Page 106 of Make Her Bleed

Murder.

Safety.

The words run in a constant loop.

I have to save my dad.

I reach the break in the tree line and tears fall down my face as I limp to the house on this piece of property.

It's like an old cottage with overgrown shrubs and wildflowers surrounding it.

"Help!" I yell as I slam against the door, pounding my fists against the wood. "Help me! Help, please!" I scream the words in a loop like a mantra, hoping and praying someone answers my plea.

"Please, answer thefucking door!" I wail until I hear the lock turn and the door flies open, revealing a haunting look in the future.

Myfuture.

Fiery red hair.

Freckles.

My eyebrows.

My lips.

My jaw.

"Aria?" she says, tears lingering in her eyes as she pulls me into her arms, but I'm too shocked to hug this stranger back. A stranger I've longed for since I was a little girl.

"Mom?"