Page 27

27

DEATH

“In the shepherd's tales, darkness always devours. They never tell of how it cradles, how it crowns its lambs with stars.” ~ Anonymous

Alive. The word echoed in my mind like a deafening thunderclap, shattering the numbness that had consumed me since I’d learned of her supposed death. My body trembled with a mixture of relief and adrenaline as I frantically searched for her, desperate to see her, touch her, and devour her with my all-consuming hunger. The thought of losing her again tore through my soul like a blinding white-hot flame. But she was alive. She had come back for me, defying death itself to be by my side once more. A surge of fierce protectiveness and unwavering love flooded my being, propelling me forward with determination to go to her and never let her go again.

I rose slowly, thankful that this time I’d been aware of Sebastian talking to Dope and Kip, and I remembered the conversations. I squared my shoulders as I stood to my full height and Sebastian’s words returned to me. There was no way in hell I was sitting this one out. Sebastian would fuck everything up if I allowed him to take the lead with Xavier.

“Welcome back.” Dope reached into his computer bag and then tossed something at Kip. “I came prepared.” An ornery grin lit up his face right before he pulled on the skeleton mask I’d given him a year ago. Kip followed suit and situated his devil mask over his head and neck.

“My mother would fucking love this one,” he mumbled as he adjusted the eye holes.

I chuckled at his comment. “Let’s get going. I assume you have a rental car?”

Dope and Kip removed their masks, and Dope produced a car key. “I have the map and directions already brought up from Google. We should be able to make it in about an hour and a half, right before dusk, which will help us stay hidden.”

“I know part of the way since Ryan and I were there when we found Ella. I’ll let him know we’re leaving.” The mention of her name brought back the image of her limp and battered body in the middle of the dirt road. A feral rage reared its ugly head, and I swore I would get revenge on everyone responsible. In fact, it would be my pleasure.

The drive had taken a little longer than we’d anticipated due to the winding and bumpy road that climbed up the base of the mountain. The conversation had been mostly about how we wanted to approach the area. If Xavier was there, we should knock him out but not eliminate him …yet. I definitely wanted to play with my prey before I moved in for the kill.

I’d be surprised if the fucker was even there, but you never knew what someone unstable might do.

Dope parked the car on the side of the road behind a cluster of trees. When the sun set, it would be nearly impossible to see the vehicle, which would allow us to sneak up on Xavier unannounced.

We hurried through the woods until the replica of my childhood home came into view, and I removed my knife from the sheath on my calf. Careful not to step on the dead leaves that were scattered across the ground, we slipped our masks on and circled the house. It was eerily quiet as we split up and each took a side.

“Watch my back but let me handle it unless I call you in for help,” I said to Kip and Dope.

They nodded, understanding all too well that I could easily take out a number of grown men on my own. Bloodlust was a powerful tool when I needed it.

As I crept closer to the house, my heart quickened in anticipation. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, fueling my every move. The shadows of the late afternoon sun cloaked me like a shield. I could hear faint whispers on the other side, their hushed voices adding to the tension in the air as I approached the first guard stationed near the back entrance.

Peering through a dusty window, I caught a glimpse of movement inside. My grip tightened on the knife as I prepared to strike. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the door, and my body tensed, ready to attack. He strolled lazily outside, unaware of the danger lurking only steps away from him.

He never saw me coming.

I moved with swift precision, my blade slicing through the air before plunging into his unsuspecting flesh. A gurgled gasp escaped him as I watched the life drain from his eyes, and a twisted smile curled on my lips. The metallic scent of blood mingled with the crisp air, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine.

Three more guards remained, unaware of the fate that awaited them.

I ghosted through the semi-darkness, a silent predator stalking its prey. The second guard fell with a choked cry as my knife found its mark, carving a path of crimson across his throat. His body crumpled to the ground, a lifeless heap at my feet. I rolled him face down in the dirt in case the fucker had the audacity to take another breath.

The third guard put up more of a fight, his eyes widening in terror as he realized the danger he was in. But it was futile. I was fueled by my rage, unstoppable and merciless. With a savage ferocity, I overpowered him, relishing in the desperate struggles that drove my hunger for revenge even more. As he gurgled and clutched at his neck, I watched with detached interest.

“That’s for Ella, motherfucker. See you in hell,” I said quietly.

With a final shudder, he went limp and collapsed at my feet. Another one down.

Only one guard remained now, his breath ragged with fear as he witnessed the carnage around him.

I advanced towards him slowly, savoring the moment before delivering the last blow. His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as I struck without hesitation, ending his life with ruthless efficiency.

A soft bird call came from the back of the house, and I recognized it as Dope and Kip signaling that more men were approaching. Good, I hadn’t met my quota for the week, and I was ready. The thrill of the hunt was in full bloom, my entire being on edge, eager for more.

