“Yes.”
Remi and I go back in the house for a while longer. The whole time, Jenny has Elijah in her arms. You can plainly see the love she holds for the baby. She’d make a great mom one day.
The sky is turning cloudy as we make the short trek back to her house an hour later. My eyes catch on a man and woman across the street, and my feet pause when I notice the look they’re casting our way. It’s not an all-together inhospitable look, but it for sure isn’t a friendly one either. Several yards further down the sidewalk, there’s a woman sitting in a rocking chair giving me the same adverse look. Me. Not Jenny.
“The Malus look,” I murmur and resume walking.
“What?” Jenny asks, then follows my line of sight. “Oh. Just ignore them.” She snorts derisively. “So, tell me what you think of JW.”
I arch a brow and glance at her. “Why?”
She shrugs, but I see a small smile playing on her lips. “Just wondering what you thought of him.”
Now it’s my turn to snort, because she isn’t fooling me. She’s fishing for information.
“Not that it matters, but he seems nice,” I answer evasively.
She laughs. “Nice isn’t the word I was searching for.”
“I know, but that’s all you get right now.” I flash her a grin.
We walk by a house that has a woman backed up against a car by a man in the driveway. The kiss he’s giving her isn’t so hot that it would be considered too scandalous for public, but there’s still plenty of feeling behind it. When his lips leave hers, he murmurs something to the woman. Jenny giggles beside me and his eyes lift to hers, one brow curving upward playfully. When his eyes meet mine, the look disappears and turns flat, turning into the Malus look. I sigh and shift my gaze away from him. The woman glances over just as we walk by.
“Hey, Jamie,” Jenny chirps.
The woman smiles and gives a little wave. “We still on for dinner this weekend?”
Before she can answer, the man says something to Jamie so low we can’t hear him. She laughs and Jenny snickers.
“Call me tonight!” she calls out to Jamie, who gives her a thumbs-up.
A few minutes later, we’re back at Jenny’s. I head to the bedroom to grab my phone charger, while Jenny goes to the kitchen to find something for dinner. Walking back out to the living room, I find Jenny by the sliding glass door leading to the back yard. The look of horror on her pale face has me rushing to her.
“What’s wrong?” I demand.
Instead of answering, she throws her hand up to cover her mouth, spins, and sprints away. I look out the glass and nearly lose the contents of my stomach as well.
There’s a small dog lying on the deck with his neck twisted at an odd angle, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. Most of his hair is no longer white from the blood coating him. It’s not the blood that’s revolting though. It’s the gory mess of the dog’s entrails spread out beside him.
JW
The Past
DREAD FILLS MY STOMACH as I’m led into the great hall of Hell. Mom and Dad are behind me and my brother, Trey, walks beside me. He’s older than me by thirteen years. Mom says I was a miracle her and Dad never thought would happen. I often wish I hadn’t.
Older brothers are supposed to protect their younger siblings, but Trey has never protected me. He’s the cause of the pain I go through during Hell Night.
Hell Night is what my brothers and I call the once-a-month activities all the adults take part in. The activities they force the kids to go through. Most kids anyway. I’ve never known a time when Trey was forced to do the disgusting things he does to me. He’s always done them willingly and without mercy. Even going so far as sneaking in my room at night during other times of the month. Mom and Dad made him stop after he got too rough one night and I came down stairs the next morning, barely able to walk. They said these activities are sacred and only meant for once a month. Like it matters.
Sickening sounds reach my ears when we enter the large room. I’m always paired with my brother. There’s
only been a couple of times someone else has taken me, and that was only because Trey was too sick to attend.
“On the bed,” Trey’s deep voice commands.
I want to turn around, spit in his face, and tell him no, but that’s never gotten me anywhere, except a punch to the stomach. I still end up on my hands and knees for him. Mom and Dad never help me. They just watch as they take their own child they chose for the night. Hell Night is the only night a month that my family turns evil. Any other time they are sweet and loving parents.
I get on the bed and sit back on my heels, facing away from my brother. I try to ignore the sounds around me, but it’s hard to do when the cries, grunts, and screams become louder. I spot my friend Judge lying on his stomach with Mr. Portland on top of him. Judge’s face is red and he’s squeezing his eyes shut.