Page 181 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“Pigtails. Why the hell are you here?”

“Pigtails… my mom… may not make it.”

“He… he took the one thing my family left behind, Pigtails. He… took it from me. His friend.”

“Pigtails… this is the legacy I have left. Just me and these books.”

“I’m going to find a cure, Pigtails. Everyone will be forced to accept it.”

“Pigtails?! EVA! Come out! The fire! Everything is burning!”

“Are you mad?! You could die?! Over fucking papers!”

“Pigtails?! Eva?! Don’t… don’t die, too.”

“Please… Pigtails… I never hated you… please… don’t go.”

So much confusion, I sink further and further. Faces I don’t remember. People I promised to never forget. All these memories of needles and IVs. Shocks to the brain and utter confusion.

Nothing makes sense, and it frightens me to the core.

It sets an odd panic because who the fuck is the person?

Who am I?

Gemini. Verena. Evangeline. Dolcezza. Sweet Dynamite. Sweet Canary. Sweet Precious Gem.

Pigtails. Nerd. Tomboy. Ugly. Bully. Friend? Best friend? Boy… friend?

He hates me. They hate me.

Why does everyone hate me?

I was supposed to die. Why didn’t I die?

He saved me. Who saved me? Why did he save me?

Everything is too much, the sensory overload making me drown in a sea of confusion that wishes to keep me under. To drown me deeper and deeper, with not an ounce of mercy.

I don’t think I can take it anymore.

I’m losing the battle.

I don’t want to lose; I need to win.

I’m a fighter.

Precious Fighter…

“Breathe, Dolcezza!” I hear a voice in the distance encouraging me. “That’s it, Eva. Keep breathing. Just like that. Keep fighting for me.”

Zayn… Zander… my Ruthless King.

It’s weird how it doesn’t matter what situation I’m in. His voice always invites a sense of peace that pulls me away from the spiraling madness.

Everything doesn’t feel like it’s caving in, and suddenly, there’s intense warmth that hugs and holds me far too tightly. I like the warmth. The immense tranquility that wraps around me like a snuggling hug.

I’m okay. I’m safe. I’m no longer sinking.

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