The Sinner's Club [18+] Complete

chapter forty-seven.

THE SMALLEST SOUND startles me awake.

The honking of a car horn on the street far below. The hum of the air conditioner. A door closing in the hallway outside of our room.

In the darkness, I reach desperately for my sister and find her sleeping beside me, right where she belongs. Safe and sound.

My heart thumps in my chest as I hesitantly lay back down, trying to calm the panic that attempts to rise in my chest.

She's alright, I tell myself, like a mantra. Anthony can never hurt her again. He can never hurt you again.

Logically, rationally, I know that we are safe. For the past week, we've been staying in this hotel room that Nathaniel booked for us. It's a secure hotel, with a swipe card required to access any of the floors.

When I tried to take Elodie home after the incident at the lighthouse, she saw the spot on the street where Anthony took her and had a complete meltdown. For now at least, she doesn't want to return to our apartment. It is linked to too many bad memories. Reaper offered for us to stay with him, but Nathaniel insisted on renting us a hotel room instead.

It's for the best. I'm not in the right frame of mind at the moment to be sleeping in such close quarters to either of them. I would make some stupid decision that I would later come to regret.

It is hard to get back to sleep, even as the sun rises. Eventually, Elodie wakes. She says nothing, as she hasn't for the past few days.

Not a word.

"There's a park nearby," I say. "How about we go for a play there? We could get ice cream on the way back."

I am trying to cheer her up, but I know I've said the wrong thing the moment her face goes pale.

Fuck. She was eating ice cream right before Anthony took her.

"I–I mean we could get something else. Whatever you want..."

But she is already sinking back down into bed, drawing the covers up over her head.

I sigh in defeat and leave her be, doing some work on my laptop at the desk across the room.

Nathaniel told me to take as much time off as I needed, but the truth is working helps get my mind off...everything. I just want to forget, I want to scrub that horrific night from my mind and the mind of my baby sister.

But I never can. It can't be erased, the damage cannot be undone.

I look over my shoulder at Elodie, a punch of guilt making my stomach twist. She is forever changed.

What if she never speaks again?

There is a gentle knock on the door, and I flinch, my mind somehow sure that it is Anthony resurrected from the grave, back for his final revenge. I stand on shaky legs, reminding myself that Anthony can never hurt us again—Nathaniel ensured that.

I reach up on my toes and peer through the peephole, letting out a breath of relief when I see who it is. I unlock the door and open it.

"Supplies," Gabi says, holding up a grocery bag for me. Viktor stands behind her, an ever-present shadow.

"Thank you." I take the bag, peeking at the food inside. "I really appreciate it."

"No worries. Do you need anything else?"

A long sigh leaves me. "A time machine?"

The corner of her mouth pulls up. "I'm fresh out, I'm afraid. How is she?"