Devil

-47-

-Goddess-

I laid in my hospital bed, staring at the note Nicotine had managed to get to me through a new nurse. My hands weren't cuffed because I had picked through them, but I still felt confined. I couldn't feel anything anymore. At this point, I would welcome pain. I couldn't even feel my numerous injuries.

They had said I tried to fly while I had blacked out. It hadn't seemed like that long to me, but I had attempted to pull out my ribs and pop my shoulder blades to give release to heavy black wings. All I ended up with was two broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, an empty stomach, and Esla dead.

I still hear her name calling for me.

I still imagine...what if?

Tears burned my eyes as I rubbed my hand over the black ink Nicotine had written in. It was beginning to smudge because of my salty tears, the words "I'm still here for you, mamas" blurring as I broke out into a loud sob.

"Esla, Esla," I cried out for her, clutching my chest. I wanted to rip out my heart and give it away. It shouldn't even belong to me if not even some of it could go to my little Lavigne.

A man burst into my hospital room with a bored expression, swiftly closing the door behind himself.

"Sister, after all of this time," he purred.

My eyes snapped up to the person, my mind still clouded with grief and numbness. "Who are you?"

"You don't recognize your own flesh and blood? It's Antonio. Your big brother, your savior," he grinned. His look of joy completely wiped off of his face and he stepped closer to my bed. "The cops are after me. I already killed the two on duty. Why are they following me?" His presence screamed deadly.

"You know why," I whispered.

"I haven't committed no damn crimes. I hear I'm gonna be in for charges on smuggling and-

"One of us has to suffer through this," I whispered lowly, "I've done my time."

"Yes! He went in there!" I heard someone cry.

His eyes widened as people bombarded into the room. "I'm sorry Antonio," I cried out, clutching my chest as the first few inklings of pain seeped in.

I could feel something now.

Even if it was pain.

Even if it made losing Esla hurt ten times worse.

Every time I thought about hope my thoughts drifted back to her, then I'd have to remind myself she was somewhere beyond me now.

I took in a shuddery breath as the doctor came over to check on me after the commotion. "How are you doing?" she asked me gently, pity in her blue eyes. I closed my eyes slowly and wished that I could succumb to death, but I knew that wouldn't happen.

For some horrible reason, Goddess Hughe was still here. But if I couldn't have Esla...what use would Goddess' body even be to me?

"Goddess, how a-

"Devil," I blinked through my tears carefully, looking at the woman. "It's Devil," I said more strongly.

The doctor awkwardly left after she checked my vitals, ignoring my bare wrists. I finally had another moment alone, and I crumbled up Nicotine's paper.

Nobody must care about me or so much wouldn't have been stolen and snatched from me.

Poor Goddess. "This is where she ends," I whispered.

-The End-

("Nico's Story" is a side continuation of "Devil", but it is not a sequel. A sequel most likely will be made before January so stay tuned.)

(Peep how I ended the book on 47 chapters and Goddess might have gotten 47 years 🤧)