Page 17 of Sweet Misery

I didn’t move to take my shirt off. I couldn’t if I wanted to. The twin grasping my hair was splintered it from its roots as he held me and my panic was getting back to uncontrollable levels again. I was barely able to breathe let alone unbutton my top.

“TAKE. OFF. YOUR. SHIRT!” Sever shouted.

I shook violently, sobbing and gasping for more air.

When I failed to comply, Sever reached forward and grabbed me, tearing my shirt off. The buttons pinged and scattered across the floor as it fell open, exposing my bra to the room.

I watched in horror as the second twin pulled a knife out and gave an elaborate twirl of it in his hand before surging forwardand cutting my bra between my breasts and effectively splitting it in two.

My breasts spilled out as I continued to sob, the twin holding my hair not bothering to loosen his grip.

“P-Please…”

“Mark her,” Sever said, stepping away, nothing but hatred and darkness in his pretty blue eyes.

I had no idea what that meant, but I knew I didn’t want any part of it.

I screamed as the twin holding me brought me to the floor and pinned me down while the second twin gave me a maniacal grin, his knife in his hand.

“We mark our toys so they don’t get lost,” he said, twirling his knife again before he brought it down over my heart.

I screamed in pain as he carved deep into my flesh. The rivulets of blood raced from the wound, the burning ache making me scream louder.

He hummed while he worked, each slice into my skin sending me spiraling just a little bit more.

The pain became too much and before I knew it, darkness was blotting out my sight.

And eventually, I passed out, the situation and agony simply too much for my body.

8

SEVER

Irose to my feet after dropping the bloody knife onto the hardwood floor and stared down at what I’d done. We’d each taken a turn carving our initials across her heart and bare breast.

I needed my name scarred into her body like I needed my next breath.

Arianna had woken some feral, primal part of my soul I didn’t realize existed. I thought the worst of me was already out in the world, but I was wrong.

Deep in her soft, creamy flesh my initials next to my brothers bloomed bright red and ugly. The deep, jagged cuts would eventually scar in ugly lines, letting the world know who she belonged to.

“Take her to her room,” Mass said, moving to sit back in his chair. He’d quickly carved his initials and hadn’t done much in the way of fanfare with it, while Roe and Ren had carved deeper and more violently after she’d passed out.

And me.

I’d been slow and deliberate. Whenever she’d regain consciousness, I’d push a little harder, making her tremble beneath my steel until she passed out again.

Roe lifted her easily into his arms, Ren following him as they returned her to her bedroom.

I sank onto my seat on the couch wordlessly, her blood still on my hands.

“Tomorrow will be better,” Mass said, looking over at me.

I snorted, not giving a shit.

“And if she dies in her sleep?” I looked at him.

“Then we’ll fuck her dead body and await the next gift our dear father sends us.”

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