Page 44

FIFTEEN

ASTER

My hands frantically slammed into the front door of the cafeteria. Blood smeared all along the glass, and I shouted and screamed for someone to let me in. “Please!” I banged on the door and shook the handle. “Please! Open the door!”

Beatrice slowly made her way to the cafeteria door and looked at me. “Where are the others?” she asked.

What the hell?

I made a face. “It’s just me. Please! Let me in!”

Beatrice stood there and eyed me closely. Thunder rolled above, and I knew the plague doctors wouldn’t be far behind. I hit the door again and again, and she just stood there. “I’m sorry, Aster. But it’s not safe for you to be here. I have to think of the campers. And what The Redwood wants.”

No.

Beatrice turned around and began to walk away.

I should’ve known she was a part of this. Why wouldn't she be?

“No! Open the door!” I screamed through my tightened jaw. “Beatrice! Beatrice!” My hand whacked the door over and over until my palm stung. “Fuck!” I laid my head against the door as my breath fogged the glass.

Wait, the back door.

I shot from the front cafeteria doors and ran around the cabin towards the back. Doug was still inside, and if I could get his attention, then he could let me in. As for Beatrice, well, I’d rather die than let her lay a finger on those campers. Especially Tabitha.

I nearly slipped on the rocky terrain as I clung to the side of the cabin and pushed through the storm to get to the door on the other side of the kitchen.

My hand wrapped around the handle, and I tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t move.

“Fuck!” I strained, desperately trying to pry it open.

I noticed a totem hanging just off the roof of the cabin.

Fuck, The Order.

“Doug! Can you hear me?” My hands smacked the door loudly. “Doug!”

Please open the door!

“Doug!” I screamed and banged against the door. “Open the door!”

“Aster?” Doug’s voice pierced through the door. “Aster? Is that you?”

“Yes! Yes it is!” I hit the door again. “Open the door!” He fumbled with something, and I waited impatiently.

Snap.

I whipped around and stared out into the darkness. The feeling of being watched returned once again, and I knew it was only a matter of time before someone found me. “Doug! Open the door! Doug!”

“I’m trying!” A loud click vibrated through the door and Doug swung it open. His eyes widened, and he stared at me as if he’d seen a ghost. I knew my appearance must’ve surprised him, but there was no time to explain anything. “Aster.” He motioned at my body. “What happened? Where is everyone?”

He held the door open as I slithered past and looked around the dark kitchen. “There’s no time to explain. Where’s Beatrice?” Doug didn’t answer. I turned to face him. “Doug?”

“Where are they, Aster?” he asked. “Where is everyone?” I noticed a large kitchen knife in his hand.

My hands raised, and I slowly walked towards him. “Hey, easy, Doug. It’s just me.”

He held the knife up with a weak and trembling arm. “They’re dead, aren’t they?” I didn’t answer. “Even Rodney?” My head gently nodded as tears flowed down his face. I wanted to comfort him, but right now, he was a danger to both of us.

“Doug, listen to me.” I stepped closer. “We need to find Beatrice. She’s a danger to the campers. To both of us! She’s a part of this. They all are!”

Doug held the back door to the kitchen open and stepped outside. “No,” he breathed. “It’s you. You’re the danger.”

No.

“We were all fine until you showed up, Aster. If that even is your name.” Doug stood a few feet away from the back door and out in the rain. It was so dark, and I could barely see him.

“Doug, please! Come inside, it isn’t safe out there!” I tried to hold the back door open. “Doug!”

Something clanked in the kitchen behind me.

I turned to look but didn’t see anything.

An uneasy feeling fell over me as I lit the lighter and I turned to see Doug standing.

He had an odd look plastered across his face and simply stared at me.

“Doug?” I leaned closer and held the kitchen door open with my fingertips. “What is it?”

He opened his mouth and coughed. Blood seeped down his chin, and I reached out to him, releasing the kitchen door.

