Love Drained, Life Reclaimed
left Ava weaker each time. Her vision blurred, and a constant chill settled deep in her bones
her head. Thirty-fiv
brighten. The tired lines on their faces softened, and a healthier co
and her heart beat with a slow, weak rhythm.
ng sensation stopped. The room swam before
barely a whisper. "Please, stop.
tching her with detached
e yet," Britta
e could feel it, a deep, primal certainty in what was left
pread across her face. It was a completely different smile f
point," she
t her lungs. All the justifications, all the sacrifices, all
was never about family tradi
he darkness, several more men emerged. They were rough-looking, their eyes fixed on Ava'
is wasn't a ritual. It was an execution. And t
st of strength. She thrashed in the chair,
" she screamed,
at her skin. She felt a sharp, searing pain as the skin broke, and warm blood bega
aze to Brittany. "This is murder! The police will find o
ghed, a shor
on't worry, Ava. When they find your body, it will just look like a tragic ac
al whisper. "Besides, who do you think helped us arrange a
he web was bigger and d
a gift on her birthday, a beautiful scarf. "I'm so glad you're my sister," Brittany had said, hugging her. She remem
isterly affection. It was all a lie. A carefully constructe
needle in her chest and the ropes on her wrists. It hollowe
fool who wanted a family so badly she h