Page 112 of Burn Like An Angel

Raine tilts his head, still favouring one foot. “Ticking engine up ahead.”

“I’ll go first with this one.” Lennox digs the rifle into the man’s spine. “Just in case.”

Blood surges in my ears, creating a vehement roar. Xander has to help me over the fence, his face crumpling as he struggles to remain stoic. The still-running van’s lights illuminate the deserted road.

Hesitating, Raine’s steps slow. “Rip… maybe you shouldn’t look.”

I can already hear the words he doesn’t want to say. He can sense what lies ahead. Shrugging off Xander’s support, I stumble towards the vehicle, a relentless fist locked around my lungs.

There’s a delusional slither inside me that hoped I’d imagined it. Maybe Harrison found a way to trick us. Those sounds were recorded, or he used someone else… Or… Or…

No.

Life isn’t that kind.

It’s hard to tell where her vibrant auburn hair ends and the puddle of blood spilling from her stomach begins. A crimson river paints the tarmac, glistening in the headlights. Surrounded by her deathly halo, Rae lays still.

The discomfort from slamming to my knees fails to compute. Her blood is still warm as it slides across my palms. I wade closer, uncaring of the mess. Rae feels boneless in my arms when I hug her body close.

“No,” I weep helplessly. “I’m so fucking sorry, Rae. I’m so sorry.”

All I want is for her arms to hug me back. She could crack a smile or drop one of her sarcastic jokes. Tell me I’m forgiven for leading her to this place. But that doesn’t happen. It’s too late.

She’s dead.

And it’s all my fault.

Sobbing senselessly, I cuddle her close until I have nothing left to give. Not a single tear. Soul-destroying grief boils into smouldering rage. It hits hard and fast, sweeping in and obliterating my self-control.

I slacken my grip to look at her face. Ashen. Waxy. Slack. Blood smears across her freckled skin as I stroke her hair back, lowering my lips to her forehead.

“I’ll make it right, Rae,” I vow fiercely. “All of it.”

“Ripley.” Raine awkwardly crouches down near me. “She’s gone. You need to let her go.”

“It’s my fault. She didn’t deserve this.”

“I know,” he whispers sincerely.

“I was so cruel to her, Raine. Unnecessarily. She just wanted to be my friend, and I kept pushing her away. I was scared to let her get close.”

“She didn’t see it like that, babe.” His voice is thick with emotion. “Rae wanted to be your friend. She knew you needed one.”

“And where did being my friend get her?”

His nostrils whistle with a long sigh. “You can’t take the blame for all the world’s evil. This isn’t on you.”

Smoothing her red waves a final time, I gently lay Rae back down. My fingertips leave two matching streaks on her eyelids as I slide them shut. Like this, I can convince myself she’s asleep. Peaceful and safe.

By the time I look up, my decision is made.

“No more running scared,” I declare firmly. “We’re taking the fight to them.”

“How?” Raine questions.

Looking up at Xander, I implore him with my gaze. “Call Theodore. Tell him we have a hostage for them. I want a rendezvous by dawn.”

“Rip,” Lennox attempts.

---