0 March Secret Agent #4

TITLE: Bitter Envy
GENRE: YA Urban Fantasy

I learned two rather disturbing things the night of my sweet-sixteen party. In a drunken display worthy of a frat boy, my father announced to the crowd that he named me Envy as his idea of a sick joke. I also discovered that I tortured and killed an innocent man…

My fingernails tear through the crumpled paper clenched in my fist, digging into my palm. Pain helps keep the tears at bay, for the moment at least. The sounds of the party are hollow in my ears as I stare into the dancing flames of the massive bonfire on the beach. My guests shriek and laugh while dancing around, utterly oblivious to my plight.

I turn away from the spirited group to walk up the coastline, still crinkling the offending note in my hand. Not one of the many partygoers follows me as I walk toward the pounding surf. The sand squishes beneath my toes and salty spray tickles at my face, stinging my eyes.

The cold water of the Pacific Ocean laps over my bare feet, leaving behind pieces of kelp entwined around my ankles. I don’t bother to kick the seaweed away. As more pieces wind around my lower legs, they feel like ropes binding me to this fate I never chose, would never wish on anyone.

When the noise from the raging party is a distant roar, I stop. Unfolding the note, I read the incriminating words again in the dim light of the full moon.