Alamort

39. Priya

F or once, the outside world doesn’t bring my close friend, dread, along. Instead, it welcomes me with a sense of tranquility. That could be because River insisted on coming with so I’m not alone. We’re both dressed head to toe in black with matching black beanies, she swears we had to wear. Personally, I think our dark hair would have blended in fine with the night if we tucked it into the beanies. But she begged. It’s hard to say no to her most days. That’s false, I don’t think I’ve ever directly told her the word ‘no’, now that I think about it.

River leads the way to the teachers’ parking lot. Since we’ve come up with a plan, I’ve had tunnel vision. Counting down the minutes until I could act on my need for revenge.

There’s a keycard to open the gate to get outside the school’s premises, like a prison. The light silently blinks green when she holds the key up to the locking mechanism, doing a silent fist bump and a dancing wave with her arms before holding the gate open for me to cross through.

I don’t need to be raised like the people here to know nice cars when I see them. Even as ‘sheltered’ as I was, I still had access to the internet and movies. Still allowed to see the outside world. In my household, at least, it’s better to be seen than heard. Scratch that, being invisible and silent has always been better for me.

There are BMWs, Skylines, Audis, Porsches, even a few Lamborghinis sprinkled in the mix. River said a “few”. I’m wondering what that word means to her, considering the lot is the size of a football field. What catches my eye is the black Aston Martin with two car spaces on each side, ensuring it doesn’t get scratched. My heart flutters in my chest at the sight. There are only 75 of those made in the world. I’ll fact check that later to be sure.

“That’s it.”

My eyebrows raise with a whistle. Damn, that sucks. For him. As I take my bag off of my back, a wide grin spreads across my face and adrenaline courses through me, making my hands tremble. Marching towards this beauty’s funeral is bittersweet. I’ve never had the chance to see one in person. I’m honored to be the one to destroy it.

Running my fingers along the glossy black paint, I can’t help but admire the polished, mirror like finish. It could be a dark blue. The color won’t matter after I’m through with it. Maybe I could steal it. Where would I keep a whole ass car when I have no cash to my name? Cards are traceable.

No. He deserves to have this taken from him and sullied like he did to my sister’s name. Now we can both lose something we worship and love.

Where to start? With cautious precision, I navigate around the car, my steps gentle and almost noiseless, from the back to the front. The only noise that accompanies my footsteps is the gentle shifting of rocks beneath my boots. River props her hip on the hood, letting me take my time. Automatically, my fingers find the comfort of my match book, rubbing the edges.

A loud crack shatters the peacefulness of the night, causing the windshield to shatter into web like cracks and the crickets to fall silent. The car rocks from the impact. I stand, stunned, my mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. I stare at River with wide eyes.

Rapidly blinking, I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

“Where the hell did you get a baseball bat from?” I whisper-yell.

“I found it. Handy, huh? You were taking too long.” I stare at her, and she stares right back. A lightness in her eyes I haven’t seen before. My lips clamp together, and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle in the manic laughter that threatens to spill out. Her eyes widen before she looks at the bat in her hand and bursts out laughing. It doesn’t take long before our cackles become the dominant sound in the air. My hand grips the car in order to keep my legs from falling out from underneath me. Who the hell finds a bat and brings it with them? She is crazier than I am. She must’ve pulled it out of her ass. The thought is so amusing I can’t help but laugh harder.

Tears are streaming down her face, her hands grabbing her sides that ache from laughter. I know, because I’m doing the same.

“Okay, okay.” She sniffles, inhaling some much-needed air. “Back to the task.”

I drop the familiar black bag, my constant companion, onto the ground with a satisfying thud. My hand delves into the depths of the contents, desperately searching for what I need, my fingers clumsily fumbling a few times for the lighter fluid.

This beauty deserves a fresh, unopened bottle for her glorious demise. One to ensure it’s completely ruined. The car’s weight moves a little as I clamber onto the hood. Popping the seal on the red cap, I pour the liquid all over the top of the car, the sound of it splashing against the surface echoing around us. I swiftly jump off and move towards the hood of the car where I was standing, feeling the oiliness of the substance on my skin. Per my MO, I write Addison’s name. Remembering who I’m doing it for, gives me a little more strength for the possible fallout. I’ll deny that I had anything to do with it.

