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I sat down in my chair and watched as she served up. She put a full plate in front of me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to eat it all, but I’d give it a big go. I was so hungry.
The last meal.
I didn’t know when my last day was, but I had a feeling I wasn’t going to last long on this earth. How fucking morbid, but there it was. Nothing I could do about it.
I started to eat, enjoying every morsel.
“Is this what you want to do?” I asked.
“Cook?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know. It’s probably silly, but I always saw myself as some kind of kitchen goddess. It’s lame, I know. I think all those years of waiting for mom to come home. No dad. I decided that when I had a family of my own, I was going to make sure I was prepared for everything.” She offered a smile. “You like?”
“You’re a good cook.”
“Thanks. I like cooking for you.”
“You’ve done it once.”
“But I like it.” She offered a shrug. “Sorry. I don’t want to seem like I’m forcing this or anything. I don’t mean to.”
I reached over the counter and held out my hand. “You’ve been a good friend.”
“We’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks. Not really long.”
“Long enough to know that you’re a good person, Ashley, possibly the best I’ve ever known.” I wasn’t lying either. In our world, friends weren’t easy to come by. It was one of the reasons Caleb, River, Vadik, and Gael were looked upon with envy. They had each other. Loyalty and friendship were rare commodities in our worlds.
“Em, I’m getting the sense that something is going on. What’s happening?”
“Nothing.” I forced a smile to my lips, hoping she never knew a moment of pain or fear.
The way she looked over my shoulder, though, I should have known better.
I glanced behind me and caught sight of Daniel Falls. He looked at both of us. First me, then Ashley.
“Hello, Miss. Crane, we meet again.” He took in my attire. I hadn’t even taken the time to do my hair.
He knew. Without a doubt, I knew what he was thinking.
“I’m sorry for interrupting.”
“Not at all,” I said, standing.
“Em, you haven’t finished breakfast.”
“It’s fine. I’m full.”
“I’m going to be taking Emily with me. I’ve got something I need to show her.”
Today, I was going to die. I’d made it all the way to eighteen, but this was where my time would come to an end.
I wasn’t upset or angry.
If I got the chance to see Caleb, Vadik, Gael, and River one more time, I’d tell them how I felt. That way, I could die and probably go to hell with a smile. They would know that in the short time I’d been with them, I’d been the happiest woman alive.
I went to Ashley and hugged her close. “Thank you,” I said.
“I don’t like this.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about. Okay? You just enjoy your food.”
“Should I get River?”
I shook my head. There was really no reason to get him.
Turning my back on Ashley, I felt a little sick, but I looked at Daniel. He was so guarded. It was strange to think that he’d once been a boy much like his son, Caleb. He waited for me to take the lead and each step I took was harder than the last. Sickness swirled within me. The food had been so good, but I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of Caleb’s dad. It was probably stupid of me to even feel this way.
In and out, I breathed. Hands clenched at my sides.
Time seemed to slow down. With each step I took, in my head, it was like bells were going off. Not a wedding march, but the sound of my doom. The sound of my last moments on this earth.
He didn’t lead me into an office or one of the much nicer studies. We came to a door. He twisted the lock, and it opened.
Steps were in front of me.
I could run now.
But I didn’t.
One after the other. I started downstairs. There was no light at first. Daniel was close behind me.
The cold seeped into my flesh, making me shiver.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see or know when the final blow would come. I should have known I’d never be that lucky.
All too soon, the ground slipped beneath my feet and I let out a cry as I landed down into something wet. Opening my eyes, I saw a light had been turned on, or I’d gone deep enough to where they were waiting. As I looked up, at first, it didn’t register what I was seeing. Then, all too soon, a scream fell from my lips.
My mother hung upside down. Her body was naked, but the wound at her neck still dripped.
