Page 4 of Bite of Sin

Kali

Twenty-Four Years Later

The entire crowd held its breath as the man lifted the knife, making the blade glint in the sunlight. My heart was in my throat as my gaze swept over everyone who stood on the raised platform in front of me. In a few months, that would be me. The thought had bile burning my throat. Fingers closed around mine, squeezing in a comforting way. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, giving my best friend a small smile. Warner pulled me closer while checking that his sister, Helena, was still on the other side of him before we all turned our attention back to the platform.

The man holding the knife was an elected official in our city, and he did this every month. Norman Wallace was a large man in his forties, and his long brown hair was slowly going gray. His skin was leathery from his lifelong smoking habit, and he wore a permanent scowl on his face. He fucking terrified me. His job seemed to get him off in a sick way, and I detested that soon I’d be the one he’d be touching.

“Give me your hand,” Norman ordered, stopping in front of the first guy in the line.

This happened during the first week of every month, and this time, there were only four people up there. Sometimes it was more, and other times there were zero. Ever since the war had ended, not a single month was skipped.

The guy was shaking slightly as he held his hand out. Norman snatched it, raising it high for everyone to see. Bringing his other hand up, he slowly sliced the guy’s forearm. Once the cut was a couple of inches long, Norman lowered the knife, but he kept a tight hold on the guy’s arm, keeping it raised. When the bright red blood trickled out of the cut, everyone let out a sigh of relief. The guy let out a small cry as he pulled his arm to his chest, cradling it as Norman strolled over to the girl who was next in line.

“Warner,” Helena breathed out, her face scrunched in worry as she glanced at her brother. “She can’t be—”

“She’ll be fine,” Warner cut in gently, wrapping an arm around her.

“We don’t know that.” Helena stared at her best friend, who Norman was standing in front of.

I shared Helena’s fear. Our friend Lisa was an orphan, just like me. And like Warner and Helena. We had all lived in the same foster home until we turned eighteen. Not knowing who our parents were was dangerous in this life. Everyone had to go through this ritual on the month of their twenty-fifth birthday, but it was us who were parentless that had the most to lose.

We hadn’t seen Lisa in over a month, but she looked healthy. At least they’d fed her while waiting for this blood check.

My mouth went dry as Norman raised Lisa’s arm and sliced her skin just like he’d done with the previous guy. Gasps filled the air, and Warner tightened his hold around Helena when she tried lunging forward. My heart sank into my stomach as I watched the blood drip from Lisa’s arm.

Because it wasn’t red.

It was as black as a starless night.

Meaning only one thing. That we’d never see Lisa again.

Helena was openly sobbing, Warner’s arms around her the only reason she was still standing. My palms were clammy as my fingers closed into fists in an attempt to stifle the trembles rolling through me. Lisa was crying as she scanned the crowd until her gaze stopped on us. We were the only family she had, which meant we would be able to say goodbye. My reddish-brown hair was sticking to my neck, and I brushed it away as I gave Lisa a look that I hoped conveyed reassurance. Norman muttered something to Lisa that we couldn’t hear, and she held her bleeding arm, her eyes going to the black blood while Norman went to the next person.

Helena ran her hands through her hair as she fell to her knees, while others around us stepped back to give her space. I wasn’t even paying attention to the last two people on the platform as I knelt to console Helena. I was close to Lisa, but not like Helena was. They were joined at the hip most of the time.

“Don’t,” Helena choked out before I said a word. “It’s not going to be okay, Kali. Nothing you say can change that.”

I only hugged her, knowing she was right. Hot tears trailed down my cheeks as I stayed kneeling next to Helena, softly stroking her blond hair while sobs racked her body. Warner was shifting on his feet beside me, his face scrunched in pain for both Lisa and his sister.

“That concludes the blood check for this month,” Norman said in a loud voice, addressing the crowd. “The family of Lisa Howard can go to town hall.”

Helena scrambled to her feet, rushing forward while Lisa and the other three people left the platform. Norman had a tight hold on Lisa’s arm, his body tense. There had been times in the past where people refused to go with him. More city workers surrounded them as Norman and Lisa left the town square.

“Helena, wait,” Warner yelled, racing to catch up with his sister. “You need to calm down or they won’t let you see her.”

We weaved through the crowd, following Lisa as they marched her to the town hall building. Nausea swirled in my stomach, my lunch threatening to come back up as I ran. Fear was also flooding through me. Fear for myself, and for Helena and Warner. What if this was us in the coming months?

The town hall came into view as they ushered Lisa inside, and Helena reached the door before it closed. Warner held it open for me, and I stepped inside, tension sliding through my limbs. Nothing good ever happened in this place. Lisa was sitting in a metal chair on the other side of the empty room, and Norman stood behind her.

“Lisa,” Helena cried out as she crossed the room. “I’m so sorry. Maybe there’s something—”

“There is nothing you can do.” Norman cut her off sharply. “She’s going to get the help she needs. Say goodbye and leave.”

“Show some sympathy,” Warner snapped, squaring up to Norman. “At least pretend you have a fucking heart.”

“Warner,” I murmured, tugging on his arm, trying to remind him that we didn’t hold the power here. Norman and the other city officials did. They could ship Lisa off right now without letting us say goodbye.

“Watch yourself, boy,” Norman warned, crossing his arms. “Unless you want to spend time in the cells.”

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