Page 35 of Sail Me to Ruin
There will be no body for her parents to bury; no story to tell that wouldn’t cost me my life.
Everyone will know her as a murderer, and she was, but so am I.
I am a murderer.
After scrubbing my skin over and over to get the blood off, I still can see it.
The blood lingers in the crack of my nail beds, in my hair, and in the scratches on my torso.
She attacked me.
When confronted with the truth, she lunged at me.
The door opens, and I snap my eyes up.
Blaise walks in silently and gets on his knees next to the tub. Dipping his fingers into the water, he finds it cold. Sighing, he undoes the plug, letting all the water drain from around me and the tub becomes empty and white again.
Goosebumps pebble my skin, as a strong hand cradles my jaw.
Concern laces his voice. “El, baby, are you okay? Please say something.”
“I killed her. She’s gone Blaise. I’m a murderer.”
He starts the water, closing the drain and replacing the tub with fresh, warm water.
The warmth feels like an embrace I’ve missed.
Letting out a sigh, my skin starts to warm.
“What am I going to do, Blaise? She probably sent someone overboard the same way we did her then lured someone into shark-infested waters on purpose. But they’re going to want to know what happened and where she is. What do I even say?”
He begins washing my hair for me, gently scrubbing my sore scalp to feel for injuries.
“She tried to hit on me, so you confronted her. She lost it, screaming about the other two guys who we now know are dead and mentions her jealousy. You haven’t seen her since. Say that after the fight, you came here with me, and when you get back in the morning, you’ll report her missing and tell them about how you left then came back to her not being there. They’re going to ask a lot of questions, and it’s okay to be sad, but think about how many lives you’ve saved, baby. You’re a hero.”
His words make sense but a question burns the back of my throat.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but you never once seemed panicked. We dumped a body overboard tonight. I am a murderer and you’re my accomplice, and now you’re spinningstories with ease. How? I just want to shut my brain off the way you are.”
The unspoken question lingers between us and unease sinks its claws into my gut.
“Elodie. I have never killed anyone before. Well, full transparency, not a person anyways. I did kill Knox’s pet fish once and flushed it to get rid of the evidence. Honestly, I’m still running on adrenaline, but I told you,YOUown me. You’ve wrecked me. And when I saw her on you, I was terrified of losing you. All I could think about was the time I was supposed to spend with you being ripped away. I did all of this for you, to protect you, and I won’t say I’m sorry for protecting the woman I’m falling for.”
Blaise rinses my hair and the water has a slight pink hue to it. Slowly, he gently works his way over my body in silence to let me process.
His patience is endearing in moments where everything feels too much. His words make sense and I decide to believe him.
How could I not?
She literally attacked me.
“I believe you, but what do I do tonight and tomorrow? Do I stay here? Go back to the room alone? I’m just lost.”
Grasping my chin between two fingers, he turns my head to look at him. “My pretty little Storm, you’ll stay with me where I know you’re safe and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll get food and go to your room. You can make the report then we’ll get you packed out. I promise to not leave you alone. Is that what you need to hear? Is there anything I can say to help?”
Blaise rinses the suds from my body and exhaustion begins to seep into my bones.
“You’ve helped enough. I think I just need rest.” I let out a loud yawn, causing him to chuckle.
