Page 142 of This Blood That Breaks Us

The air was stale and musty as we made our way through the corridor. The lit flames flickered at the bottom of the staircase. An almost silent scratching echoed when we reached the bottom. Will scratched words onto the wall. The word “Her” was written over and over.

“Will?” The recollection passed over Luke’s face. “What’s he doing in there?”

“She did this to him.”

“Luke, you’re going to help me, right? Please, open the cage. Let me go see Her.” Will’s eyes were black as he reached for my brother.

Luke’s jaw hardened. “He needs to stay here. That’s the safest place for him. Away from Her.”

“Are you serious?”

“Ah, fuck you both. Some friends you are.” Will threw up his hands and went back to scribbling on the wall.

“What is your problem?” Luke spun on me quickly, and we were chest to chest like he would beat my ass.

“Right now, my only problem is you. You have to snap out of whatever this is.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do. She brainwashed you and took your memories, and I need you to come back. I can’t do this alone.”

“Grow up. She didn’t do anything. I asked Her to. I don’t want them. Whatever She took, meant nothing.”

“That’s not true. Sarah meant everything to you.”

“Not enough, obviously, because I don’t know who you’re talking about. Nothing matters except Her, and it should be the same for you.”

I scoffed. “You wouldn’t feel that way if you remembered the things that bitch did to you.”

“Don’t talk about Her like that,” Luke growled.

“Why shouldn’t I? This is Her fault.”

He stepped forward to tower over me. “No. You’re the problem. You’re making this all about you. You wanted me to be here and fit in, and now that I do, you can’t let go. This is who we are and who we were always meant to be.”

“I never wanted this.”

This wasn’t right. If it was destiny, why was it pulling us apart?

“You asked me to ascend with you, and I did. I’m finally happy. I have a job that I know I can do. You’re a leech. You provide nothing to Her or to me. You don’t follow instructions. I don’t know why you’re here or why She chose you. So be helpful or stay out of my way.”

I couldn’t fully register the words.

I said nothing.

“She’s mine,” he hissed. “Call Her a bitch again, and I’ll gut you.”

He bumped my shoulder on his way out.

My heart cracked.

His absence left me in the cold silence.

My brother was gone. My brother was gone. My brother was gone, and I couldn’t get him back. It was all my fault. Everything was my fault. Why was it always my fault? I didn’t protect him. I had one job, and I didn’t do it. I didn’t protect him. I never protected him like he protected me.

I stumbled onto the stairs to hide in the darkness. My legs gave out, and I fell onto dusty steps. Something wet fell from my face. Why was I crying? I hated crying. I hated Her. I hated myself.

It was too much. The weight of it all suddenly tipped, and I wanted to see them. To hug my brothers and go back in time to when I was at least a little happy. Couldn’t I go back one more time? I needed to hear one of Presley’s stories again. Or to see Aaron smile and do something that made him happy. Anything.