Page 26 of Insatiable Hunger

“We just dozed off not too long ago, Cain. Alaska and I were up all night waiting for you—”

“Of course she was. Why wouldn’t my baby girl wait for me?” His eyes burned into my skin.

“W-what is that?” I pointed to the bag, quickly changing the topic.

Cain placed the full bag on the counter and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, breaking the seal. “Protein.” He opened the bag, a cloud of dust rising into the air as he did so. The earthy, rotting smell of whatever he had in the plastic bag filled my lungs as he began to pour the crushed powder into the water bottle. Alastair sneezed at the odor, Lazarus covering his nose in disgust. I tried to hold my breath, but coughed at the intense, heavy smell.

“That’s some gross fucking protein powder, Cain.” Lazarus coughed against the protruding smell.

Cain closed the bottle, shaking the contents as they began to create a milky colored mixture. “After the night I had, this is exactly what I need.” He smiled, his teeth fully exposed with a hungry sense of humor. Cain opened the bottle and began to down the liquid, dusty, beige particles still present and floating in the muddled water. The smell and sound of him doing so made me sick to my stomach, unable to look away as he quickly drank the last few drops. A residue of thick, grimy chunks remained at the bottom of the bottle, like sand you’d find on a shoreline. “Now,” he breathed, “are you two ready to head back to the cemetery?”

“Head back?” Lazarus questioned. “No, we’re not going back. This whole place is fucked. Now that you’re back, we’re leaving, Cain. Ghosts, storms, creatures—we’re done.”

“Oh?” Cain raised an eyebrow, unbothered by the mention of creatures. “Is that so?”

“What the hell is that smell?” Ruby’s voice came from behind Lazarus as she and Jinx stepped into the kitchen and eyed Cain. “What happened to you?” Cain eyed them both, his face cold.

“Is he okay?” Jinx asked, her silent question meant for Lazarus.

“Cain here was just asking if we were ready to return to the cemetery.” Lazarus crossed his arms, tilting his head.

“Excuse me?” Ruby’s voice snapped. “There is no way in hell we’re going back there.”

“What about the body?” Cain twirled the bottle in his hand, his arrogant demeanor returned. “Someone’s got to cover that coffin back up, and I can’t do it alone.” He glanced at Lazarus. “Not to mention, you guys left all your shit back there.” He pointed to Ruby and Jinx.

“I don’t care if I left my—” Jinx tapped Ruby’s arm, cutting her words as she addressed her.

“My rods. I left my dowsing rods there.” Ruby sighed.

“You can’t be serious?” Jinx nodded, clasping her hands together as her green eyes sparkled up at Ruby. She lowered her head, rubbing her temples. “Fine.” Lazarus shot his arms in the air, frustrated that she agreed to go back so easily, especially after what we encountered. Ruby glared at Cain, her deep maroon eyes swirling with magic as she pointed her index finger at him, her fingertip glowing with maroon frustration. “We’ll go, but we’re grabbing our stuff and immediately coming back here. That’s it. And when we return, we’re leaving this godforsaken town, with or without you, Cain.”

Cain’s smile slithered further along his dirty face. “We’ll see.” He winked.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

CAIN

Itossed my damp, dirty clothes aside, the wet pile hitting the bathroom floor with a heavy slap. My head throbbed and ached, a sharp and sudden pain piercing behind my eyes, stabbing further into my skull, causing my vision to blur as I wobbled around the bathroom. I shook my head, hoping the feeling would pass, but it didn’t. My stomach tightened and bubbled, upset with the contents of what I had consumed.Shit.

I rushed to the toilet, slumping over the bowl, vomiting everything from within my body. Sweat beads began to form across my forehead, the muscles of my stomach lining tightening with each forceful hurl. My throat closed, fighting against the uncontrollable urge as I choked on my own stomach acid, forcing the burning contents from my mouth. My eyes watered from the rotting smell, my body trembling from being so fiercely and suddenly sick.

A heavy bang hit the bathroom door, repeating a second, then a third time. “Hurry up!” Lazarus yelled through the wood. “We’re leaving in a few minutes, with or without you!”

“I’m coming!” I spat back, drool dripping from the corner of my mouth and dangling over the toilet bowl.Fucking Lazarus.

My arms shook as I pushed from the porcelain and rose to my feet, flushing the contents of my stomach. I watched the water and vomit swirl, mixing into a cloudy mess as it funneled down the drain, almost trancing my thoughts.

A faint presence tickled my brain deep within my mind, layers of the strange whispers looping together in my subconscious.

Cain. The eerie voice addressed me from within.Oh, what a fitting name.

A high pitch ringing pierced my ears as my hands desperately grabbed at my skull trying to stop the pain. I stumbled across the room, tripping as I grabbed the smooth edge of the bathroom sink, pulling myself up as the ringing quickly disappeared. I exhaled, relieved at the sudden calmness. My arm reached forward, turning the handle of the faucet, my hands shaking as the cold water ran across my dirty skin. Mud was caked beneath my chipped nails, splinters and cuts seeded in my palms from the shovel and coffin lid. I sat there, letting the water soak into my flesh as it soothed my injuries.

Cain.The whispered voice returned, prickling behind my skull. I cupped my hands together and splashed the freezing cold water across my face.

My brain pulsated, black flashes strobing through my thoughts. My eyes trembled as they raised, glancing at my reflection, my vision slightly distorted. I felt the same peculiar presence slithering beneath the skin of my face, rippling under my flesh. I leaned closer to the mirror, my breath fogging the reflective glass as my gaze bore into itself. My head twitched in various directions, tilting, reacting to an invisible and unknown resident while distant whispers grew well within my ears. My pupils sharpened, noting a faint glow of a green light flickering behind my irises. It swirled around my left and then moved to my right eye, circling the inner part of my pupils. I slowlyraised my hand to my face, tugging at the skin under my eyes, examining them closely, watching as the green light wiggled like a worm. I slowly inched my fingertip closer, touching the outer rim on my eye itself, the impact burning. My fingertip began to glow, resembling a firefly in the night.

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