Page 456 of Coal Hearts

Calming.

Freeing.

This was what I was.

Death.

And alone.

Always, always alone.

I would’ve kept stabbing if a voice didn’t call me back.

A voice I recognised but wasn’t the one that leashed me.

A voice that caused jealousy and annoyance and worry.

Such worry that I would never be worthy.

Such fear that I would always lose.

“Master H...”

A man’s baritone.

I ignored him.

I drove the knife into another gristly part.

“Henri.”

I shook my head from the unwanted noise.

“Henri!”

I paused.

The smog slowly lifted.

I blinked.

“Henri...”

I gulped at that one.

Feminine, soft, afraid.

Ily.

The world slipped back into focus.

I gagged on the mess I’d caused.

Shoving away from Kyle’s corpse, I shot to my feet and glowered at the knife in my hands. My fingers thick with another’s blood.

Such thick, cooling, congealing blood.

“Put the knife down, Henri.”