Page 58 of Siccitas

“You’d have to live to see another day to do that,” he growls.

I feel a sharp pain in my leg, and it gives out from under me. There’s a knife sticking out of it, and blood is pooling around the blade

Richter runs from behind me to where Luke is standing.

“Go inside Richter. I’ll make her go away forever, so she never bothers us again.”

“The sun is about to rise,” Richter says quietly. “Can we wait for you by the back door?”

“Yes,” Luke says. “I’ll be there shortly.”

Richter runs off and Luke marches towards me. “If you miss Darby so much, you can fucking join her.”

I scream at the top of my lungs, praying someone hears me as Luke hoists me over his shoulder and carries me to the goddamn well. I fight. I try to kick. I punch, scratch, and pinch him, but he doesn’t stop.

He throws me onto the ground and opens the well before he grabs me by the hair. He looks me in the eye.

“Fucking useless,” he spits.

He throws me headfirst into the well and I feel something crack.

I look up and can just make out the opening. Luke shuts it and rolls something heavy and dark onto it.

“Since you’re up,” I hear him call as he walks away. ‘Let’s get to doing chores."

The darkness envelops me, and I reach out to touch Darby’s skull.

Together forever now.

Epilogue

Marissa

Ituck my hair behindmy ears then knock on the door again. I’m feeling impatient.

Daddy told me that he wanted me to take the kids toThe Antique Rosefor my next shift, because they need to learn the value of hard work.

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