Page 19 of Fatal Vengeance

“Just reminding you,” he answers softly, holding onto my hand tight enough to hurt. The pain grounds me, though, so I don’t pull away.

Griffin and Asher are waiting for us on the sidewalk, but I take my time getting to them, instead asking Creed, “Reminding me of what?”

He crooks a lazy half smile at me. “That I’m here, Ember. That I love you. This might be the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do in your life, but just know that you’re not doing it alone. You’ll never have to do anything alone again.”

My feet drag with the next couple of steps as his caring words hit me square in the chest. Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them away before any can escape. I will not cry until we leave this place. Then I’m going to hide in bed in my sister’s cabin for at least a week and finally give myself time to properly mourn my mom’s loss. We’ve been at the cabin long enough that I feel safe there now, confident that The Celestials don’t know where we are, so I know that the breakdown I’m going to have after this will be okay. I can shut off for a few days and we’ll all survive it.

Squeezing Creed’s hand in a silent thank you is all I can manage right now, but thankfully, he squeezes right back in understanding. “I got you, Prudence. I’ll always have you,” he murmurs right before we’re in earshot of the other two. He warned me that today might be hard for him, but looking at him now, I’d never know he was struggling. His grip is firm on my hand, his eyes steady, and his shoulders back, as if he’s ready for whatever comes. It breaks my heart a little because he’s only putting himself in this position for me, and I’d rather he didn’t have to face his trauma at all, but leaving him behind wasn’t an option for him.

I love him. For today, and for so many other things. I make a mental note to do something special to show him that once this is all over.

When we reach Griffin and Asher on the sidewalk, Griffin sweeps his icy blue eyes over me and offers me his hand. With Creed on my left, I take Griffin’s hand with my right, and Asher leads the way like my own personal bodyguard. Honestly, I could get used to this. If we get through the next few months, that is.

Asher stops in front of the main door, looking back at me carefully. “Ready for this?” he asks softly, which is still taking some getting used to. When I don’t answer, swallowing roughly, he turns to face me properly, cups my cheek, and murmurs, “Say the word, and we’ll leave right now. I can come back and make the arrangements for you if this is too hard.”

I swallow down the yes please, let’s leave that wants to burst from my lips and offer a shaky smile instead. “I’m okay.”

Griffin’s grip tightens on my right hand, and Creed inches closer on my left side, both of them giving their strength and support. Asher takes a deep breath, holding my gaze like he’s studying my very soul. I shift my eyes to the door in front of us and Asher takes the cue, turning back around and knocking.

The seconds it takes for the door to open feel like hours. Hours where I’m trapped in hell, strung up by meat hooks, and being probed by the devil. But before I can run away screaming, the door opens and my stomach drops. Looks like my trip to hell is only just beginning.

14

Creed

Now that we’re out of the car and walking into the group home my Ember’s mom passed away in, the feeling of dread I've been fighting has firmly taken root. It's festering deep in my stomach, warning me away from this sick place, but I'll be damned if I run from my fears today. I'm here for Prudence, and that's all that matters.

It doesn’t help that I spent too fucking long locked up in a mental institution not so different from this place. I doubt there are any patients strapped to their beds in this facility, drugged against their will, but my mind is being dragged back to that dark time in my life, nonetheless.

My skin prickles with unease as the nurse — or whoever the fuck it was that answered the door — leads us deeper into the massive building, explaining that Prudence will need to speak with her mother’s former doctor and sign some forms. My steps become heavier, my breathing more labored, and the color is beginning to seep from my vision.

Stop, Creed. Stop it right now. This is a big moment for your girl and you will not fuck it up by losing your goddamn mind.

I blink far too aggressively for any normal person, but it helps repel that void I was slipping into. For now, at least. Prudence lets go of my hand as she matches her pace with the woman droning on and on. The second her skin isn’t on mine, I turn and search for Asher’s gaze. My cousin may be a fucking dick, and yeah, there’s been times lately that I’ve wanted to cave his damn head in, but he’s the only family I have. Asher and I have always been close, even if our relationship has been strained at times, and he knows my… mental struggles better than anyone.

While Griffin is practically on Prudence’s ass, he’s following so close, Asher hangs back and finally looks my way. The second his eyes find mine, some of the tension releases from my chest. Asher frowns and comes over to stand beside me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“I know, man,” he murmurs sympathetically, nodding almost imperceptibly. “I almost suggested you stay in the car, but I knew that wouldn’t go over well with you.”

I snort, raking my hand through my hair as I check on Prudence and Griff again. My girl is fine and her guard dog looks vicious enough to bite should anyone come too close. Knowing she’s safe helps ease some of this heavy feeling.

“I can’t— I won’t ever go back there, Ash," I croak, trying to keep my voice low so I don’t alarm Prudence. I turn away from her and Griffin, giving all my focus to my cousin. “If this all goes dicks up and The Celestials win… I want you to kill me. A bullet between the eyes, quick and—“

“Like fucking hell I’m doing that,” Asher snaps, cutting me off as his fingers dig into my shoulder painfully. His brows are creased together as he scowls at me like I’m a naughty child caught dicking around.

I shrug his hand off and tip my chin up in a silent challenge. “You know what they’ll do to me. If those cocksuckers get their hands on me, I’ll be locked in a padded room for the rest of my life. I’d rather fucking die than endure that hell all over again. So please, Asher. You’re the only one who’d do this for me if everything goes wrong.” Prudence might murder him for it, but that’ll be future Asher’s problem.

A muscle tightens in his jaw as he looks away from me, his green eyes flashing with emotion. There one second, gone the next, but it was fear and anguish if I’m not mistaken. “We’ll be okay. Nobody is dying anytime soon,” he mutters darkly.

I almost laugh. I don’t know why. That unsettled feeling in my stomach riots at my cousin’s words, and something tells me people will be dying sooner than we think.

Forcing myself to stay here and not in my colorless void that’s trying to drag me under the surface right now, I grit my teeth and nod at Asher and then I follow after Prudence and Griffin. She’s too far away from me, even though I can see her. I need my hands on her, her calming aura seeping through my mind before I fucking lose it in this place.

Asher sighs at my clear dismissal, following me without another word. He must know I’m right on the edge of snapping and tearing shit from the walls in here, so it’s smart of him not to push me too hard, even if he is only worried and looking out for me. Right as I get to my girl's side, placing my hand on her lower back and finally taking a deep breath, a patient screams from the TV room to our left, and I swear to fucking god, I jump straight out of my skin.

My head snaps that way, watching as the guy stands and claws at his arms while three nurses rush him. His skin tears, blood bubbling to the surface, and his eyes are frantic. Jesus fucking Christ. Prudence slips her hand into mine, and I’m a little ashamed of how hard I squeeze it in return. I see the glint of a needle before it penetrates the guy’s skin, the drug working immediately to lull him into some kind of hazy state, and it takes a hell of a lot to force memories away and not run from this place screaming. I’m all too familiar with needles and drugs and faceless, nameless nurses. It may have been a few years ago now, but being here is bringing all those horrid memories to the forefront of my mind.

I shiver from the effort it takes to look away from the scene. I don’t want to take my eyes off of the workers here, but rationally, I know I’m safe. With Prudence and my family, I’m safe. I’ll tell myself that a million and one times if I need to.

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