“No.” She looked at Sean like he was crazy. “Why would I let you drive my car?”
“It’s a nice car. I wanna drive it.”
“I’m perfectly capable of driving us, thank you very much.”
“Please?”
“No. Stop asking.”
“So my cuteness is really the only reason you haven’t snapped yet?” Sean smiled as she shot him a horrified look.
“Did you read my thoughts? Why did I do this? Can you undo it? I don’t wanna be blood bound anymore!” Her freakout was barely starting when I cried out and fell back into Dennis.
Blank eyes were staring up at me from a pool of blood on the ground. The man’s wrists and neck were slashed.
“Ew, ew, eww!” I shielded my eyes with one hand and pointed with the other, not even sure if I was aiming at the dead body or something else entirely.
“Oh mygod, that’s a body,” Ari’s repulsion joined my own. “Why did you leave that here?”
“Someone take me to the car.” I felt around until my hands found Dennis, who was laughing shamelessly.
“This is why I leave them. This is priceless.” He took hold of my arm and led me to the car.“You can open your eyes now.”
I peeked to see the passenger door held open, then climbed in while Ari dove in the driver’s side. Both guys got in back and she sped off, barely giving us time to shut the doors.
“I’m gonna have nightmares,” I muttered, leaning against the window.
The others were talking, but I didn’t hear a word. I was staring out the window, watching dark shadows pass while we gradually approached the house.
“Are you okay?” Ari glanced over asa passing streetlamp cast an eerie light.I nodded. “You look like you’re freaking out.”
“I’m fine.” I stepped out the moment we parked in the driveway. The neighbor’s lights were off. So were ours. I took in every minuscule detail while we walked, trying to distract myself from the unwanted images.“I’m going to bed.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I shot Ari a fleeting smile before unlocking the door and disappearing inside.“Goodnight, guys,” I called over my shoulder.
Their voices faded as I headed upstairs. I entered my room and kicked off my boots, then grabbed pajamas and went to the bathroom for my bedtime routine. A few minutes passed before there was a timid knock at the door.
“Emy?” Ari nudged it open.
“The one and only.” I dried my face and forced a smile, but she saw right through it.
“Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No. I’m okay. Thanks for checking.” I smiled, a real one this time. “I’m gonna go to bed. I love you.”
“Love you, too.” She pulled me into a hug before saying goodnight and heading to bed.
I reached my room and dumped the day’s outfit in a haphazard pile, then wandered to the dark vanity and pulled my hair from its messy bun. Everything seemed so dim. So far. Like we were lost in a dream. A faint buzzing mixed with the sound of Ari’s favorite movie wafting down the hall.
Or was it her favorite? I must know her favorite movie, but somehow I couldn’t remember.
I brushed my hair, staring into familiar blue eyes. They were framed with dark smudges; eyeliner that had cried its way out of place but managed to survive makeup removal. I kept brushing, trying to remember if the movie was Ari’s favorite. Trying to remember why I suddenly couldn’t remember. Trying to remember what I was even trying to remember…
My purple and black ombre slowly turned to chestnut curls. My vibrant blue eyes became light brown. Vacant. My mouth began to foam.
I lurched backward into something, then spun and screamed. A hand clamped over my mouth as the hairbrush fell.
