“Actually, I thought you were the reason for that.” He responds, flashing his teeth in a sneer. Wind pelts a stream of rain into the tent, smacking Salem and my father across the face. “How fucking-?”
“Let’s go.” Walker says, grabbing her by the wrist and gesturing to Skye and the rest of the guys from the house.
“I look forward to seeing you back at the house.” Emmet drawls as Salem walks past. Her back goes straight as a rod, but she keeps her composure despite Emmet looking at her with a taunting smirk.
“I’m right behind you.” I say, glaring at my father and Emmet. “I can’t wait to see your empire crumble at your feet.” I give them a smile before following my friends to the cars. Their time would come, but it wasn’t now. I needed cold hard facts and a plan to ruin them and everyone else that made us this way.
As Garrison’s car pulls away, I spot Walker’s, Emmet’s, and my father all huddling together as they watch us drive away from the funeral while paparazzi cameras flash in our direction. I feel in my gut that they’re up to something, I just hope we can get ahead of whatever it is.
ChapterTwenty-One
PIERCE
SONG: SAY SOMETHING BY A GREAT BIG WORLD, CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Idon’t know what day it is, or how long I’ve been here. Pain has been my constant companion as heavy black manacles dig into my ankles and wrists, reopening any healed skin with each slight movement. My cell reeks of rotten flesh and feces, it’s enough to turn my empty stomach that runs on nothing but pure bile. They don’t give me much to stave off this gnawing hunger.
The worst part of this, is being forced to look at the only other thing in the dank vicinity. An ornate mirror hung up on the wall opposite me, just outside the iron bars showing me glimpses of the people I miss most. I’m forced to see Salem looking straight into the mirror wearing my football jersey, sporting twin bruises beneath her eyes, a trail of mascara down her alabaster cheeks. Letting me know she thinks I’m gone and there’s nothing I can do about it. No matter how loud I scream her name, she only looks past me at her own withering reflection.
Fuck, is she even eating?
She looks like she’s lost weight since I last saw her and that kills me.
Lukas too, has been looking gaunt and haunted. He can’t even bring himself to look directly into the mirror and that fucking guts me to see him suffering. At one point, I could have sworn I saw him at our old house in our parent’s bathroom raising a razor like he intended to end his life.
I hear the telltale sign of my sin walking down the hall. I’m sure others would be more than happy to give me my meager allotment of bread, but he seems to derive a sick satisfaction from being the one to toss it at me. Some days he gets it close enough that I can reach the dirtied piece of food. Every once in a while, someone comes in to offer me a drink of water that tastes of charcoal.
Pride drags his long red fingers across the bars of my cell, his pointed tail flicking joyously behind him while his fangs peek through his top leathery lip. His horns, tipped black, shine with the flicker of the candles that line the hallway.
“I see you’re enjoying the show!” His demonic voice booms, echoing off the vaulted cave like structure.
My head lolls trying to crane my neck up to look at him properly, at this fucker that inhabited my body for the last two years of my life, controlling me like I was nothing more than a puppet on a string for him to play with.
“Our girl’s looking good today!” He exclaims, stalking close to the mirror. He traces Salem’s face with his black pointed nail as she braids her hair.
“She’s not yours.” I manage to spit out.
“Pretty sure I was there the whole-time little Ledger. She’s just as much mine as she is yours. Fuck, she felt so good.”
I yank myself up with what little strength I have, my restraints pulling at my skin. “Fuck you.” I yell out, my voice sounding like a truck ran over my vocal cords.
“Oh Pierce, you poor little privileged sack of shit.” He tosses the piece of bread at me, smacking me straight in the chest and plopping down onto the dirt encrusted floor.
I pick up the bread, shoving it into my mouth as it leaves crumbs across the ground. It tastes like ash and leaves my tongue coated in a dry film.
My hunger makes me desperate and weak. I fucking hate being at the mercy of this demon, only this time I can’t even try to keep him away.
“Looks like she doesn’t need us though.” He says, and my eyes find Walker cradling Salem. The sight sends a pang of hurt and longing into my chest. I feel a sliver of doubt worm its way into my thoughts and I wonder if I’m ever going to get out, and if I do will Salem even want me?
ChapterTwenty-Two
WALKER
SONG: CRAZY IN LOVE BY SOFIA KARLBERG
The house is full of people by the time we get back from the funeral. I yank my tie off, giving myself some room to breathe.
Something was going on with our parents, and it was gnawing at my mind to figure out what it was.
