Page 31 of Stone Temptation

“Back off, Luke! Just fucking back off!”

“No! You need to listen! You never listen! You…”

Silent tears rolled down my cheeks. “Leave me alone.”

“What do you say?” Snaky pressed. “Relinquish your protection. Let’s work together.”

“Go. Away.”

“What would Finn say?”

I took a step forward, forcing her to shimmy back. Her snakes wriggled and hissed, fearful of my deadly proximity.

“Don’t you ever say his name,” I warned.

“Be careful, Luke.” She held up her hands. “I mean no harm.”

“You’re a monster. You always mean harm.”

This vile creature got me thinking about my brother, stirring the pot of pain and forcing me into memories I tried locking away with flimsy bolts.

She licked her lips with two forked tongues. “Tasty grief. Tasty Luke.” Drool oozed down her chin. “Give in to me. Set yourself free. I’ll kill you quick. You won’t feel me feasting.”

Throat closing up, I tried keeping my cool.

Too late to save him.

Too late.

Too late.

Too late.

Mummy and daddy hate you!

“Give in to me, Luke. Give in to me.”

Her words were oral nightmares, my temples throbbing with each syllable.

“Go. Aw?—”

Ice and glass.

A room with many rectangular windows, my fist slamming, slamming, slamming.

Have to get out. Away from here, from poisonous cold.

The ice stretched above me endlessly, a vertical tunnel, so many windows embedded in the smooth surface.

“Must get out. Must get out.”

But another voice told to me stay, to stop these games. Resistance was futile. I would die down here. Slowly. Painfully.

Never.

Never.

Never.