Does It Hurt?

by H.D. Carlton

as autassassinophilia

Stop staring at me, fucker.

Cancer tastes like shit.

Uh what

“You’re American,” he notes. “Unfortunately,” is my answer.

I nearly choke on the blatant lie, and my mood plummets with the reminder that I only hurt people for a living.

DAMN ITS AKWAYS TBE ME

The bitch stole my goddamn identity.

Gotta do what u gotta do

“Uhm, who wouldn’t be?” “Me.” She frowns. “Okay, well you got me there.” “I’ll keep you safe,” I assure her. And it’s the truth. I will keep her safe from the sharks. Just not from me.

WE GET TI THE PART HEEHEBEB

The old man looks at Sawyer, and I can visibly see his eyes softening. Gun or not, I’m seconds away from shoving her farther behind me and telling the fucker to find something else to moon over. She may be a siren, but she’s mine to hurt just as much as she’s mine to protect.

world that don’t. “His name is Enzo. Sorry for his manners. He got bullied in school and hasn’t seen a therapist yet. We really appreciate your kindness.”

LMAO

“We’ll have our own rooms, right?” I ask. Enzo stops cleaning, looking up at the old man, also waiting for a response. “’Fraid not. Only one other room here.”

HAHA ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND ONE BED IM SPOILED

“Shark expert, huh? I s'pose you got to have a pair to get in the water with one o'them. You’ll like it here then. We get sharks on this beach all the time.” I pause, looking at him and echoing, “We?” “Sorry?” he asks, unsure of my point. “You said we get sharks,” I clarify, grabbing another fish. “Is there anyone else here?” “Well, you two are, ain't ya?” he grunts. “This'll be yer home for the next month or so.”

OH SHIT HE ON TO SMTH I DIDNT KNOW GHIS ALSO WAS THRILLER BYYYYY MG FAV

Stealing from me is the worst she’ll ever do to me, but I will do so much worse to her.

bugiarda.

“You got a problem with it? Don’t see yer name written anywhere on her,” Sylvester retorts. “I won’t just write it, I’ll carve it. Take your hand off her, or I will do it for you.”

AHHHHHH

can ya?” I blink. “Sounds like you’re talking about little boys. A man wouldn’t touch a woman without their consent,” I volley back. “Plus, a bathing suit isn’t an invitation to be violated.”

“You’re right,” he concedes, pausing a beat before saying, “and I’d do it again. I’m the only one allowed to touch you, bella ladra, and I’m the only one who will cause you pain. Capito?”

“It’s because it’s not good enough, Sawyer. You’re not good enough.”

EXCUSE YOU

“I… heart attack,” I gasp. “You’re not having a heart attack,” Enzo responds dryly. “Dying,” I wheeze. “Need the water police. Call 911.”

IM DHUNG

“Where did I touch you?” he questions, keeping his free hand safely on my outer thigh. His palm burns against my skin, but his mere presence radiates heat.

Yal im kn religion class this is awkward sorry jesus

“Why did you get to be God’s favorite?” He stares down at me with a savage expression. “You can ask him yourself when I take you to see him.”

DONT TALK ABOUT GOD RN HE LJT IS PLAYING A SONG ABT JESUS AND IM READING THIS IM CRACKING MYSELF UP BYE

“Oh God,” I cry, trying to keep my voice down but failing miserably. “Can you see him, baby? Ask him for forgiveness.”

OH MY GODDD THIS MAN

“Why?” I pant, another high-pitched moan nearly swallowing the word. “Because you worship me now.”

AMEN

“Does touching me make you feel even more disturbed than usual?” I ask, bitterness staining my words. “Now that you know my brother liked to touch me, too?”

“No more running, baby. I want him to come looking for you just so I can have the privilege of ending his life for touching what’s mine.”

God this man will be the death of me

When his eyes meet mine, my chest caves. There’s no emotion on his face, as if what we just did meant nothing.

WHATTTT

I asked him to hurt me, but it seems I’ve done a far better job of it.

WHY DID U DO THATTTTTTT BRO JUSY SAY U LOVEEACHOTHER SLRRRRR

I didn’t sleep last night after Sawyer left me on the beach. I don’t think she did either, but neither of us was willing to break the stilted silence.

Butch u did thesame thing

He shrugs again. “That’s ’cause you don’t like that she might actually choose me over you.”