Stepping back, I take a moment to admire my handiwork. The two-seater car is pretty small. I don’t want to risk the flames only damaging the frame. I want it all.

“I need inside.” I tell River, my eyes fixated on the interior. River’s footfall seems deafening now than it was before. A quick smack to the corner of the window has it shattered entirely. The breeze brings the strong, acrid odor of the liquid to my nostrils as it penetrates the air. I start my process by treating the driver’s side, meticulously coating the seat, steering wheel, and then moving on to the dashboard. Then, with the urge to speed up the process, I empty the whole bottle inside before tossing it in the passenger’s footwell.

Dusting my hands off and pulling my head out of the broken car window, I look at River.

“Ready?” Giddiness makes my voice rise. A simple nod and a slight retreat is her response. My unsteady fingers struggle for my matches, the thrill of the moment making it difficult to focus. With an unsuccessful first attempt at the match, I throw it inside to get rid of the evidence. It lights on the second try.

The interior quickly ignites, sending plumes of smoke into the air. A shiver runs down my spine as I stand in awe, goose bumps prickling the back of my neck. My body goes slack as soon as the fire spreads, the tightness in my chest gradually eases, while the tension in my shoulders disappears. The weightlessness of every burden I carry vanishes. Bliss, even if only for a fleeting moment. This brings a sense of steadiness to my heart, as if all the chaos of the world has faded away.

Peace, that’s what this foreign feeling is. Maybe.

This is what I would expect it to feel like, so that’s what I’ll call it. I send a silent thanks to Addi for giving me this. If anyone is looking out for me, it’s her.

The car’s interior is a fiery inferno. The heat radiates and scorches everything in its path. The flickering flames, escaping through the broken window, eagerly lick the exterior of the car. Damn, this is a masterpiece. Baldwin’s SUV seats have nothing on the way this makes me feel. My eyes search out River, who is as entranced as I am. She must feel my eyes on her because she looks at me immediately, coming to stand by my side.

“You really did it.” Her voice drips with awe. Of course I did. This is a win-win situation for me. Revenge is best served with a blazing hot appetizer. Something like that.

Her hand links in mine. I squeeze hers and in return she squeezes it back. I’d like to think my sister sent someone here to help stave off the loneliness I’ve felt for so long. That even in death she would take care of me. I would for her. When I go to hell, I’ll still find a way to her and make sure she’s okay. Tell her I love her one last time. A small smile graces my lips. I’m happy I could know unconditional love, because that’s what I was able to give her.

River’s grip turns painful, her knuckles going white.

“We’ve got to go.” Urgency laces her voice. My eyes flick to the fire and then back to her. I want to see this through. There’s still so much left.

“What? Why?” My brows wrinkle as she looks behind her. I strain my ears, searching for even the faintest sound. A guttural roar comes from the other side of the gate we came through, making me jump.

“Run!” She yells.

My legs are carrying me before I can register what’s going on. I gain on River just as she cuts through the dense woods, our footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves. Despite the tree obstructing our path, we maintain our pace without missing a beat. Undeterred by the branches smacking me in the face, I push forward with more determination. My breaths are quick and uneven, a stark contrast to my usual steady rhythm as I struggle to find my pace. Oh fuck, a cramp.

Leaning against a tree, I take a moment to catch my breath and scan my surroundings, my ears tuned in for any faint footsteps. My pounding heart is the only thing I can hear, which doesn’t help. The effort I put into running makes my lungs burn, each breath is a stab in my ribs.

The forest is alive with the sound of snapping branches, every footstep leaving a trail of destruction in my aggressor's wake. A squeak escapes me as I bolt like a rabbit from one tree to the next, hoping to lose him. Would I have time to climb it? I’ve never climbed a tree in my life, but I’d try right now.

The thrill of successfully evading my pursuer dissipates as I unexpectedly trip over a protruding tree root, excruciating pain shoots through my twisted ankle. The pain is fleeting, overridden by the adrenaline. I scramble to my hands and knees. A fierce roar tears through the forest, followed by the jarring impact of a bulldozer slamming into my side, leaving me breathless and dazed. My diaphragm spasms. This is going to be the longest minute of my life.

“Pause.” I wheeze, grabbing my stomach.

The pressure of hands wrapped around my throat, their firm grip around the warm metal collar making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Obviously, he doesn’t know what the word pause means because he fast forwarded, and I wasn’t ready.

