Page 115 of Possessing Eden

“Eden, look at me,” Jude says softly, “You’ve had a long day.”

When I still refuse to let go, he pleads, “Let me help you. Please.”

It sounds so unnatural, so unlike him, I shiver a little.

Help me?

Even after everything I’ve done, he still wants to help me?

Why?

Emotion swelling up inside me, I force my gaze to turn his way.

To find his face.

And it’s a mistake.

Because the second I let him pull me away from the doorframe, darkness takes me.

Falling like a black curtain in front of my eyes.

* * *

When I openmy eyes again, the curtain is wrapped tight around me.

Suffocating me with darkness.

It’s so black, I can’t see shit.

Panic quickly begins to take hold. My heart fluttering and taking flight like a frightened bird.

Where the fuck am I?

Did I die? Did Jude really kill me instead of sparing me?

Am I in Hell?

Bolting upright, I try to slap and punch the curtain away.

And I swear I feel it punching me back.

Just like Kyle did.

I canhearhim screaming at me as he hits me. Screaming that I’m worthless. That I’m a stupid fucking dirty whore.

I’m a shitty mother who doesn’t deserve her child.

“No! Fuck you! Let me go!” I hoarsely shout.

“Eden?” Jude says with alarm.

Hearing his voice should be frightening.

But it’s the exact opposite.

“Help me, Jude,” I beg as I try to fight off the shadow. “Please!”

A light flickers on, illuminating the world with too much brightness.

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