HA BYE

“Is it hate?” she croaks, trembling beneath my touch. “I don’t hate you,” I say. Another kiss. “And you deserve to have a life. A real one.” Kiss. “Come back with me, bella.” Kiss. This one is salty from the single tear that has slipped from her eye.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, letting her see how genuine I am. Because I am sorry. I assaulted her, and we both know that. I imagine if my mother stuck around, she would’ve left me then if she knew I treated a woman like that.

When I’m within a foot of her, I drop to my knees, my blood heating when her lips part, an almost inaudible gasp slipping free. “I’m sorry, bella,” I start, keeping my voice low and serious while I look up at her, ensnaring her gaze within my own. She stands tall before me, her spine straight and shoulders back. “I’ve been punishing you for something you didn’t do—something beyond stealing an identity. I’ve been making you hurt because I’m hurt, but you’re not the one who broke me. And it was never my right to break you.”

Ahhhh

“Can you, like, not make me cry right now, please? I’m trying to look like a badass.”

“No,” she declares, but the corners of her mouth curl, and there’s a mischievous glint swirling in the depths of her irises. “I want you to kiss my favorite toe first.” I quirk a brow, and she lifts her left foot and points to her pinkie toe. “Kiss it, Enzo.”

BYEEEEEEE

Her mouth drops. “You are so sleeping on the floor tonight.” For her, I would.

“Did you hear the ghosts again last night?” I ask when another topic fizzles out. “Meh,” he harrumphs, waving a hand. “I’ve grown used to the noises by now. I sleep like a baby.” “It sounded like something was scratching at the floor above us,” I go on. “Like they were trying to claw their way out or something.” His gaze darkens for a moment. Despite how tolerant Sylvester is of the ghosts, he doesn’t like speaking of them. Maybe because the spirits

Bye yk what he probably has his family kidnapped it the attic thingy or those prisoners from earlier

Fuck, I love her.

“Tu sei mia,”

“È impossibile odiarti quando mi fai sentire così vivo,” I start, slipping two fingers past her lips and hooking them over her teeth, bringing her closer. “Ed è esattamente per questo che voglio odiarti. Prima di incontrare te ero un sonnambulo. Cazzo, non ero pronto a svegliarmi.”

Okay ima translate this future me how u feeling. OH MY GOD STOP IT RIGHT NOWWWWWWWW

“Ho sbagliato a dirti che eri debole. Sei così incredibilmente coraggiosa, vorrei che lo vedessi anche tu.”

“Ti penso ogni ora, ogni minuto, ogni dannato secondo. Non so che fare.”

OH MY GOD I COMBUSTED

“L’oceano era l’unico posto in cui mi sentivo a casa,”

“Era l’unica cosa che mi eccitava e dava pace. Hai rovinato anche questo. Sentirti su di me è meglio di immergersi nell’oceano. Neanche con questa rivelazione so che fare.”

“One day,” she pants. “I’m going to learn Italian, and I’ll know exactly what you said.”

“Whatever you thought I meant, you’re wrong,” he says, understanding that his earlier words hurt me. I blink. “You said—” “I know what the fuck I said, Sawyer.” “Then why did you say it?” I snap, the anger finally re-emerging.

Um. What’s going on… why the actual fuck is he acting like hoe I can’t ima throw my phone out my window stfu bye I can’t. Stop.

“I am… so sorry,” I choke out again, praying he can see the sincerity. Enzo inspects my face closely, picking apart every micro expression and likely searching for deception. “I know you are,” he murmurs. “But I still don’t want to forgive you.”

OH MY GOD THIS IS PISSING ME OFF THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE ENTIRE BOOK TO THE POINT ITS MOT FUN NO MORE LIKE THE FUCK

“Show me, bella,” he rasps. “Show me where you hurt so I know where to love you most.”

“Mostrami come amarti,”

“There’s a place in the ocean, so deep, where not a single point of light penetrates through it. And for so long, I’ve been trapped there, unable to breathe. When I met you, you lifted me out of that darkness, and it was the first time I came up for air. You’ve become my oxygen, bella ladra, and I can no longer breathe without you.”

Okay im dying rn

Then, he declares passionately, “I love you, and you will love me.” I’m convinced I’m dying, yet it’s the happiest I’ve ever been. “I do. I do love you,” I respond, almost on autopilot.

IM SCREAMING RN

“What’s wrong, bella?” “I killed him,” I whisper. Enzo jerks back in shock. “What?” I bite my lip, gathering the little courage I possess. “I killed Kevin,” I say again.

Babe as u should