with it. He's done a lot of horrible things. Extortion, embezzling, now rape. But he's never killed before. That's what Charlie does, or Monroe. Not Chris. Never good, pious Christopherson. Saint Christopher of the Truth.
For the first time, Christopherson begs Charlie for something. Don't tell. Don't tell. Please. They can pretend this didn't happen, they can both walk away. Please don't make Chris do something rash. Please God. Please don't just sit there looking at him while he cries. Comfort him. Isn't that what friends are for?
Charlie is disgusted. He grabs the shovel, and gets in the car. He blankly tells Chris to get in the car too. They're going back to the city.
They drive. Chris grows more hysterical by the minute. He begs Charlie to reassure him that they can both still care about each other. We love each other, right? It's love?
Charlie laughs, and Chris grabs the wheel. The car crashes. Charlie wakes in a hospital, and isn't permitted to leave. Christopher claims Charlie drove them off a bridge. That Charlie hallucinates sometimes. An addict with intense mental health issues. A danger to herself, and others. She should really be committed, she should really be committed, she should really be put away in a place where no one has to see her or hear her or deal with her. An asylum. Somewhere peaceful. Somewhere bland and quiet and white. They'll make you better. Even if it hurts.
