Page 470 of Rage

We move swiftly, gathering our tools and erasing any trace of our presence. The bodies of our victims lie still and broken in the shadows, their unseeing eyes staring up at the star-strewn sky. A part of me wants to linger, to savor this moment of triumph. But Jaz's hand on my arm urges me forward.

"We need to go," he murmurs, his voice low and urgent. "Someone will come looking for them soon."

The walk back to the car feels surreal, like wading through a dream. The sand beneath my feet is cool and damp, so different from the scorching grains that burned my skin a year ago. The distant thump of music grows fainter with each step, the revelry of the party a stark contrast to the dark deed we've just committed.

As we reach the road, I pause, turning to look back at the beach house. Its windows still blaze with light, silhouettes of partygoers visible through the glass. How long before someone notices the absence of the three golden boys? How long before their broken bodies are discovered among the trees?

Jaz's hand on the small of my back guides me into the car. The leather seat is cool against my overheated skin as I sink into it. For a moment, we sit in silence, the weight of what we've done settling over us like a heavy blanket.

Then Jaz starts the engine, its purr a comforting rumble in the stillness of the night. We pull away from the curb, leaving behind the scene of both my greatest trauma and my ultimate revenge. As we merge onto the coastal highway, the ocean stretches out beside us, an inky expanse that seems to swallow the moonlight.

"Where to now?" Jaz asks, his eyes flicking between me and the road ahead.

I gaze out at the endless horizon, feeling a sense of lightness I haven't experienced in a year. The burdens I've carried for so long--the fear, the shame, the burning need for vengeance--have been left behind on that blood-soaked beach. In their place is a vast, exhilarating emptiness, a canvas waiting to be filled.

"Anywhere," I reply, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "As long as it's with you."

Jaz's hand finds mine, his fingers intertwining with mine. The touch is gentle now, a stark contrast to the bruising grip of our earlier passion. I look over at him, taking in his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. The sharp angles of his face, the fullness of his lips, the intricate tattoos creeping up his neck--he's beautiful in a dangerous way, like a predator at rest. His dark eyes flick to mine, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Anywhere it is, then," he says, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. "The world's a big place, little Bee. Lots of monsters out there waiting to be hunted."

His words send a thrill through me, a mix of excitement and trepidation. We're fugitives now, I realize. There's no going back to my old life, to the person I was before. But as I watch thefamiliar coastline fade into the distance behind us, I find I don't want to.

The girl I was died on that beach a year ago. The woman I've become was forged in fire and blood, tempered by rage and vengeance. And now, with the deed done and justice served, I feel... free. Unburdened. Ready to embrace whatever comes next.

"Tell me about these monsters," I say, turning to face Jaz fully. "Where do we find them?"

Jaz's grin widens, predatory and proud. "Oh, little Bee," he purrs, "they're everywhere. Men who think they can take what isn't theirs, who prey on the vulnerable and believe they'll never face consequences. But we know better, don't we?"

I nod, feeling a familiar fire ignite in my belly. "We do," I agree, my voice low and dangerous. "And we'll make them pay."

Jaz's eyes gleam with approval and something darker, more primal. "That's my girl," he murmurs, his hand squeezing mine gently.

We drive through the night, the familiar coastline fading into unfamiliar territory. The rhythmic purr of the engine and the gentle rock of the car lull me into a state of calm reflection. I think about everything that's led me to this moment—the pain, the rage, the dark transformation I've undergone.

A year ago, I was a different person. Innocent. Naive. Vulnerable. Now, I'm something else entirely. The old Bee would be horrified by what we've done tonight. But the woman I've become? She feels only a grim satisfaction.

"What are you thinking about?" Jaz asks, breaking the comfortable silence.

I turn to look at him, taking in his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. "About how much I've changed," I admit. "About how I should feel guilty, but I don't."

Jaz nods, understanding in his eyes. "Guilt is for those who haven't suffered," he says softly. "You paid your dues in pain and blood. Now it's time for the monsters to pay theirs."

His words settle over me like a warm blanket, soothing away any lingering doubts. I lean back in my seat, watching the world fly by in a blur outside the window. The future stretches out before us, unknown but full of so much dark promise.

---