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“Okay… What do you want?”

“I know youkilled him.”

Ugh, goddamnit.Kill him too,my subconscious whispers.

“I haven’t seen Randy in over a year, not since Dennis went missing,” I contest.

“Yeah, ‘missing’,” he says, making air quotes with his fingers.

“What the heck does that mean?”

“You can read between the lines, bitch.”Okay…rude. Maybe I will kill him.“Randy gave me the heads up you called him, in case he went‘missing’like your parents did.” Again with the air quotes. Is this man stuck in prepubescence? What’s with the juvenile sarcastic gestures?

I still can’t see his face from beneath the dark hood, but as he advances on me, I realize it’s because he’s wearing a ski mask as well. I back away slowly, but he rushes me. Grabbing my upper arms, and roughly pushing me up against a tree. The back of my head ricochets off a solid trunk of pine, knocking my mask askew. His hot breath wafts into my face, as his volatile voice invades my ears, “What will you offer me to stay silent?” His fingers trail up the exposed skin of my thigh, and I bat them away.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I bark, jerking my arms free and attempting to shove him away. He staggers, only backing off slightly. I slide my mask up so it rests tight against my forehead. Fuck this man. For touching me, for trying to scare me, and for trying to extort shit from me.

“Don’t be like that. You’re a pretty little thing, I’m sure we could reach some sort of understanding so you don’t get the death penalty, or worse…”

Worse? What does he consider worse than death? Histhreat hangs heavy between us, and my stomach lurches. I’m positive I don’t want to find out the hidden meaning in his words.

“What do you want?” I snarl. “Money? Sex? My fucking kidney?” I’m so fucking sick and tired of being taken advantage of, being pushed around, and forced into shit I don't want to be a part of.

“I’ll take some hush money, you stupid slut.” A spark flits to life in my chest as my fear morphs to rage. I’m not a slut, and fuck him for calling me one. I was forced into that shit—if I resisted I was beaten until I complied. “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole. I know how many dicks you’ve had in your mouth. I was always with Dennis, and he offered your holes to just about everyone he came across. Promising your virginity to the highest bidder.” This isn’t new information to me, Dennis dangled that threat over my head constantly. Reminding me that blowjobs are better than being bound and taken against my will.

“Kill him,” my insides purr, the sinister idea moving through me like warm maple syrup.“No one will miss the piece of shit.”She’s probably right.

I feel nothing as I stand here contemplating ending his life. The only thing I’m focused on is the rage burning through me like a wildfire, consuming me until I’m nothing but a vessel for my sinister urges.

“No one will notice you covered in blood.”my mind whispers.“Lure him towards the fake pile of corpses, and leave him there. By the time anyone finds him it will be November. Maybe the animals will drag him away, and we won’t even have to worry about it.”

I can’t deny that she’s right, again. It seems as though my darkness has thought of everything. All I have to do is enjoy myself, and she will take care of the rest.

“It’s not like I have cash on me at the moment, asshole. Where would I put it?” I finally reply to him.

“I guess we’ll be seeing each other again real soon then, hey?” He turns away, piquing my curiosity. That’s it? He takes two steps, then turns back slightly, speaking over his shoulder to me. “Sure hope I don’t run into your boyfriend on the way out of here. He stands out like a sore thumb with that crown on his head.”

Suddenly, the music cuts off, and Nox’s voice breaks the silence. “I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight. I know it would have meant a great deal to my Uncle Oscar.”

A sick gleam twinkles in this man’s eye. As if the timing of this couldn’t have worked out any better for him.

“You wouldn’t,” I growl. Lennox’s voice carries on, and I’m pissed this piece of shit is preventing me from standing at his side, offering the emotional support he undoubtedly needs.

“Better give me a reason to stay quiet then, hmmm?” Ugh, I fucking hate this man, and I don’t even know him.

“What do you suggest?”

His slimy gaze rakes over my body, and I feel disgusting. A flicker of something evil darkens his eyes beneath the moonlight, and I know where this interaction is going without needing him to say anything else.

“Maybe I will take a moment to see what all the fuss about your mouth is.”

“You’re repulsive,” I spit.

“Sticks and stones, slut. You’re still going to suck my cock.”

The fuck I am.

He grabs me by the bicep again, dragging me further into the woods. I let him. I don’t need my screaming and fighting attracting any unwanted attention during this pivotal moment for Nox. “Over there,” I say, pointing to an area where the trees are thicker, and any sounds will be drowned out by the speaker nearby. He huffs, manhandling me over to where I directed, the fake pile of corpses conveniently close by.