It was over in seconds. A swift blow to his head cracked his skull open like an egg, splattering blood everywhere. A rush of energy and the buzz of excitement surged through me, wild and untamed like a raging bull. The sweet taste of victory filled my mouth, and a sick smile spread across my lips as I watched him crumple to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Three more men came running towards me, their faces twisted into expressions of shock and fear as they witnessed the area littered with bodies. With a wicked grin, I signaled to Dope and Kip, who flanked the unsuspecting men in a well-coordinated move. It was like a dance—a deadly ballet of violence and death. One moment they were rushing towards us, the next they were pinned down by our merciless attacks.

My target turned to look at me. His eyes wide with fear as he realized he wasn’t going to walk away alive. He lunged at me with a desperate fervor, but I was too quick for him. With a swift motion, I slid my weapon between his ribs and into his heart. A satisfying crunch of bone reached my ears as I twisted my knife twice and then removed it.

“I think we’re all clear,” Kip said. “Once we got here, I only saw the original three, but they must have called for backup.”

I wiped the blood off my blade onto my pants, grinning.

“I’m going in. You two guard the door and fucking end anyone else that shows up.”

Kip grinned and rubbed his hands together. “It’s been a while, but it feels damn good to be back in the fight.”

I glanced at Dope, who was poised to attack again. “It’s a different high for sure,” he said, chuckling.

My skull throbbed as Sebastian weighed in on the situation, urging me to hurry. Even though he remembered the layout better than I did, and I needed it for our advantage, I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to hearing him talk in my head. He probably felt the same way, so I promised myself to give him a hell of a time with brutal ways to kill Xavier when it was my turn. The thought made me happy.

Go to the back of the house, there’s a door to the basement .

I would have to take Sebastian’s word for it. I didn’t remember the area very well or how to access the home. I crept around the corner, then spotted what appeared to be an entrance. Hopefully it would open without any noise, but I wasn’t holding my breath.

Spiders. Ella said they’re everywhere, so watch out.

“More things to kill,” I responded out loud to my other half.

A noise pulled my attention away, and Dope tipped his chin at me, signaling it was clear on his side. Seconds later, Kip appeared and gave the same signal.

We’d agreed that Dope and Kip would stand while I went down alone. There was no need to have them follow me into a spider’s den when I needed them to make sure we didn’t have any more surprise visitors.

As suspected, the door creaked open and the little remaining daylight spilled into the basement, illuminating the stairway that sloped downward. I scanned the area, waiting to see if anyone would appear, but it was deathly quiet. With my knife in my hand, I descended the steps one at a time. Finally, I’d reached a small hallway with a room to the right. Still not hearing any movement, I moved forward.

Sebastian’s thoughts entered my mind as I continued. Holy shit. This looks just like my childhood basement.

My cold, calculating eyes scanned the place, taking in the three lifeless figures slumped over a grimy kitchen table. The putrid odor should have made me recoil, but I was numb to such things after years of inflicting pain and terror upon my victims. I stomped through the kitchen, relishing in the crunch of spiders under my sturdy black combat boots. My gaze landed on a small glass cage that sat on the cement floor, hardly large enough for a small adult, and I knew Ella had been held captive in there.

In my mind, I could see Ella lying motionless, her porcelain skin marred with bruises and cuts. A surge of rage boiled within me as I squeezed my fists, the anger pulsating through my veins like a raging river. How dare they lay a finger on her—my sweet, little lamb.

A guttural growl erupted from deep within my chest as I surveyed the room, the knife clenched tightly in my hand, eager to slice through flesh and bone. The sound of a low moan caught my attention, and I turned, my attention narrowing at the figure on the floor.

“Help,” the voice pleaded weakly.

My grip on the weapon tightened as I cautiously approached, unsure of the intentions of this intruder. “Who are you?” I demanded.

“I live here. Please help me. I was attacked and my knees are busted. I can’t get up,” came the pitiful response, filled with desperation and pain.

“What’s your name?”

There was a long pause before he finally answered, his voice scratchy and whiny. “Xavier. And I’m guessing you’re Death.”

I strode over to him and knelt, the light from the kitchen glinting off my blade.

“You’ll be begging for death by the time I’m done with you. You’ll be praying to me in your final moments for forgiveness for what you’ve done to my Ella.” My words dripped with venom.

Xavier whimpered, fear evident in his trembling voice. “I’m not the one you truly want. It would benefit us both if you spared me.”

My lip curled in disgust at his pathetic attempt to bargain for his life. But as much as I wanted to end him right then and there, a small part of me wondered if he might have some information that could lead me closer to avenging Ella.

A sharp whistle sounded from outside, and I realized it was my warning signal. I hurried to the first stair and looked up to where Kip was waiting by the door. “We need to go. A car is driving up the dirt road.”

Without hesitation, I kicked some more spiders out of my way and walked back to Xavier. A large spider crawled down his leg, and I flicked it against the wall with the blade of my knife.

