Prologue
"Im sorry for your loss."
The southern accent lingered in her ear as she took a seat on the plane. She held her duffle bag close to her chest, trying to comfort herself. She was still numb. Not wanting to accept the bad news.
Her past was filled with travel and young laughs, and now it bothered her. The more she would look, the more she would see the fear in her friend's eyes, see the scars on her skin, and the loneliness buried deep down.
She had wanted to help, she wanted so badly to hold on, to keep in touch with her runaway companion. But, she was out of reach, even if they were running side by side, she could never keep the same speed.
She fell into her hands. The memories were beautiful, yet so heartbreaking. She didn't want to get lost in them anymore, but it was all she had left.
"Where is she?" Kitty asked, holding her phone close, hoping the man on the other line wouldn't go away.
"Bon Temps, Louisiana."
She didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Why there out of all places?
She had asked the man more questions, trying to get more information, but he wouldn't answer.
"We would like to talk to you in person, Miss."
It was the same answer over and over. She tried not to shout at him or throw the phone at the wall. But, she surprised herself when she held on, listening to the man telling her what to do and how to get to Bon Temps. She could feel the dark rage rise grow inside each time he called her friend a body.
When the phone call ended, she was already throwing stuff into her suitcase, not caring if she needed it or not.
When she arrived at the airport, she had jumped to the ticket booth, demanding for the next flight to Louisiana. When she held the ticket, she bunched it up her hand, gripping her memories close, and pushing the sadness further.
She looked out the window as the plane started to rise. The phone call had cut her deep, the low voice telling her that her friend had been murdered, and the way he spoke was like he was testing her to see if she would really come all the way to Louisiana. Nothing would've stopped her. She was going to get an answer no matter what.
She closed her eyes, placing her head on the cool glass, and wondered if there would be a funeral. If there was, it would only be the two of them. It had always been them and it still was.
She had promised her friend paradise every night. The excitement in her voice, the anticipation in her eyes, and it was all Kitty had ever wanted, was too keep that beauty in her friend alive.
They were always running, trying to find that one special place where it would be safe and never age. She cursed under her breath, upset that the promises were just sweet words that they were both hanging on. It was what kept them running.
After all these years, her friend had finally found it.
Death.
It was the closest thing she would ever get to paradise.
What did you get yourself into, Daphne? Kitty asked herself, wondering if the dangerous soul her friend had kept hidden, had finally caught up to her.
Just like the past had caught up to Kitty.
