But there’s no axe. No physical weapon. Just her words.
“You’re talking to them.”
She flinches at my cold, harsh tone. “N—no, not always, not for long, just… They’re worried.”
The gaping wound widens. “You’re talking about me. To them. Behind my back.”
Her eyes water, her emotions tangle. “I was… I was—I’m just trying to help—”
“Helpwho?!” I snarl, stepping closer. “Who the fuck does this help, Kacey? Me? You think this helps me? You think it helps to know that the one person, the one fucking person I thought I could trust is talking to them!”
I swallow, try to catch my breath, try to understand. “Why?Whywould you do that to me?”
She forces down a breath. “Because I want what’s best for you—all of you.”
I scoff, shaking my head, trying to hide the crushing pain of her betrayal. “I’m so fucking stupid.”
Has she been in it from the start? Contacting them about me? Sending little updates like a spy? Has she always been on their side?
I head towards the front door. I don’t need to take anything; I have nothing.
I don’t even have her.
“Wait, what are you—you can’t go, J! Wait, don’t leave!” She’s following me, her panic and desperation chasing my footsteps as I reach the door. “I won’t respond, I won’t talk to them. I—I’m sorry, I’m sorry I did this. I should’ve told you! I know I should. It’s just, they’re my friends—”
Her friends.
“—And I care about them.”
Time. Stands. Still.
She cares… about them.
I turn to face her.
Kacey cares about them.
Aboutmybonds.
Mine.
Heatburnsbehind my eyes. I will jam my arm down her fucking throat and rip out her heart—
“No, not like that!” she squeals, eyes widening. “Not like—”
“Like what?” I grind out.
I’m still envisioning the choking sounds she’ll make when she’s suffocating on her blood. This burning rage fills me so viciously, so suddenly, I don’t even realise I’m stalking towards her.
“Like.What.” My coils spike around me and her eyes frantically watch as they multiply into vicious shapes.
“L—like—” she tries, but I keep pacing forwards, closing the distance as she splutters and stumbles in her haste to get away.
Each step, every breath, my rage grows.
“Have you fucked them, Kacey?” Another step. “Have you fucked my bonds?”
Kacey goes pale, shaking her hands and head. “N—No! I would never, no! It’s not like that! I don’t—they don’t—”