“It’s your lucky day, motherfucker. Someone is coming.” I sheathed my weapon, then knelt down and picked him up off the floor and slung him over my shoulder. “One word out of your mouth … nah, fuck that.” I swung to the left, and a hard, loud thunk from Xavier’s head meeting the wall made me smile. Now that he was unconscious, I wouldn’t have to deal with the bastard screaming for help like a little girl.

I rushed up the stairs and into the fresh evening air, where Dope and Kip were waiting for me. Kip closed the door, and Dope led us through the trees to the back of the house.

Men’s voices weren’t far behind us, and once we were out of sight, I stopped and watched as two men approached the basement.

“You know how he gets, man. He’s probably in bed with his new girl. What’s her name? Ellen? Something like that, but who cares?” One of them chuckled. “She’s fine as hell and I bet a good fuck.”

“Yeah, but it’s so much better when they’re trying to fight you off.”

He would be the first one I killed for that remark about Ella.

The men continued to talk as one of them opened the door.

“It’s him,” Dope whispered. “The one that went down the stairs first. He’s the guy that drove up to the house when Ella was taken. He wore dark sunglasses, but I recognized his voice from the video.”

Rage surged through me as I dumped Xavier on the ground and commanded my men to stay put. With fierce determination, I strode towards the entryway to the basement, my knife clenched tightly in my hand. This was more than business, it was fucking personal.

As I descended the stairs with deadly silence, a wicked grin spread across my face. “Well, well, well. Look who decided to join me tonight,” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice.

Startled, both of the men spun around to look at me with wide eyes.

“You’re … you’re Sebastian Fletcher,” one of them stammered, visibly trembling in front of me.

“You only wish it was him. And you are?” I asked with mock politeness. “I always like to know who my victims are before I torture them.”

The larger man spoke up, his voice shaking. “They call me Tiny Tim.”

I narrowed my eyes at the guy who had played a part in capturing Ella. “And you?”

Reaching behind me, I quickly withdrew my second knife. With a flick of my wrist, I flung the weapon at Tiny Tim. I hit my target and watched Tim weave, then collapse to the floor with the blade protruding from his neck. Blood poured from his wound as I grinned at his friend.

“I asked for your goddamn name,” I said again.

Horror twisted his friend’s face as he witnessed his buddy bleed to death on the floor next to his feet.

“John,” he said, his voice trembling.

“What the fuck is it with assholes named John?”

“I-I don’t know. It’s a common name.”

I stalked toward him, closing the gap between us. I towered over him and grabbed the back of his neck with my free hand.

“Who is Xavier to you?”

His tongue flicked over his cracked lips, a nervous tic before he spoke. “No one,” he stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. “My boss sent me to check in on him is all.”

“Who is your boss?” I demanded, my voice cold as ice while I towered over him. “And why did they send you to my home to kidnap Ella Fletcher?”

John’s entire body trembled, his eyes wide with fear as he struggled to form words. I tightened my grip on his arm, the coppery scent of blood filling my nostrils.

He pursed his lips tightly, and I knew in an instant what he was trying to hide. I pressed the weapon deeper into his flesh, drawing a thin line of blood along his neck.

“Are you willing to die for your boss?” I snarled, my fingers tightening around the handle of the knife.

“If I tell you, I’m a dead man anyway,” John choked out.

I laughed darkly, the sound echoing off the cold walls of the basement. “Who said you were going to die, motherfucker?”

With a steady hand and precise cuts, I sliced his right eyeball out of its socket, relishing in his agonized screaming that filled the room. The warm blood sprayed across my face, and I smiled, feeling a rush of exhilaration at the sight of it.

His eyeball fell to the floor, staring up at me.

“You’ll never look at my Ella again,” I said as I carved the left one out.

He went limp as I finished. I had wondered how long it would take him to pass out from the pain. I released him, and he dropped to the ground like a ton of bricks.

I strolled to the kitchen and located a Tupperware bowl with a lid. Then rummaged through the drawers until I found a soup spoon. Returning to John, I used the spoon and bowl to collect his eyeballs, then sealed them.

I grabbed the back of his shirt and proceeded to drag him as I left the basement and walked up the stairs, his body thumping along behind me. Once I was outside, I dropped him on the ground and signaled to Dope. He hurried over to me, and I handed him John’s eyes.

“A gift for Ella.”

Dope frowned, lifted the lid, and peered in. His face immediately turned grey as he resealed the container.

“That’s the man that dared lay eyes on my little lamb and helped them take her from me.” I pointed at the heap of the pathetic human. “Let’s take him along with Xavier. One of them will give me the answers I want.”

“Where do we need to take them?” Dope asked.

“California for now. While you and Kip handle their travel arrangements, I’m going to spend time with Ella and my kids. Then, I’ll be back for them.”

This was just the beginning of what I had planned for Xavier and anyone who dared cross me or harm the ones I loved.