Page 56 of His Eternal Claim

I’ll say sorry.

I’ll say sorry for everything.

Just please come and get me. Please.

Because…

Because the people with black eyes keep staring.

And I think, I think, one of them just smiled, and a scream tears from my throat.

“AH!”

“Selene? Oh my God, Selene, are you alright?”

“Who—who are you? Where am I?” When she raises her hand to touch my wrist, I swat it away. “Don’t touch me.”

“I’m your Mother, darling.”

“No, no, no, no…” I shake my head. “You’re not my Mother. She’s dead. My Mother is dead. She died. She said she’s ill. She said she will not come back. She won’t come back. I know she won’t—”

“Sedate her,” someone says. “She’s not in her senses.”

“She’s dead. She’s dead. She’s dead,” I repeat.

“I’m afraid not. If we give her any more of this, we’ll be repeating what happened four years ago.”

“Then, do something. ’Cause it’s annoying as hell.”

Four years.

What happened… four years ago? And why…

Why can I smell jasmine? And blood?

Air tears into my lungs.

I don’t recognize it.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” I slap her hand away so hard the crack echoes through the room.

My breathing becomes jagged. My skin crawls.

Her fingers are cold. Cold hands.

Dead hands.

Dead…

“It’s okay,” she whispers.

Why is she trembling?

I’m the one scared. I’m the one…

I’m shaking my head before I even realize I’m moving.

“No.” A whisper. It’s from me, I guess. I am whispering?