Dead smelled close

Ashley POV

My eyes snapped open, the dull throb in my head intensifying as I struggled to move. A groan slipped from my lips, but my limbs refused to respond—numb, weak, useless. Darkness surrounded me, except for the faint slivers of moonlight creeping through the cracks in the wooden walls. The air was thick with the sound of night creatures, their melodic chatter blending with the distant howling wind. The floor beneath me was cold and unforgiving. This was no home. I didn't know where I was, but one thing was clear—I was in danger.

"Help!" I yelled, my voice hoarse and desperate. The door creaked open almost instantly, and three towering figures stepped inside. The dim lighting couldn't hide the sneers plastered on their faces.

"Shouldn't we get rid of her already?" One of them grumbled, shooting an impatient glance at the man standing in the center. He carried an air of authority—the leader.

"No." His voice was smooth but laced with cruel amusement as he crouched before me, his dark eyes scanning my broken form. "She's too perfect to die quickly. It should be slow and painful. But first, we wait for Madam." His long fingers traced my pale face, enjoying my helplessness. I turned away in disgust, but he gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"I love a challenge. It makes the fun last longer." His eyes carried coldness and something darker.

Before I could process his words, he yanked me from the floor and slammed me against the wall with brutal force. A sharp cry escaped me as pain splintered through my body. My vision blurred, but I had no time to recover. A fist connected with my face, snapping my head to the side. The metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth, and I spat, my breaths ragged and shallow.

Then, a voice cut through the air, sending a fresh wave of terror through me."Well, well." My entire body went rigid. That voice. No, it couldn't be…A figure stepped into the dim light, her presence commanding power and her eyes dripping with malice. As her face came into view, my blood ran cold.

"Samantha?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but the betrayal in my tone was deafening.

My sister. My own flesh and blood. The one I had protected my entire life."What's happening?" She smiled, but there was no warmth in it—only venom. 

"Wow. The mighty Ashley Camfrey... or sorry, youre back to Coyle.. reduced to nothing. Who would've thought? Did you believe you could take what was mine and walk away unscathed?" My heart pounded. 

"I didn't steal him. He came to me; he asked me out, and you gave your blessings. How did I—"

"Lies!" she spat, her voice slicing through me like a blade. "You seduced him! I found the hotel you met him in. And you stand here, playing innocent?" 

My breath hitched. She was wrong. Before the arranged marriage, Edward and I had met once—for business. Nothing more. But Samantha's mind was already poisoned.

"I gave him back to you. What more do you want?" My voice cracked, desperation creeping in. "I want nothing to do with him. With you. With any of this! Just let me go." She tilted her head mockingly. "Let you go?" A cruel chuckle escaped her lips. 

"You don't get it, do you? You are nothing, Ashley. A disgrace. A burden no one will miss." Her eyes darkened. "So why should you be allowed to live?" The weight of her words crashed down on me like a thousand bricks. This wasn't just punishment. This was an execution, and she was enjoying every bit of it.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. "You don't mean that."

"Oh, I do." She stepped closer, her voice soft but laced with ice. "You don't deserve to breathe." Terror clawed at my chest as her words solidified my fate. I pinched myself, praying this was just a nightmare, but the sharp sting confirmed the harsh reality. Her hand lifted. 

The signal.

The first kick landed in my ribs, stealing the air from my lungs. Another to my stomach. I curled into myself, but the blows kept coming. Kicks. Punches. Agony ripped through my body, spreading like wildfire. My sister watched, unmoved, as her order was carried out with ruthless precision. Darkness blurred the edges of my vision, pulling me deeper into oblivion. My body was broken, and my spirit shattered. Samantha crouched down, yanking my bloodied face up to meet hers. "In your next life, choose your birth wisely."

The men resumed their assault, determined to finish what they started. I lost all sense of time, my consciousness slipping in and out, the pain becoming distant, almost numb. My body was no longer my own—it belonged to the void. Through my fading vision, I caught sight of the moon. Its silver glow was the only comfort left in this cruel world. A final blow to my skull. Silence. Everything faded. The laughter. The pain. The betrayal. Nothing remained but darkness.