Page 74 of Cruel Devil

Did Sullivan make her wear that?

Darkness.

I race for her, not caring if I fall or break an ankle.

I’m coming!

The words don’t leave my mouth. I try to scream her name, but it’s hardly a murmur. The darkness thickens around me, my steps growing heavier, slower.

No! Phoebe!

I’m shrieking, but the only sound is the flicker of the lights.

On. Off.

Click. Click.

The lights come on.

Phoebe is gone.

I sob in frustration, spinning around. Athena’s behind me, a few feet away. But the lights shut off so quickly that all I see is that she’s holding out a hand for me to take. That her face is scrunched up in terror.

Help me! Please! He’s hurting me!

Oh my God.

Panic bursts through me. I try to run but my legs tense against air solid as tar. I scream Athena’s name in the dark as I try to claw my way toward her.

The lights stay off even longer.

Pitch black, silent, all I can hear are my own muted screams ringing in my head as I claw, struggle, writhe through the tar-thick darkness.

Nyx.

It’s a whisper, right by my ear.

Phoebe.

But I’m so close to Athena, I can’t turn around now.

I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.

I’m coming baby.

I’m just getting your sister, baby.

The lights flicker, and there’s a part of me that expects Athena to be gone again, because this is all just some pathetic joke, some sick fuck toying with me.

But when they come back on, she’s right in front of me.

Now she’s wearing the red dress, and it’s obvious she’s pregnant. Eight, nine months. About to pop.

I scream.

Terror spikes hot and sharp through my body.

Screaming.

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