Devil

-29-

-Esla-

"...love never felt so good," somebody sung into my ear. The smell of copper hit my nose and mildew. My eye flew open and I recognized the scent of that particular copper. Blood. I cried out as I remembered what had happened before I blacked out. I attempted to scramble up but one of my legs was chained to a wall. My breath grew heavy as I forced myself to move my gaze to the other leg.

Please, please, please.

I gulped and started to look towards my other leg, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I instead looked up at Devil who was cleaning off the axe. It was covered in blood. It was covered in my blood. Oh my goodness, that was my blood. My head started to swim and felt like it was tightening. My gaze dropped to my other leg and time seemed to freeze.

My leg...was still there.

"Wake up," someone kicked me in the side.

My eyes fluttered open, and I rose my upper body up. "If you keep blacking out like that then you won't get any information. Do you remember what you told me while you were hysterical?" Devil asked me, bent down in front of me. The axe was no where to be seen and I no longer smelled blood. I quickly touched all over my body for any missing limbs, bits, and pieces. Who's blood was that?

Could it be someone I knew?

"You can touch yourself in your own private time," she smirked at me, laughter dancing in her brown eyes. "Do you remember what you said to me when you were hysterical?" she asked me.

I shook my head no, bile rising in the back of my dry throat. She laughed, backing away from me. "Me neither, because you didn't tell me shit," her voice hinted at anger. "I believe you're telling the truth," she told me suddenly, eyes wild. She then laughed again and then pouted at me.

I waited for her to say something else but she only stared. "Who's blood was on the axe?"

"Yours," she replied before I could finish speaking.

"From- How- Where?"

"This is my interview," she said in a sing songy voice. "From, your body. How, the axe. Where, in this building," she clapped her hands together, laughter in her face. She frowned when she saw me shaking in fear. I tried to hold my body together, like that would keep me from exploding into tears.

"How do you know Thomkeesha?" she asked me in a serious tone, her eyes now showing that her mood was neutral. I wish she would quit doing that. Switching from mood to mood, from word to word. She was confusing me, dancing in between my own emotions and sanity. I needed clarity right now.

"I don't know her personally." I searched my head for more answers. "I saw her around school a few times but we never interacted. I've fought a few people but I'm not a fighter like that," I explained quickly. "I don't know who attacked you and I don't know who's against you."

I didn't realize Devil was clapping until I finished talking. She was approaching me and fear made my heart speed up. She was going to give me a heart attack, but her body wanted to give me heartbreak. She was so conflicting- like the struggle between good and evil. Angel and demon. Heaven or Hell.

"Your interview is over," she told me simply. She bent down to unchain me and my legs quavered at her closeness. I thought she was going to flip on me and hurt me or something. Or maybe she would chop off a limb this time for sure.

"I killed a rat and I smeared some of your blood onto the axe," she explained neutrally. "I got it off with a towel and stitched your arm up."

She watched me continue to shake in fear as she finally unclasped my leg. "Don't be afraid," she frowned down at me, her expression gentle. "I don't want you to cry either. I'm tryna find justice like you, Esla." The way my name fell off her tongue like a light feather. The way her caring eyes stared into mine. It might have been the blood loss, or the brutal mistreatment, but I leaned in and smashed my lips against hers.

Her mouth curved up into grin while her eyes showed faint surprise. She kissed me back deeply, holding my chin so that my face was pushed towards hers. She bit my lip softly, and I fell into paradise only for my mind to crash me down.

It was like a light switch. One moment I was in Heaven, and the next...

I pushed her off of me, breathing fast as I started to sob. She was a killer- no a murderer! I had heard about people falling in love with their kidnappers because of some weird phenomenon, but I was different right? I had kissed her. She stood up and licked her lips, showing me her hand. "C'mon, Nico's waiting."

"I- don't- don't touch me," I whispered, hot tears raining down my face. I felt unstable and drained and sick. I just needed, I don't know what I need. I need to be away. I want to be away from here. I don't know what I need or where I want to go.

"Esla, take my hand," she told me gently.

I was afraid if I told her "no" she'd kill me so I took her hand and let her raise me up. "C'mon." She carefully led me out of the building as I limped alongside of her, the blood rushing to my head.

This was it. I was going to die with two hot studs.