Page 24 of Sinful Lord

That’s when it all hits me.

I start to cry.

A huge hole grows inside of me. An empty, lonely hole that stretches out until it consumes my entire being.

I’m all alone.

There’s no one here to help me. To save me. To hold me.

Shit. That’s why I’m here. For some independence. For some freedom. But I wasn’t ready. I never was.

The world is a cold, dark, violent place, and I’m just a sheltered princess who can’t fight back.

A jerky sigh rattles from my throat as I look towards the bridge. To my surprise, it’s closer than I thought. On the other side, I can see twinkling lights. People.

You have to save yourself, Mel.

But my body is growing numb again. I don’t know if I have the strength to make it. My chin bobs as I’m overcome by the weariness. I’ll just close my eyes. That’s all.

For a moment, it’s almost a peaceful surrender. My eyelids flutter. The cold, dark, violent world starts to disappear.

Then I spot something out of the corner of my eye. Something approaching from the way I just came.

I don’t want to look, but it’s like I don’t have a choice. My chin lifts. My neck turns. My eyes open wide.

I stare back down the street.

“No…”

It’s him. The dark figure from the accident. He’s still shrouded in darkness, but I see the blood dripping from his hand as he slowly advances.

He’s following a trail of bloody footsteps. My bloody footsteps.

My heart drops.

“No… no… no…”

There’s no hiding from this monster. There’s no resting. Not until I’m safe.

I have to make it over the bridge.

Somehow, I manage to tear myself from the shop window. But my legs are even heavier than before. I can barely lift my feet off the street as I shuffle forward.

It feels like a miracle when I take my first step onto the bridge. But the upward arch it takes might as well be a mountain.

I have to grab onto the rail and practically pull myself up it. I can feel the monster approaching from behind. He’s getting closer. I’m getting slower. My dread builds. My hopelessness spreads.

I’m barely halfway over when the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight on edge. A primal scream ravages my insides.

I can feel him.

He’s reaching for me. It’s over. Whatever he wants, he’s going to get it.

He’s going to get me.

My heavy head droops over the side of the railing. Through half-shut eyelids, I watch the water below rush into a blur. The fear is too much. I close my eyes.

I let the drugs take over.