by Charity B.
Suddenly, I can’t breathe and trying is excruciating. I open my mouth to speak and instead, I choke, coughing blood splatter onto the white hospital sheets. I look down to see the knife in my stomach. When he twists the blade, my body turns so cold. As if I’ve been dipped in a tub of ice water. The lights begin to dim and the sounds in my ears become muted. I see the blade going in and out of my body, but I don’t feel it and eventually, even that becomes blurry.
The darkness surrounds me before it’s overtaken by an explosion of light and I burst into infinite pieces.
“Do you believe in magic?” She asks as she draws on her wall.
She makes me smile. I know she’s asking because she wants to believe it, she just wants me to, also. All the horrible things she’s seen and been through and she still is able to believe in magic.
“I don’t know, maybe…why?”
Placing her pencil on the floor, she gets up to sit next to me on the bed. “Because I think I wished for you before I met you. I wanted a friend for so long. I hoped and hoped and then one day, you came…maybe it was magic.”
I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to me. “What would you wish for now?”
“That we could go somewhere that it’s just us. A place where we’re never hungry, or dirty, or cold and that nobody could ever hurt us. That it would be just you and me forever.”
She makes me smile, even in this horrible place. “Well, you don’t need magic for the last part. It will always be just you and me.”
Her grin is so sweet when she says, “Forever?”
“Forever and ever.”
Black Balloon—The Goo Goo Dolls
Hush—Hellyeah
No Milk Today—Herman’s Hermits
Crooked Spoons—Otep
Beautiful Creatures—Illenium Ft. MAX
Monster—Skillet
Mr. Brightside—The Killers
Comfortably Numb—Pink Floyd
Heroin—Lana Del Rey
My Demons—Starset
I Miss You—Blink 182
A Million Men—Melanie Martinez
Ocean Eyes—Billie Eilish
Dark Side—Bishop Briggs
Under the Bridge—Red Hot Chili Peppers
Angel—Theory of a Dead Man
Cotton Candy Land—Elvis Presley
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network):
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799—SAFE (7233)
www.ndvh.org
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-422-4453
www.childhelp.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-8255
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
www.samhsa.gov
Salina Donovan, you were the very first person to ever read my work. This novel was something I was a little worried to share and your response made me feel amazing. I’ll never forget that. Thank you so much for supporting me in this and being my friend.
Terry Rains, you were the first to read this story in its entirety. The enthusiasm and excitement you showed, and have continued to show, means the world to me. Thank you for being such a great fan and friend. I’m so glad you and Katrina found each other.
Kween Corie, you have been absolutely incredible. You have helped me promote as well as being among the first to read my writing. Thank you for everything that you do and for being a wonderful friend.
Katrina Rains, I can’t express how grateful I am to have you as my friend. You have been a consistent positive light in my life and never fail to make me smile. Your love and support for me and this series is something that will always stay with me.
Lori Lewis, I wonder how many hours you had to listen to me talk about this story and these characters. You were the first one I told about the story while it was still in its infancy. I don’t know how I ever would have got this far without you as my soundboard.
Kathi Goldwyn and Maureen Goodwin from Maureen and Kathi read and The Dark Angels. I would never have gotten where I am without you guys. You have not only been invaluable to these books, but you have been great friends. I have had such a wonderful time with you guys and your support, promoting, and encouragement have been such a blessing to me.
Kim BookJunkie, Robin Craig, Elaine Kelly, and Danielle Krushel for reading the book(s) in their early stages and giving me your honest feedback. You all took a chance on an author you knew nothing about and were a huge part in me being able to reach for my dreams. Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement.
My amazing readers and beautiful ladies in the Broken Babydolls, absolutely none of this would be possible without you. You have shown me so much love and your enthusiasm for this story warms my heart so much. Leaving your reviews, posting about the books and talking about them, your participation in parties and giveaways…all these things have had so much more of an impact than you know and I am truly grateful to all of you. You are making my dreams come true.
All the fabulous authors who have promoted me and allowed me in your groups, have participated in my parties and events, and have helped me with their knowledge of the business. You have helped me find my way through this crazy journey that can make me feel lost sometimes. You have given me so much love, support, and encouragement and I am so thankful for each of you.
All the blogs who have posted the covers, release blitzes, and reviews. Thank you so much for choosing my book(s) to promote. It truly is such a huge help and gives me a rush every time I see one of your posts.
My editor, Joanne LaRe Thompson, I don’t know where I would be without you. You have helped make these books so beautiful and have led me in the right direction to get my writing career off the ground. Thank you for all your feedback and kindness. Your encouragement has really been a blessing.
Megan with Mischievous Design, for making the most beautiful teasers for this series. You have always been so kind to me and your incredible work has helped me showcase this series in the way I always dreamed. Thank you so much.
Stacey with Champagne formats, you made these books more stunning than I ever could have imagined. You are a saint and your patience with me and my pickiness has been amazing. You made my words look so incredible. Thank you so much for the fantastic job you did with this series.
Murphy with Indie Solutions Cover Design, I had no idea what I wanted with these covers and you created such a unique and beautiful series that went over and beyond my expectations. These covers truly are perfect. Thank you so much for your incredible work.
The Sweet Treats Trilogy
Candy Coated Chaos
Sweetened Suffering
Cupcakes and Crooked Spoons
Charity B. lives in Wichita Kansas with her husband and ornery little boy. She has always loved to read and write, but began her love affair with dark romance when she read C.J. Robert’s The Dark Duet. She has a passion for the disturbing and sexy and wants nothing more than to give her readers the ultimate book hangover. In her spare time, when she’s not chasing her son, she enjoys reading, the occasional TV show binge, and is deeply inspired by music.
