by Janie Marie
Kylie couldn’t stop looking at how everyone was staring at Maura. Ever since her dad died, she started wearing dresses, practically a slut, and the boys were all over her.
“Kylie?” James touched her shoulder as Maura blushed and received Jacob Grayson’s kiss to her cheek. “When did you start wearing Maura’s hoodie?”
White doors.
Kylie pulled her knees to her chest as she stared at the closed door. They had caught her shoving Maura down the stairs at school, and the police were questioning Lorelei about Maura’s bruises.
“I don’t know when it started.” Lorelei’s voice carried through the door. “Maura won’t tell me anything.”
“She needs to be admitted. The teaching staff are very concerned for the safety of not just Maura, but all the students around Kylie. Several teachers have said Kylie lies constantly, and that she instigates arguments amongst the girls. She’s very troubled and needs help.”
“I understand,” Lorelei said.
The man in black.
“I can’t send her back to that hospital,” Lorelei cried. “I’ll never erase the image of her below him. He had her breasts exposed, and he—” Lorelei sobbed.
Kylie stared at the closed door. Lorelei had taken to a different clinic, and Kevin had shown up when they said they’d put her in lockdown.
“You told me she didn’t remember,” he said.
“She doesn’t remember what Oliver did to her, or to Maura. She doesn’t deny hitting Maura, but she doesn’t admit it either. I found some bruises and scars on Maura; she refuses to talk about them, other than telling me I already knew what she was doing.” Lorelei sobbed, her heartache overwhelming. “She accused Kylie once, and I didn’t believe her.”
“Perhaps start listening to your daughter and realize your other one is dead.” His tone was empty, unconcerned. “I doubt there’s hope for this one. Oliver was likely hopeful she’d be just as vile as him.”
“Please, help me,” Lorelei begged. “She’s just a girl. I can’t bear the thought of seeing her strapped down again. What if the doctors hurt her?”
“And what about Maura? How will she stay safe from her?” he asked. “I won’t tolerate seeing that child in the state Oliver left her in again.”
Lorelei cried.
He went on, “They said this one hits herself in her sleep.”
“That’s why they strapped her down,” Lorelei replied.
“She’s insane—just like her mother. She needs help.”
“I can’t risk another monster getting her,” Lorelei whispered. “Not after you found that orderly with Maura. If I can just get Kylie away from everyone who knows how she is . . . Maybe there’s hope.”
Kevin sighed loudly. “You know the price. I’ll have the footage and records destroyed. If she remembers anything—”
“Yes, I know,” Lorelei whispered. “I promise she won’t.”
“Maura is not to be harmed by this girl again,” he said seriously. “I don’t care what has to be done. Do you understand? I’ll kill her right in front of you if she hurts Maura.”
“I understand.”
Blood, just blood.
Kylie stared at the mirror. The bruises from where Maura had hit her when she fought back were fading. Lorelei had given her cream and forced her to ice the wound daily. They did this.
The handle of a wooden baseball bat stuck up from behind her dresser. Kylie pulled it out, staring at her reflection. She was wearing Maura’s hoodie—why was she wearing it?
That’s right—she was the victim here. Not Maura.
She awkwardly but powerfully swung the bat, hitting her bruise. The pain radiated throughout her body, almost sending her to her knees. But she didn’t stop. She kept hitting herself. She was the victim. She wore the hood. The victims were the ones who got attention. She’d be the best victim. They’d never look at Maura again.
Again. The sound of wood smacking flesh rang through the air. It sounded different from the aluminum bat Maura used, but it hurt more. Good.
“Kylie!” Lorelei’s cry came from the doorway. “What are you doing?”
Kylie didn’t see herself in the mirror. The hood hid her monster. “Maura did this.” She hit herself again, watching blood erupt from her now split skin. “You did this to me.”
Dreams and nightmares.
“Stop, Kylie,” Lorelei’s frustrated, panicked voice penetrated the darkness. Hands wrapped around her wrist, but she yanked free and slapped . . . herself.
