35 SAM
I don’t know how long I was out. All I know is that when I opened my eyes, I was alone again, but I could see the shadow of someone’s feet on the other side of the door.
The chair was still on its side, and a pool of blood surrounded me. There was so much blood that I wondered why the hell I wasn’t dead. When I looked around, my heart nearly stopped. This blood wasn’t just mine.
A body lay beside me. Eyes open. Empty as the night. Her freshly cut hair was scattered across the blood.
I had no strength to scream. No strength to get up. No strength to live. A tear slipped from my eye and fell into the pool of our blood.
The door burst open, and my heart no longer ached to be saved… it begged me to stop fighting. To just let go.
“Little sister.” Isis stepped through the doorway. “Don’t fall asleep yet. We have company.”
The giant dragged the girl out, leaving a trail of blood behind.
“Sorry about the mess.” Isis looked at me with tenderness.
Connor’s voice echoed through the building. He was shouting my name, and it only made the tears flow faster. I didn’t want him here. I just wanted it to be over.
“You know… Sam is a nice name. Our father said your mother wanted it to be Hazel, because of your eyes.” She laughed. “But her husband chose Sam to match his own name. Pathetic.”
“Why did you kill that girl?” I whispered weakly.
“Oh, that?” She crouched down to look into my eyes. “Don’t worry. It’s part of my final act. I always wanted to be in theater like my mother. I studied at a prestigious school on Broadway. I enjoy the theatrics.”
Isis stood and walked to the table, the sound of Connor’s calls growing more distant.
“I guess that wasn’t good enough for him. He wanted me to be… you.” She snarled, her expression unhinged. “I think I wanted that too…”
The giant entered the room again and set the chair upright.
“Come on… we’re not done yet. It’s showtime.”