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He’s right, it has. Being mute, unable to move can do that to a person. Every step towards me is purposeful, every look full of meaning. They are the hunters and I am their prey.
“He touched you,” Konrad says, standing before me.
Of course he touched me, I think. Scream, actually.Don’t throw a piece of meat to a wolf and expect it not to take a bite.
Konrad tips his head to the side. “You have so much to say. I can almost hear you shouting, Zero. For now, however, you’re going to listen.”
God damn these men!
Reaching for me, Konrad presses his hand against my cheek, cupping my face. “When I saw what he was doing to you… Fuck, Zero, I wanted to burn the whole fucking world down.”
“I needed to be certain,” Jakub says, reaching for me too. He slides his hand over the centre of my chest, resting it above my beating heart.
Certain of what?I silently ask, questions ghosting over my face.
“You were right to check, Brother,” Leon adds, dusting his knuckles over my clavicle as he buries his face in my hair and breathes me in.
My pulse thrums, my heart kicking up a notch. Its beat is erratic, afraid, andaliveas they stroke me. Their fingers are made of ink and twilight, velvet and charcoal. Their concern is felt, not communicated as they touch my body, searching for bruises and marks, checking that I’m okay.
“You’re a problem, Nothing,” Jakub whispers against my ear, his words soft, laced with confusion and pain.
“You remind us of things we wish to forget,” Leon adds, his fingers rising up my neck and pressing against my lips.
“You’re a witch who’s cast a spell over us,” Konrad says, his hands smoothing over my ribcage, skirting the underside of my breasts.
“You don’t belong here,” Jakub continues, running his lips over my birthmark, burying his face in my hair.
Leon pushes his fingers inside my mouth. “You fuck with our heads.”
Konrad crouches before me and slides his hands over my lower belly. “You make us wish for things we cannot have....”
I take shallow breaths, afraid of them.
Afraid of how Ifeelaround them; both terrified for my life and more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I’m a quivering mess of emotions as they continue to touch me softly, kiss me gently, stroke me languidly.
They soothe me with their apology.
Calm me with their touch.
Break me with their sorrow.
Scar me with their darkness.
And just for a moment I’m the centre of their universe; a beating, fleshy heart.
Alive, unharmed, cared for,revered.
Until I’m not.
“You’re a danger to everything we’ve built here,” Jakub says, stepping away abruptly. It’s only then I notice a cut over his eyebrow, it trickles with blood. “You’ve made us question our loyalty to one another.”
Konrad bites my hip bone, standing suddenly, backing up. He too has a bruise forming on his cheek. “You’re our enemy's sister.”
“You’re my mirror,” Leon accuses, his lip split and bleeding as he moves to stand in front of me.
I see my reflection in his eyes. I see my fear, but also something else…sadness. I hurt for them, for me, for us. Leon searches my face, watching me closely as he presses his lips against mine in a kiss so tender that I can almost feel it. Almost.
My skin covers in goosebumps. My back prickles in warning. My heart batters against my ribcage wanting out. My soul cries for help, for mercy.
“We can’t allow you to live,” Jakub says. Cold, hard, unflinching.
“Time’s up, Nought,” Leon whispers against my lips.
Then he wraps his hands around my throat, finishing what he started all those years ago.
The end,for now...