“Stop,” Lorelei shouted. “If you did this because of wherever you went last night—” Her hands fell away, and her retreating footsteps sounded. “Fine, keep doing this to yourself.”
Another slap. Her hand. Not Lorelei’s. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced the concern from her stepmother’s voice out of her mind.
Another slap, and her eyes flew open with hatred and fear seeing her evil stepmother standing at the foot of the bed.
Disappointment and sadness altered the malice Kylie believed was always there. “Enough! Wake up and tell me where you were last night.”
“I told you,” Kylie whispered, staring fearfully into the hate-filled gaze of her stepmother, “I had to help a boy from school with his project.” Kylie pulled her hand away and inspected her fingers, expecting to find blood. There wasn’t.
Lightning and screams.
Maura stood there, the bat clutched tightly in her hand as thunder shook the windows. “Why did I hear him tell you he was never interested in me?”
“Maura,” she screamed as Maura yelled and swung right for her.
The blow never came. They never came anymore.
Kylie opened her eyes, flinching as the loud bangs filled the house. She watched Maura smashing the chair repeatedly, tears running down her face.
“You did this. It’s all you,” Maura cried before abruptly stopping her crazed attack. She raised her gaze from the destroyed chair to meet Kylie’s stare. “This should be you.” She then chucked the bat at Kylie.
It hit her side, and she yelped, covering the spot as the bat clattered to the floor.
Maura watched her for a second more before turning and stepping over the broken chair. The door slammed, and Maura’s car lights danced across the walls.
She wiped a tear away, reaching for the bat. “I don’t deserve this.” Her reflection in the mirror startled her. Her hoodie had slipped down, revealing a weak, frightened girl. A guilty girl.
Maura had slapped her plenty before, punched her even. Because she was afraid. But all that stopped when they moved to Blackwoods.
No, Kylie was the victim. Not Maura.
The weight of the aluminum bat called to her. She raised it, whimpering at what was about to come.
“Girls?” Lorelei called out from the connected garage. “Why are the lights off?”
Kylie’s breath came faster. Her eyes fixed on the hallway.
“Maura? Kylie?” Lorelei flipped the light switch, freezing upon seeing her. “What are you doing? Where’s Maura?”
A tear fell from her eyes, mixing with the blood on her slit cheek. “That’s all you can say? She hit me with a bat again.”
Lorelei studied her with sad eyes. “Did she really this time?”
She cried, shaking her head. “You did this. This is your fault. You let her do this to me.”
Her stepmother’s sadness dried up as she took in the state of the room, the broken vase and chair. “She could’ve done worse.”
Kylie couldn’t believe her. “You want her to hurt me. You want me to suffer.”
“Fine, Stepdaughter, I’ll be the evil stepmother.” She walked closer, holding out her hand for the bat. “Go to your room. You can stay there and fantasize all you want about this until it becomes truth in your mind.”
“She hit me.” Kylie panicked, her heart thudding painfully fast against her ribs. Her ribs. Before Lorelei got closer, she swung, hitting her most tender spot, the spot she never let heal. The spot where she
’d broken her own ribs before. Lorelei wouldn’t take her to the hospital . . . because they’d know the truth. They’d put her away.
“Stop!” Lorelei grabbed the end of the bat when she went to hit herself again. No, it was Maura. It was Maura. It was all Maura’s fault.
Kylie sobbed as Lorelei yanked it from her. She pinned her arms down as she cried, dragging her to the stairs. “Why? Why?” she hollered.
When Lorelei cried, struggling to get her up the stairs, Kylie elbowed her, her balance lost as she tumbled down half the flight of stairs.
“Kylie!” Lorelei’s scream was the last thing she’d heard before waking to her stepmother cleaning her wounds and taping her breasts as she mumbled about how no one could see how pretty she was.
Worried man-boys.
“Hood?”
