Page 13 of Sour (The Wellard Asylum #10)

I looked down at what she had given me and smiled. “You sneaky little bunny rabbit.” I stared at the master key.

Dream turned around and stared up at me. “Koven isn’t the only one with secrets.”

My head titled. “And what secrets is my sister hiding?” I asked.

Dream smirked and smiled with her teeth. “Stepsister.” She giggled. “If only you knew.”

I didn’t like the way that sounded.

Dream’s arm raised and she pointed off behind me. “Go down that hall a ways and just keep going straight, following the path until it forks. Then take the right. That’s our wing. Count the doors and stop at thirteen. Then use the key. But whatever you do, stick to the wall and keep your head down.”

I nodded.

“But if you get caught—” She smiled. “You’re on your own, Happy.”

A soft chuckle brushed from my mouth. “Likewise, cottontail.” I picked the gum from my mouth and offered it back to her. “Keep it safe.” Dream took the gum and immediately tossed it back into her mouth. “You’re an interesting little creature, Dream.”

“You have no idea.” She winked.

KOVEN

“Fuck,” I groaned, shuffling around the mattress pad. My head endlessly ached and throbbed, all while my stomach twisted and turned. My temples were sore and raw from the electroshock paddles, and my teeth hurt from biting down so hard on the bite block.

My arm wobbled as I stuck my finger in my mouth, counting my teeth. I sighed, relieved at the number.

At least I didn’t break a tooth this time.

I frowned, shutting my eyes.

Time.

Time had become an enigma in this fucking place. Some days it flew by, and others, it never moved, leaving you confused and disoriented. Maybe it was the drugs, or the ‘therapy’, but right now, I couldn’t even recall what day it was. I felt lost.

Fucking BJ.

I covered my ears and clutched my skull, the pulsating pain ached and throbbed, tormenting me as I tried to push through the pain.

“Fuck this whole place,” I whispered to myself.

I ground my teeth and slammed my hands into my skull.

“Fuck it all!” I hit myself, over and over again.

“Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it!” My hands turned to fists, and I began to beat myself, punishing myself for surviving.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this!” I cried out, hitting harder. “I should—”

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

“Dream,” I groaned. “I know—I know I shouldn’t be doing this.

” I sniffled. “But I have to…I have to feel something!” She let go of my arm and stroked my cheek, wiping away my tears.

I kept my eyes shut, half embarrassed that she found me like this.

“Dream, I know you love touching things, but can you please not touch me right now?” She ignored me and kept feeling my face.

“Dream I—” I hesitated opening my eyes, but once I did, I couldn’t close them. “Ziggy.”

He smiled. “What flavor are you today, Skittles?”

My body tensed. I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or scared to see him. But the real question I had was how the fuck did he even get in here?

“Ziggy,” I breathed. “How—how—”

Ziggy tousled his blue hair from his face and placed a finger over my mouth, silencing me.

He was crouched next to my bedside, hovering a little too close.

“Your weird little friend let me in.” He tilted his head, and with his free hand, he lifted the very key I had kept under my mattress pad.

I wasn’t sure if I was impressed or shocked that Dream knew about it.

Fucking Dream.

“What’s her story anyways?” He nodded back towards the hall, removing his finger from my mouth. “She looks sane, and pretty fucking chill, but when she opens her mouth—”

“Dream is anything but sane,” I snapped.

“But she’s the only person here worth a damn.

” He watched me as I sat up in my bed, tucking my hair behind my ears.

“Despite her stark, flawless appearance, her mind is completely fucked. From what I’ve heard, she wasn’t always crazy.

It just happened one day, after witnessing something really traumatic.

I’m guessing it had something to do with a guy named Felix.

She tends to say his name a lot when she sleeps, and brings him up occasionally, without really saying anything. ”

“Interesting.” Ziggy pondered what I had said.

“What?” I asked.

He shrugged. “We’ve all lived through some dark shit, Koven, but imagine how dark it’s got to be to really send someone over the edge and into an insanity so deep, there’s no coming back.” I didn’t like the way he grinned as he said it.

“Yeah, well, Dream will literally break at the smallest thing, so don’t fucking mess with her.” My words almost resembled a growl.

Ziggy’s brow flicked. “Wasn’t going to. I actually kind of like that little rabbit.

It’s not everyday I get to meet someone crazier than myself.

” He reached out and grazed my tender temples.

I tried to hold back how much it hurt, but I knew he could read me like a book.

“She told me that pig hurt you.” His thumb brushed along the sores as those ocean eyes examined me.

I gently moved my head away. “I’m fine,” I lied.

Ziggy chuckled. “Sure you are. ‘Cause it’s completely normal to beat the shit out of yourself, right?” He winked.

Dick.

“I’m sure you’re just simmering in that dark, vast amount of pain you got, refusing to let anyone pull you out. You’d rather drown than reach out for a helping hand.” Ziggy shook his head as his blue hair danced. “You never did like being saved, did you?”

“No one can save me, Ziggy.”

“I can.” He leaned in closer. “ I can help make that pain go away. All of it. And replace it with something more…appetizing.” He bared his canines with a smile.

My heart beat.

What the—why…why do I feel…no. No!

It took nearly all my strength to push Ziggy away from me.

Old, decrepit feelings clawed to the surface as they bubbled in my stomach, desperately reaching out for him.

It was frightening how easily my body wanted to betray me, but I couldn’t have that.

I had moved on and left him behind. And now, I just needed him to leave me alone.

“Pass,” I grunted. Ziggy’s smile fell, and I felt a flicker of pride. “You want to help? Then leave me the fuck alone. Give me back that key, and get the hell out of my room, Ziggy.”

Ziggy’s expression hardened as he refused to move.

He just sat there, staring at me through the hanging strands of his midnight blue hair.

An odd sense of fear, mixed with those dead emotions, slowly rose through my stomach and constricted my throat.

I felt as if I was in some type of danger, sitting like prey, waiting to be attacked.

And for some fucking reason, I liked it.

No, stop it! You hate him!

“Get out, Ziggy. Out!” My arm raised and I pointed to the door.

His jaw tightened. “I’m not fucking going anywhere.”

I slowly sat up and glared at him, challenging his temper. I needed him to leave, for both our sakes. “Get out. Get out, or I’ll fucking scream.”

Ziggy’s smile returned. “Is that so?”

Ziggy swiftly climbed onto my bed and pinned me down.

I tried to fight him off, pushing and shoving him away, but it was no use.

Ziggy was, and has always been, surprisingly strong as hell.

He tightly straddled my torso and used his knees to pin me between his legs, then clasped one hand over my mouth while the other held my arms firmly against the mattress pad.

I tried to wriggle free and fight him, groaning against his palm, but it came out as nothing more than muffled whispers.

I felt an old familiar sense of anxiety and fear swelling in my chest as I lay there, defenseless.

Please, stop. Stop.

A tear rolled down my face, all my trauma blending into one single moment as Ziggy just remained there, smiling like this was all some sick fucking game to him. “Go on, scream.” He leaned down, his face pressed against mine, and whispered into my ear, “Scream. I fucking dare you.”

Silence.

“I’m waiting,” he teased. “Come on, Skittles, let’s hear that scream.” His breath brushed along my ear as a second tear rolled along my skin. He licked the trail of my tears and moaned. “I’m tasting…grape.”

Ziggy leaned back and stared down at me. His smile slowly fell, and I knew he was edging a tantrum.