Page 132 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

I shove to my feet, collapsing on the couch, then force myself up again, stumbling into the kitchen.

Blaze is passed out on the floor. The tap is still running, water overflowing the sink. I turn off the tap, my eyes blurring. My attempt to crouch ends up with me kneeling in the water, panting. I shake him, trying to wake him, but he will not open his eyes. My dizziness is getting worse, and standing requires so much effort that I have to hold on to the bench.

I stumble and find King face down on his plate of food. I turn his face so he can breathe and stumble on. Rolly, where is Rolly? He can help us.

He’s in the bathroom, a thin line of blood spreading into the warm water of the shower. I turn off the water and cover him with a towel, wishing I could do more.

When I stumble into the bedroom, Merle is passed out on the bed, and I can’t rouse her. Sage is sitting in the bedroom, in the dark, hidden.

It’s like he put himself there before he went to sleep.

I stumble out.

Need to get to Pix's phone. Call Bonnie. Get help.

I stumble and go down, then try to crawl. I struggle and haul myself, hand over hand, but I end up on my side, staring at the wall, knowing I’ve failed.

He has our omega.

Shit.

And then the drug, whatever it is, drags me into its inevitable hold.

Dove

Iwake up and jump out of bed, standing beside it, pressing my back to the cold wall. That smell of rotten leaves is back, wafting through the air just like that night I first smelled it. I didn’t even know what it was back then, but I know now.

There is nowhere to hide. My breathing is loud, and I struggle to slow it down so he doesn’t hear, but a scream is lodged in my throat. Outside the door, I hear a distinct male grunt of sound, a shuffle of a shoe I recognise, that I know isn’t my family.

The wall is freezing, but I don’t dare turn away, I don’t think my legs will hold me. I think I will fall.

Mummy. Where is my mummy?

I swipe at the tears, staring at the door, willing what is on the other side to go away.

I glance down in the dark and see a knife right beside my foot. It’s like someone placed it there, knowing I would see it. I hesitate. It’s the folded one that Raven gave Mr Rose. He loves it.

He won’t be mad, will he?

I snatch it up and hide it in the layers of clothes, tucking it under the flesh on my chest. My breathing is getting heavier, faster. My chest rising so hard and fast that I feel dizzy.

I turn, reaching out for Robin, but she’s not there. Where is Robin?

Where is Rose?

Robin’s already dead.

Rose is…dead? No! He’s not dead.

The door handle jiggles.

“Please, please, go away. Go away.”

A whimper slips into the words, and I whine. Weak, that will get us hurt. Don’t make noises. He’s going to hurt me! I slap my free hand to the bond on my neck, covering it, hoping that it will go warm like it sometimes does, and I won’t be alone.

But it doesn’t, it stays cold.

I want Mr Rose. Where is my Rolly?