Page 3 of Fatally Yours

“I could use a smoke,” Mandy replied. A unanimous nod went through the group, and we slugged along the pavement until we reached the back of the building, drawing gazes the entire journey there.

Thankfully, there was shade behind the worn structure, and we propped ourselves against the crumbling brick wall.

Mandy pulled out a cigarette and sparked it up, popping the end in her mouth as the smoke wafted in the air.

August did the same as we relaxed under the shadow.

There was the low growl of cars passing by, but I hoped none would be so bold as to approach us.

In the distance, I could hear more vehicles zooming through the lot.

“Did you guys find anything cool?” I said after a moment.

“Nah,” Scott said. “Mostly looks like a bunch of shit they pulled out of the garbage.” Mandy gave him a smirk and pulled the book out of her purse.

“I don’t think they pulled this out of the garbage,” she said. “Or maybe he did. I didn’t ask.” She presented the book to them, and they circled it. Wes and Scott held puzzled faces while August plucked the book from her hand and flipped through the pages.

“ Black Magick Rituals and Spells ? I don’t believe in that crap,” Scott huffed, glancing over August’s shoulder.

“Well, I know someone who does,” Mandy said in a sing-song tone.

“Oh, great. Let me guess. Your boyfriend?”

“Maybe.”

“You know, I had a crush on you back in high school before I found out how off your rocker you are,” he said. I nibbled my lip and held back a smile as August buried his nose in the book before handing it to me.

“Don’t remind me,” she said with a grin. “Someone else is destined to have my heart.”

“Yeah, after they cut it out of your chest,” Scott muttered. Wes was pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Mandy, you don’t need to lower yourself to date someone in prison, let alone someone who murdered a bunch of innocent people,” he said, brushing a stray hair behind his ear. She snatched the book from my hands, stuffed it into her purse, then pressed her fists to her hips.

“I am not lowering myself. I just have different, particular tastes in men.” My giggle was barely muffled as I shared a glance with August. Scott looked in our direction, giving me a scolding look.

“Would you talk some sense into your best friend?” he said. “She’s crazy.”

“I’ve been trying for the past few years, but there’s no point,” I shrugged. August laughed and took a few steps away from the building.

“You wanna know how I met this girl?” he asked, gesturing to Mandy.

“Back in high school, I started chatting up Natasha because I thought she was gorgeous. She’s fairly normal,” he said.

“Or she can masquerade as normal, but I know you’ve got a bit of a devious side.

” August gave me a wink and strolled further, making dramatic gestures as usual when he told stories.

I folded my arms across my chest, watching with amusement. He really was such a character.

“So Natasha tells me she wants to introduce me to her best friend. And this itty bitty blonde girl wearing dark clothes waltzes up to me with this sheepish smile.” He mocked her movements, tiptoeing like she did before.

That event remained etched in my mind, as fresh as if it had occurred yesterday. He continued.

“And she says, ‘you know, if someone squished your face a little, you’d look just like that guy in New Orleans who killed all those people.’” A roar of laughter erupted from everyone as Mandy’s cheeks flushed.

Despite the color of embarrassment shading her skin, a small smile crept across her face. Even Scott was chuckling.

“No, ‘I’m Natasha’s best friend. It’s nice to meet you’ sort of crap.

Just ‘you kinda look like a serial killer.’” August stretched his arms out in disbelief and let them drop.

“I’ve gotten stoner, bum, singer for some band , but never serial killer .

” It was nice to see everyone so happy despite everything.

It probably helped that Devin wasn’t here bringing down the mood.

“I was like, ‘what the hell, Tash?’ And Natasha shrugs and says ‘she’s just like that.’” He mimicked the shrug I did at the time. “She didn’t even warn me.”

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,” Mandy beamed.

“You’re right—” The thundering of an engine much too close cut off his words as tires screeched across the vacant space behind the building.

It didn’t register how close the sound was until it was just a breath away.

Before any of us could blink, a dark van with blacked-out windows sped around the corner and struck August, just barely missing Mandy, as we all cried out.

His body was sucked under the wheels as the driver didn’t even tap their brakes.

My hand slapped over my mouth as I felt the breath rip from my lungs.

I was about to turn to tell Mandy that everything would be okay and that she didn’t need to scream like that until I realized the noise was coming from me.

“Holy shit!” Scott shot to his feet and looked towards the van, which turned around the corner and vanished to the other side of the building.

A shrill noise followed and faded as it exited the lot, fleeing from the scene of the crime.

After I unfroze from the tragedy I witnessed, I sprinted to August as Wes looked at Scott.

“D-dude, go fucking call someone,” he said.

Scott turned and ran away while Mandy ran to Wes and sobbed into his chest. His voice trembled with his words as my knees hit the pavement, not even caring that the loose stones below were biting into my skin.

My heart sank when I noticed the dark imprint of tire tracks embedded in his neck and a stream of blood leaking from his mouth and nose.

His eyes were fluttering like they did in movies, and one was webbed with blood and sunken into his skull.

This can’t be happening.

“Oh my god, August…” My voice cracked as I felt my eyes fill with tears, cradling him in my arms, hoping such a simple gesture would help him stay coherent.

I pressed my hand to his face, stroking his scruffy chin, wishing that this was all just a bad dream and I would wake up in a hospital bed because I passed out from heatstroke.

“Please stay with me, baby. I can’t lose you,” I cried as my tears dampened his shirt. His groan shattered my heart, and I thought this could be the last time I heard his beautiful voice or saw his handsome face. This was not how I wanted our life together to end.

His eyelids drooped and shut, and I felt like someone was shoving a knife in my gut. I tapped him gently, hoping to see his eyes pop back open, and he would say that this was all just some sick prank. But he wasn’t that cruel, not to me, not to anyone.

“Talk to me, please,” I said. “Don’t go to sleep. Please, do not go to sleep.” His eyes moved beneath his lids, but they never opened. I pressed my lips to his, and when I pulled away, there was a distinct iron taste on my tongue.

“I’ll be back…”

“No,” I pleaded. “You’re staying here. Please, August.” I felt my hands tighten around his fading body in a feeble attempt to keep him with me. But my efforts were failing. I was losing him, and there was nothing I could do.

“I’ll always be back…” The shallow rise and fall of his chest ceased, and he exhaled one final time.

“No!” I screamed, shaking him. “Wake up!”