Kylie gasped and looked away from the different shampoos she’d been smelling and right into a pair of dark eyes. “Logan,” she said, shocked. Her shock quickly morphed to happiness, then anger and sadness. Then fear.
He glared at her. “What’s happened to your face?”
Kylie trembled from his angry voice. He had kept it low, so only she would hear him. “Nothing. I just fell.” Her eyes watered as panic set in. She frantically darted her gaze around him, trying to find an escape.
“Fell?” He was now right in front of her, glaring down at her. “Don’t give me that shit. Who did this?”
Kylie grabbed her head, stumbling backward as the kitchen and Kevin came into view again, her memories were still present but she was in another nightmare. “I remember.”
“That’s too bad.” He walked toward her. “Your mother wanted to keep you safe, but she was so obsessed with your monstrous father, she let you suffer.”
“He killed her,” Kylie whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.
Kevin tilted his head. “Once again, you saw, and you said nothing. Just as evil as your father.”
“I’m not—I didn’t know what he was doing,” she cried. “What’s the price?”
He smiled sadly. “You knew my face. You knew your mother was meeting me. Your mother tried to avoid me, then Oliver beat me to the punch to cut loose ends with her and you. If someone cancels their contract, they pay the price with their life. I waited when I saw you with Lor. She was so lovely, so innocent. She had no idea she was with such a monster.
“I warned her to get away from him—to take Maura and run. She wouldn’t leave you, though. She didn’t contact me until she went to the private facility Oliver had Maura at. The poor girl was not only being violated by your disgusting father but also his staff. That’s why Lorelei never wanted to take you for help. She thought no one could save you girls. She refused to believe she had taken Maura to a new monster. It took her catching him with you to get her to see the truth. Then she found out Maura had been pregnant. Your father wanted you out of the house so he could take care of his little problem. When he decided Maura was too broken, he went after you.”
Kylie covered her mouth as she gagged. “No.”
“I have no idea how you blocked it all out,” he growled. “I watched the videos of you hitting yourself, blaming Maura each time. I watched Lorelei medicate you after you’d slap yourself. She thought I didn’t know how much she took care of you, you ungrateful child.”
Kylie shook her head. “It’s not true.”
“Your delusional belief you’re innocent has grown quite annoying. I only wanted Lor and Maura.” He tilted his head, scrutinizing Kylie. “Despite her issues, Maura remained everything I wanted in a daughter. You, however, are nothing but the monster your father raised you to be. But Lor loved you. I had a hard time watching her cry when she realized I intended to get rid of you. So, she paid with her blood.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I may not be a disgusting pedophile like your father, but I am a monster. Lorelei provided me with entertainment with her would-be heroes. She attempted to save you two girls by using her body to pay for rogue wolves to kill me, but she had no idea I was the worst of them.”
It hurt to breathe.
“Now I think I’ll see what Lor is really willing to do for your safe return.” He grabbed her forearm and dragged her toward the front door.
“Why do you care so much about Maura?”
He put his gun back in a holster she never noticed him wearing. “She reminded me of my daughter. She was only two when she died in your father’s care. My wife couldn’t bear the loss, and she hung herself while I was away. I hadn’t suspected his involvement until your mother contracted me. I had every intention of returning the favor. Then he killed Scarlet, and Lorelei and Maura were already there. When I realized Lorelei had lost Maura’s twin, I spared you for her sake.”
Kylie looked around. It was dark, and she knew he was going to kill her. She deserved it. “Is Trevor with you?”
“No, I told that foolish boy to dispose of you so Lor would believe it was her own fault for trying to leave me. He paid for using Maura to set up your little boyfriend, but he’s a slippery little shit. He snuck out and went after your little rival then failed, and he’s used Lor to bargain with me for escape. Now, thanks to that little bitch you’ve made an enemy of, I’ve lost my family again.”
Kylie cried as he unlocked the door. “I’m sorry about your daughter and wife.”
