Page 42 of Signed in Blood

Sabrina.

I can’t help the gasp although I cover it with my hand. It’s not like she could hear me. I bet she can’t even really see me since she’s the one in the lit up room and there is just a small fire beside me. My heart instantly yearns for her. I wish I could speak to her.

If I could go back and make one amendment to the deal, I’d ask to be able to talk to her. Even like this, looking like someone else. Just so Sabrina had someone. She’s independent, more so than me, but I can’t imagine what she’s thinking and feeling. I can’t imagine how alone she feels.

I sit there, crying for far too long. It’s like I’m mourning her death, but she’s literally right there. So close and yet, to me she’s gone forever. The sobs come unannounced, and I let all of them happen. Feeling every wretched emotion. I miss my friend. I miss the life I thought we were going to have together. Holding myself I whimper; I just need to know if she’s okay. But I know, I’ll never get to know that.

Because they tore us apart.

The light goes off and I know Sabrina’s gone to bed. At least I know she’s alive, and that gives me a peace I didn’t know I needed.

As sleep takes me under, I remember all the moments that brought us closer. The moments I wish we could go back to.

Two Years Before

* * *

“We’re adults now,” she declares, holding up her phone so the flashlight can shine down on a covered box where we have to put in the code to access the lock.

“First of all, eighteen is hardly an adult and second, adults can still be murdered,” I respond, my own phone in my hand with 911 ready to be called.

“You’re being ridiculous,” Sabrina says as the wind blows her hair back and she opens the old creaking door. I’m freaking the fuck out though.

The downstairs of the old condo we’re renting for the summer before college is creepy as fuck. You can only get in from the outside, and it used to be a cellar for food, but it houses the fuse box now.

The power went out and the whole house is dark.

“There could be a creepy fucker in there waiting. Or like…he has a partner out here and they’re going to lock us in,” I tell her, my heart racing.

The fall leaves crunch under her feet. She’s only wearing ankle socks and I have on bunny slippers. Both of us in nighties since it’s nearly midnight.

“You’re literally acting crazy right now,” Sabrina says as she peers into the vacant cement cellar. The fuse box is on the left about five steps in and down a set of crumbling cement stairs. Cobwebs sit between the fuse box closest to us, and I’m not even sure which is ours and which is our neighbor’s. What I am sure of though is that there are two other doors down in this cellar, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some serial killer come out of one and kidnap us.

“Can you help me and head upstairs to see which one works what?” Sabrina asks.

I call out as loudly as I can, “No fucking way I’m leaving you.” She’s crazy and my heart beats out of my chest. “I’m keeping my thumb on the send button for 911 and I swear to God, I’m pushing it if I hear any fucking thing.”

“Girl,” Sabrina says and rolls her eyes.

“It’s the one flipped,” I tell her.

“What?” she questions. She might be the brave one but I’ve watched enough movies to know you just flip the switch that’s facing the wrong way.

“The fuse thing that’s flipped,” I tell her again.

She runs her fingers down the buttons—whatever the hell they’re called—and flips one over. I peek up at the small window on the second floor and light appears.

“It worked,” I tell her.

“Just like that?” she asks, genuinely surprised.

“Yes, now get out of there,” I tell her and she snorts at me.

“You are a scaredy-cat.”

“Maybe, but at least I'm alive and so is my friend,” I tell her as a cool breeze blows by. Goosebumps flow down my skin as the cool night chills the air.

I watch Sabrina lock the door and feel somewhat relived…but not really.