Page 3 of Sacrificing Zoriah

“Stop what?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Being all… you,” I say as the door opens.

“Good night, Zoriah,” he says with a sweet smile. I sigh dramatically and step out. I think he intentionally gets me flustered, and I fall for it every time. I just want to drink and forget about my responsibilities for a while.

Chapter Two

Zoriah

Haley bangs on thedoor again, and I groan as I step out of the shower. She is so damn impatient. I wrap a towel around my body and walk to the front door of my apartment.

“Would you stop banging on the door?” I ask when I open the door. I get confused when I see her in clothing that she would never go to a club in. She looks like she’s going to church with her whacko parents. “I thought we were going out?”

“We are,” she says simply. Haley and her older brother stopped talking to her parents a long time ago, but seeing that she is wearing a long dress that hides everything she has to offer tells me that is no longer the case. Normally, she wears short skirts, and her tits are always hanging out.

“Ooookay,” I say slowly before turning back to go to my room. “Should I grab my freaky religious clothes too?”

“Just something respectful on your body,” she says as she follows me. I shake my head and go to my closet to find a longer dress. “Wear the white one.”

“You’re acting weird. You ghost me for weeks and then suddenly want to go to a club like you haven’t been ignoring me,” I say as I grab the dress. It’s form-fitting around the chest but flows nicely down to my shins. “Talk to your parents lately?”

“I have,” she says. “I’ve been going to church with them.”

“Makes sense,” I say. “Huxley too?”

“Mhmm,” she says.

“Where are we going tonight, Haley?” I ask as I pull the dress on.

“To church,” she says seriously.

“Yeah, I’m not going to church with you,” I laugh and walk past her.

“You need to be saved, Zoriah. We have been living in sin for so—”

“Haley, I love you, but stop it,” I turn and snap at her. “I will respect your decision to go to church, but you are not about toshove that cult bullshit down my throat. If that’s what this is, then get out.”

“I am just trying to save your soul, Zoriah. Is that so wrong?” she asks seriously.

“Last I checked, I’m a virgin. I don’t do anything sinful,” I say. “Also, my soul is none of your concern. Maybe worry about how many men you’ve opened your legs for before you preach to me about my soul.”

“See? You are full of anger, Zoriah,” she says pleadingly. “Just one time. Please.”

“No,” I say firmly.

“I wanted to do this the easy way, Zoriah,” she sighs and pulls her phone from her dress pocket.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I ask. Alarm bells start going off when she ignores me and calls someone. “You need to get the fuck out of my apartment. Now.”

“I tried to help you,” she says. “It would have been easier for you to just listen to me.”

I spin around and leave her in the hall to get to my phone. When I get to the living room, I can’t locate my bag.Fuck. Where is it?

I run to my bag when I spot it across the room. I hear Haley talking to someone, but I ignore her and call Roman. I could callDad, but he’s probably passed out drunk already. I don’t know what bullshit she’s up to, but it’s scaring me. The fact her brother is back in contact with them after being raped by his father his whole life tells me plenty. When Roman doesn’t answer, I pull up my texts with him. I quickly type out a message, but before I can hit send, the door slams open and I scream. I drop my phone and back away when I see it’s Richard and Huxley, Haley’s dad and brother.

“Get out,” I yell at them. “Get the fuck out of my house!”

“I tried to get her to come with me,” Haley says. “She refused.”

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