Page 140 of Speak

Yuck.

You’d think I’d be used to that bit by now.

I walk back over to Ash, wiping all the blood on my gloves onto her hand, untie her and then place the knife on the floor as though it simply fell limply from her grasp and put her slippers on her feet.

I go to their fireplace, open the flue and then light a low fire. I get naked, burning any evidence I was here, including the rope I used to tie Ashleigh up.

My leg aches from dragging them from their drugged stupor as I stalk to their bedroom, grabbing a nightgown and robe that Ashleigh owned, grab the baggie I came here with, put the expensiveblonde wig on once I've put her clothes on and her shoes. If they have cameras, they'll only catch "her."

Walking around their space, their empty home, it does something to me as it does absolutely nothing to me at the same time.

There was a time I loved Ashleigh. We had been friends at Harlon Prep, then went to different academy's. Even though I went to Hawthorne with Axel, she went to St. Paul's, we still hung out, and when we both rushed for our sorority, became closer at RMU until she started dating Thadd. That's when Brina and I got way closer.

She was jealous of you... your family...

My family. That had sold me to the Prescott’s. Like fucking cattle.

I find Ashleigh's study. A large calendar is hung on the opposite wall. So she can view it from where she sits at her desk. She has one bookshelf lined with... photographs and a few self-help books that look as though they've never been opened. If that doesn't sum up Ashleigh I don't know what does. Jesus not even one trashy book. How were we ever friends? I peek at her Calendar, noting her cleaner won't be in until Tuesday in parenthesis it says (Pay Nadia.)

A happy shiver runs through me, delighted that they'll sit in their rot for a few days.

Except I forgot to calculate that there are some parents that actually love their children. That check up on them with a text or a phone call… I forget that there are parents out there that will drop by, unannounced, full of worry when they don’t text back.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jonas.

I wait for her, watching her little purple dot as it goes from one side of the mega-mansion to the other.

The home is magnificent, a brownstone given to him as a wedding gift from his parents when he was forced to marry Ashleigh due to their arranged marriage. Which she was excited for. Ashleigh had loved Thadd since they were kids. He wanted someone more reserved. We all watched as he slowly broke her spirit. Going from carefree to a reserved alcoholic.

It was sad.

Even put together in immaculate gowns, she looked broken.

I watch the blue dot finally make it to the front door butAshleighcomes out… but the blue dot tells me it’s Raven. I slowly lurch my car forward, letting it go by inch by inch, when I see it is Raven in a fucking wig and wearing a nightgown.

My specter, haunting the moonless night.

I roll down my window outside the gate that’s open and call out to her so as not to wake the neighborhood but most of the people on this block are still at the Ball. This block is mostly Syndicate owned properties. Stephen Prescott lives just three mansions down.

When my little ghost turns to face me, she looks like an absolute nightmare. I know her plan was to burn the things she wore,but it seems to have seeped through the spandex and dried blood clings to her skin.

Everywhere.

On her forearms, the nightgown, some of it was in the wig that made the sticky strands cling together. The freakiest part and the part thatshouldn’tbe giving me a boner?

She’s wearing blacked out contact lenses. My girl looks like a fucking vampire from one of those books she loves all pale skin, black eyes and covered in blood. All she’s missing is fangs.

Fuck -New kink unlocked.

“Baby, we gotta go get you cleaned up. You’re a sticky mess.” As much as I really need to get her cleaned up, it’s an excuse - I’m totally gonna fuck her in the shower. “C'mon baby, before anyone sees.”

But her hands fly up.What are you doing here? I’m not done.

“I gotta make sure you didn’t leave anything behind okay?”

Ghosty nods and grab my gloves from the middle console then getting out slowly, not letting my car door slam, I follow her, hitching a breath at the grizzly sight in the living area.

---