“Would be so easy,” the demon purred, “to jam it right here.” His fingernail raking along her tender neck.
She closed her eyes, searching for the will to live. Keeley could hear Tar’s voice in her head, “Fight.”
“No,” she breathed and grabbed the pen. She began to write, pouring out her soul onto the paper as tears blurred her vision and snot leaked. Keeley finished writing, exhausted. She returned to the tight ball she’d been in earlier and cried herself to sleep.
The demon paced. He was losing her. Light was keeping him from what was his. He’d have to work harder at deceiving her, finding this new kind of pain was actually weakening him. Her addiction was fully fed.
Stupid fuck, they were playing on the same team!
Yet, he hissed, there was no loyalty in hell. It was, after all, all about, me…me…me. This was why humans were such easy prey. Their selfish nature made them prime targets. Just meant it was time to turn up the heat on Keeley. He’d break her beyond repair. And that was one of the biggest lies ever told. But she’d never figure that out. He would make sure of it.
The next morning Lacey sat beside her sister on the cold hard floor, appalled to see her curled up in the corner. She promptly placed Keeley’s head in her lap, softly stroking her hair. Could she save her twin? E had told her more than once that in order to heal one must shatter completely. God, Keeley had hit bottom more times than any one person ever should. Wasn’t that enough? How could she possibly break more? Eventually a person had to truly be broken, right? She didn’t know the answers to these questions as tears fell onto Keeley’s hospital johnny.
The bandages were gone around her head. Only a small one remained where the actual incision was made underneath her hair at the base of her skull. Seemed so trivial, but Lacey was thankful Keeley didn’t have a shaved spot, or ended up completely bald. She felt movement under her hand signaling that Keeley was waking up. “Hey, it’s me. No need to worry,” she crooned like a mother to her sick child.
Keeley tested her limbs. The position she’d fallen asleep in made her stiff and uncomfortable. Or, maybe that was the floor. Not the brightest of locations to cry yourself to sleep, she thought. Lacey moved her hand so Keeley could stretch out. “Crap. Remind me the next time I have a meltdown to do so in a bed.”
“I’m so sorry. I wish there was a way to take this from you.”
Keeley scoffed, “You’re not my mother, Lace. You’re my sister. It’s not your fight.”
“What the hell, Kee?” Her exasperated expression saying more than her words. “Just because I’m not Mom doesn’t mean I don’t give a damn.” She clasped her shoulders and gave a little shake. “I love you. And if you think I like seeing you suffer, you’re seriously delusional.”
There was no controlling the laugher. Keeley couldn’t help it. The irony of calling her ‘delusional’ just before she checked into a mental hospital was funny on sooooo many levels. “Oh, don’t look at me that way,” she chastised Lacey for the sternness in her eyes.
“I’m trying to understand what it is you find so hilarious.” Lacey’s hands were waving around for emphasis.
Keeley stilled them and sincerely pointed out, “I’m agreeing to let your husband put me in the looney bin. Surely you see the humor behind what you said.”
“What I…” Her eyes widened. “Oh, fuck.” She covered her mouth to hide the gasp. How could she have been so insensitive? Lacey eyed her, thankful she maintained her sense of humor even in this stressful situation. “I don’t want you to go. Does that help at all?”
“Ah, Lacey,” hugging her tight, “E’s right, it’s the best place for me to get help.”
“Doesn’t mean I hafta like it,” Lacey sighed.
“Well, it’s not as if I’m actually looking forward to it. But I can’t do this on my own.”
Lacey pulled back and locked her gaze on Keeley’s. “I’m so proud of you.”
“For admitting I’m a nut job.” Keeley’s face revealed she was only half joking.
“No, silly. For knowing you need others to help you fight. That the battle isn’t yours alone.”
“Oh no, don’t start the church-y talk. Puh-leeze.”
Lacey couldn’t help but smile. “The fact you call it such says you know I’m right.”
“Whatev.” Keeley walked across the room searching for some space. Wasn’t that she really had issues with the Big Guy, per se, just didn’t like all the Kumbaya talk. And well, she’d definitely fallen from grace, making her more uncomfortable standing there with her good girl sister.