Page 64 of The Hellkeeper

She sits across from me, a sick jester smile stretched across her face.

“Well, well. Look at you.”

Linda sighs dramatically, like she actually pities me.

“I always knew something was off about you, so I did a little digging.” Her lips curl. “And guess what I found?”

I glare at her, my entire body trembling. I say nothing.

“You came from Hell.”

She knows. This is the worst that could’ve happened.

“Tell me, Amelia... don’t you think it’s time you went back?”

I suck in a sharp breath.

“I made some friends from your little village. Turns out, they were more than happy to help me drag you back.” She gestures vaguely. “Said something about a debt that needed to be paid.”

Sacrifice.

They’re taking me back to be sacrificed.

“You should’ve kept your head down. You should’ve never gotten close to Damien.”

I flinch at his name. Is he really coming to save me? Did he leave me? Can anyone save me at this point?

“Poor Damien. He has no idea, does he? No idea that you’re such a fucking weirdo.”

“You don’t know shit, Linda.” My voice is raw, furious. “You think he’ll let you walk away once they’re done with me? That he won’t kill you for what you’ve done?”

Uncertainty flickers in her eyes, but it’s gone just as fast.

“Maybe he’ll finally love me. You know, with you being gone and all.”

“Fuck. You.”

She chuckles, crossing her legs like she’s enjoying herself. She’s way too calm for someone handing me over to a fate worse than death.

I press back against the cold metal wall, heart hammering. My throat tightens, my lungs feel too small. But I don’t let her see it. I won’t let her see how fucking terrified I am.

“Did you actually think you’d have a happy ending? You? The girl who was never supposed to make it out alive? You’re a fucking joke.”

She walks closer until she’s right in my face.

“I promise you, sweetheart. He won’t even be able to find your body when they’re done.”

She’s the devil. She has to be, with the way she twists her words into sharp knives and throws them straight at my heart.

“Maybe he’ll look for a while. Maybe he’ll even cry over you. But in the end? He’ll forget. And he’ll find me right there to comfort him.”

I can’t bite my tongue any longer.

“Is that what this is about? You couldn’t have him, so no one else could? That’s pathetic, Linda.”

Her nostrils flare.

Bingo.

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