He Kills For Me, I Kill For Him

: F

small leather bag but because I wanted to see if a

did

running through it like a scar. It felt like the room could see me

s a damn landline. Just a gilded bell on

ou need as

idn

ne knocke

ned slowly w

eventeen years, looking like someone who'd

d tiny, s

ike it wanted to smile but had forgotten how to. Her apron was

braided. And he

setti?"

over. "Who wa

Madonna Serafina a

look. "How bad d

. "I...I di

. You flinched whe

whisper. "You sure you're not just pretend

t of an old convent painting if the nuns had switched to

eyes darting to the corners of the room. Like s

you with you

ady d

with

ve me like you're wait

e her ey

in quickly. "I only

or a second as she turned to reach for a brush on the va

uld cause. But looked real and tightly packed and clean

rs?" I ask

ering mid-air. "...Somet

punishes yo

e was answ

crossed the

look at m

, reluc

ely. "You've wo

. "Before that, I was in th

asked, raisin

ily," she said quickly. "I me

m not insulted. I don't ev

tiny, unsure s

thing, Emilia. No more fear. Don't give me the fucking silence

pa

suppose

ing you what you were told.

ed. "What do yo

y sent m

ed, she glance

.. to keep

nd

keep you

my head.

wered her voice like

doesn't like

et that phrase s

in hell is that

e said. "Thoughts. Prese

. "Well. That's goi

at's why yo

e cold wine. I like

girl in this house

speak for

u stop se

w ten

igh

hen I walked straight to it, pretending

led with b

zippers just some boring rows of tiny buttons, like restra

. Does he have a t

also... doesn't like wo

whoever he is seems to have embedded fear in a lot

uckl

to her. "He ev

e said t

hat was too fast and I cou

ded, eyes fixed on the

ow

room. The next morning I was told I'd been reassign

led, s

're stil

," she said softly. "At lea

ade both

epped in like smoke, placed a small black

stare

s it?"

he said to place it he

ened

: a br

it

oo

ld

o

pearl. Bone!!

n polished. S

was no engraving. No stone

ser, voice low. "T

tilted

don't know. They say he g

ses w

w they communicate in this house!

n at the bra

cracked mirror. I loved close. A camera

t the brac

't tou