MORTUUS

CHAPTER EIGHT

There were tons of bruises all over my skin and I knew if I wasn't dead, I would wish I was, for the pain would be excruciating. The watercolor changed as it made contact with my skin, it wasn't a bright red and I expected it was way darker. I shook myself out of my thoughts and began cleaning myself, I doubted I had five minutes left. I had too many things to worry about.

“Done?”

“Yeah!” I said, my slender frame was already wrapped in a towel.

“Coming in!” He said and pushed open the door, he lifted me just like before and took me out of the bath. “I'll take care of your wet clothes, try to get dressed.”

With that he disappeared back into the bathroom, I knew I didn't have much time so I quickly got dressed. With shaky hands, I was able to put on some loose pants, a bra, and a loose top.

He knocked twice and waited for my reply before he stepped out of the bathroom with a trash bag. I didn't need a soothsayer to know that my bloodied clothes had been taken care of. Seeing that I was set, he held my hand and with my box in his other hand dragged both of us out of the room. I noticed I had become steadier.

“That took a while…” Jay's voice trailed as he caught sight of me. I didn't look at the mirror not before I had my bath and definitely not after. I didn't want to know how bad it really was.

“We are done now, all that's left is the letter. Raquel, do you think you can handle that?” Ray said as we stood at the end of the stairs.

“I could try,” but I knew it would take a miracle for me to do that. My fingers were numb. I had figured how numb when I tried to get dressed and the worst part is this was most likely how it would always be.

Jay tossed a pen at me but Ray caught it and handed it to me. I collected it but I could see my fingers shake. I held it like I was used to but the numbness was so weird and my brain was confused as to why I couldn't feel the pen between my fingers even though I could clearly see it.

Suddenly a sheet of paper appeared in front of me, Ray was holding it. I was startled for a few seconds because I didn't see him pull it out of anywhere. I took it, placed it on a nearby table, and tried to scribble on it. A child in kindergarten would have done better.

“This isn't going anywhere,” Jay said after the fourth sheet.

“Do you have a better idea?” Ray asked, I could tell he was equally frustrated.

“Sort of, I'm sure a text would work the exact same way that letter would.”

“Argh, I guess we have no choice. Usually, a handwritten letter is preferable to make this all seem like you really did leave on your own accord, not that you were kidn*pped or worse.” Ray took my hand once again, I hadn't even realized when he left it. “I guess our business here is done.”