ARIA’S POV

“I had taken a life.”

The blade sank into him before either of us had time to breathe. Hot liquid splattered across my face and chest, warm and shocking. I opened my eyes and saw him collapsing, his body folding in on itself as blood spread across the floor. My hands shook violently as I stared at the stain on his shirt. I had aimed for his side, but instead I drove the knife straight into his stomach. I had killed someone.

I tucked the knife deep into my shorts and moved ...