Page 207 of Creep

“Together?”

Theo nodded. “Together.”

And together, they plunged the knife into Leo’s chest, over and over again.

I knew it was something they had to do. It didn’t make the sight or thesoundany easier to take in.

But I kept my eyes on them. I kept watch as Leo struggled until finally, he couldn’t struggle anymore, and I knew he was dead.

Mael and Theo had finally done it.

They killed their abuser.

Mael stood and turned to me, his chest heaving.

My lips were trembling. I just needed him to hold me. I felt like I was on the verge of losing control.

Mael began to move toward me. He was about halfway when movement flashed in the corner of my eye. Mael saw him coming before I did.

With a shout, Dad ran over to me and pushed me off the railing.

“No!” Mael shouted, his voice drenched in agony and desperation.

The fall came suddenly.

I felt lightheaded and unaware, as if I was watching the scene unfold high above the factory ceiling and unable to make sense of it.

Mael ran to me, jumping over the railing to grab me.

We both fell.

He wrapped his arms around me, covering my body with his own and twisting until he was on the bottom.

Our eyes met for a brief second, but it was enough.

I tried to tell him no.

I didn’t want this. I didn’t want him to.

It didn’t matter.

We fell.

The fall jarred me, and pain instantly exploded. But it was nothing…fucking nothingbecause I had been protected safely in Mael’s arms while he took the brunt of the impact.

I struggled to push myself up, but when I finally did, Mael wasn’t moving. His eyes were closed, and the arms that had been wrapped tightly around me had fallen to his sides.

I pressed my hand on his chest, panicking, making it hard to think.

I knew better than to shake him, afraid I might break something, so I pushed myself off him and grabbed his wrist, checking for his pulse. I couldn’t find one, but I didn’t know if it was because I didn’t fucking know how to check for a pulse or because he didn’t have one.

Which was it?

Whichfuckingone was it?

Pain and dizziness made it hard for me to think clearly.

“No, no, no. Mael, wake up. Please. Fucking wake up.” I let out a pained cry. “Please. You can’t leave me. You promised. And you can’t break your promise to me, so please. Don’t leave me. I don’t know what to do with myself without you. I need you, baby. So please.”

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