Just then, lightning flashed, and I noticed the same plague doctor with the all black mask standing directly behind him.

The masked person ripped something from his back, and Doug fell to the ground with a loud thud.

The plague doctor stood there with a bloodied axe and began to walk towards me.

“No!” I spun and I tried to open the kitchen door, but it wouldn’t budge. “No! Fuck!” I smacked the door before turning to face the killer, still holding the lighter.

The plague doctor stepped closer, and the wind blew as the flame of the lighter went out.

The world fell into absolute darkness. My breath trembled, and my fingers fumbled to flick the lighter.

The flame burst to life, and the plague doctor was standing directly in front of me.

They gripped the edge of their mask and lifted it with a sinister smile.

“Hello, Rosie.” My eyes widened as I stared back at Sabbath, his face ignited by the flame of my lighter. “Did you miss me?” He grinned as if everything was completely normal.

“Sabbath?”

He leaned in close and exhaled along my ear.

“I told you not to get involved,” he breathed.

“But you never listen, do you?” He pulled back.

Sabbath raised his gloves to his mouth and bit the tip of them.

He pulled them off with his teeth and touched my face.

I flinched and tried to look away. “You still don’t trust me, do you?

Even after I saved you.” His hand moved to my throat.

“All I wanted was to save you, Rosie.” He pushed my body against the kitchen door and squeezed my neck tight. “But you won’t let me!”

My hand dropped the lighter, and I tried to peel his fingers away. “Sabbath—” I rasped. “Please. You don’t have to do this.”

“You think I want to do this?” He leaned in close and pressed his forehead against mine.

“If I don’t kill you, they will. And you have no idea what they are capable of.

” He struggled with himself and continued to choke me.

“I can’t let them hurt you, Rosie. I can’t.

And if killing you is the only way to keep you safe from them, then so be it. ”

No, please.

His hand constricted around my throat, and I knew he wouldn’t stop. “Sabbath,” I wheezed. “Please. Don’t.” My hand touched his face as tears rolled down my cheeks. “After everything—” I strained. “Don’t let it end like this.”

Sabbath groaned loudly. “Fuck!” He released my neck and stepped away before falling to his knees. “I can’t fucking do it!” His head fell into his hands.

I coughed and gasped, my neck burning from being choked a second time in the same night.

I fell to my ass and tried to collect my thoughts.

The Order wanted me dead, that was clear.

But Sabbath, he was struggling. He didn’t want them to kill me, and planned to take my life instead, just like with Ozzy.

Only this time, he couldn’t do it. He was in turmoil, torn between The Order and me.

He was willing to die to save me and would rather I die than fall into their hands.

It hurt to think about how much pain he must be in, especially now.

I swallowed all my sanity and crawled over to him. “Sabbath?” I flicked the lighter and watched as his dark eyes rose to mine. “You don’t have to do this. Any of this.” He shook his head. “You don’t need them. We can run away. Together. You and me.”

Sabbath licked his lip. “You don’t get it, do you?

There is nowhere we can go. They will always find us.

They found me before and they’ll do it again.

They won’t stop. I don’t have a choice, Rosie!

” He glared at me. “Do you think I want this?” Sabbath motioned to his outfit.

“Any of it? I hate The Order! I hate my mother, and I hate The Redwood! It’s all evil! ”

“If you hate it so much, why keep doing it?”

Sabbath peeled his other glove off. “Because I don’t have a choice.”

“Everyone has a choice, Sabbath.”

He shook his head and scoffed. “Not me. I lost the freedom to think for myself the day I saved you. And now, all I want is to save you again, Rosie. But I can’t even do that.” His head fell. “I’m weak.”

My heart ached. I had been such a burden to him all these years. He couldn’t live his life or exist without having to constantly worry about me. Maybe me dying would be what’s best after all. For both of us.

“No,” I breathed. “No, you’re not.” I unzipped my jacket, and my hand tilted his chin back towards me.

He looked deep into my eyes and something inside me reached out to him.

