Page 36 of The Raven
His heavy body fell on top of me. Shoving the lump of a man off, I stood,my damaged arm hanging limply by my side.
“Oh, shit!”Pyroshrieked, the color draining from his face.“No, no, no,”hesaid, dropping his spade.“Sheisafuckingghost, I’m not down for this. This is some kind of freaky shit!”With that, hebolted.
Yep. Coward.
Man enough to dish out violence, but apussywhen it came back to him.
Drowned gurgles filled the air, but asButchtook his final breaths, the achepounding through me eased.Grim’sgazefixed cautiously on me as I stalked toward him.
Hatewasn’ta strong enough emotion for how I felt towardGrim. From theminute he and his dad moved in with us, he made my life a misery. He madeeveryone’slife a misery until, eventually, his dad disowned him.
Something he blamed me for.
His dad, Nathan, had been nothing but kind and loving to me. We’dhitit offimmediately, with himtellingme that he’d always wanted a daughter. AsGrim’sbehavior deteriorated over the years, it pushed me and Nathancloser.
If only we knew that it would push Grim to commit rape and murder.
“Just you and me, big brother,”I hissed, pure venom in mytone.“Are you asbrave as you make out now that all your friends are gone?”
Grim raised his gun at me again, both hands clutching the pistol. “I killed you once, Raven. I can kill you again.”
Hefiredashot. Like before, thebulletlodged in mychest, only this time Iwas prepared and braced myself for impact. Stopping only for a moment to adjust to the discomfort, I took another step forward.“And how do you plan on doing that? You can’tkillwhat’s already dead.”
Hefiredagain, this time a muttered curse escaped me, blocked out by thewarningcryfrom myravenas she took off from her perch. Shelandedon a tombstone, her damagedwinghanging by her side.
What was she warning me about?
Grim’sgazesnappedto where shelanded, hisbrowspulled together beforehe returned his evil glare my way. His eyes dropped to where my arm hung loosely, and asavagesmile twisted his lips.“I’ll find a way,”he said, histonevicious. Deadly.
He released another three shots in quick succession, each one embedding inmy body. Excruciatingpainconsumed me, weakening my body, but when rustling fromnearbycaught my attention, and a sense ofpeacewashed over me, Isomehowmanaged to stay standing.
Time sped up as anothergunshotrang out, this time from behind me. Thebulletwhizzed past me, missingGrimby a hair’s breadth.Grim’sfocusedgazeshifted, his aim moving from me onto the person behind.
“Mason! Get down!”I screamed.
In an instant, thepaindisappeared, replaced with blindpanic. I spun,throwing myself intoMasonjust asGrimreleased a further two bullets meant forhim, but both hitting me in my spine. We tumbled to the ground,Mason’sarmswrapped around me as he cushioned my fall when welanded, the two of us grunting.
Distracted by the fresh wave of agony and my fear for Mason’s life, Grim’s footsteps disappearing into the distance barely registered.
“Fuck, Raven, are you okay?”
With my one good arm, I managed to lift myself enough to look down atMason. Hisbrowswere pulled together in worry, while my features were twisted with anger.
“What the hell are you doing here?”I gritted out,wincingas the healingprocess started.
“I told you, I won’t stand back and watch Grim hurt you.”
“You could have been killed!”
Masonshifted, moving us into a sittingposition.“I don’t give afuck,”hesaid, lacing his fingers into my hair andpullingmecloserto him, his eyes drilling into mine.“I couldn’t help you last time, Blackbird. Let me help you now.”
His words doused the fire blazing inside me, hiswarmthwrapping aroundme. I squeezed my eyesclosedand rested my forehead against his. I couldn’t be mad at him, not with the helplessness in histone.“Mase.Grimwillkillyou. I can’t let that happen.”
He let out a heavy exhale.“When will yourealizethat I don’t care? I don’tcare what happens to me so long as you findpeace.”
Opening my eyes,Masonwatched me intently, a myriad of emotions flittingbehind hisgaze. I shook my head. Therewasn’tany point in arguing; I’d just have to find a way to keep him safe while I dealt withGrimandPyro.
“How did you even know I was here?”I asked, hoping the change of subjectwould distract him from his suicide mission long enough for me to form a plan.
