Page 167 of Deviant

“I know you don’t want to, but I don’t see how you can prevent it.”

“Just put the chair down, and I’ll show you how. Just trust me, okay?”

“Do as she says, Ruby,” Rowen adds her own two cents to the situation.

“Just trust me,” Abigail continues to say, this time placing her hand on the chair to help Ruby put it back in its original spot. “Sit,” she adds, to which a nervous Ruby obliges. Once Ruby is settled in her seat, Abigail gives her a reassuring smile and asks for her hand.

“My hand?” Ruby stammers, to which Abigail nods. Nervously, Ruby places her hand in Abigail’s while we watch in stilled silence. Abigail then takes the butterfly brooch she had fastened on her cardigan and pricks Ruby’s finger until a small speck of blood drops to the tile floor.

“There, see?” Abigail smiles at a stunned Ruby before giving her a little kiss to the small prick on her finger. “All better now. Nothing to worry about.”

Ruby jumps from her chair again, only this time it isn’t to run away from her but to hug Abigail with all her might.

“Thank you, Abbie! Thank you!”

We all sit there in amazement at how Abigail’s quick thinking on her feet prevented true bloodshed from being spilled. But while everyone rejoices in the win, my eyes find Rowen again, knowing she was the one to give her young friend an out.

After both girls return to their seats, we don’t wait long for a new text to arrive.

This one is directed at Rowen, and when her troubled gaze meets mine, I realize I’m her target.

“What does it say?” I ask, but instead of responding, she stands up and approaches me, ready to show me the message herself.

Cut off a piece of flesh from Elias.

“So? What are you waiting for? Do it.” She stares at me like I’m insane.

“No. I can’t. I won’t.” She shakes her head.

“You can and you will. Stop fucking about and do as they say!” I order.

“No. I won’t do it. I still have a choice,” she retorts, meaning that she’d sacrifice herself toThe Scourgeinstead of hurting me.

Like hell that’s happening.

I stand up, grab her arms, and slam her to my chest.

“That choice is not yours to make. Or did you forget that you still owe me a life?” I whisper, low enough for no one to overhear me.

“You… still… want to?” she stammers, unbelievingly. “I thought… I thought…”

“You thought fucking wrong. Now go and grab a fucking hunting knife from that table over there so we can start fucking cutting.”

When I see the order has snapped her out of her stupor, I release my grip from her arms so she can get on with it.

“Are you really going to let her cut you?” Big Mike asks as I watch Rowen walk over to the table in search of a hunting knife.

“I am,” I reply resolutely, to which he just laughs.

“I guess karma got you, too. Stings, doesn’t it?” He continues to chuckle.

But I tune the motherfucker out. I tune all of them out. They cease to exist to me at this moment.

None of them matter.

Only her.

All I care about is Rowen completing her mission.

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