Page 28 of The Merciless

It got easy to get sucked back into those memories yet again.

* *

Ray had never been this numb. Had never been so absent when she stumbled upon the plain land filled with people who were nothing but blurred in her vision. She couldn’t see, could barelybreathewhen she heard the faint voice of someone saying something far away. But when Ray stepped ahead. When she saw her mother shoot up to her feet. Saw that open casket and…

Everything shattered.

A harsh breath left her lungs as her mother’s hands wrapped around her shoulder. Around her waist to haul her up because there she was about to fall as she stepped between the row androwsof chairs kept to her sides.

“Lia.” Ray whispered, her voice so quiet and rough that she couldn’t hear it.

But it didn’t matter when a ringing began at the back of her mind. When that roar started in her mind. And suddenly–

Everything was fire.

“LIA!LIA, oh Gods, Lia–”she cried, she sobbed as she pushed past her mother. Past themonsterof Lia’s father. And ran towards the casket, “No,no, NO.”she screamed when she saw that flutter of short black hair. Those golden highlights and those closed eyes.

That pale face.

And that blue cotton band around her wrist.

A wretched sound left Ray’s throat, and she went down on her knees, her sobsrippingout of her as she cried,cried.

“No,please,”she began, her voice shaking andbreaking,“You can’t leave like this. Youcan’t–pleaseLia.”

Hands landed on her shoulder and pulled her away from the casket, but her fingers only tightened on its rim. She thrashed against the person behind her, a mess of cries leaving her tongue as strong hands ripped her away. Or at least tried to.

But Ray couldn’t think.Wouldn’t.

“FUCK OFF!”shescreamedat the man behind her and sneered over her shoulder, seeing those familiar eyes widen, “Thisis how you tell me my sister died?BY HER FUCKING FUNERAL?”

A disgusting look crossed his face, one she’dneverseen before, “You wereneversisters,” the way he spat out the words was like a slap right to her face, “And I don’t invitemurderersto my daughter’s funeral.”

“SETH!”her mother’s scream ripped past them as she stepped between Ray and the man, her shoulders taut and tense, “Youasshole,you said youtoldher.”

Seth scoffed and the sound ripped Ray’s heart. She turned to face the open casket, reaching out to place her fingers lightly against hercoldwrist as the man responded,

“She deserves to go tojail–”

Thwack.

Ray barely flinched as his face snapped to one end, a dangerous gleam entering his eyes as he looked at her mother. But she stood tall, unafraid as she sneered at the man up ahead, “That’s me returning thefuckingfavor. I’ve let you get away with alotof things, but accusing mydaughter?Are youfucking serious?”

She heard her mother take a step forward when Seth remained quiet, “Let her attend the funeral quietly. And thendisappear.Or would you need my help in doingthatas well?”

Seth’s growl was dangerous enough for Ray to snap her gaze in his direction, her eyes gleaming with tears but still angry enough to hurt him. He noticed that look and took a brief step back, his entire self stiffening,

“Walk. Away.” Her mother snarled softly.

Ray looked back at Lia’s soft, pale face. Her eyes filled with more tears. Her head flopped down against the hard edge as another sob ripped from her throat. And between all that, all she could think of was one statement. One promise.

I’m sorry.

* *

Angel had never seen her this destroyed. This devasted.

But he watched her, not a tear dropping from her eyes. Not one hitch on her tone.

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