Page 7 of Kill Me Sweetly

His eyes met mine, and it was like looking into a nightmare. In those brown eyes were monsters pacing behind the veil, ready to tear it open.

“I asked him that, and he didn’t answer.”

I nodded and joined the stranger at the table, taking the seat across from him.

“My name’s Shep. I’m gonna need you to tell me yours.”

“Not important.”

“I’m afraid it is. You don’t want JJ here to name you, so what do people call you?”

“Four.”

A number. Not a name and not just any number.

“Is that really your name?” JJ tilted his head. “Are you like the fourth kid, are your siblings numbers too?” He shrugged. “I mean it’s kind of cool, easy to remember.” He chuckled, and I could tell he was nervous and trying to put Four’s mind at ease. But I had an idea of what was going on here…somewhat.

He was still eating the cookies, so hopefully I’d be able to gather more information before he went quiet once more.

“If I had to guess, someone did give you that number, but it wasn’t your parents. Am I right?”

He nodded.

“It’s an interesting number. Four. Do you know what it signifies?”

He stopped chewing and looked right at me. “My destiny.”

“How is a number destiny?” JJ scoffed. “I mean…sorry, that’s insensitive—it could be a culture thing.”

“Not in this case, I believe,” I answered quickly. “Four, in Japanese culture, means death.” He didn’t flinch, just kept his eyes on me. “However, some think four symbolizes completeness and stability. What does your name mean?”

“Nothing. Just what I’m called.”

I hummed. “And what do you need to terminate?”

He stood abruptly, forcing me to do the same. I pushed JJ behind me.

“Must go.”

“Wait.” JJ made to move around me, but I stopped him.

“Don’t, JJ.”

“But, Shep.”

Four regarded me, then JJ, then spun slowly and walked out the door.

“We can’t let him go. Angel said I had to dress the wounds and watch for a fever, and he’d be back as soon as he could.”

“JJ, I love that you want to help everyone, but Four might be out of your grasp. I’ve seen what nightmares do to people, and he was born into one. He’s a creation of someone’s mind, and I’m not sure he can be saved.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No, I don’t.” I gripped JJ’s shoulders. “I also can’t let him wander off and kill someone who might be innocent.”

“You want to take out Four?”

I rolled my eyes. “Right now, I want to go follow him. And I’d ask you to stay here, but you wouldn’t listen.”

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