Saving Grace

56

The knife slid into me like hot butter.

Burning, searing, raw pain.

My heart hammered against my ribcage, pounded in my ears. My fists clenched, an agonising scream burst from my bruised throat. And Albert, hands never shaking, eyes never faltering, tilted his head with the smallest of smiles, and pulled the blade from my flesh.

"Stop," I whimpered. "Please stop."

Albert sighed.

"I am sorry, Mr Downing. Truly. However, as much as I would like to make your death quick and painless, I cannot."

He thrusted the white-hot blade into my abdomen and I threw up the most piercing, horrific scream.

"In order to truly ruin your lover," he twisted the knife, tearing my insides. "I have to ruin you."

He ripped the blade from my gut and I gasped, air filling my strangled lungs. Through my blurred tears, I met his cold eyes as the warmth of my own blood seeped into my shirt.

"My uncles will come for you," I breathed. "And they will destroy you."

Albert wiped the blood onto my thigh, dragging the knife along my clothes. I winced, body trembling in anticipation.

"You mean Mr Mikhailov and Detective Day," he mused. "Yes, well, they are rather powerful – kings of their fields – and I suppose I should feel some sort of... fear, perhaps." Albert lifted the knife again. My body shook, adrenaline bursting in my chest. "But will they find you in time?" He pondered. "Or will they only find pieces?"

The cold, meticulous darkness spread in Albert's eyes, but I knew better than to beg for my life. So, I closed my eyes and felt myself retreating into the furthest corners of my mind. This wasn't happening. It was all a dream. Then, as the tip of Albert's blade touched my thigh, the strangest noise echoed from downstairs. It took a long moment to come to, open my eyes, remember that tune...

When there's something strange, in the neighbourhood...

My brother's ringtone.

I looked at Albert wide-eyed, who smiled happily at me.

"There she is."

My body tensed, clenching, throbbing.

"No, Albert – don't. Come back!"

He slowly rose to his feet, spun the blade in his hands.

"Don't fret, Mr Downing. I shall return soon enough."

He turned on his heel, stepped out into the hallway.

"Albert!" I screamed. "Get back here! Get back here!"

He closed the door behind him. My frantic eyes darted across the room, mind racing, limbs bleeding. I reefed my hands and feet against the tight ropes, the burns cutting into the bone.

"DAMMIT!"

"Richie,"

I looked past my sleeping brother, through the windows and out to the balcony. Grace, my beautiful Grace, clamoured over its side. My stomach dropped.

"No, no, no. Grace, you can't be here. You have to run."

She slipped through the glass doors, eyes darting around the room. She locked the wooden door.

"We can run together when you're free."

She took a step towards me. I shook my head.

"No. Get him first."