by LP Lovell
"No! They have to die."
"Shh, sweet Ella. Shh," Preston’s calming voice whispers by my ear. I glance over my shoulder and his blond hair glows like a halo of light as he smiles softly at me. He strokes my face and warmth seeps into my cold skin. His familiar scent wraps around me. He's safe. Preston is always the safe one. Safe. I choke on a sob and he pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. He feels like a cage that will keep all the monsters locked out. "It's okay."
"Ella," Tobias whispers, stepping closer. I flinch away from him.
"It's Tobias. You know Tobias," Preston says. I bury my cheek against his chest, peeking away from his embrace just enough to see Tobias staring at me.
"No. Three," I say, one word that has tears streaking down my face. I don't know who is who anymore, what is what. My world is warped and folding in on itself.
Tobias' jaw clenches and he closes his eyes, blowing out a breath. "This has gone too far..."
"You knew it would," Preston says. "Tobias, you had to have known it would."
"No one's ever made it this far." His eyes open in a flash of stormy green. "No one's ever been like her." I want to believe there's some hidden meaning behind that. That I'm special, but I'm just tainted. "Little lamb." Tobias moves closer to me and before I can try to escape, Preston thrusts me into his arms.
I tense and then relax. He smells like Tobias. He feels like Tobias. His warm breath blows across my face, the scent of expensive whisky trickling over my senses. I suddenly feel hot and itchy. I wrap my arms tightly around myself, raking my nails over my arms. Tobias' hands cover mine gently. "Stop."
"So dirty. Filthy and dirty," I snarl.
"Ella..." He grabs my face and stares deep into my eyes. I want Three's touch taken away. I want Preston and Tobias to brand my soul.
I grab at his dress pants, tearing the fly. "Take it away," I scream. "Make it go away. Take him away!"
Preston grabs me and closes his arms around my chest, pinning my arms to my side. He's going to kill me. I kick and I scream, I scratch to get him off. "Sweet, Ella," he says. "You must calm down now. You have to calm down."
"What did he give her?" I hear Tobias mumble.
Preston goes quiet. "Judging by the massacre and the hysteria, I’d say some kind of hallucinogenic."
"Fuck," Tobias shouts, his voice feeling as though it's slicing through my skin. "Get her clothes." He paces and drags his hands through his hair, and while he does, the dark strands turn to serpents, hissing and snapping. Screaming, I cover my eyes and then I feel the slightest pinch in my neck. A warm heat floods my veins and everything fades to a peaceful, tranquil black...
5
Tobias
"Three," I say with a growl. "What you did—"
Three laughs. "I found it rather amusing."
"She murdered four men. Four men."
Another laugh rustles over the line as I stare out the window of the car watching the cables of the Manhattan Bridge pass by in the dark of the night. "You care too much Tobias. Emotions are dangerous for men like us."
My anger spikes. Heat floods my cheeks as I stare at Ella, unconscious in my lap. Preston sits across from me, watching. "After tomorrow," I start.
"After tomorrow, none of this will matter. The game will be over and a new one will begin. As always."
I hang up the phone and exhale.
"Tobias, we don't have to do this. We can take her—you can take her and run."
I stare at Preston, at his dark eyes now drowning with worry. Fear. What has she done to us? I fear as we've stripped away her humanity, she's born it within us. "The game's not over, Preston. I do believe she may win."
"I know, but Tobias—"
"Enough." I grit my teeth and toss my head back against the seat as I try to wade through the thoughts swirling in my mind. Do I take her and run? I stare down at my little lamb covered in blood. She's sleeping so peaceful, although I'm sure her dreams are plagued with nightmares of Three. Of me and Preston—the monsters who lurk in the dark and will forever haunt her memory.
We've tainted her, but I can tell you, as I stare down at her perfect lips, her blonde hair tinged with blood, she has tainted me. This experiment of good versus evil, which truly does prevail? Is there always light to balance out the dark? And how can I ever live without her? Closing my eyes, I bring her hand to my mouth and gently kiss her scraped knuckles, the slight taste of blood slipping through my lips.
The car bumps over the cobblestone road before it slows to a stop. Preston glances from me to Ella and sighs. "I liked her, Tobias."
"She truly was perfect..." I say, throwing open the door. I step out and reach back inside, gathering her in my arms and carrying her up the stairwell. Preston steps in front of me at the top of the landing and places the key inside the lock. The door swings open to an immaculate living room, one with fresh, blue paint...
I take her through to the bedroom. Preston folds down the sheets and I lay her on the bed.
She looks so perfect and beautiful, her blonde waves splayed out around her face. Her blood red lips such a contrast to her fair skin. My Ella. My little lamb. Forever and always. No matter how this game will end. I will never forget her.
I gently stroke my fingers along her jaw and I find it so hard to let go. It's as though she is a magnet, always pulling me to her. There's a draw with her I've never experienced and, with each passing day, with each game she won—or survived—I piece of her was revealed to me that will forever be unmatched by another woman or man. And maybe, maybe this is love. As much love as a twisted soul like mine can manage. She is my light, the human side of a monster. And how do I let that go?
Love is such a strange emotion and now that I sit here, trying to talk myself out of leaving. Telling myself I should take her—save her and run, well, now I believe it may be the darkest of all creatures. For what is crueler than a possession you have no control over? What is more sinister than a craving you will never fill? Love is an emotion there is no death for. A sheep in wolf's clothing. And if that's not the most sadistic human emotion, I don't know what is. But I can't let myself cave for this. There is a game to play. A game to win...a person to kill.
"Sweet dreams, little lamb. I would love you if I could." I tenderly kiss her lips, sighing as I force myself from the bed and head to the door as Preston makes his way to her.
"You played so well, sweet Ella. You've come closer to winning than anyone else has."
The door to her bedroom closes behind us and we silently walk through the apartment, leaving the door unlocked when we go.
Goodnight, little lamb. Sleep tight.
* * *
END OF GAME SIX
Seven Days
Read the last instalment of Ella, Preston and Tobias’ story in Seven Days.