The 21st Birthday Loop

tance, a surreal soundtrack to my second death. I lay perfectly still, listening to Chloe' s grunts as sh

h was shallow. I h

y as they went back to the party. I was alone in the blackness, trapped. A

y voice a dry croak. "P

would hear me over the music.

door opening again. A sliver of moonlight cut th

Look what we

iar. A cold dread washed ov

smell of stale beer, sweat, and motor oil filled the small space. He loomed over me, a grin splitting h

ole," he chuckled. "Good

ingers digging into my bruised skin. H

runted, his breath hot and foul. "Said you w

wasn' t the broken woman f

in pain and surprise, his grip loosening for a second. It was all I needed. I scra

up, my muscles screaming in protest. He grabbed my ankle, his thick fingers lik

ran, my torn dress flapping around my legs, my breath coming in r

ddle of a crowd of guests. They all stopped and stared. My dress was

a word, Caleb and

a trembling finger at me. She looked horrif

ighteous fury. He grabbed me

" he roared. "W

uns off on the night before our wedding and comes back li

ike a curse. Gasps rip

neaking out to meet him! I tried to stop her, but she wouldn' t listen!

o tell them the tru

other of the boy Chloe was originally supposed to marry, p

e face. "You try to ruin my family' s arrangement, and now you try to ruin

owd murmured in agreement, their faces a blur of judgment and co