Page 21 of The Butcher

Things have been quiet since they brought me back to this stall.

No herder or counter, the only visitor being Scarlett, checking my progress, and a few days ago, collecting samples for testing.

“Indy,” Scarlett whispers as she quickly enters, looking over her shoulder before pulling the door closed and heading straight for me. “They’re coming.”

My blood runs cold at her words, words I’ve been terrified to hear, but in the back of my mind I knew I would.

I’m not pregnant.

I can tell it didn’t take, and she’s here to confirm it.

“When?” My eyes dart behind her, waiting to hear more footsteps any second. “How much time?”

“A few minutes at most.”

Swallowing thickly, I watch as Scarlett crouches in front of me and produces a syringe from the pocket of her dress.

Simple, brown, plain as the dirt on the floor but looking at it now, I wish, just once, I’d been able to wear something like that.

We’re naked ninety nine percent of the time, only allowed any type of clothing when we were in school, or if there’s some sort of event that the Harden’s held, and even then, it was barely more than a slip.

To be envious of little more than a burlap sack given to pregnant omegas to show they’re off limits is ridiculous, but I am. There’s so much I haven’t done, so many things I dreamt of doing. Everything my mother hoped for—that I hoped for—it’s gone.

All gone.

Thirty-two years have come to an end, and not only do I have nothing to show for it, there won’t be anything left to say I was ever here at all.

“I’m sorry, Indy,” Scarlett says with a sniffle. “I was hoping for?— “

“Me, too.” My pulse is pounding in my ears, almost drowning out the sound of my own voice. “I was, too.”

She gives me a sad smile as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I hate this.”

I just nod and try to smile back because there’s nothing else to say, not about this. We both know what’s coming, we know what this looks like, and how it’s going to feel. We saw it with our mothers and now Scarlett will see it with me.

I hope they don’t make her deal with my body.

The thought is silly when you really think about it. We’ve seen so much worse, and I can only pray that if they do force Scarlett to do that, at least she’ll know I’m finally at peace.

“I took what I could find.” Scarlett reaches for my forearm, laying it across her knees then patting the crease of my elbow, searching for a good vein. “They keep anything lethal locked up, but I was able to mix a couple of things that should help.”

A tear drops onto my skin as she uses an alcohol swab to clean the area and for some reason, it makes me laugh.

“Indy,” she scolds as she looks behind her. “They’ll hear you.”

I shake my head and cover my mouth as I start to giggle uncontrollably. “I’m going to die, and you’re worried about making sure there aren’t any germs where you’re going to stick me.”

Scarlett blinks watery eyes at me, a look of embarrassment creeping into her features. “I just?— “

Without warning, I reach out and pull her to me, hugging the only person I have left tightly, my laughter fading as I close my eyes and try to soak her in.

It’s been so long since I’ve hugged someone, since anyone hugged me back, and if this is my last chance for something as simple as a gentle touch from one person to another, I have to take it.

“Don’t forget me,” I whisper as tears prick my eyes.

Scarlett shakes her head as she squeezes me tight. “Never.”

The sound of heavy boots entering the stable quickly ends the hug, both of us turn toward my door before she grabs my arm again.

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