Chapter 31 — Bad surprises
Nevaeh:
As soon as I walk through my front door, I frown. The foyer is empty. I look around the living room and kitchen, but Jez’ not there either. “Jez, I’m here; where are you?” I call out as I make my way back to the foyer, but there’s still no response.
She’s probably looking at her hair in the bathroom or something. I think to myself as I make my way up the stairs. Once I reach my room, I nearly jump out of my skin when I spot a figure on my bed. Unfortunately, it’s not Jez.
“Ponyboy, what are you doing here? Are you with Jez?” I ask nervously. What the hell is Ponyboy doing on my bed? Aaron tosses something around with his hands as he sits up from his seat. I look around in hopes that Jez is here, but she’s nowhere in sight. “Where’s Jez?” I ask firmly.
Ponyboy snickers in reply as he makes his way to me. Something about his expression makes me feel panicky. Without a thought, I take a step back. Something is not right. Even though I’ve never felt threatened by Ponyboy, I can’t help but be wary.
I’m about to ask him to leave when I notice the object he’s holding in his hand. It’s a cell phone, but not just any cell phone—it’s Jez’s cell phone. I recognize Jez’s pink Burn Book cover. Jez is a big fan of the movie Mean Girls.
My heart beats wildly as scenarios on how he got her phone run through my head. My bedroom door closes with a bang at that moment, making me jump with fear. To my shock, I find Henry blocking the door. My ears thrum as panic settles in. Smirking, Henry leans his shoulder on the door and narrows his eyes.
Palms sweating, I shift closer to the balcony door. My stomach churns, and my vision hazes with every careful step that I take.
“What are you doing?” I ask both boys. My voice quivers, but I try to keep calm.
Unfortunately, Aaron moves closer to the balcony, effectively blocking my path as he slides his hands into his pocket and sneers. “Hey, Heaven. Henry and I heard you were living alone, so we thought we’d keep you company tonight. We also heard what happened to your boyfriend. Looks like the Council might execute him for killing poor Travis.”
Brow furrowed, I look at both boys and search the room in hopes of finding a weapon to defend myself with if I need to. He knows about the Council, which means that he knows what Mikhail is. How is that possible? “How do you know about the Council and Mikhail?”
Ponyboy gives Henry a knowing snicker, then looks back at me. His lips are twisted into a smirk as he and Henry circle around me. “Oh, Heaven, you are so naïve. Who do you think set him up?”
Bile curdles in my throat at his blatant confession. Jaw tight, I look wildly around the room. I know that I’m not going to get out of this room unscathed, but I can’t let them see me panic.
“Why? Why would you do that?” I ask. I heard somewhere that the best way to survive a situation is to keep a cool head and keep the person who’s going to hurt you talking. It might be stupid, but I’m desperate.
“Well, little Nevaeh, we know this because your boyfriend has made someone very angry, and we’re here to make sure he suffers,” Henry replies gruffly as he takes a couple of steps closer.
I follow his movements as he continues to circle me. It’s only when their eyes begin to glow red and their hands become claws that I realize what kind of trouble I’m in.
“P-Ponyboy… please.” I stutter as I give him a beseeching plea. Swallowing hard, I look on helplessly as he gives me a sinister grin and begins to purposely walk toward me. “It’s okay, Heaven. We’ll make it quick for you.” He mutters.
I back up and bump into my dresser. “I don’t understand,” I mutter as I move my hand slowly behind me. There has to be something I can use to fight them off.
“What…What are you?” I ask.
Henry runs his claws down my arm menacingly, which makes me shudder with fear. “Aaron and I are hellhounds.” He answers. “We were charged by our boss to keep an eye on your boyfriend when he started school this year.”
Aaron chortles. “I have to say, Heave, I was shocked that you chose that mongrel to be your lover. Even though it pains me to have to hurt you now, I have no choice. You brought this on to yourself.”
His claws graze my neck threateningly as he and Henry prepare to attack. Just then, my hand encounters a solid object. It’s the crystal swan that Jez gave me for Christmas. Before Aaron can cut me with his claws, I grasp the swan tightly and slam it onto his head. Aaron cries out and stumbles back, which gives me the opportunity to run to the door. Before I can reach it, Henry grabs my hair and tries to pull me back, but I kick him in the shins. As quickly as I can, I open the door and run to the stairs.
I’m about to take my first step when I feel a sharp pain in my back. Crying out in agony, I miss a step and plummet down the stairs hard. My body is jolted as the sharp edges of the steps dig into my sensitive skin until my body lands at the bottom. Blood glides down my face, and there’s an agonizing burning sensation running down my back. Biting my lip, I try to rise but stumble. I look back and nearly cry when I see that my leg is twisted at an odd angle. Nausea gathers in my stomach as the pain heightens, but I don’t give up. Somehow, I manage to drag myself to the living room, my broken leg dragging behind me. I spot my purse is lying on the coffee table and slowly claw my way forward. My vision hazes as blood pools into my eyes, blinding me. But I have to get to my cell phone. I need to call someone.
Hope turns to despair when I realize that there’s no one to call. Mikhail has been arrested, and Azazel and Alex are at the Council. I can’t even call the boys because I don’t know their numbers.
Body weak, I try to reach for my purse, but I stop when I hear a maniacal laugh. My blood freezes in my veins as Henry makes his way down the stairs. I blink my eyes and wipe at the blood pouring down my face as he moves closer. I try to crawl away, but it hurts too much.
Groaning painfully, I look up and see that Aaron is standing at the top of the stairs holding my tablet in one of his hands. “Hold on, man, let’s make a video.” He calls out to Henry. “I’m sure Heaven’s little boyfriend will enjoy it.”
Crying out, I scuttle from his grasp, but Henry steps on my other ankle, pinning me down. I close my eyes as my vision wavers with agony. Uncaring of my cries, Aaron kneels in front of my face and points the table in front of me. “Smile for the camera, Heaven.”
I lift my eyes and cover my face trying to avoid the tablet, but Aaron grips my hair in a fist and pulls my head back. “I said, smile for the camera!”
Pushing away from his grip, I grit my teeth as tears of desperation rain down my face. The hair on my head rips from my scalp with every tug, and a scream lodged in my throat. Henry’s claws dig into my leg as he drags me across the floor. “No…” I whimper weakly as agony spikes like lava through every nerve in my body. Making one last-ditch effort, I stretch out my arms to get ahold of something, but it’s a weak effort. Ignoring my pleas, Henry drags me to the kitchen while Aaron records my struggles. My tears mix with my blood as the darkness threatens to drag me down an unconscious abyss.
Henry’s laughter resounds around the room with every weak strike of my fists. It’s only when I manage to hit his face that his laughter dies down. “Look at what you did to me, you little bitch.” He pulls back his fist and punches me in the face.
My ears ring, and as oblivion begins to take over, but Henry won’t let me pass out. No, he has other plans for me. Plans that involve more pain. “WAKE UP!” He yells.
I shake my head, trying to clear the dizzying pain, but I’m too weak to keep my eyes open after such a beating. Henry slaps my face over and over, making my teeth chatter before he leans near my insentient form and calls out. “Hey, pretty boy. How do you like your girlfriend now? Too bad, I had to mess up her pretty face. Oh, well.” He says before he raises a clawed hand and stabs me in the stomach. My body contorts in shock as I scream in pain.
Smirking manically, Henry raises his bloody clawed hand and licks the tips. I can taste the blood in my mouth as I take my last breath. My last thought before death takes me is how I wish I could have seen Mikhail one last time.