“I don’t want to die, Sabbath.” I leaned in closer.

“But I don’t want you to live with that kind of fear and guilt.

I don’t want you to waste your life on me.

” My mouth hovered over his, and I carefully placed his hand on my neck.

“Rosie,” he whispered. I could see the pain in his face. “No.”

My lips gently kissed his and tears fell from my eyes down onto his face.

“It’s okay.” I closed the lighter and lifted his other hand to my neck.

“It’s okay, Sabbath.” He pressed his forehead against mine.

He tried to tell me no, but I held his hands in place.

“You need to do this,” I whispered. “For both of us.”

Sabbath’s own tears fell into our mouths as he kissed me. He removed one of his hands and pulled me into his lap. A rush of fire and hunger coursed through my body, and I did nothing to stop it. If this was my night on earth, then I wanted it to be with him.

“Sabbath,” I whimpered his name. A low growl vibrated in his chest, and I began to lose myself as I kissed and moved against him.

Sabbath grabbed me and held me tight as he stood, still kissing me.

He walked over Doug’s corpse and slammed me up against the kitchen door.

His mouth moved from mine and made its way down my neck and to my chest. He lifted my shirt and began to caress my breasts while playing with my hardened nipples.

My core burned, and I rocked against him, completely lost in the moment.

His mouth captured my nipple, and he ran his tongue over it.

“Yes,” I moaned. His teeth bit down as I cried out.

“Yes!” My hands forced his face up and back to my mouth.

I kissed him roughly and held nothing back as my hands moved to his pants.

He adjusted himself, and I reached down and gripped his rock hard dick.

Sabbath moaned loudly and kissed me some more as I played with him.

“Oh, Rosie,” he breathed along my skin. “I want you so fucking bad.”

My mouth curled. “Then take me. Make me yours one last time, Sabbath.”

Sabbath wasted no time. He pulled my shorts aside and shoved his dick right inside me. My back arched, and I cried out at the immense, yet pleasing, pain. “Yes,” I whimpered as he fucked me. “Don’t stop!”

Sabbath thrusted harder and harder as he slammed his dick deep inside me. “Your pussy is mine , Rosie,” he moaned. “Just like your soul. Mine. Forever.” He continued to fuck me senseless with no concern or care for how rough he was being. And I liked it.

My hands gripped his, and I slowly moved them back to my neck.

Sabbath followed my lead and gently began to squeeze.

“Yes.” I nodded to him as he tightened his grip.

“Do it, Sabbath.” He slowed his pace and shook his head.

“Do it. Please.” His hands began to crush my neck, and he continued to fuck me.

“Yes.” My body tightened as my breathing became constrained.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and held him close to me.

Lightning flashed, and I looked straight at Sabbath.

“I don’t hate you,” I breathed. “I don’t hate you, Sabbath.

” My walls slowly contracted around him as my orgasm nearly boiled over.

“You were right. I love you, Sabbath.” Tears rolled down my cheeks and onto his hands.

Sabbath slowed his thrusting and kissed me.

“I love you,” I whispered into his mouth.

“I always have.” His breathing increased as he began to come inside me.

Yes.

My own orgasm washed over and I too came, loudly. I cried out, and his hands only squeezed tighter. “Yes! Don’t stop!” Between him fucking me and choking me, I was lost in a twisted place between heaven and pleasure, and I wasn’t sure which I wanted more.

Sabbath kissed me again. And I felt my consciousness slowly slipping away. “Thank you.” I kissed him gently. We sat there, our bodies connected, just like our souls and blood. My hand touched his cheek, and I whispered with my last breath. “I forgive you.”

Sabbath held me tightly and cradled my body as I felt my limbs fall and my body go limp.

Everything faded away, and all I could hear was Sabbath’s distant crying.

I knew this would break him, but one day, he would heal.

And when he did, he would be able to have the very thing he wanted so badly. The thing he just gave to me. Peace.

Be free, Sabbath.