Own Me (The Meridian Institute #8)

Prologue

SHAY

It’s been hours since I last saw Arin; he’s usually back from work by now, and lets me out of my room for the evening. I know the door is unlocked, but I don’t want to break Daddy’s rules and leave my room without permission.

So I wait–and wait for over a day.

When I wake up again, it’s nighttime, and now I’m really worried. He’s never been gone for so long without checking on me before. Where could he be? Fuck it, I’m leaving and looking for him. Maybe he’s just lost track of time, or punishing me for something I don’t remember doing wrong.

I climb out of bed and walk over to the door. My hand reaches out to the doorknob, but I pause. I never leave my room without explicit approval to do so, and I don’t feel comfortable walking around Daddy’s house without him around to guide me. I bite my lip and open the door anyway.

The hallway is dark, hollow, and empty, but the bathroom door is slightly open. A light is on in here, which is odd, but I walk over anyway. Maybe he forgot to turn it off before he left; that’s not like him. My footsteps are light and carefully placed on the carpet leading up to the bathroom.

I pause again before pushing the door open. I sense something is not right the very moment I stand in the doorway. Alarm bells are ringing in my head; the sense of danger surrounds me, but I ignore it and hesitantly walk in anyway.

At that very moment, I wish I hadn’t.

The man who has loved me, taken care of me, and taught me everything I know about who I am lies motionless on the floor. The color of his bluish skin almost matches the dress shirt he has on. I know immediately that he is dead. My own skin becomes clammy, and my body shakes uncontrollably.

What is happening? What am I going to do?

I approach his lifeless body, and it all seems like a bad dream.

This can’t be real. He’s left me all alone, and I don’t know what to do, who to call, or where I’m going to go now.

I look around in a panic, spot the medicine cabinet, and rush over to it.

Before opening the cabinet, I look into the mirror; into my eyes. They’re lifeless, just like Arin’s.

I have nothing left for me here, not without Arin by my side. We always promised one another that we’d be together forever. I only know of one way to keep my promise since he’s left me first.

Opening the cabinet, I spot a bottle of pills I’ve taken before.

They make me sleepy, and Arin has been the one to give them to me in small doses.

The bottle is half full; that should be enough.

I pour the remaining white pills into the palm of my hand and put them all in my mouth.

They taste bitter, but I wash them down with tap water.

I kneel beside Arin’s body and lay my head on his chest. He’s so cold; my tears are the only thing that warms my face. It doesn’t take long before my eyes grow so heavy that I cannot keep them open anymore. The world around me fades to black; my body floats, and I finally feel free.