Page 205 of A Love Like Venom

“Reed Carter,” she says my name and I swear if I look there is a smile on her face. “You could never be dangerous. Not to me.”

Finding the brightest star I close my eyes and make my wish.

I wish one day I’ll actually believe it.

“Did you make your wish?”

“Yeah, I did. And you?”

“Of course.”

We stay quiet for a moment but it isn’t with unease. I eventually ask her teasingly, “What? You aren’t going to ask me what I wished for?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

Her eyes return to mine and I see so much. So fucking much that it physically hurts. I’m almost afraid to hear what she has to say but I brace myself anyways.

“Because I really want this wish to come true for you, Reed. And if you don’t tell me there is a greater chance that it will.”

I love her.

I love her so fucking much but I can never have her.

“Why can’t I see what you do?” I mumble to myself.

“Because I believe in you,” she says softly.

God, I can’t believe that she heard me. Yet here I am hanging on to each word that she says, silently begging her to say more. “I always have. Always will. You can do anything you set your mind to. There’s nothing you can’t achieve. I believe in you, Reed. Want to know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you believe in me. Because you’re my best friend. Because I-” She stops herself before the words can leave her lips. Part of me wants her to confess. To tell me what her heart really feels. Selfishly I want to hear it. But then I don’t. Because once she does it’s something she can’t take back. And I can’t give her that in return. I can’t. I’ll only ruin her. “Because I see you, Reed Carter.” She ends up saying instead. And I don’t know if that is any better or worse than confessing what she truly feels. Or maybe it’s a confession all in itself. Maybe it’s the same. “I see all of you and never have I once doubted you. Please if you doubt yourself don’t doubt me. I believe in you. Always.”

This, this proclamation is far more complex and meaningful then the simple word love. This goes beyond that.

And I realize that I can give her something in return. Something without having to directly say it. “I see you, Alice Hall. I see you.”

She rewards me with a smile. One that she only gives me. With our pinkies intertwined, holding on like a life line, we return our eyes back to the stars.

But we both know the real light, the one we seek the most, is in each other.

Another blow lands on my ribs and the sickening crunch echoes throughout the room.

With a sharp intake of breath it burns my lungs and causes my muscles to seize.

Blood continues to leak from my wounds. If they continue their relentless brutal attacks I will not be alive by sunrise.

Think, Reed.

Finally, the two of them take a break. They take a healthy step back as they admire their handiwork.

I can only imagine the damage they’ve caused. I can only imagine what I look like.

But I can’t afford to think about that.

I have to find a way out.

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