Insane - Who Are You To Judge? (Gripping Psychological Thriller)

Chapter 16 - Avery

It's been so long I almost don't recognise her. She's changed in the year and five months since our paths last crossed.

The sweet, naïve little girl I once knew so well, who hid her rosy cheeks beneath worn out rags and cowered at the hand of her wicked stepsisters, is buried deep within the woman standing before me. Now, she stands confident and tall with a fire roaring in her eyes which had never before been lit. I almost feel proud of whom she has become, knowing I had a part to play in it.

I begin to pull myself off the ground steadily, still rather shaky from the fall. "Sweet Cinderella, look at you. You've grown."

"That's it? After all this time, after all you have done, you see me now and that's what you have to say?" She sounds disappointed in me, as if I was meant to see her and break down with tears streaming down my cheeks – realising the horror I had committed.

I laugh under my breath. "Were you hoping for a sorry?"

She doesn't respond. Now perhaps realising that her expectations have been held at a different standard than what I can offer.

Although only moments ago, I was the vulnerable mouse underneath her feline shadow, the roles are now reversed and Cinderella has lost her train of thought and her ability to command the situation.

I can tell from the expression on her face that she has an absolute purpose in standing in front of me, so I give her the benefit of the doubt and take the steering wheel for a minute, until she figures out what bone she has to pick.

"I would love to catch up with you, little princess. We can go grab a coffee, have a little girl-bonding session and hell, I'll even let you braid my hair." Her expression remains poker-straight, unmoved by my attempt to lighten the mood. I switch to a more serious approach. "But I have a feeling that's not the reason you're here."

Though her silhouette appears solid, her outline is blurred slightly, shaken by the adrenaline shooting up her spine either because of anger or because of fear. I am about to find out which one.

"Why?" she finally builds up the courage to ask, "Why did you do it? What had they ever done to you? You didn't even know them."

I stare at her, trying to hold back the pity from seeping through my eyes. I take a step towards her. "Oh no, it's not what they did to me. It's what they did to you. Surely I made that clear back then?"

Her young face becomes confused and slow to process this new information. "Then, what was in it for you? Why did you do it?"

We are close together now. So close that I can feel her breath against my skin, our body heat is interchangeable.

Her eyes meet mine, the fire roaring loudly inside.

My grimace widens and I whisper, "It's what I do."

Her breath catches on my words and her eyes glisten with the tears she's holding in. She grits her teeth and her jaw locks so tightly it vibrates under the pressure.

There is now a sharp sensation pressing into my stomach. I glance down and catch sight of the blade reflecting the white of the clouds.

I have to take my hat off to her – that was done very smoothly.

I raise an eyebrow in disbelief and I fail to suppress my mocking smirk. "And what do you think you're going to do with that?"

Cinderella death-stares me and offers no response. The chilling aura that radiates from her stands the hairs on my neck upright.