Page 23 of Pit

“It’s not a fucking fairy tale,” I utter.

“I could swallow pills or something.”

I roll my eyes. “Everyone assumes that’s a quick death, to fall to sleep and never wake up. It’s bullshit. You’re in agonising pain, like rolling around on the bed screaming, and nine times out of ten, you’ll vomit, bringing half the pills back up. Thenyou’ll be left with irreversible damage to your organs and probably die a slow, painful death.”

She’s staring at me wide-eyed. “How do you know?”

“It’s my job to know, Te. You want quick, I can give you quick, but it won’t be pills.”

“What do you recommend?”

I laugh. “You know, this is the strangest conversation I’ve ever had.”

“I don’t suppose you talk to your victims before you kill them,” she says thoughtfully.

“Never,” I confirm. “But if it was me, I’d want a knife straight to the heart.”

She winces. “No.”

“It’s quick. After the initial shock wears off, your heart just stops pumping.”

“Again, no,” she says. “When I go to heaven, I want my heart intact.”

“Heaven?” I repeat. “What makes you think that exists?”

She shrugs, going back to pulling up the grass. “I have to hold on to something, right? A beautiful afterlife that’s different to here,” she continues. “Better.”

“No bullies?” I guess.

She nods. “And nobody wanting to use me or hurt me.” She sighs. “Sounds like bliss.”

I glance back to the farm and notice Grizz watching us from the doorway as he sucks on a cigarette. “We need to go back,” I tell her, standing and holding out my hand for her. She eventually slips her hand into mine, and the familiar buzz in my heart hums louder. I pull her to her feet, and she winces, lifting one foot. “You’re hurt?”

“It’s nothing,” she says, waving me away.

“Let me see,” I say firmly, crouching before her. She holds onto my shoulder and lifts her foot. It’s bleeding where stoneshave sliced into her skin. I tap her other ankle, and she lifts it, revealing it’s the same. “Don’t ever fucking run like that again, Te. You get upset, you squeeze my hand and I’ll take you away from it, okay?” I look up, and she’s staring with her sad blues calling to me. I stand, and her eyes follow me as I tip her head back to keep contact. “Is that clear?” I push.

“Yes,” she almost whispers.

“Good. Glad we understand one another.” I scoop her into my arms, and she yelps in surprise as I carry her back towards the house.

I march past Grizz and the rest of the brothers and head upstairs, not stopping until we’re in my bedroom. I didn’t even think about where to take her, and as I sit her on the edge of the bed, I try not to read too much into it. I go into my cupboard and retrieve the first aid kit, laying it open beside her. “Thanks,” she mutters, dipping her hand in to take a bandage.

I crouch in front of her, aware this is the second time I’ve been on my knees for this woman. I take the bandage from her and place it back, retrieving an antiseptic wipe instead. I lift her left foot and begin to wipe it clean, gently removing debris and small stones, then I move to the next and do the same. “We need to find you some shoes,” I say, taking the cream from the kit and applying it to the cuts. “Why were you barefoot anyway?”

“I took off my heels when I saw you come into the warehouse.”

I glance up. “You must’ve been scared that night.” She nods, and I feel a pang of guilt. She never asked to be in this situation. “If it’s any consolation, we didn’t plan on finding anyone there, especially not you.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” she says, keeping her eyes to the ground.

I push to stand, sighing heavily. “You say that now, Te, but what about when the police come asking about Alec, or your family and friends want to know where you’ve been?”

“I don’t have any,” she says, finally looking at me. “I don’t have anyone.” I find it hard to believe her, she’s lied too many times, and besides, she’d said her family would be worried. As if she’s read my mind, she adds, “I lied before.”

“You do that a lot.”

“I was scared for my life, Pit. I’d have said anything to make you think twice about taking me.”

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