Page 39 of Ruined Beta

Neon red, almost. It’s like they’re not real.

I wish they weren’t. I wish that night had never happened.

If I could erase it from my life, I would.

But I can’t, and I can’t do anything but wait for my scars to fade.

I peel back the bandage on the wound that hasn’t healed.

It’s bleeding, just a little. I prod around it, making it worse.

The stab of pain hits and I gasp out a breath.

It feels like it’s never going to heal.

I bin the bandage and turn the water on for the shower.

I don’t cry until I’m standing under the stream, letting the water rush over my aching, scar-covered body. I wash until I feel numb and the water’s starting to go cold. I stop crying before it gets there.

When I turn the water off, I barely feel like I have the strength to get out of the cubicle.

My body feels too heavy. Everything feels like so much effort.

I push the door open and force myself out.

Grabbing a towel, I wrap it around my shoulders.

I drag in a deep breath and unlock the bathroom door.

I stagger to the bed and slip under the covers.

Sleep is quick to claim me, and I’m grateful for the chance to rest.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Spencer

She’s not going to be happy when we show up on her doorstep, that’s for damn sure. I turn the envelope over in my hands as we walk through the city streets. It’s busy enough out here to be annoying. I keep bumping shoulders with quick-walking strangers.

Echo’s swifter and lighter on his feet so he can pass by everyone without having to make physical contact in any kind of way. It’s almost like watching a ballerina seeing him slip past everyone so deftly. I guess it helps that he knows where he’s going better than I do.

I know the general direction, but that’s about it.

Echo used to live in one of the depressing apartment blocks further along.

She must be renting something similar.

Those apartments are tiny. It’s no way to live.

I catch up to Echo when we’re almost at the right street.

He turns and waits for me now that there’s a break in the crowds.

“I know this doesn’t seem like fun, but seriously,” he starts. “You don’t want to spend time with our future mate?”

Our future mate. I’m having a hard time thinking of Leanne like that.

She’s just gone through something fucking awful, and E.A. wants to ask her to do something that might traumatize her even more. All I really want to do is rescue her from that.

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