Page 123 of Die for You

“I’ve always wanted to go to Juilliard. I never expected my relationship with any of them would last anyway.” It’s not entirely untrue. Up until recently, I didn’t think the Devils would want to bother continuing our relationship when I left the state.

“So you’re done with him.” The words are a command from Monica’s mouth, not a question. “You’ll go to New York, and you won’t ever talk to him again.”

I shake my head. “I won’t. I’m done with him. All of them.”

Monica raises her knife. I cringe back, but she doesn’t plunge it into my stomach or draw it across my throat. She grabs the zip tie binding my wrists, and my heart leaps with hope.

The tip of her knife flirts with the unyielding plastic. I wait with bated breath as each heart-pounding second ticks by.

But then she removes the knife and drops my bound hands. “Too bad I don’t believe you.”

My stomach churns violently as Monica stands, knife dangling down at her side, as she saunters back toward the stairs. Leaving me here. Leaving me here to succumb to dehydration.

“Monica!”

But she doesn’t look back.

She won’t kill me. But she will let me die.

Out of the way so she can worm her way back into Knox’s life. Hurt him again.

I yank and twist at the restraint holding my wrists together. The restraint I’ve been working at during every waking hour until my wrists were rubbed too raw to keep going.

I don’t have long. Seconds until she’s back on that staircase. Climbing it and closing the door to lock me in again.

With one final, hard tug comes a soft snap. The broken zip tie at my side.

My wrists cry out in relief as I cradle them in my lap. I don’t know if they’ll ever stop hurting, my skin engraved with red marks and fingers bloody with my escape attempts.

As silently as I can, I hobble across the room, trying to ignore the searing pain lancing through my ankle with every step.

I trace my hand over the neck of my violin and squeeze my eyes shut. I mouth my apologies to my parents. The most memorable gift they ever gave me. One that has brought me peace, comfort, hope in my darkest moments.

I know they’ll forgive me. I know they’ll understand.

With a deep breath, I pick up the violin and take a lurching step toward Monica.

And swing the violin at her head.

The instrument strikes with a sickening thud, and Monica yelps. She falls to the floor, the knife skittering away from her hand.

I race up the basement stairs, crying out as my ankle screams. The fluorescent lights guide me like my own angels. The steps clatter beneath my weight, heart hammering harder than it ever has in my life, blood pumping so hard I can’t hear Monica racing after me.

When I try to swing the door shut, her palm smacks against it, right behind me.

I haul ass away from her, no idea where the fuck to go or how to get out of this fucking house. My legs are weak, limbs still shaky, broken ankle causing lightning strikes of agony to shoot up my spine, and the dizziness throws me off balance. My heart slams against my ribcage like it’s about to give out any second.

A searing pain in my scalp. My hair being yanked from my head as Monica grabs me and pulls me back.

Back to the basement.

I scream.

Chapter 36

Knox

A muffledscream comes from inside Monica’s house.