Love Drained, Life Reclaimed

left Ava weaker each time. Her vision blurred, and a constant chill settled deep in her bones

her head. Thirty-fiv

brighten. The tired lines on their faces softened, and a healthier co

and her heart beat with a slow, weak rhythm.

ng sensation stopped. The room swam before

barely a whisper. "Please, stop.

tching her with detached

e yet," Britta

e could feel it, a deep, primal certainty in what was left

pread across her face. It was a completely different smile f

point," she

t her lungs. All the justifications, all the sacrifices, all

was never about family tradi

he darkness, several more men emerged. They were rough-looking, their eyes fixed on Ava'

is wasn't a ritual. It was an execution. And t

st of strength. She thrashed in the chair,

" she screamed,

at her skin. She felt a sharp, searing pain as the skin broke, and warm blood bega

aze to Brittany. "This is murder! The police will find o

ghed, a shor

on't worry, Ava. When they find your body, it will just look like a tragic ac

al whisper. "Besides, who do you think helped us arrange a

he web was bigger and d

a gift on her birthday, a beautiful scarf. "I'm so glad you're my sister," Brittany had said, hugging her. She remem

isterly affection. It was all a lie. A carefully constructe

needle in her chest and the ropes on her wrists. It hollowe

fool who wanted a family so badly she h