Page 124 of Haunted Prey

Looking down, I saw the bottom of my gown soaked, blood trickling down my thighs. I didn’t need to lift the fabric to know where it was coming from.

Maybe it was the stress. Maybe the fear. Or the blow from Tyler’s father, coupled with the falls. My body, sensing danger, rejecting what was inside. Whatever the reason, it felt inevitable, as if this moment had been waiting to happen all along.

“We can start again, Eve,” Tyler said softly. “We can try again. Make things better.”

I felt the shadow again at my back, my phantom’s cold hand on my arm.

Look what he did.

Look what he took from us.

Make him pay, Eve.

Make him pay.

I stood there, shaking, staring at the blood.

Let me in.

I stiffened, and suddenly, I felt like I was miles away. I crouched next to Cassidy’s lifeless body. Took the mask and put it on. Grabbed the knife and stepped over her. Tyler’s eyes widened; his face pale.

“Eve.”

I shoved the knife in.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until his stomach was a pool of blood that my knife splashed in.

I turned away, or at least I thought I did. I blinked, and suddenly I was standing at the edge of the stairway. Slowly, I descended, step by step, until I reached the bottom.

Micheal was leading the woman out, but when his eyes met mine, I saw the fear in them. It wasn’t just him—Rebecca, Maria, and the others following behind looked the same, their faces pale and stunned. Adrien clutched her baby tightly, her steps faltering. Dom was helping Leslie, who was limping on one leg, both of them slowing as they noticed me. Their gazes lingered, as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Hands turned me around, and I stared up into hard yellow eyes.

“Eve,” Emery breathed. There was blood on him too. He still wore the black facemask. His hands gripped me and I knew he was real. “Evee.” His voice cracked. I couldn’t even move as he brought his arms around me, save to let my knife fall. His body shook against me and I wasn’t sure if he was crying or laughing from relief.

It didn’t matter. I was far away.

He pulled away to study me.

“I know that look,” he said, fear laced in his voice. His hand wiped my damp hair away. “Come back to me, Eve. Come back.”

I was being pulled one way and another within some deep dark void, felt the demon in my mind keeping hold of me.

“Come back, sweetheart.”

A thunderous crash nearby forced us to break away. Cursing, he wrapped his arm around me and he led me out the front with the others.

In the cold night, we stood watching the flames along the west wing take over. We watched Severfalls burn. And all that happened within would turn to ash. And those responsible would remain to haunt the remnants.

PART 6

COMING HOME

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