Sold to the shadows

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

“I want you Em” his husky voice rasped as he backed me up against the wall.

My breath was ragged and adrenaline pumping thanks to the shots we took at the party. My lips parted, giving way to a heated kiss.

His darkened eyes swept my frame once he broke away from the kiss. Desire seeped out of him like a broken dam. Despite his gaze igniting something in me my stomach turned with unease.

“J-jake…” I said placing my shaky hands on his chest. “I think we should take it slow. We're both really drunk”

“I don't want us to do something that we'll both regret in the morning” I shifted my gaze to the floor

“You can't keep teasing me like this Em. I've dreamt about this for as long as I can remember” His eyes narrowed at me before he moved back slightly “Or isn't this something you want?”

I hesitated. Thinking about the pros and cons of having s*x with my best friend but I wasn't given a chance to answer as his lips crashed into mine once again stealing my breath.

His hands snaked around my waist pulling me roughly closer to him.

I've wanted this. For as long as I could remember this was all I wanted. For Jake to finally see me as more than a friend.

But I didn't want it like this. Not a drunk sloppy hookup session after a frat party. I wanted it to be special. I couldn't just have meaningless s*x with Jake when I was in love with him.

“Jake” I whispered through the kisses but he just seemed to press on harder. His breathing became more urgent, swallowing my protest, the kisses rough, bruising my lips. “Jake. Stop”

He reached for my wrist and squeezed tightly that it hurt before bringing my hand to feel the bulge in his pants.

He hummed as he rubbed my hand on his jeans. I thrashed under his hold but he was at least twice my size locking me in place.

“Jake!” I said this time much louder than before. “Jake. Please stop!” I yelled yanking my hand back as fear creeped in.

He suddenly froze like my voice finally reached him and took a few steps back. Horror and guilt washed over his face “Em” his cracked voice barely reaching me.

He raked his hands through his dirty blond hair and let out a shaky sigh. “f**k. Em I-I'm sorry” his voice tightened.

My feet were glued to the ground. Shocked and confused but mostly shocked at what had just happened.

He tried to move closer to me but I unconsciously moved farther into the wall. The hurt on his face was evident but I couldn't help but feel scared at the moment.

“It's fine Jake.” I lied through my teeth slipping the strap of my dress back on my shoulder “We just got ahead of ourselves”

“I-I need to use the bathroom” I blurted out as I bolted up the stairs before he could say another word.

I slammed the door behind me and sank to the floor. What the hell just happened? I tried to steady my drumming heart, my head was spinning not just from the alcohol but from the possibility of what would have happened if I he didn't stop.

I had never seen Jake like that. Ever. We practically grew up together and when my parents died… his family didn't hesitate to adopt me. He always did everything in his power to protect me.

I shook my head violently refusing to believe what happened. It was the alcohol. Yeah. Or maybe he did those weird pills they were passing around. Jake wouldn't do that to me.

A loud thud disrupted my spiraling thoughts and I stopped my pacing my breath hitching. I slowly walked to the door pressing my ears to hear but the house was dead silent.

Turning the handle slowly I stepped out and stalked downstairs. “Jake?” I called out and held my breath.

“Jake? Are you there?” I shouted again but I was greeted by silence. I reluctantly walked to the living room where I left him. Empty.

“Jake?” I scanned the area, my shallow breath enveloping the house. I shuffled to the kitchen but stopped halfway when I saw him.

I furrowed my brows as he was lying on the floor the dim lights restricted me from seeing clearly.

“Jake!” I screamed, rushing to his side. My knees hit the floor hard as I shook him. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, and my stomach twisted in horror. A kitchen knife was plunged into his chest crimson pooling beside him

I pressed trembling fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse. Faint. Barely there. Relief surged through me, but it was fleeting.

“Jake! Stay with me Jake” I cradled his head on my lap. I hesitated, then pulled out the knife placing my hand on the cut in a feeble attempt to stop the bleeding.

I needed to call for help. Someone. Anyone. My head shot up to the scream of a blond girl who I had no idea just entered the house. Jessie, Jake’s ex, standing in the doorway. Her face was pale, her blue eyes wide with shock.

“Pl-please help” I pleaded my voice barely above a whisper.

“What… what did you do to him?”

“Call 911! Now!” I snapped, she flinched at the urgency in my tone but shakily dialed.

I could hear her footsteps recede as she made the call. My mind was in a mess, he was loosing blood by the second and his pulse getting weaker. I applied pressure on the wound but it didn't get any better.

I checked his pulse again and a shiver ran down my spine. It was like the whole world had stopped at that moment. I couldn't feel a pulse. It was gone.

“No” I whispered I checked again. Nothing. “No, no no” the tears I'd been holding back till now finally broke free. “No Jake” I pulled him into an embrace “Y-you can't leave me too”

The wail of sirens broke through the chaos in my head. Moments later, officers burst into the house, their eyes sweeping the scene before landing on me. One of them had a frown on his face as he held his gun higher.

“Miss. You're under arrest for murder” he said as he walked toward me.

“What?” I choked out, struggling against the officer’s grip. “I didn’t… I didn’t kill him!” I looked around for Jessie but she was no where in site. The officer pulled me away from Jake's body and turned me around.

“Anything you say, or do will be...”

My mind zoned out. The cold steel of the handcuffs bit into my wrists. My best friend was gone, and now I was being framed for his murder.