Page 7 of A Kiss From Death
Truth be told, I don’t know my last name, growing up an orphan and all. The orphanage said they found me one morning, crying in a small woven basket with a piece of parchment tucked inside containing a single word.
Nyxi.
My “DNA donors”, as I like to call them, didn’t even have the decency to leave me with my lineage. They wanted zero chance of me being able to track them down one day. Parents of the year, lucky me.
I started going by Theo’s last name, Adler, when I became old enough to understand I was different. My wound was too deep to keep explaining. It’s one thing to grow up in an orphanage, but it skyrockets in severity when family-less kids can make you feel lesser.
It didn’t feel right to put Theo’s last name down for this, though. I have to do this one on my own, for him. It is my time to emerge into the woman I dreamed about as a child, the woman whose life had played out differently. It’s time to show the world the woman who’s been hiding in the shadows, waiting for her moment. For this moment.
Myawakening.
I take in a shaky breath, attempting to calm myself before I slip past the few people standing in front of me. I already feel more at ease in the open air instead of being pancaked between sweaty, stinky Vagrants. Many Vagrants live on the streets without running water, and my nose is paying the price for it right now.
Clearing my throat, I stand eye level with our hunchbacked Councilman. Reaching out, I shake his boney hand. “Just Nyxi,” I state in a firm but borderline bored voice. I cannot let anyone find weakness within my exterior for their own leverage, especially with all eyes on me.
Let the games begin.
I’m welcoming the pain with open arms tonight, alongside a bottle of the cheapest and shittiest moonshine I could pawn from Misery’s Crossing. It’s my last night in Fallout before I’m rushed away to compete in a game to the death. Honestly, what the hell was I thinking?
You were thinking you need to weed through every member up in Lunaria until you find the scumbag that let their Necroshriek loose on a killing spree.
Ahh yes, revenge is a convincing bitch.
I spent the last two days hauling my ass all over Fallout, learning details about each of my competitors—their daily routines, habits, personality traits, weakness, and most importantly strengths. Anything to give myself the upper hand in this competition, the better, putting my professional spy skills to the ultimate test.
Unlike my competitors, I did not grow up training my entire life for this opportunity. They grew up mastering swords, daggers, and bows, testing the limits of their endurance andintelligence. I grew up blending into the shadows of the orphanage, avoiding beatings or worse—private “lessons” with our leader.
Now, I’m staring down at the one thing I have yet to conquer since Theo’s death: our bed. I’ve been standing in the doorway of our room for the last 30 minutes while chugging moonshine straight from the mouth of the bottle.
My bare feet feel heavy and rooted to the floorboards just outside the barrier of the room. The traitorous things act as if the floor is lava and they are not brave enough to test the waters.
Sleeping in this damn bed tonight is a necessary evil, one I need to put my big girl panties on for and get over with.
I haven’t had a good night’s rest in far too long, and that is top priority in preparing for the Crucible. It’s also the last night I will be spending in this little place I called home with him. This place and bed are my last memories of Theo.
After tonight, I will either be dead or win the Crucible and be welcomed into a world that has shunned me my entire life. I need this one night snuggled up in the place I use to find the most comfort in. My happy place, where I felt safe. One last night to be with him.
An owl hoots in the distance, and it’s the final push I need. I’ve always felt a comforting pull to owls, seeing my abandoned past in their lonely residence, and this one gives me the strength I need right now.
Peeling one shaky foot off the ground, I take my first unsteady step into our room. Following suit, my other foot makes the leap and lands next to the first. I take in a deep breath, centering myself and my raging emotions, and continue walking the few feet left to the edge of our bed.
I take in every inch of our untouched bed. The blanket lays exactly how we last left it months ago, his pillow forever frozen in time with a slight indent where his head would rest.
Suddenly, I feel something wet land on my foot, and it’s then I realize the steady stream of tears flowing from my eyes, cascading down my face to the floor.
Theo, you’re turning me soft, you little devil.
A slightly hysterical giggle erupts from the back of my throat at the thought of Theo seeing me all emotional like this. He would for sure tease me and then tackle me into the bed with him, pulling me tight into his warm chest.
I miss him so damn much, it physically hurts.
I drag the backs of my hands over my eyes to wipe the tears away and cannonball jump into bed. It makes a creaking noise, and I swear, I see dust puff up around me. That’s when it assaults me:him.
Ifeelhim all around me. His gentle but sure touch. His infectious laugh. His smell of fresh air and sunshine. I’m engulfed in a cloud of him until it’s too much to bear. It’s all consuming, devouring me whole.
It’s devastating and beautiful all at the same time because it’s him. The man who took me in like a lost and injured stray. The man who protected me in the orphanage against bullies and threats. The first man—no,person—to ever love me unconditionally.
He was too good for this place. Now, I only pray that wherever he is, he’s happy, and eventually proud of me. All that matters is him. It hits me then that I’ve never been surer about anything in my life than I am with entering myself in the Crucible. That brings me immeasurable peace.
