Page 49 of Kill Me

I try to open my eyes. I see flickers of the kerosene lamps, but the light hurts to see.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before trying again.

This time I see the shadow of a person.

“Ssshh, Quinn. It’s okay, just rest. I’ve got you.” A soft female voice meets my ears, the sound of them moving closer and lifting my head before they sit down. I feel fingers stroke my back as they place my head on their lap. Fingers run through my hair, a soft humming soothing me back to sleep.

Mummy?

“Thirsty.” My voice croaks.

“Here.” She lifts my head up enough to put a cup to my mouth. The cold liquid feels like bliss as it swirls around my tongue before I swallow it. I take another mouthful.

“Be careful, you don’t want to make yourself sick. Go back to sleep, Quinn. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I hear her place the cup back down, pulling me back into my previous position, the sounds all meshing into one.

“Mummy?” I ask. As if in my wildest dreams my mum could come back to save me.

“No, Quinn. It’s Rhiannon. It’s just us here. You’re safe.”

“Why doesn’t she love me?” I whimper as she continues to stroke my hair. “Why am I never enough for anyone?”

“You are enough. You’re more than anything your mother could ever dream of being. And one day you’ll be enough for the right man, Quinn. Everything you’ve been through will make it all the more sweeter. As for the rest of them, they didn’t deserve you in the first place. The lifetime of pain you’ve suffered will be a glimpse in the rear view one day, and people will be lucky to be in your life.”

“Magpie…” I mutter.

“What was that?” she asks.

I contemplate her thoughts as my brain whirs around in my head, the cogs turning, looking for the perfect reply. But before I can open my mouth to respond, black crashes over me.

Chapter Thirty-One

Harley - Present Day

Don’t worry, Little Magpie, I’m here.”

Nothing on this entire planet could have prepared me for the feelings I felt when I finally saw Quinn and the scene that was set before me.

Nothing could have prepared me for the moment it hit me that I was too late to save her from the ECT therapy.

Nothing could ever have prepared me for the devastation I felt when I heard her whimper the word ‘Mummy’ in her most vulnerable moment, knowing that that monster of a woman was never coming back to get her. She didn’t care enough.

But the moment that obliterated my entire soul? Was hearing the word ‘magpie’ come from her lips before she passed out again.

I drop down to my knees in front of the makeshift bed she lies on, her head on the lap of a girl I’ve never met. Shadows dance across her face from the limited light in the room.

“Who are you?” I ask, my tone steadfast despite the emotions racing through my veins. X stands behind me with Ted at his side. I turn to look at him in an attempt to hide the fact I’m blinking away my tears.

“I’m Rhiannon. We’re… Friends.”

“Hi, Rhiannon. A friend of Quinn’s is a friend of ours. I’m Harley. This is X. And this,” I gesture to Ted to come and join me, “is Ted.” He pants by the side of me, and Rhiannon picks up the cup of water and puts it in front of him.

“Here, boy, have a drink,” she says. “You can’t be here. If Richard or Darla see you, there will be consequences. They’re watching. How did you even get in here? There’s an electric fence?”

I look over my shoulder at X, but his vision is transfixed on Rhiannon. Not the time to let your dick lead, bud.

Ted finishes his drink and walks towards Quinn. His tongue laps at her face as if he’s trying to wake her.