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The building around us smells of decay and soot, having gone through a fire years before. The water from the cove sloshes against the outside, drowning out the world. I heard stories about this place and how many men died right in the room we’re in. An eerie feeling settles over me when my eyes settle on the many old blood stains littering the floor, not drowned out by the blackened ash. Funny how blood never leaves a place.
“Journey! What did you do?” she wails, sobbing beside me. “What did you do?” she screams again, filling my ringing ears.
“I don’t know,” I choke out, shaking my head. “I…” My eyes find the blood pooling around us and the dead eyes of the man before me.
I shiver, looking away from the blood stain.
I don’t know how this building has remained standing. Maybe its darkened insides hold it together. Or maybe the foundation is too strong to ever let it fall. Its walls may be crumbling, but it’s a mighty building that’ll take more than a tragedy to make it collapse.
I startle awake, banging the side of my head against a hard metal with a shout. Pain blossoms from the bump and thumps through my skull. I hold my hand there as the visions of my night fly through my mind like a movie, and tears stream down my face.
“Sunny!” I sob, squeezing my eyes shut, and take a deep breath.
When my eyes open, the man who took me stares back at me with a small grin from outside the bars of my new prison. I cringe, taking in the small cage, hanging from the ceiling, suspended over the floor. My legs barely have space to stretch out, and there’s no way in hell I can stand.
“Welcome to your new home,” his voice rings through the dungeon he’s stuck me in. “Get comfortable. You’ll be there for a while until I can decide what you’re good for.” He eyes me up and down, sending spiders crawling over my flesh. Something flashes in his eyes, and disgust rolls through me.
“What about my sister?” I ask when he turns his back to me. “Please! She has a heart condition. She needs help and her meds!” He stops abruptly but doesn’t turn to look at me. “I’ll do anything if you keep her safe,” I whisper, pleading with my whole fucking soul for him to comply and keep Sunny safe. She has to be.
He doesn't say another word when he saunters out of the room, leaving me in a small cage with nothing but the bloodied clothes I wore earlier.
And then, every ounce of light in the room disappears with him, leaving me in the soul-crushing darkness to contemplate my shitty life decisions.
As I'm sobbing alone in the darkness, a spark of hope ignites inside me. The high-pitched whine of an instrument starts through the walls, drawing me into the beautiful tragedy unfolding before me.
Two and half years ago, when my monster let me out of my captivity, this became our meeting space. We’re always undisturbed here. No one bothers to come to the docks where so many men lost their lives at the hands of the Devils.
“Of course.” I nod, keeping my eyes on the viper moving through the room.
What else did he expect me to do? Ignore it all? Not enlighten him about what was going down? I’m doing the job he asked me to do.
“Pictures, videos. The more evidence you can get against Jenni and her father, the better.” He strokes his chin as he moves, deep in thought. “I want them tonight. I want everything you have. You understand, don’t you, Little Snake? That if you get me this…” A creepy smile pulls at his lips when he pulls out a small piece of paper and holds it in front of me. “You get this information for me, and I’ll give you more than just a little piece of paper to remember your sister by.”
My heart stops in my chest when he throws it at me, and I catch it, clutching it to my heart. For one minuscule moment, I show my emotions, letting the feel of my sister’s letter touch my heart. She wrote this. She held this.
“And the transplant list?” I whisper with hope.
“Prove your worth, and I’ll elevate your sister Sunny to the top of the list. Get this done tonight, Little Snake.” He raises a brow, zeroing those dark eyes in on me.
“Yes, Sir. Of course,” I say with a nod, holding my breath when he checks his watch.
“Now, I’ve got business to attend to.” With that, he walks out without saying goodbye, leaving me in the darkened space of the warehouse with my sister's words.
Tears fill my eyes when I slowly unwrap the lined paper.
Journey,
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to write to you. I’ve asked and asked, but they keep telling me no. He came by again today at 3:00 p.m. and handed me this page and this pencil. He gave me five minutes and told me he was going to meet with you. I wish he was taking me with him. I’m still here… where he put me. I’m still safe, too. My treatments have ramped up. He said… that you caused me to be pulled off the transplant list, but you have a chance to fix that tonight. I… Be safe, J. Please. I’m a lost cause. Don’t do anything for me. Do it for you. Please. I love you so much. I’m running out of time. He says he has to leave to make it to you. Don’t get yourself hurt. Be careful. One day, we’ll be together again.
Pinkie swears and promises.
xoxox
Sunshine
“Pinkie swears and promises,” I whisper to the empty room, hugging the letter for dear life. Tears cascade down my cheeks, and I let it all go.
I sigh, walking into Sunshine’s bedroom beside mine, and gently close the door. “Mom’s at it again,” I grumble, locking the door behind us.
