I trusted him.

I brought him into my house.

These were the only things running through my head as Beau walked towards me, his face stony.

I was being backed against the window.

Breathe, I had to remember to breathe, breathe, breathe.

In, out, but the out was too shaky and I couldn’t think I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t

“Annalise.”

I felt his warmth, the softness of his voice as he spoke, his breath and

I sucked in a gasp, stealing the air because

I needed to breathe.

He put a hand on the wall behind me, leaning in so close our noses were almost touching.

“Annalise.” He said again, my name like silk.

My name.

“You fascinate me.” He said to me. I smelled him, his wintery freshness and it was suffocating me.

I had to get out.

I tried to duck under his arm, but he caught me around the wrist.

And then he kissed me.

It was so sudden, so unexpected. My lips parted in surprise but as soon as I realized what he was doing I tried to force them shut.

His tongue was prying against mine and I bit it but he didn’t care, he was exploring me like no one had ever done before.

I wanted to cry, to scream, to yell.

But I couldn’t.

And it would kill me.

He stopped, finally, backing away and we both gasped for air.

“Annalise Catherine Valencia.” His words came out in a rasp. “I want you to know something.”

I stood there, my mind screaming but my voice silent.

“I don’t kiss my girls.”

My heart was racing.

I was so, so confused.

“You’re special.” He continued quietly. “You can’t talk. You can’t fight back.”

Beau reached into his suit jacket and pulled out something sleek and metallic.

A gun.

I collapsed on the floor, rushing to get away from him.

I knew my attempts were futile.

“I’ve never shot anyone before.” Beau told me in a matter-of-fact tone. “I usually hang my girls.”

I was hyperventilating at this point, silent tears running down my face.

“But I don’t want to watch you die like that. I want you to have it easy.”

He cocked the gun and pointed it at me.

The sound of death filled my ears.

I was in so much pain.

It was like nothing I had ever felt before and I was waiting just waiting for it to be over because why was I not dead yet and I could see Beau leaving he left the room he left me to soak in my own blood and

The pain

I was gasping and I was on fire and red red red

My vision was blackening at the edges and red in the middle and I was dying and

I closed my eyes and waited for the nothingness to take over me.