Page 40 of Homecoming: The Devil's Society

As I grip the soft silk between my fingers, I pull it back with me and my feet meet the floor once more. Holding it out next to me, Rain grabs hold of it.

I sit Francesca up, leaning against the bars. Her head falls to the side, and her eyes are barely staying open, as more blood drains from her. If we don’t do this now, we will lose her before I even get to finish.

Should have shot her with adrenaline, but fuck it, let’s do this.

Taking the ribbon back, I toss it around my cousin’s neck. Unable to pull her forward without her falling, I work quickly. I end up completing the noose knot on her front side.

Looking at Rain, I make eye contact with her, then point to the decorative table against the adjacent wall. Leaving my bat, she rushes over and pulls it over to me.

I scoop Francesca up from under her arms, then throw her on the table. I hop up on it next, and the legs shake as I stand on the top of the surface, bringing my cousin to stand with me.

My arm reaches under her, gripping around her chest while I hold her against me in order to keep her on her feet. My other hand rotates the ribbon so the noose knot is toward me, at the back of her neck.

Placing my lips next to her ear, I shout, ensuring she hears every fucking word, “If you don’t place your feet on the ledge, I will do it for you. Either way, you are dying here tonight.”

She is lethargic.

Goddammit.

Quickly, I move my hands to her waist, hoisting her up so her feet touch the iron rail. The moment I let go, she’s dead.

Looking off to the side, my eyes wander to the main floor. A couple familiar faces are standing, watching and waiting.

“Look, your dad’s down there watching.”

The last vision she will see. Her own father doesn’t even want to help her. Proving to her everything I have fucking said.

“Do it. Fucking coward,” I command, seeing if she has anything left inside of her to move forward. The weight of her is still relying on me.

This dumb bitch is on my last nerve.

Declining her birthright and being needy, relying on others until the very end.

She was given a choice. She didn’t pick the right one.

Now it’s time for her to face the consequences. She was warned.

Music is pounding. The floor on the second-story balcony vibrates beneath our feet as we stand on the table.

I yell once more, “Jump!”

A whimper leaves her mouth, Francesca’s body shaking with fear. Fear which she put inside of herself. It didn’t have to be this way.

My mouth grazes her ear, the last words she will ever hear. “No one will miss you anyways.”

A loud scream leaves her as my hands let go. Her final breath of oxygen enters her lungs.

Feet that were balancing on the wooden banister only moments ago are now floating in the air as she falls forward. The final seconds of her life are gone in a flash.

The silky red fabric that hangs from the ceiling dances. My eyes are captivated by it.

“Fucking beautiful, isn’t it?”

The loud snap is music to my ears as gravity pulls her body down. The red aerial ribbon stays in place, creating tension. Opposing forces. The neck breaks. Her head falls to the side with her broken jaw hanging loose. Francesca’s hair is soaked and colored red. The torn sweatpants dangle at her feet, her pussy exposed and dripping blood.

Our initiation as Disciples is complete.

Rain looks over the railing, her eyes examining the hanging body. Others below are doing the same, as loud clapping follows.

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