16. POKED

ELIO

The phone rang in my hand, tipping it down in the early hours of the morning. I could not help but stare at my torn skin, the wound having clotted. This time I had taken it too far, I admitted to myself. A whole month raining nothing but hell. I shook my head, feeling more like a monster than a human. All that was left to shed my skin from my body so I could be the beast I truly was deep inside.

I was ashamed. If Lethu could see the man I was, she would see why I left. I stopped myself just as I was about to count the days without her. Everything was dark. All I felt was anger, hate, and pain.

“Speak,” I spoke into the phone, bloody eyes on the driver who was speeding through the dark empty road to my house.

The panic could be heard even before Lethu’s guard spoke up. I sat up in my seat, already knowing something was terribly wrong.

“Sir…”

I did not have time for such stupidity. I cut the call fast, moving to check surveillance in the house and yes, Lethu was not in her be