They are frozen like statues as Shadow opens his mouth and bites.
Howling, Wulf clutches his throat.Gobbets of flesh hang from Shadow’s fangs.A gaping hole in Wulf’s neck.
And then Wulf is gone.
“Shhhadoooow…?”
I’m trying to speak louder, but there’s no air in my lungs.
When I look down, something doesn’t seem right.
The handle of my meteor knife is sticking out of my chest.
Gosh, will you look at that?Darn thing is so sharp, it cut right through my breastbone… the knife went straight into my heart like its very own personal Cupid’s arrow.
The doctor will cut through my breastbone when he does the autopsy.How sad.
Shadow is cradling me in his arms.He feels safe and warm.
“So… thirsty…” The words leave my mouth reluctantly.
Holding me close, Shadow bellows at the sullen gray skies like a wounded beast.
“LUNAAAH!”
I can no longer feel my limbs.I would love to be able to touch him one last time, but no amount of wishing will save me now.The corners of my world are turning dark.My breathing is shallow—and it hurts.Oh Lord, it hurts so much to take in the air, so… I’d rather not…
My heart flutters like a wounded bird.
Tears of blood are pooling in Shadow’s eyes.He looks grim and fierce.
Kissing me on the forehead, he murmurs as if he is saying a prayer.
“I will do anything to keep you with me, Luna.I love you… so you’re just going to have to trust me on this.I’ve never done this before, but then again, I’ve never loved anyone, either.”
The pain when he lifts the knife out of my chest is indescribable.I feel my eyes roll back in my head as he places his mouth on the deep gash between my breasts.
Goodbye.
Images flicker, providing light to me in the darkness.Dad, Tallie, my clients, my teachers, my friends, my Landslide neighbors.And my fluffy white dog.
And my mom.She is so near, yet so far.
Tschk.
Is that the sound of him slitting his wrist with the knife?What is Shadow doing to my numb lips?Oh, right.I was thirsty.One last drink before I die isn’t going to hurt me.
I am so thirsty.This is delicious.
Why was I thinking about surrendering?I feel better than I have in ages.
Pushing his wrist deep in my mouth as I suck, I don’t let go when Shadow rolls into the water with me.
Fractals of fantasy crowd my mind.My heart is beating like a drum.Strong and booming.Pumping hard, the blood surges around my body like a busy virus.
There is no need for me to breathe, but if I were to inhale the murky waters of the creek, they would be cooling and smell like bits of leaves and mud.
No oxygen, no food, no sleep will I ever need again.
