Page 3 of Corpse Roads

“You’re the one that’s leaving me. Like everyone else.”

“Not… this… help me,” she gurgles.

“I won’t do it. No.”

“P-Please… friend. My s-s-sister.”

Peering through the gloom, I stare at her broken form. She’s splayed out on the floor of her cage, unable to move as the slashes carved into her body slowly kill her.

Once bright, platinum-blonde hair is now a deep shade of crimson. I can’t see her eyes, usually full of mischief. I’m glad.

“Help… me…”

“Don’t make me do this,” I plead.

“H-Harlow… it hurts… p-please…”

Covering my face with my hands, I feel my heart splinter into jagged shards of despair. It never gets easier, watching my friends die. No matter how hard I try to shut myself off from it.

“I d-don’t want you to go… I’ll be alone again.”

Laura lets out a wet cough. “Never… a-alone. I’m h-here.”

I won’t tell you what happens next. God is listening to us, even now. If he hears, I’ll be in even more trouble. In the silent aftermath, I curl back into a ball.

She’s at peace now.

My torment, however, is just beginning.

Laura’s fresh blood has flooded my cage, coating me in her warmth. I have no choice but to sleep in what’s left of my friend. Her spirit has departed this world at my hand.

“Goodbye,” I whisper to the dead silence.

Laura doesn’t respond.

Now, I’m alone until the next girl arrives.

The cycle begins again.

This is my life. It has been for as long as I can remember. My parents—angry, terrifying Pastor Michaels and cruel, cold Mrs Michaels—tell me this is all I deserve.

This existence.

This pain.

This suffering.

I’ve learned to close off all thoughts of a world beyond these bars. The stories I’m told are just that—flights of fantasy, a taunting glimpse of a world I’ll never be allowed to see.

Lord, please forgive me.

All I wanted was to give her some peace.

Forgive me for what I’ve done.

Of course, there is no reply.

CHAPTER 1

---