Page 46 of Burning Souls

I eat every bite of food. Leaving my empty plate by the sink, I leave the kitchen to sit on the couch with Jessie. We share the same black fleece blanket I was given last night.

“Where’s Tobias?” I ask, slightly concerned that he isn't here. He could be out looking for wood, but we rarely go there alone.

“Good question, no clue. I’m sure he's around here somewhere.” Sean says, coming over to the couch

A knock at the door has me going into flight or fight mode.

What if it's the police coming to take me away?Please don't be, I say over and over to myself.

I didn't have the police on my list of people to kill.

Yes, I have a list of people to kill. It's a very long list, and I'm going to set it as my New Year's Resolution.

Jessie gets up and opens the door. The curtains are drawn closed.

What the fuck?

My mouth is open wide, my face turning red, and then there it is.

Everything that keeps me up at night.

The devil, the person who will have me going right back to my fifteen-year-old self.

My father…

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Before my father can step in, Jessie stops his body, freezing as his eyes make contact with my father. Everything in me is kicking at myself for not having a gun on me at this very moment.

“Miss me? Daddy certainly missed you.” Those sour words have my stomach wanting to curdle at the sight of the grin on his face.

“Well, invite me in then. Surely, you wouldn't want your friend to die outside.” I don't even think about my subsequent actions; I'm launching myself toward the door, but before I can carry out whatever actions I had planned, my father pushes Jessie to the floor and steps inside. The air around us changes to a hostile environment.

Rage.

Blood.

Vicious.

Vicious thoughts.

Tobias is harshly brought inside by his collar, dripping blood from multiple places. My father throws him to the floor as he groans in pain, unable to move.

“What the hell did you do?” I shout, running over to Tobias. Kneeling beside him, I check his pulse, shaking his body. I need him to wake up.

“Please wake up, I need you to wake up,” I plead, still rocking his body back and forth. Sean and Jessie don't help me; they just stand looking at me with disappointment.

“Fuck, why are you just standing there? Help me.” I turn him over so he's lying on his back as I go to start CPR. Jessie kneels beside me, taking my hands between his and rubbing them together.

“Angel, stop, he isn't here.” My eyes fill with tears falling down my face, Jessie catches them with his thumb.

“Stop it, he’s going to wake up. Jessie, please tell me he will.” I need him to tell me, even though I know he won't.

“Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes? He will wake up. I drugged him. Stop overreacting.” My father says, his eyes burning through the back of my head. I can feel him lingering around me.

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