Page 8 of Signed in Blood

He nods toward a dark street. “Behind the alley. It’s gray.”

“Sabrina, I can⁠—”

She cuts off Lilith, whispering in her ear, “I don’t want to lose this chance to hang out with them. Just go, I’ll meet up with you in a few. Please…”

Lilith nods although she doesn’t smile. She’s got enough sense left in her to know it feels wrong; they shouldn’t separate. I can sense her core tightening, feeling conflicted. I watch Sabrina leave, but then, the drummer grabs Lilith’s hand and I resist the urge to break his fucking fingers.

“It’s okay,” he emphasizes, smiling. “She’ll be right back.”

She stares up at him like she might say no to leaving. Like she wants to wait and won’t go willingly, but eventually she lets the three of them lead her away. I think about that for far too long. The force that grows, keeping me physically away, is infuriating. I am bound by forces that others aren’t. I cannot physically follow, which is infuriating.

Anger simmers inside of me, and if I could slaughter them, I would. But I’m restricted. I can only aid in the chaos. I cannot prevent what fate intends. And searching in her eyes, I know, this is the way she dies. It’s hard to swallow at the thought. Regret and sorrow confuse me as I slip into Lilith’s mind, finding the memory that is unfolding in her head, from years ago. When they were only children…

* * *

“Sabrina, you promise you’ll never leave me?” Lilith whispers to her.

They must be around ten years old and this is their third foster home.

“Never,” Sabrina replies with tears rimming her eyes. “And you’ll never leave me either,” her friend tells her firmly.

* * *

This is the only family they’ve ever known, all they’ve ever had is one another. The girls don’t know life without each other and now they’re going to experience death together…

If only they got to pick when “never” ends and hell begins.

Chapter Five

Lilith

* * *

My heart hammers in my chest. Panic takes over but only in waves. I can barely keep my eyes open but I’m so fucking cold. I’m so cold and so scared, but I don’t know why. I don’t know how it happened. One moment I was laughing with Sabrina. We were having fun. The band. The music.

Fuck, I feel sick to my stomach. I’m going to throw up. It’s like a twisted feeling in my gut. Help me. I try to speak, to scream, to even whisper. My head lulls and I don’t know if the words come one.

What happened?

I blink and try to steady myself, although my body won’t stop feeling like it’s convulsing. I’m outside and naked and it’s so fucking cold. I suddenly realize I can’t move. A coarse rope digs into my raw, bared skin. I’m tied down to what looks like a circular board, like I’m the X, as my teeth chatter and fear consumes me. My heart races and my toes go numb.

Where am I?

The first man crawls on top of me. Jake. The blond hair, it shakes as he…

Please. No.

His sweat drips on me. Get it off. Stop! Stop!

Tears fall down my cheeks and I try to scream, but I can’t. I can’t do what I tell myself to do.

Help me! Sabrina!

My throat feels dry and raw too. What happened?

I fall back under with the feel of his weight and the brutality of his attack. A scream is finally released into the cold night air. Cause it hurts. The pain is excruciating. I cry out when he penetrates me, screaming bloody murder, only to be met with laughter and mockery.

They laugh and the bit of hope of someone helping fades to nothing. My heart beats so fast, like it’s trying to escape. Like it might kill me so I don’t have to go through this.