Page 25 of Black Heart

Disgusted, I shove the jar back in the velvet pouch. In doing so, a slice of pain hits my finger. I’ve brushed against the sharp edge of a piece of paper.

I want to cry.

Instead, I pull out the small, folded rectangle and read.

Layla,

This skin is your trophy. His screams, my gift to you.

Your name is on too many lips.

Next time, I might not be there to paint the walls red for you.

Your Scythe

“Oh, good,” I say in a high-pitched voice bordering on a mental breakdown. “He’s given himself a pet name I can call him.”

10

LAYLA

“Scythe!”

I storm around my home, yelling into every camera lens I can see. I didn’t even give myself time to drop my purse or go to the bathroom. I’m so mad.

“Show yourself! Now!”

The purse smacks against my side in time with my pacing. The grotesque jar sways and bangs inside, a brutal reminder of its presence.

Halting in the middle of the main room, I glare up at the camera installed in the corner and point at my bag. “What is this? What have youdone?”

Silence.

I laugh under my breath, half insane with the images my imagination created on the rest of the drive home. “It must’ve been you who left me this in my car. Mycar, you asshole! The only other thing that’s mine other than this house you’ve also invaded!”

No response.

“You don’t get it, do you?”

The purse’s strap slips off my shoulder. I let it fall on the banged-up sofa chair next to me. “I don’t require much. Hell, I don’t come with much. But what I do have, I’m proud of. So scare me all you want, but I’m not running away. This half-rotten piece of land is my only legacy, okay? It’s more than just a home to me. I’m not abandoning that part of myself. I’m not.”

My arms fall to my sides. I blow a piece of loose hair out of my face, waiting ten more seconds before I lose my mind.

I’m about to give up and just toss this haunted pickle jar into the ocean when the camera’s speaker light blinks to life.

“Wraithling,”my Scythe drawls, his tone dripping with casual indolence.“You keep forgetting you’re prey. I’m just making sure you live long enough to learn how to be a predator.”

“By presenting me with pieces of human skin?” I snap, my outrage reigniting. “I should just take this to the police. Show them what you’re doing.”

“Don’t.”

The single word chills the air.

“Consider it a warning,”he continues coolly.“Each assassin I eliminate will be laid out as evidence for you. You should start listening to me.”

“Assassin?” I echo, my attention drifting from the camera and to the floor as I think.

“I warned you they would come because of what you know.”

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