Page 1 of Bleed for Me

ONE

ROSALIE

Bright, white lights illuminated the small room. My hands were restrained to the hospital bed beneath me as I stared into space. My chest heaved at the memories slithering through my mind. He killed them. He tried to kill me. I’d think I was dead if it weren’t for the pain slicing through my midsection. My tongue darted out, licking along my chapped lips. Everything hurt.

My gaze drifted to the cuffs around my wrists. The metal bit into the tender flesh causing even more discomfort.Why am I in handcuffs?Only criminals were cuffed and restrained. I wasn’t a criminal.

My eyes clamped shut as I tried to sort through the thoughts within my mind. Gentry. He did this. Tears pricked against my eyes.

The floorboards creaked beneath Gentry’s boots. The same heavy and thick boots he always wore. Anytime he was near, it sent my pulse thundering in my ears. He wasn’t a good person. Far from it. But I had to stay strong. If not for me, then for my little sister.

I cradled Daisy against my constricting chest. Her dark, blond hair was a mess from sleep. She’d woken me as soon as the front door slammed closed, fear evident in her blue eyes.

“H-He’s drunk again,” she stammered in her small voice. I tightened my hold on her, placing a kiss to the back of her head while she sat between my legs.

There wasn’t a lot of space in the closet we were huddled in. An assortment of shoes surrounded us along with clothes that had either been tossed in here, or that had fallen from the hangers above. It would have to do. If he was drunk, which happened frequently, there was a chance he wouldn’t come looking for us.

“It’ll be okay,” I whispered. “I’ll protect you.”

Her small body trembled against mine. “Promise?” She turned, glancing at me over her shoulder with glassy eyes.

I smiled tightly. Not sure if I could even keep this promise but nodded anyway. Gentry was another brand of evil. He hurt us both in unimaginable ways. The monster deserved to pay for his sins, but what could I do? He was twice my size.

“I’m scared, Rosie.” She breathed out, tears stinging her eyes as she sniffled.

I nodded again. “Me too, princess. Me too.”

My memories were cut short by the door handle jostling. I tensed beneath my restraints, hating the way it sounded as the door creaked open.Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.I repeated the childhood song in my head, tears attacking my eyes. This was a song I used to sing with my sister before knowing the true meaning of it. Now, it seemed more fitting than ever.

A doctor stepped into the room dressed in all white. Her dark, brown hair was tied back into a bun. I didn’t miss the two cops who lurked behind her. My heart rate increased as they followed her inside, gently closing the door behind them.

“Hi, Rosalie.” The doctor smiled down at me. Though, it didn’t reach her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

Fear tightened its clutches on my chest, making my breath come out labored. “Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.”

The doctor stared at me with wide eyes before glancing at the cops who still lurked near the door. They all exchanged uneasy looks before focusing on me once more. She cleared her throat before slapping another fake smile on her face. Was she…scaredof me?

“I’m Doctor Tanner,” she continued. “Are you in any pain?”

I glanced at my stomach, finally noticing the thick white bandage placed there for the first time. Blood seeped through the material, making me furrow my eyebrows. Gentry…he stabbed me. After he—after he?—

Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.

I sucked in a heavy breath, trying my best to ignore the pain these memories tormented me with. It was worse than the wound on my stomach. So much worse.

“Everythinghurts,” I whispered. “You hurt. I hurt. But they don’t hurt anymore because they’re dead. Gone. Ashes to ashes. Just like the song.” I started humming the words to the song I’d been repeating since I awoke in this horrid place. Maybe I’d gone a little mad with everything that had happened. But who wouldn’t?

It felt like my entire world had been turned upside down. They were dead.Shewas dead. The only person who ever truly meant anything to me was gone because I failed to protect her. I broke my promise. Heat spread through my body like lava as the memories forced their way to the front of my mind. It should have been me.

Doctor Tanner cleared her throat again, shifting nervously from foot to foot—probably due to my recent outburst. I wasn’t crazy. At least…not beforethis.

“I can get you some more pain medicine,” she offered with that same tight smile. “Would you like that?”

“Yes, and some water, please.”

This time, her smile turned genuine. Creases formed at the corners of her dark-colored eyes. “Of course. While I do that, the police have some questions they’d like to ask you. Would you be willing to speak with them?”

My gaze darted over to the two officers. One of them was older, probably late forties to early fifties. His hair was dark but had silver streaks laced throughout the sides of his short cut. The other officer was much younger, probably closer to my age. His skin was pale, which contrasted against his pitch-black hair. I didn’t miss the way his dark, blue eyes assessed me, and his hand twitched near his holster where a gun rested along his hip. Almost like he thought I’d somehow get out of these cuffs and attack him.

---