“That’s the thing,” he whispered. “You’re not sorry. You could’ve given Maura justice, but here you are. You’re just as evil as I am.”
She panicked, struggling against him. “Please, Kevin. I swear I didn’t remember until now.”
“I know you didn’t.” He caressed her hair. “You are darkness, Kylie. You had light before you once again—just as you did in their stories—and you desired only to see her burn. Don’t you see who you are?”
Headlights and flashing lights from police cars lit up in the distance. Kylie’s heart thundered. They were coming for her.
Kevin growled, gripping her arm.
“No!” She tried to fight him, suddenly remembering the mace and key chain.
“Get in the truck right now before I slit your fucking throat.” Kevin reached for her just as she closed her fingers around the key chain.
Screaming, Kylie swung, punching him in the eye. Blood sprayed across her face as he shouted, but he didn’t release her.
Kylie pulled the mace as he reached for his gun, and she sprayed the whole can in his face. Kevin fell to his knees, howling in agony. She wasted no time. She took off, heading into the woods, toward the lights.
Branches smacked her face, and rocks cut into her bare feet. Then Kevin roared as gunshots rang out.
She screamed, tripping and falling to the ground. She looked up just in time to see the tree in front of her get hit with three bullets. God, he knew where she was.
She shut her mouth and crawled the other way, then stopped when a branch snapped. She shook as sweat dripped from her nose, and tried not to make a sound when a vehicle skidded to a stop on the road nearby.
A muffled scream ripped free from her when a hand suddenly clamped over her mouth. The person said nothing as they yanked her behind a big tree, and three more shots rang out. The man who wore all black kept her pressed against the tree as he reached around the tree, firing four rounds.
Kylie covered her ears, dropping to the ground as several more shots went off, then the vehicle drove in the opposite direction.
“I’ve got her,” the man holding her said as her ears continued to ring. “She’s not harmed.”
Several voices called out along with howls, then police cars came skidding to a stop as several more continued down toward the house she’d been at.
“Kylie?”
She looked up, crying as the man holding her pushed up his mask. “Gareth?”
He kneeled in front of her as another man in black walked up behind him. That man lifted his mask. Gawain.
“You’re going to be okay,” Gawain said, pulling his phone out to call someone. “She’s secure
. We’ll meet you shortly.” He ended the call and gestured for Gareth to lift her up. “Her feet are cut. Let’s go.”
Kylie trembled as Gareth lifted her. Two other men in black had come out of the darkness, but they never revealed their faces. They only followed with rifles raised until they arrived at a car identical to the one Ryder had loaned Logan.
Than Messor got out, nodding to her as he opened the back door for Gareth to put her in.
“There are secret routes out,” Than told Gawain. “He abandoned his truck. He had a bike hidden. He knows his land too well. A chopper won’t do shit with these trees. Our infrared is still being repaired. It’ll take me until tomorrow to get it up, and who knows where he’ll be by then.”
Gareth checked Kylie’s feet. “We’ll get you cleaned up at the hospital. Your mother is coming out of surgery.”
Kylie covered her mouth, crying when she realized Kevin’s blood was still on her.
He sighed, handing her a towel. “She’s going to be fine. Logan is with her. Ryder and Luc are with Maura.”
“I’m so sorry,” she cried.
He patted her head like she was a dog, just like he’d done when he first met her. “Perhaps consider saying that to your family, Kylie. No more running.”
Nine
MAMA
“Shall we make this a regular thing?” Luc Godson strolled over to where Kylie sat on an emergency room gurney. They’d already examined her and treated her cut feet and hands. But there was nowhere to go now. She’d asked for Logan, and no one would answer her. So she was alone. Just as she deserved to be.
The officers guarding her walked away as he waved them off.
She wiped her face, not an ounce of fight left in her.
Luc sighed and gestured for her to stand. “Come.”
“Where?” Kylie stood, knowing he’d drag her if she didn’t obey.
He was quiet, but she followed him through the hospital halls until they reached an elevator.
