“I hope you don’t keep us waiting all night,” Jediah joked, and Acacia chuckled.
“Thanks, Jed… fi treat mi like a person.It’s been a while since someone asked me so much about where I wanted to eat or what hobbies I have.”
“Maybe you can try some new ones soon.Time’s always on your hands, so it’s your move,” he said, and Acacia smiled.Instead of smiling back, he moved his cigar to his mouth and watched her take a sip of sweet tea.
She placed the glass onto the table.“How about you?Any hobbies?”
He shook his head.“Just chess.”
“Maybe you should get others.”
“I don’t have time—” He paused as Acacia started foaming at the mouth.
Her eyes widened while her face paled.She moved a hand to her mouth and wiped across it.She stared at her hands in horror.“J-Jed…” Acacia forced out.“I don’t feel…” She grabbed at the tablecloth with a weak grip.She hauled the tablecloth off the table as her body fell sideways.Acacia’s head hit the stone floor, and her head lolled to the side.
Concern and anger was about to propel Jediah forward, aghast at what was happening and at who had dared to make such a personal attack against him, but he froze.
Maybe this could be a good thing.
Jediah relaxed into the chair.
His heart slowed as he watched Acacia shake.The veins in her eyes were prominent, a worrying bright red.Acacia struggled to breathe as she reached for him, begging to be saved.
He took a short puff from his cigar.He moved his hand from his mouth, exhaling smoke from the corner of his mouth away from Acacia’s body.His arm rested on the table, and he dusted his cigar as her body stilled.Her eyes fluttered shut.
“A shame,” Jediah said.“Just as I was starting to tolerate you.”
Chapter nine
Nightmares.
They were a rampant plague every time she closed her eyes.
Her brother’s frantic eyes.His shaking head, and trembling body.His mumbling into the gag, pleas falling on regretful ears as she covered him in dirt.
Ashari wondered how long it took Romar to die.A slow, painful, lonely death.
Sure, she was disgusted by Romar hitting on her, but she would’ve forgiven him eventually.She would’ve even told him to run and hide if she’d known Jediah would’ve gone after him.
And now it was too late.
Nature was probably feasting on his body already.
Charlie’s, too.Would she at least get a better burial?
It was unsettling that the answer would never be known.
She’d gone a whole month without eating.Whenever she managed to drag herself to the bathroom, she saw how much weight she’d lost, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.
Death was better than being trapped on Jediah’s estate.
But even death seemed to fear him.She couldn’t die unless he wanted her to.
Wiping the back of her hand across her face, Ashari wasn’t surprised to not feel wetness.She was out of tears to cry.
In the distance, she heard loud hollering.
What was happening?