Page 128 of Twisted Heathens

Those perfect lips turn up in a smile just for me. Thick eyelashes frame dazzling emerald eyes, begging me to step down. Eli wiggles his fingers; coaxing, encouraging, imploring me to return to him.

“L-live,” he struggles out. “W-we… live.”

He hops closer to close the distance between us.

“Please stay away.” I sob brokenly. “I don’t… want to live.”

Eli stops mere inches away from me, but he doesn’t move any closer. His hand hovers in the air, encouraging me to close that final gap. I reach out automatically. I can’t help myself, our fingers entwine. His palm is warm and dry. Steady. Reassuring. Alive.

“Neither do I.”

His voice is raw, but flows like honey through my veins.

My feet move back from the edge without thinking. Only slightly, but enough for him to see. That devastating gaze burrows beneath my skin and attacks the tendrils of hatred around my heart. I take a shuddering breath. More tears fall. My body shakes. The wind howls. Eli’s hand clutches mine painfully tight.

“Live… f-for me. For us.”

His words ghost over my skin, caressing my fractured soul. Invading my mind in a way that no one else ever will. All because Elijah Woods is me. Broken pieces held together by bitter resentment and determination to take up less goddamn space in the world.

There’s a sudden, brutal gust of wind just as I resolve to step down. I teeter in the air for a terrifying second before finally losing my balance.

Epilogue

Eli

The Funeral by Bands of Horses

“If anyone has any further information about the tragic events that transpired last night, I urge you to come forward. You won’t be in trouble. We need witnesses to shed some light on what happened. And remember… suicide is never the answer.”

Miss White casts a serious look around the cafeteria, her dominance and authority stifling. There are more guards than you can possibly count in this room, a clear show of force after the chaos of the last twenty-four hours.

Phoenix grips my hand so hard it turns white. I touch his frantically jiggling leg, trying to communicate my silent support. We’ve got to keep it together in front of everyone.

“I understand that you are all shaken by what happened yesterday. A full investigation will take place, I can assure you that we will get to the bottom of this,” she adds meaningfully.

“Fucking lies,” Phoenix hisses under his breath. “All of it.”

His acrid rage dances across my tongue and I swallow, forcing the bitter flavour aside. Hold it together, just for a few more seconds. Got to keep a brave face, don’t let them see the truth. This is torturous, sitting here like nothing is wrong, but it’s necessary.

Miss White sighs and shuffles her papers, brows furrowed. “That’s it for now. Classes are cancelled for the rest of the week.”

There’s a scraping of chairs as a handful of therapists rise, including Mariam and Sadie. They all watch us carefully, faces schooled into heartfelt sadness. Like any of them actually care.

Miss White clears her throat, forcing a horrid smile that really doesn’t suit her. “This institute will mourn the loss of one of its own. Rest assured, if anyone was involved… there will be punishment. You’re all dismissed.”

The room bursts into a flurry of movement, patients rushing to escape. We allow the crowd to dissipate, then Phoenix hauls me to my feet and offers an arm. I get my crutches into position and resolutely ignore the pain wracking my body.

“You good?” Phoenix asks.

I nod curtly, keeping my expression neutral. We slowly stumble past the warden, who turns away from the conversation she’s having to watch us suspiciously. We avoid all eye contact.

“Think they know?” Phoenix whispers once we escape outside.

I shake my head. Who fucking knows at this point?

It takes an age for us to get home at my snail’s space, but as we tackle the stairs, I notice the dorms are eerily quiet, with everyone seeming to avoid returning to where last night’s tragedy took place. The entire institute is shaken to the very core.

Back at his room, Phoenix roots in his pocket for the key card and scans it shakily, letting us both in. Kade shoots up as soon as we enter.

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