Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High 2)

Sitting in the water, I leaned back, resting myself against the tub so I could look at him. “See, I’m doing as I’m told.”

“You and I both know you’re not going to do as you’re told.”

I chuckled. “I try.”

“No, you don’t. Not anymore. We made sure you didn’t have to worry about anyone or anything. You’re free.”

“You call this free?” I asked. “You took me from my home, and now you’re keeping me hostage.”

“We’re not keeping you hostage. We’re not bargaining you for anything.”

I took a deep breath. Sliding beneath the water, I soaked my hair and broke the surface again, lifting out and reaching for the soap, but it was already gone.

River had it in his hand, and he’d put the blade on the side of the tub. I didn’t know why he’d done that. Was it to test me? To see what I’d do? My heart raced as I stared at the damn thing.

“Go ahead,” River said. “Take it.”

“No.”

This time, his laughter sent a thrill down my spine. Looking up at him, I saw he no longer looked like he wanted to kill. There was a playfulness about him. “Are you just going to keep doing the complete opposite of what we want you to do?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not to me, but the others might start to get pissed off.”

I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that I didn’t care, but I did.

Gripping the edge of the blade, I picked it up. In my mind, I recalled how it felt sliding into the MC’s neck. I licked my lips and wondered what the hell to do.

“It feels good, doesn’t it?”

I went to put the blade down, but River stopped me. His hand covered mine, holding it.

“River?”

“I’m not going to hurt you. You should know that by now.” His grip was tight but not to the point of pain. “Do you have any idea how many people I’ve killed with this?”

I looked up to find him staring down at me, waiting for me to answer. There were no words. No way of telling or asking him what he means. Instead, I held on to the knife like it was a lifeline, waiting.

“You’ve used this to kill people?”

“Yes, a lot of people deserve to die, and I just can’t resist hurting people. You of all people should know that by now, Emily.” He sighed. “I keep this on me at all times.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

“River, I’m not sure what’s going on here.”

“You get it. I know you do.”

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said.

“I know.”

He took the blade from me and placed it on the floor. I was a little confused but that was soon replaced when he started to clean my body. He’d soaped up a sponge and now he was so very gentle with me. With the short-sleeved shirt he wore, I saw all the new lines of scars. Knife wounds, which I reached out and touched. Sliding my finger across each edge, feeling a little taken aback.

There was fresh ink there as well, but I could pick out the problems.

His breath fanned against my ear. “Do you have any idea how close I’ve come to death?”

This made me pull away. I instantly went to my knees and captured his face. “Why?” I didn’t like how upset I was. It meant these men affected me deeply. They always said there was a fine line between love and hate, and right now, I struggled with every part of it. I felt a little sick to my stomach.

“What do you mean, why?” he asked.

“Is it to punish me?”

“Emily, you’re not making any sense.”

“Why would you put yourself in danger?” I asked. I wanted to slap him, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“You know who we are, what we are. We don’t have a choice. It’s kill or be killed. It doesn’t mean they don’t get a shot in. We’re still alive, just a little more cut up than you’re used to.” He lifted a finger and pushed some of my wet hair out of my face. “But even while you hate us, it’s good to know you don’t wish me dead.”

“I don’t want you to die. I want you to tell me the truth of what the hell is going on. You sent me on my merry way seven years ago, and now you’re back. Don’t think I don’t know what that means. Deals have to be made and I’m part of them. Why?”

“I’m not saying a thing to you.”

“Is this because of Caleb? Is he the one completely in charge now?” I asked.

River’s gaze was still on me like he could see right through me. “You can try to anger me all you want, it doesn’t change anything. We’re a team and the only reason I’m not going to say anything to you, Emily, is because we’re all going to be telling you what is going on.”