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“Chase?” Mackenzie’s small fingers are interlocked with mine as she lies beside me. Her head turns away from the dreary attic ceiling, facing me. “Tell me about your past.”
Swallowing hard, my muscles tense as my head slowly rolls so I can see her. She needs the distraction from her thoughts, which I’m certain are full of the trauma she endured during the ritual, but I also see genuine curiosity shining in her amber irises.
Exhaling a sigh, my mind races as I stare at her. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Was it… bad? Your childhood, I mean.” She winces, as though she’s ashamed she messed up the wording and will make me feel shitty.
I turn on my side so I’m facing her, even though my side throbs from it, despite the pills Rosario gave me after our bath earlier.
Mackenzie rolls, facing me. I’m grateful our wrists and ankles aren’t bound, though I’m surprised. I try not to contemplate the reason behind it. Nothing these freaks do is in the name of kindness or sympathy. Those words aren’t in their vocabulary.
I focus on her question, debating how I should answer it. “Not for the first twelve years of my life. We were an average family—mom and dad with two kids. A dog and a cat. My dad worked at a factory while my mom worked as a secretary at the local elementary school. The worst thing that happened was when our dog got old, then passed away.”
Mackenzie sniffs. “Don’t go into details about that. I love dogs.”
“I’m surprised you don’t have one.”
Her face contorts from sadness. “We did. A beagle named Snoopy. He passed away from old age a year after the car accident.”
“Oh, shit, Kenz. I’m sorry.”
She nods. “Thanks. His death nearly destroyed me.” Tears well up in her eyes, but she blinks rapidly, holding her breath before releasing it. “Anyway, back to your story.”
A gust of wind rattles the windows. Wearing only my T-shirt, Mackenzie shivers. I have the blanket tucked around her, but the room is still cold. The old windows don’t do much to prevent the cold October air from seeping in.
I reach over, my hand hovering above her hip. “Is this okay? Can I pull you closer? You can tuck your feet between my legs to help warm them. I’m sure they’re freezing.”
I nod. “It’s fine. I trust you, Chase.”
I tug her so she’s against me, lifting my top leg so she can put her feet against my sweat pant clad calf, closing the other leg over it to help warm her. She snuggles into my chest for a minute before tilting her head up.
“What changed?”
The memories hurtle around inside my head like cars speeding on a racetrack. “My mom got sick. She refused to see the doctor at first, claiming it was nothing. But I was close to her, and I knew something was wrong. When my mom could no longer hide her illness, she kept promising to get it checked out ‘later.’ But life was busy. Elsie, two years younger than me, was taking ballet lessons and I was running track and cross country, so Mom and Dad were continually running us to and from practices, lessons, performances, and meets.” I release a long sigh. “By the time she got it checked out, it was stage four breast cancer.”
Mackenzie’s expression oozes sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. Her health went downhill, and Dad was trying to do many of the things Mom previously did. Then my mom lost her job due to illness, and the strain of caregiving and being the sole provider started weighing heavily on him. He worked overtime as much as he could, asking that I help with Mom and Elsie, which I did. I never minded helping where I could.”
Mackenzie’s hand lifts, gingerly cupping my face. “You’re an amazing person, Chase.”
I shrug modestly. “Isn’t that what you do when you love someone? You take care of them, support them when they need it, and make sacrifices for them?”
“It should be that way.” Her voice is full of emotion. Clearing her throat, her thumb glides over the stubble on my face. “There are many people who don’t see it that way. Sickness or injury is a burden. Or they avoid them because things are different, and they don’t like change. And sacrifice… Well, sadly, many refuse to forgo their own wants and needs for another’s.”
I know she’s speaking from personal experience. Her expression is full of pain and sadness, making my heart ache.
“I’d sacrifice my wants and needs for yours, Kenz.” I grab her hand that caresses my chin, pressing it to my lips. “I wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice my life for yours.”
Amber eyes lock with mine. I suck in a breath, hoping with every breath I take that what I see in her eyes is the kind of love I feel for her. Eternal love.
“I’d sacrifice my wants and needs for yours, too. And my life.”
“I refuse to let you sacrifice your life for mine.” I stare blankly at the attic ceiling, my gaze tracing over the huge wooden beams.
Mackenzie sighs. “I disagree but won’t argue with you.” When I turn my head and look at her, she gives me a crooked smile. “You can be really stubborn about certain things.”
I chuckle before growing serious. “It’s a learned behavior. I had to be persistent when things got tough.” I pause, listening to ensure I don’t hear any footsteps in the hallway, indicating that Rosario is returning. We haven’t seen Orpheus since the ritual, which is good and bad. I want nothing more than to beat the shit out of him before I kill him. But right now, I’m too injured to do it.
