Page 85 of Doesn't Count

“Try me.” She glares.

Unable to meet her eyes, my gaze drops down to my hands. My heart stutters, skipping every other beat when bright red slime flashes before me. I squeeze my lids shut, shaking my head to rid me of this insanity. I know it’s all in my head, but when I open them again, I’m back in the forest standing over her body.

A single tear falls down the side of her face, her eyes forever open. What once glittered with happiness now freezes, stuck in a lifeless abyss. I can’t help but wonder what her last thoughts were before she met her Maker. Did she regret all her choices in life? Did she wish she was with her parents? Did she hate me?

I wouldn’t blame her because even I hate me.

Blood pools in the center of her neck before spreading out and down into the Earth beneath her. Her head, thankfully, has fallen sideways, her soulless gaze caught on the forest beyond. The ends of her blonde hair now dyed crimson. The color so bright against her, like a splash of paint poured onto a blank canvas.

A tremble works its way through my body, my stomach churning loudly, threatening to evacuate the food from earlier. If I wasn’t so riddled with shock, so forcefully numb right now, I don’t think I would ever stop vomiting.

The knife clatters to the ground soundlessly, falling from my slippery hands. I can’t take my eyes off of her, the girl that’s given her life for me. Though, by the lone tear, I would argue that she didn’t have much of a choice. Her life depended on me, on my decision to either join the family or let myself fall to the same fate.

I’m selfish.

A coward.

A sinner.

I’m exactly who they want me to be. I’ve done what they’ve asked and now I get to live. I should be relieved that it’s all over, but I’m the farthest thing from that.

A hand clamps down on my shoulder, startling me from my spiraling thoughts. My legs are prickly, sleep invading my muscles from kneeling for far too long, but I can’t bring myself to move from this spot.

I expect forFatherto tell me it’s over, to congratulate me on murdering an innocent girl to save myself, only he doesn’t.

Instead, he clears his throat. “Are you ready to finish what you’ve started?”

My muscles tense at his words, my stomach clenching painfully. “W-what d-do you m-mean?”

I can hardly get the words past my chattering teeth, the shock infiltrating my body like a parasite, controlling every nerve.

“It’s not over yet. Everyone here has had the chance to lose their innocence over time, son, but you have had very little life experience. It must all be done in one night before you can be welcomed with open arms.” He explains as if I understand anything he’s saying.

“I-I k-killed h-her.” I try to tell him, but really I’m speaking these words to myself.

He brushes the hair back on my head, petting me like an animal. My throat clogs with unshed tears and disgust, this time a little sob retches free. I flinch when he crouches beside me with what could be portrayed as an understanding smile, but I know it’s laced with evil.

With awe filled eyes, he gets a closer look at the hole in the center of the girl’s chest. “Right in the heart. How merciful, how... magnificent.”

He drags his hand through the blood still gushing, slipping a finger inside the wound. I watch him, terrified, sickened by the way he shivers with excitement. As he caresses her greying face, I collapse backwards to the ground, falling on my ass.

Now’s my chance to run.

Slowly, I retreat, pushing myself back inch by inch. My heart races frantically inside my chest, so fast that the world starts to spin around me. When I’ve put enough distance between me and the monster, I can jump to my feet and sprint. At this point, I’d rather get lost in these woods than spend another day with these freaks.

Only, I don’t get far. I back into something hard, thinking it’s a tree, I try scooting around it. Instead, I’m met with more resistance.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a deep, grueling voice snarls in my ear.

Bordeaux... Fuck!

His voice catchesFather’sattention, his head whipping towards me like someone possessed. In seconds, he’s on his feet, his red cloak dragging through the grass as he descends on me. With a fierce grip, his fingers fist the collar of my shirt yanking me up.

I dig my heels into the ground, desperate not to get any closer to the girl I’ve killed, but instead I only stumble and nearly fall on top of her. With a swipe of his hand,Fatherrips the hem of the girl’s bloodied dress back, revealing her naked lower half.

“Drop your shorts boy” He orders, his voice booming into the night air.

I shake my head vehemently, tears finally falling. “No.”

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