“I’ll fucking kill you, you stupid bitch!” Spittle hits my cheek while baring his teeth. Oh, it’s Bennett. Not really the most ideal for this situation. My eyes focus on what they can, since his hold isn’t loosening on my neck. His nostrils are flaring and his chest heaves, his breath hitting me directly in the face. Seems I’m not the only one out of shape. My dad has choked me harder than this. He’ll have to try harder to impress me.

In the dark, his eyes appear as deep, black voids, reminiscent of the Demon he’s rumored to embody.

My voice comes out as a squeak. His grasp loosens and I cough, drawing in a much-desired breath of air. With his hatred solely focused on me, I reach out my hand for something I can weaponize. My chin lifts as I hold my head up high, easy considering his hand placement.

“You fucking deserved it, you piece of shit! Tossing my sister’s death out there to a pack of hungry piranhas for the latest gossip. Like she was nothing . She will be remembered by how she died because of you. Not for who she was.” My hand finds purchase on a stick. I spit at him.

Unfortunately, it falls flat, landing on my chin. Not what I was going for, but a distraction all the same.

“You’re a fucking murderer. You deserve to die and I’m going to be the one to grant you that mercy,” he growls in my face.

Oh, I want to die. But not by this asshole’s hand. I’ll go out my way and not a second sooner. My Shadow’s words niggle in the back of my mind.

“Death would never be so kind to you.” Not today. My Shadow’s words echo through my head.

Using all my strength, I raise up the stick and strike him in the head.

Smack!

“ Piece of shit!” I repeat.

Smack!

“ Keep my sister’s name out of your filthy, lying mouth!”

Smack!

It dazes him for a split second. All it did was successfully piss him off further. My limbs failed to convey the strength of my words. Self defense is clearly not my strong suit. He redoubles his efforts, his hands squeezing tighter, forcing my head to collide with the forest floor. Light flashes behind my eyes with each impact. Not the heavenly kind or the light at the end of the tunnel. The one when seen from a sudden explosion. The contact with the uneven ground sends a sharp jolt of pain coursing through my head, spinning and twirling like I’m back on the teacup ride from that fair Addi and I went to years ago, where I got sick and threw up. I might now. My neck rises from the ground, only to collide with a sharp rock.

I bite my tongue to stifle a scream. Years spent with my dad coming into play. Do not show him weakness. My eyes squeeze shut, keeping my tears at bay. It’s probably not that bad. I’ve had worse.

His hands fall away, and I sputter for air. Choking on the very thing I need, nice. Wincing, I drag myself towards a nearby tree.

Where the fuck did he go? My eyes dart around the dark to find him kneeling on the forest floor, his hands up in surrender. His intense, pitch black eyes pin me with a piercing glare. Behind him stands River, who I thought at least got away, with a knife to his throat.

“River!” He says pleasantly. The low growl in his voice that he used with me is gone. Back is the charming playboy facade. “That’s a dangerous toy you have there. Why don’t you put it down? This has nothing to do with you. This is between me and the little Pyro.” His glare returns.

Where did she get that knife? She’s a magician tonight.

“You don’t get to hurt my friends, Ben.” Her voice is low and deadly, void of emotion. She’s capable of murder, since that’s the reason she’s here. But would she do it for me?

“She’s not your friend, River.” He growls, switching back to the asshole he truly is. The more enraged he becomes, the more the knife buries itself into his throat, leaving a crimson stain beneath its tip. I feel like I’m witnessing something important, but the oxygen hasn’t fully returned to my brain, so I’m just a bystander in this conversation.

“Do you know what she did?” He seethes, still staring at me.

River shakes her head sadly, the only emotion she’s showed thus far toward him. “No, Bennett. Hatred, revenge, and lies blinds you and your brothers.” He stops pushing against the knife. Searching my face for something.

“What do you mean?” His voice falters and cracks. For a second, he looks like a broken boy, looking for answers. He’s like me. River’s head snaps to me, remembering she has an audience.

“Go home, Priya. I’ll take care of this.” She says it so gently, a contrast from the night we’ve had. Somehow, my legs manage to get underneath me. The last thing I want to do is pass out in the middle of the woods. I wince, the world spinning in circles again. My hand grips the closest thing next to me. A tree. The bite of the bark on my palms keeps me grounded, limping my way back to my dorm.