Page 53 of Sin & Fall

Chloe traces her fingers over a small pink cross on the inside of her ankle. A burn.No. A branding. I’m ashamed I’ve not noticed it sooner.

I don’t want to scare her with how angry I am, but I can’t keep my mouth shut, and my fury leaks out.

“They branded you! Marked you like fucking cattle! I’mgoing to murder them all. Slit their throats while they sleep. No, that would be too much of a mercy. They need to suffer for hurting you.”

“It’s only a small mark. I swear it didn’t even hurt that much.” She tries tucking her legs to the side so I can’t see it anymore, but I grab her foot and drag it back to me.

“Stop pretending this isn’t seriously fucked up, Chloe!”

“I know it is! But what am I supposed to do?” she shouts.

Her shoulders droop, and she takes a breath. “As much as I hated them, they became a sort of family. If I didn’t accept some of the kindness they offered, then I would have given up a long time ago. When a new girl joined, there was always a celebration. We had the biggest meal, like it was Thanksgiving or Christmas. We were even allowed one glass of wine. Now that I know what drugs feel like, I’m sure it was more than just alcohol. The whole night would be a blur of eating and then…”

“Then what?” I shout, and she tenses. “I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you.”

“It’s okay. You can probably guess what happened next. The branded girls got to stay behind while the others retired to the dorms blissfully unaware. The Fathers didn’t leave a single hole empty for any evil to make its way in. The wine made it easier to endure. It stopped me from shutting down completely.”

I get my knife out, and she startles as I press it to her ankle, but she doesn’t pull away.

“I want to revoke their claim on you. Will you let me?”

“Yes.”

I cut across the branding. She winces, gritting her teeth, but she lets me carry on without saying another word.

One cut and the burn is already becoming beautifully disfigured.

“It takes pain to find your freedom, Chloe. Can you handle some more for me?”

She nods and places her hand over mine on the knife handle. We make the next two cuts together. But it’s not enough. I want to see every inch of her skin cut up and bloody for me. I want my name sliced across her heart so every pump of life through it is mine.

“Thank you,” she says so sincerely it makes my own heart feel like it’s been cut into a million jagged pieces.

She rubs her fingers through the blood coating the brand-newZon her ankle, the cross no longer visible.

It’s only small, but with this she can carry the memory of me with her forever.

“I want you to look at this whenever you need reminding of the woman you truly are, the one who was kind enough to try and save this forsaken man’s soul.”

My hand shakes as I resist cutting her again. Then the knife clatters loudly onto the roof of the car as she wipes her fingertips on my forehead. I don’t need her to tell me what she’s drawn as I feel the gentle curve of her blood-coated finger.C.She’s claiming me as hers?

“You’re right,” she sighs, getting to her feet and leaving me stunned on my ass. “I don’t know what’s out there. I thought whoever I was praying to would eventually help me, but it’s only ever been me doing that. Until you.”

She removes her rosary and dangles it in front of her face. Determination settles on her features, and she draws her arm back, tossing the beads as far into the stalks of corn as she can. Discarding the last of the false faith that’s kept her hostage.

She sits back down, and I tell her, “I want to kill them for you.”

The convent is completely out of the way, but I’ll do it for her.

“Zack,” she sighs wearily. “Thank you, but I’m not ready to go back there. Not tonight at least. Let’s just forget about everything for a while.Please.”

“Now that I know exactly how to do.” I cup the back of her head and kiss her as I lay her down, her legs parting eagerly for me.

Slowly, I undo each button on her shirt, and once she’s laid bare, she reaches for me to take my jacket off. “Zack, I need to feel all of you.”

I roll my shoulders back, letting it fall to the floor before kicking off my shoes and pants.

“You’ll get all of me, darlin’, but first I need to show you what true worship looks like.”