Page 48 of Ashes

I see you. . .

“Hey,” he said, worry laced into his voice. “Rinny. Now. Please. Reach for my hands.”

I crinkled my brows.

Seth.

“Fuck,” he snarled, looking over his shoulder as the door creaked open. “Rinny. Rinny!”

It was too late. The evil had arrived.

I slid back into darkness as rough hands gripped me painfully. I was moved. Trapped inside this dark prison.

Was I in my head?

My body was jostled as Seth called out for me.

Then the pain came. Blinding white light. Searing agony ricocheting through my body.

Seth screamed.

“Sirena!” A hiss. A cry. “Sirena!”

He was hurting too.

He was hurting so much.

A crack of pain hit me over my back. Again. Again. Again. An angry voice rang out in the darkness. “Beat the demons out of you. Kill the demons residing in your soul. The ones who have your mind.”

Seth, Help me.

He screamed again before there was a thud and no more noise.

Except the heavy breathing of the evil wizard as he leaned down and spoke into my ear, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Or we will beat him out of you. . .”

I didn’t hear the rest. The pain took over, and the darkness grew heavier until it was all I was.

All I’d ever be.

STITCHES

Ilay in the cold, hard bed and stared at the ceiling. Food and drink were passed through the slot in the door. I’d woken up several hours ago, still alive and in even more misery.

And I’d completely freaked the fuck out.

I’d been restrained, medicated, and brought to this fucking hole like a prisoner.

There was nothing in this place but a mattress without a sheet, a camera out of reach in the corner, and four walls. Four white walls that reminded me of the nothing in my life.

It wasn’t the hole, but it was really damn close.

Maybe I shouldn’t have punched that ward. . .

Fuck it.

It didn’t matter. Nothing did. Angel was gone. Church gave her away. Asylum had her now.

My poor, sweet angel.

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