“You don’t know anything,” I spit out.
“Lilith, I do. Kameron is an evil man. You know this. I know you do.There is no light In God’s Absence, pretty baby.”
His words rattle me as I replay everything that’s happened over the past few months. Kameron has shown me time and time again that he isn’t amonster. But who’s to say Elijah is?
“I was told you tortured me,” I whisper, feeling my hold on the gun loosen slightly.
“My uncle did. Lilith, I am not him. I’ve been fighting against the system ever since we were held hostage. I’ve done nothing but fight to keep you as safe as I could until I could get you out.” He takes another step towards me, and the idea of pulling the trigger shatters my heart.
Elijah Huang had been my safe haven for ten long years. Everyday I found comfort in his words, found joy in the books and games he would bring me, and found love in the warmth of his arms. If Kameron had taught me anything, it’s that the world isn’t black and white. It is possible Elijah is not a bad man, he just didn’t have the power to be a good one.
He takes one last step towards me, closing the distance enough to be able to reach out and grab the gun from my hands. I let it go with ease as the sadness overtakes me. Both of these men deserved so much better. Their lives have been full of ghosts, terrorizing them at every corner.
“Lilith, you’re everything to me. I want a life with you, and it’s not too late.” A lump forms in my throat at his words. I love him, and I don’t think there will ever be a time that I won’t. But I’m not in love with him. I never have been, really. Always putting on a mask to be the perfect christian girl for him. Hell, I wouldn’t even say that he would love the real me.
“I’m so sorry,” I blubber out as he pulls me into him. The familiar scent of his cologne fills my nose, making this even harder. “I can’t, Elijah. I can’t.”
His arms wrap around me, using his palms to gently stroke up and down my back. “It’s okay, Lilith. Everything will be okay. I have you now.”
I nuzzle into him, letting my tears stain his jacket. The pain of this all has become unbearable. I didn’t deserve this. I was good. I helped those in need. I prayed every night.I was good.
I find the strength to pick my head back up, letting the black hair fall from my eyes. And only then do I see it. In the dim light behind the first chair, lies another. Same position, same nails, same drain. But the stark difference has me sucking in a breath. A limp body sits slouched in the metal seat. “Elijah?” I question cautiously.
He pulls back to get a better look at me. “Yes, pretty baby?”
“Who is that?”
I know the answer but everything in me wants to deny it. He follows my gaze over to the chair and I watch as his body visibly stiffens. “You killed him?” I whisper, unable to look away from Adam’s bloody and beaten body.
When Elijah doesn’t move, doesn’t defend himself, something in me snaps. I jump forward, wrapping my fingers as far around his throat as I can. I squeeze until my fingers burn. It’s no use as he shoves me off of him.
My body slams against the rough concrete floor, a fiery pain spreading through my ribcage. I gasp, unable to catch my breathas his boot slams into my stomach. I cough, droplets of blood coating the inside of my mouth. Elijah rolls my limp body over, straddling me to keep me locked into place. “Are you fucking serious?” He roars.
“Look at what you made me do!” He continues to scream as his fist collides with the left side of my jaw. “You made me hurt you!”
I fight to get my arms out from underneath his bulky frame. My vision has grown blurry from the force of his fist.Keep fighting, Lilith. And I do. I fight with everything in me until my arms are free.
Reaching forward, I dig my thumbs as hard as I can into his eyes. The pain causes him to flail around on top of me, giving me an opening. I pull myself up, slamming into him with my head. The pain is instant as blood begins to trickle down my forehead. But it gets the job done.
Elijah falls backwards, giving me enough space to wiggle my way out from underneath him. I kick his chest, my boot landing directly between his ribcage.
His moan filters through the air as I make my way on top of him, once again wrapping my hands around his throat. He looks up at me with bloodshot eyes. Remorse filling every crevice. I must’ve broken a rib or two because when he opens his mouth to speak, blood gurgles its way up his throat instead.
“Please just fucking die!” I cry out, watching his eyes roll back before coming into focus again. His will to live is much stronger than I could’ve ever imagined. My strength is rapidly depleting and I don’t know how much longer I can continue.
“Please,” I croak out in between sobs. I allow my forehead to fall to his, still keeping my hands on him. The pulse underneath my finger finally begins to slow.
Thump.
Thump.
A few seconds pass before the final one beats against my hand.
Thump.
I continue to hold on for a few more seconds to be sure. Once I know it's over I lose control. The scream erupts from me and doesn’t stop until I’m choking on the air that burns my throat. I lay down against his still warm body, unable to find the strength to move. Elijah Huang deserved more than this. And I stole it from him.
I lay there for what feels like hours, when in reality it’s probably only been a few minutes. The exhaustion has overtaken me, and I’m ready to give up. I don’t even move when the door finally swings open. I don’t move as a beaten to a pulp Kameron runs over to me, screaming at me to get up. I don’t move as he picks up my deadweight and pulls me from the room. I don’t move as he rushes me through the building, patients on the first floor all staring at us with terror. I don’t move as he loads my body into the back of the van.
