Page 63 of Relapse

Silas leered at me, his thumb and forefinger tightening painfully around my jaw. My hesitation was enough of an answer for him.

“Good,” he ground out. “You shouldn’t.”

I sucked in a breath, my mind spiraling back to David’s body on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Was it possible?

I shuddered and took the leap. “Did you stab him?”

I inhaled, holding the breath. How would I react if the answer was, yes?

Silas’s face was a blank easel, revealing nothing. His mouth remained in an emotionless, firm line.

“No, I did not stab the Chief,” he whispered through clenched teeth.

I felt a blast of relief move over me. I didn’t even really get why. It’s not that I had cared about saving David or anything, but I needed to know that I hadn’t put my trust in someone who’d just toss it aside like it was nothing.

Slowly, Silas’s mouth twisted into a snarl.

“I stabbed a monster.”

A cold as ice chill ran up my spine.

“You…what?”

Silas snatched the mask out of my hands and heaved it across the room. I recoiled as it collided with the wall, clattering to the floor loudly.

The world suddenly felt very heavy.

I had felt this heaviness before. Like I was treading water, trying to keep my head above just to breathe.

Silas’s fingers still lingered on my chin, now tenderly stroking me instead of holding me in place. “You know I only did it for you,” he murmured.

Through my shock I finally found my voice.

“Get off of me,” I gasped out, pushing him away. “S-stay away from me!”

Silas did it.

Silas stabbed David.

Silas grabbed at my arms. “Raven…”

I slinked passed him, the door to his bedroom in my sights. “Leave me alone.”

Silas nearly succeeded in killing David. And still, I vouched for him in every way. I protected him.

What in the hell was going on? What world was I living in, where the man I slept with, the man I let break me in every possible way, was the same man lying to me about the most important and dark secret of my life?

I trusted Silas with my childhood pain. I exposed myself to him. And for what? To snap David’s life away, without any closure, without vengeance. Without my consent.

It was my fight. My blood. My battle.

“It was because of what he did to you!” Silas exclaimed, trying desperately to take hold of my arms. “I could never forgive him for that, could I? What did you expect me to do? Let him continue to hurt you?”

My thoughts raced.

What am I doing here?

What am I doing?