Page 75 of Beneath Her Skin

She sniffles, choking back a sob.

A loud, slow clap breaks the immersion of the bubble I placed us into, bringing me back to reality. We are still in danger, surrounded by a pack of barracudas that smell our blood in the water.

“Well done, Riley. What a stunning performance you’ve put on for all of us tonight. I think this party might just go down in history,” Brad taunts, his words slurring from how drunk he still is.

I ignore him, my hand next to Willow’s head squeezes around the hilt of my knife. I’m going to kill him first. Then the rest will all die screaming. I place a gentle kiss on Willow’s lips, then peer back at her with a painful smile.

“I’ll make sure this isn’t the end. I love you. Always have, always will,” I whisper.

She shakes her head furiously, trying to hold me in place atop her to stop me. But there’s no stopping me this time. I’m done playing games.

I thrash out of her hold, lunging for Brad, swiping my blade through the air in front of him. He jumps back, his jaw ticking in anger. “You wanna kill me, Riley? We were just having some fun,” he scoffs.

“Come here and find out if I’m serious or not,” I smirk, tilting my head and licking the sweat and blood from my upper lip.

“I’m gonna call the cops on your crazy ass. I knew it was a matter of time before she snapped,” Vanessa snorts a laugh, whipping out her phone.

“You’re next, bitch. Don’t get too comfortable, this is your last night on earth.”

Brad mockingly puts his hands in the air in surrender, but his smile only indicates that he doesn’t fear me.

I go eerily still, staring directly into the eyes of my abuser. Movement catches in the corner of my eye, when Felix rushes to the front of the crowd.

“Stop! Riles, don’t do this!” Felix shouts.

“Where the fuck have you been?” I snap.

“What the hell is going on out here?” It’s Shane, concern marring his ruggedly handsome features.

Heidi nervously links her elbow with Shane’s, he turns to her with fury in his eyes. “We were just having some fun with the dreary sisters, Shane. Don’t be pissed. It went too far.”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know what cunts your girlfriend and all your friends are, dude. It won’t save you,” I deadpan.

Shane furrows his brows, looking at the switchblade, then back up to my face. “I had nothing to do with this. We can figure this out, everyone just relax.”

He pulls away from Heidi with a look of disgust, but as soon as Brad is caught off guard, I strike.

The blade zings through the air, this time because Shane grabbed Brad just in time to save him. “Stop, Riley,” Shane commands.

“No.” My lips curl into a malicious smirk.

“Aren’t you curious why Felix brought you here, Riley?” Heidi cuts in, making me stop in my tracks.

I whip my head towards Felix, who is physically trembling. “T-they m-m-made me. Riles, I-I swear on everything. I d-didn’t know what their plans were. T-they threatened m-me. It was me or the b-both of you.”

“Cowards die last,” I growl, pointing the tip of the knife in his direction.

Now it’s Brad’s turn to catch me off guard. In a matter of seconds, his fingers wrap around my wrist attempting to bend itbackward to make me drop the knife. I roar in defiance, cut off by his free hand now constricting my throat. His lips are pulled back in a sneer, his eyes manic and lustful with murder.

As soon as my grip turns limp, he rips the knife from me, and I knee him in the balls. He howls in agony that’s over too soon. He stabs the knife, aimed right at my chest, and before I realize what’s happening I’m pushed aside.

“NO!” I scream.

Willow’s knees grow weak, and she crumples to the ground. I rush over to her and drop to my knees. There’s blood everywhere and she’s gasping for air. My switchblade is buried to the hilt inside her chest, and I know if I remove that blade, it’ll only kill her faster.

“No, no, no, no, no! Stay with me, baby. Look at me!” I shriek, tears I didn’t even realize were building spill rapidly down my face.

I see the fear in her eyes, I know she’s trying to hold on for me, but every breath sounds wet as her lungs fill with blood.

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