The night we parted ways, I made sure to memorize it because I knew if I lost my phone, I wouldn’t know how to find her.
Emotions bubble up in my chest at the sound of her voice, as I remember everything she went through in the asylum.
“Bianca. It’s Heather.”
Her sharp intake of breath has me smiling.
“Oh, my God! Holy shit! I thought you were dead!”
“Not yet.” I say, and then pause, before continuing.
“I’m in trouble. My boyfriends are helping, but I was wondering if Raven might-“
Bianca interrupts me and yells, “Boyfriends! Plural?”
I giggle, my cheeks burning hot as I answer her question.
“Plural. There are three of them.”
“Holy shit. Umm, Can you come here? I can’t travel, but if you can make it to New York, Raven will listen. You can stay with us. If you’re in danger, we will keep you safe.”
I laugh, remembering how Raven keeps people safe.
He skins people alive.
I shudder at the memory of him teaching Bianca how to peel the skin off the doctor's dick.
When we escaped from Wellard Asylum, he had a scalpel every step of the way. I knew long before that day Raven had a penchant for grotesque violence. He wasn’t locked up like the rest of us because the medical staff were afraid of him. They knew he didn’t do well with confinement, and eventually they’d pay for it, by having their skin peeled from their bones. He is the man you want on your side, not against you.
“I don’t know that he will skin people alive to protect me like he did you, but I’ll take the help if he’s willing.”
She doesn’t ask questions about what I’ve gotten myself into, as I expected she wouldn’t. Bianca isn’t the kind of person to pry, but I will tell her and Raven everything they need to know.
“Can we go to New York?” I ask Carter since he’s driving.
“Yes, Little Heathen.”
Bianca squeals excitedly.
“He sounds hot. I’m so glad you’re not alone.”
I can’t help the huge smile on my face when I respond to her.
“He is. They all are. Can you text this number the address, and I’ll let you know when we are close? Right now we are in New Mexico, so it’s going to be a few days.”
She’s probably wondering why I’m here, but she doesn’t ask, and I don’t offer.
“Alright chica. If you need anything before then, call or text. I can’t wait to see you.”
After disconnecting the call, I hand the phone back to Knox, and he pockets it.
“You look happy, Tesoro.”
I nod as he locks his fingers with mine.
“I am. It was good to hear her voice. She was my first friend until you guys. We didn’t know each other long, but she became important to me. Then I never called her after we left. Time went by, and then I felt like it was too late. When I thought my life was over, I learned some things.”
I take a deep breath as I remember the day I was lying on the ground, so sure my time was up—that I’d never see any of them again.
