Page 45 of Signed in Blood

He’s the last one to kill and then I can spend eternity with Lucifer, but the thought of that makes me sad after seeing my best friend. It really did a number on my heart and my emotions.

I just want to hug her one last time. I know I can’t, though, and it kills me. It makes the rage burn all the hotter in my soul.

It’s time to end this. And end both the rage and pain of loss.

I’m wearing a slinky red dress tonight as I enter that bar, searching for my murderer to put an end to his life forever. I’m three steps into the place when my body freezes, stopping dead in its tracks as my heart halts its beats. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Time stops moving all together.

Maybe it’s from my shock, I’m not sure.

I don’t even realize it at first until I’m aware that the room’s gone silent and no one’s moved.

“Sabrina,” I whisper, although no one could hear me. I reach out into thick air toward her. “What are you doing here?” and with the question, everything moves again and I can’t stop time.

What the fuck is happening?

* * *

Sabrina

* * *

A chill flows down my shoulders and I shake it off. Ignoring the feeling and the sickness in the pit of my stomach. Slowly, I drink the fourth, maybe fifth cocktail at the bar as I stare at him.

I’ve never felt fear quite like this. Like it’s all going to end.

I’m nauseous, and a weakness I can’t place makes my head fuzzy and my thoughts slow.

But I can’t stop looking at him. Murphy. Someone tagged him on socials and gave his location away. The others aren’t here. But I’ll find them too. I know what they fucking did. Somewhere deep in my gut I knew it all along. But last night, last night I saw what they did. I don’t know how, but everything finally slipped into place. I saw the nightmare of what happened to her, so vivid and brutal. My guilt eats at me but the need for revenge for Lilith burns hot.

He smiles at those around him.

A casual smile that I used to adore.

I look down to his hands. His hands that wrap around an almost-empty beer; hands that play the drums so beautifully.

Hands that hurt her. I know they fucking hurt her.

I know what they did to her and the cops can choose to believe Lilith just ran away one day, but I know she didn’t.

They fucking killed her. I think she showed me last night, or at least her ghost did.

I’m fucking sick to my stomach and possibly fucking crazy. But I know they did it. They killed my best friend.

Tears threaten, but I hold them back and take another swig.

She’s gone and I’m settled with that. I’m not at peace with it, but I’m not in denial any longer.

And he’s going to pay for it. He was the last person I saw her with and I know Murphy told the cops she left to go after me and they waited, but neither of us came back.

That’s the report they gave when I filed the missing person’s report.

I nearly heave up bile at the memory.

It takes everything in me to sit still and keep the tears from showing. I breathe out slowly and take another sip of a mai tai or whatever this drink is. I don’t care, I just need the courage to do it. My hands are clammy as I set the drink back down and then let my hand fall to my pocket.

My finger tips slip across the metal. The gun is so cold.