Page 124 of Prince of Pain

“You’re pathetic.” It didn’t really sound like him, but it had to be. “No one fucking likes you.”

“Don’t say that,” I choked out, pressing it harder to my ear. “Come back, please. I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” he chuckled, seeming to think about it for a second before continuing. “You want to prove your love for me? Get in the bath, Tempest. Go on. Fill it with water and slit your fucking wrists for me.”

He wasn’t making sense. Did he want me to have a bath?

“Will you join me?” I asked desperately, taking the phone into the bathroom and ignoring the blood dripping down my thighs as I put the plug in to start running the water.

“One day,” he mused. “There’s no need for you to stay.”

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“To fucking hell where you belong. You’re nothing, Tempest. Fucking nothing. You think anyone will cry when they find you in that bath? How long until anyone even comes looking for you? I sure as fuck won’t be.”

Tears burned my eyes and I squeezed them shut, shaking my head. “Don’t say that!”

“Why not? It’s the truth. I bet your mom will be relieved to not have to deal with you again. No more embarrassing her or your dad. There’d be no point having a funeral, it’s not like anyone would show up to mourn you.”

“Shut up!” I screamed, pressing my hands over my ears to try and shut him up, dropping my phone in the process. Voices screamed in my head, or I was screaming, I had no idea, but when I finally looked down at my cracked phone, the call had disconnected.

Picking it up, I placed it on the edge of the bath, quickly turning the taps off as the water started overflowing. I stared at the water, contemplating what to do.

I could make it all better if I got in there and did as he said.

Was he lying, or would he miss me?

I’d do anything for him to miss me.

I walked back to the bedroom and found his knife on the bed, the sheets bloodied and reminding me that I’d cut myself, but I was too numb to feel any of the pain now.

I barely felt the scalding water when I returned to the bathroom and climbed into the bath, not caring as water spilled onto the floor. I hesitated before grabbing my phone off the side of the bath, opening a message to Ryder.

I didn't want him to stay mad at me, I needed him to come and find me on the other side.

The other side was a thing, right?

Tempest: I’m sorry.

He didn’t reply and I didn’t expect him to, putting the phone on the floor and closing my eyes.

I just wanted it to be quiet.

Writing a note was pointless if Ryder was right and no one would even find me.

What would I even say? They’d just be glad that I was gone.

I pressed the knife hard against my wrist, definitely feeling the sharp pain this time as it sliced through my skin. A sob left me, more tears managing to fall as if I didn’t want to leave the world behind without letting it take what was left of me.

The blood flowed as I gave my other wrist a matching cut, closing my eyes tightly to block out the burn that reminded me I was alive.

How ironic that the most alive I’d felt in hours was just before I died.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ryder

Channing shoved a joint at me the second we’d gotten back to his place, and I told them everything that had gone down. I couldn’t explain the pain in my chest though, that was a type of vulnerability I wasn’t going to let them see.

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