“You’re letting me have the kill?”
I’m letting you have everything.
“Darlin’, there’s nothing I want more than to see you steal his light.”
She takes the knife from me, and slowly walks over to the bed. Christopher trembles as she approaches. He knows his fate is sealed.
“P-please don’t,” he begs.
“How many times do you think those words need to be said before they’re heard? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve used them. I’ve begged, pleaded, prayed, bargained for men to stop. Take a stab at how many times they actually listened.” She presses the knife to his throat, and he tilts his chin up as far as he can to get away.
“I-I don’t know.”
“Take. A. Guess.” She digs the tip of the knife in deeper with each word.
“Z-zero?!”
“Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.” Looking back over her shoulder at me, she smiles proudly. Then she drags the knife across Christopher’s throat. He gurgles for a few seconds before the basement goes quiet.
After hearing anguish for so long, the quiet is deafening.
I’d envisioned this night over and over in my head. Imagined the glee I’d feel. Sometimes all I could picture was my rage as I took it all out on my sister’s killer. The actual moment is more than I ever dreamed. The sadness, the anger, the despair. All gone. Chloe has made me happy.
She truly is an angel sent to me, but not from heaven. No, I don’t belong there. Wherever I end up, I’ll be content knowing she’s the one who delivered me.
With a heavy sigh, I take her hands in mine. Our fingers, both soaked in blood, slide together with ease. Everything with her feels natural. Life, death, lust, love. She is what has finally brought me closure.
“You did it. You avenged your sister!”
Her whole body’s glow blinds me. It’s not just the drugs making me see it this time. This pure feeling that she evokes in me is what true love is.
“Wedid it. Thank you, Chloe.” I just about manage to smile as I pull her close and hold back the torrent of emotions that’s trying to break free. My heart is full, but its ache hasn’t left. “I wish we had more time together.”
Chapter 21
Chloe
We leave behind our final inferno.
Other than the notebook and the tape Zack made, all evidence of what Christopher and the others did is gone. Zack is on the video so there’s no chance I’ll ever be giving him up. We’ll have to find another way to go about it. I hope all the victims will at least find some healing if they hear of the men’s brutal deaths on the news.
I’m not sure what to do next, apart from follow Zack wherever he’s going next, of course. My life—ourlife—starts now. We have the whole world to explore, together.
As we finally clear the woods, we pass a sign for the next town. Zack follows its direction until we come to a bridge. The world seems to open up as we drive across. Dawn is just about to come, and it feels like my life is starting anew.
Zack slows the car down and comes to a stop at the side of the bridge about halfway across.
“Why are we stopping? If we keep driving, we’ll be far enough away from everything to not get caught.”
Turning off the engine, he points to the skyline above the trees in the distance, and says, “Watch.”
The sky is a pretty shade of light purple, and after a few minutes it gradually turns orange as the sun rises. Taking hold of Zack’s hand, I say, “It’s stunning.” I don’t want to interrupt his moment, so I enjoy it with him, watching as his eyes turn glassy.
“Chloe.” My name struggles to get through the tightness of his throat. He clears it, and without looking at me he carries on. “This sunrise is what I’ve been running toward.”
I never took him for the sort of guy who’d care for something like a beautiful sunrise, but that’s sweet. We’ll get to watch every one together from now on.
“Will you come watch it with me?”
