LOGINDr. Novak stopped beside the bed, his attention sharpening as he looked at me. Luca remained near the window, one hand inside his jacket, watching without interrupting. “Who is she?” Novak asked. “Celeste,” I answered, glancing at the treatment papers in Dr. Kovač’s hand. “She heard cancer and decided death was easier. Schedule the treatment before she finds another way to refuse.”Novak moved closer and lowered himself into the chair beside the bed. “If she is Celeste, who am I speaking to now?” His voice was calm, but his fingers tightened around the tablet in his hand. “How long have you been aware of her? Do you remember what happened before the crash?” I studied him without answering. The questions were coming too quickly, each one searching for a name I had no intention of giving him.“Enough.” Dr. Kovač took the tablet from Novak’s hands and pointed toward the door. “She has survived a shooting, surgery, heavy medication and a car crash. We confirmed her cancer less than an
“Are you saying I have cancer?” My voice camw out later than I intended. Dr. Kovač closed his eyes briefly. It was barely a second, but I saw it, pity. “I’m saying the blood work gave us cause for concern.”“That isn’t what Dr. Novak said.”The younger doctor shifted beside him. “I said the markers could indicate malignancy. They can also be elevated for other reasons.”My eyes moved between them. “Then why do both of you look as though you’re preparing to bury me?”Luca rose from his chair.“Watch how you speak to her.”Dr. Kovač glanced at him. “Mr. Romano, sit down.”He didn’t. Men like him probably considered chairs optional when they could stand over everyone instead.I turned back to the doctors. “What did you find?”Dr. Kovač placed the folder on his lap.“The scans we performed after the accident revealed a mass in your chest, behind your breastbone. We also found several enlarged lymph nodes.”My fingers moved towards the centre of my chest.There was nothing there. No pain.
I looked at the nurse whose eyes were darting from left to right. She didn't answer the question, as if confused on what to say. I frowned. "Are you new?"The nurse sighed, tucking a strand of her brunette hair behind her ear. "Is it obvious? It's my second week and I'm supposed to call the doctor and your question kinda threw me off. Please don't report me."“Hmm, is it that you don't want to tell me or…”“I just don't think it's something you should hear now. Emotional distress. Mental health…”I gave her a look she bit her lips, still standing there rather than doing the obvious.I tried to adjust my position in the bed, pushing myself up slightly with my good arm. Pain exploded through my left shoulder. I grunted, collapsing back against the pillows."Don't move," the nurse said quickly, moving closer. "You'll tear the stitches."I breathed through the pain, waiting for it to settle from screaming to just aching. My right hand moved instinctively to my throat, seeking comfort in.
“Mom.”My voice came out small. Like I was five again.She smiled.Oh, my baby.I ran to her.Or maybe I didn’t move at all one second she was far, the next she was right there, holding my face, her thumbs brushing away my tears.“I missed you,” I sobbed.“I know.”"I'm sorry," I said, or tried to say. "I'm so sorry I left you. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry I chose him over you and you died alone and I should have stayed I should have—"Shh. Her fingers moved through my hair, gentle, the way she used to do when I was small and frightened of thunderstorms. 'It wasn't your fault.'"It was. I left. I chose—"'You were sixteen. You were a child who wanted to be wanted.' She pulled me closer, cradling my head against her shoulder the way she had when I was small. 'I never blamed you, Celeste. Not for a moment. Not even at the end.'"But Liora said—"'Liora was fourteen and terrified and needed someone to blame.' Her hand kept moving through my hair, weaving patterns I remembered from
The second bullet punched through the windshield.My ears rang before I even understood what had happened.The driver's head snapped forward, and something warm sprayed across my face, my chest, the windshield.Blood.So much blood.“Oh my God—”The car swerved violently. My lips trembled in fear, anxiety creeping through my body. Oh God. Oh God oh God oh God.“Don’t look at him.” Dante’s voice cut through my mind. “Celeste, don’t you dare look at him.”“I already did,” I whispered, my hands shaking as I wiped my face, only smearing more of it. “Dante—he’s—he’s—”“Dead.” Flat. “I need you to listen to me.” Dante's voice cut through the ringing in my ears. He was still pressed against me, his body shielding mine, but his hand shot forward to grab the wheel. "Take it!""What?""The wheel! Now!"He's insane. He's completely insane."I can't drive!" The words came out as a shriek. “Dante, I can’t–”"You don't need to drive!" He shoved the dead driver's body aside—don't look at the body
The car door closed behind me making me flinch. It sounded like a door closing against whatever silver lining I amy have had. But knowing my luck, I doubt there would ever be a silver lining. The leather seats of the car was thick, but cool against my skin. With tinted windows up and the faint smell of expensive cologne and gun oil, maybe, or just the scent of the gun. Or maybe my brain is bringing that smell to my nose because of the gun I sighted in the cup holster. Dante slid in beside me, and the driver pulled away from the convent without a word.I watched Sacred Mercy disappear through the rear window. Six years of my life reduced to a shrinking stone building in the distance, getting smaller and smaller until it was just another part of Prague's ancient skyline.Gone."Last chance to run, little nun."Dante's voice pulled my attention back to the interior of the car. He was watching me with that same unreadable expression, one arm stretched along the back of the seat, finge
I'd barely made it back to my cell when footsteps echoed in the corridor."Sister Celeste?" Two junior nuns stood in my doorway, their faces carefully blank. "Mother Superior has requested your presence. Immediately."My stomach dropped."Now?" My voice came out too thin."Now."They flanked me as
When I arrived at Sacred Mercy, Margaret had been my only friend. She was the only one who dared to speak to me.No one wanted to be associated with a girl who was found at a bridge about to end her life.They believed I was a demon.A demon of despair.A lot of prayers were done on me, but even be
Celeste's POVI have always wondered…where would I be if I died? Would I be with the devil? In his arms suffering or would I be in heaven with mama and Jesus?Does heaven even…exists?I bit my lips, my teeth grazing the soft flesh. The thoughts of evil were here once again. The thought of doubt a
CONTENT WARNING: 18+This story contains dark themes including: sexual trafficking, dubious consent, drug use, BDSM, violence, religious trauma, abuse, and morally gray characters. The relationship begins with coercion and power imbalance.Reader discretion advised.****Father was going to kill me







