Death by Tara Brown

and continue to scroll and read. "Frig."
    Blake comes out, pulling a space camp shirt on. "Dude, why are you
here?"
    "We have a problem. I need your help."
    "So you brought Giselle with you?"
    "She's part of the problem." I slump back in the chair,
"Let's say I had an issue with sucking the life out of other people, what
would you say?"
    He grins, "That would be sweet. Just like Rogue on X-Men. Is it live
role play day?" He looks panicked for a moment and glances at his
calendar.
    I shake my head, "No. Giselle and me are having some issues. Her
with the mouth and me with the hands. She killed Mr. Mac after he tried to
attack her. She sucked his soul out of him. I almost killed Shane. I
think." The words don't feel as crazy as they sound. Like I know they're
true. Somehow.
    Blake stops rifling the calendar and frowns, "What?"
    Alise storms out of the bedroom at the back of the hall, "Oh my god
Aimes. You will stop at nothing to ruin our happiness. I get that he's more
your type but he said he's liked me for years." She crosses her arms and
glares at Giselle. "Why are you here?"
    Giselle leaps at her and grabs her face. Alise screams but her scream
fades as Giselle's sucking thing starts.
    The air changes as Giselle sucks from her. I jump in and grab her. I drag
her off and hold her to me. Alise coughs and chokes. Blake grabs her, scowling
at us.
"What the hell?"
    I sigh. Giselle turns back and growls. I sooth her, "Shhhhhh. Don't
do this. You'll regret it."
    She shivers, "She tastes nasty. Alise you taste sick."
    I laugh.
    Alise coughs again and shakes her head, "What the hell was that for
bitch?"
    I narrow my eyes, "Stop now. Neither of us has a hold on this."
I look at Blake, "You know me. You know I wouldn’t make this up."
    He nods and crosses his arms over himself, hugging. "Aimes, you need
to tell me everything."
    Alise gets up and staggers, "She tried to kill me and that’s all you
have to say. You're pathetic. You two are freaking crazy." She storms down
the hall.
    Blake tries to go after her but I shake my head, "She gets past
things quickly. This is important."
    He clears his throat, "Okay. Start at the beginning."
    I sigh and start where I think it started, with chocolate soymilk.
    By the time I finish the story his face is cold, he looks confused and
scared.
    "Do it one more time."
    I blink my eyes a few times and then shut the right eye. I wink my left
and think about the other side of the room and then I'm there.
    He takes a deep breath and nods once, "I believe you, but I'm having
a hard time with it all. The science doesn’t make sense. You two, why her? I
can see you becoming like this but her? What does she do for society that she
deserves a super power?"
    I laugh and look back at Giselle, who has fallen asleep on the couch.
    "She will look killer in the leather suit." My laugh is bitter.
My heart is breaking. I don’t know what to do and I know Shane is out there,
with those others.
    He nods, "Duly noted. Skintight shiny leather is definitely going to
be killer on her. So no oddly glowing space rocks or weird visits in the night
by strange men and you haven’t been to any test facilities?"
    "No."
    He grins, "Just checking."
    The air warms. The sensation is familiar.
    "There you are." The blond man smiles at me. Behind him is the
dark haired girl. She's with a redhead I've never seen before.
    "Blake, stay back. They're weird like us." I speak in a warning
tone.
    The redhead cocks her head at me and grins, "Aimee, we need you and
Giselle to come with us."
    "How do you know me?"
    She shakes her head, "Long story." She looks past me and waves,
"Hey Blake."
    I look back at him. He shakes his head, "This is awesome." He
almost chuckles. "It's like Doctor Who."
    "What are you?"
    The dark haired girl with the black eyes looks like she might cry,
"We're the Devil's Roses. We need you to come with us."
    I know that name, although I've never heard it before. I take a step
toward them and look back at Blake. "Make