Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CHAPTER TWENTYFOUR. stoned at the nail salon.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
BETRAYAL IS A FOREIGN CONCEPT. Me saying that has probably humored a fair few of you, and I'll undoubtedly give you that. After all, I am of Flores born, and what concept do we understand better than that of betrayal? It's like our DNA strands are twisted with extra cruelty, darkness rife in our system, thriving every time we even slightly betray those close to us. Each of us has had the tart taste of betrayal on our tongues and this time, to my surprise, the person injecting that poison into me is my very own sister.
Not a day goes by where my sole purpose isn't to keep her away from my corruption. I always knew that she had hints of Icarus in her personality, a hamartia of ambition that'll drive her too close to my sun of destruction and end up wrecking her for good. Everything she's worked for, we've worked for... Gone. Melted, like the wax holding together Icarus' feather wings. All because of me.
The last thing I want is to consider her reasonings for her actions, or what my mother will have to say about it — both will lead to me being scorched and shamed for existing, and so I have an abundant need for disappearing that I make clear to Sarah the moment I usher myself into her car, "Start the car, we're going. Hurry up!"
"Jesus—" Sarah buffers, failing to catch up to the speed of my demands, "Are they getting him? Wait, are you crying?"
I only notice the leakage out of my eyes when she points it out, involuntarily scratching at my undereyes with my nails as I wipe them dry, "No, just drive, okay?"
"Where? John B's?" she proposes, reversing out of the parking bay.
"I don't know. Somewhere, anywhere, that'll distract me." I continue choking out at light speed, beginning to bite at the acrylic on my nail plate and the surrounding skin.
"Need me to call JJ, see where he is?"
"No, anyone but JJ!" I shout, not realizing the passion with which that was said before it leaves my mouth, "No, just drive."
