Page 38 of Make Me Scream
“So, you take me out of my home and expect me not to ask questions as to where you’ve been my entire life?” I stare at the plate of mush in front of me.
“I don’t want to talk of the past, Abel. We’re trying to move on.”
“You’retrying to move on,” I tell her. “I’mtrying to get the fuck away from you, but you won’t let me.” Her hands slam down on the table, making the silverware jump—and me along with it.
“What’s going on?” Bill comes rushing into the room. My heart is pulsing at the base of my throat, choking me so I can’t speak. Lucy’s eyes are wide, but her face creaks into a weathered smile.
“The casserole dish slipped when I was trying to pick it up,” she says easily, moving to stand and pick up the food. The moment she turns her back on us, Bill turns to me.
“Time’s about up anyway, kid. You ready?”
“About ready to kill myself,” I mutter as I stumble to my feet, my heart still racing from the way Lucy reacted. The quick flash of anger. The way it was second nature to her.
I know it all too well, and even though I’ve lived it my entire life, in this last month, I’ve let my guard down without even realizing it.
Elise and Peris have made me soft.
I’m so fucked.
“Well, Lucy, it’s time for us to head out. We’ll see you again in a few days for the next visit.”
Lucy turns around, fake smile plastered on. “Oh, is it that time already?”
“It is.” Bill nods.
“And it will be you accompanying us next time, as well?” she asks, wiping her wrinkled hands on a towel.
“It’ll be someone else in your fucking dreams, bitch,” I grumble.
“Abel,” Bill hisses over his shoulder before turning to Lucy with a smile. “Yes, most likely. It’s been so busy, and it’s easier if I just handle it myself so I don’t have to worry about delegating, but I will, of course, keep you updated, if anything changes.”
“Yes, please do. I’ll walk you both out.” She drops the towel onto the counter and follows me and Bill to the front door. On the way, my eyes trail over the apartment, hating that this will be where I’m forced to stay soon enough.
The furniture is mismatched, stained with God-knows-what. The carpet is dark blue and worn down threadbare, reminding me of things I’d rather forget. The drywall is cracked and stained, and I just know the yellow would drip at the first sign of any cleaning agent.
I don’t realize how rapid my heartrate has gotten until Bill’s large hand clamps on my shoulder when we reach the front door. He opens it and gently pushes me over the threshold, blocking me from view with his large frame.
“Thank you, Lucy. We will see you soon.” And with that, he’s guiding me down to his car while I’m in a daze, the walls around me obscured with the water coating my sclera.
The drive back home is a blur of cloudy skies and autumn leaves.
I don’t even realize we’ve made it back until Bill taps my shoulder, jolting me from my reverie. That’s when I notice the red, white, and blue neighboring houses. The lilac purple of home.
Home.
Damn it all to hell.
I grip the handle tightly, hating how sweaty my palms are as it slips in my hold.
“Abel…” Bill drawls, making me pause.
“Yeah, Bill?”
“I’m sorry.”
I laugh humorlessly as I step out into the crisp autumn air, relishing in the bite of the wind as it seeps through my threadbare clothes. “Yeah.” I turn to look at him. His dark eyes are soft and wide and genuinely apologetic. It makes me fucking sick.
“Everyone’s so fucking sorry.”
