Page 2

TWO

JORDAN

A drenaline pumped through my veins, blood coating my knuckles. The sorry son of a bitch sat beneath my weight on the dirty bathroom floor, his eyes panicked as they peered into mine frantically. If he thought that sad little look would deter me, he was sorely mistaken. I got off from his fear alone, he was only stoking the beast lurking beneath my skin.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” I growled, grasping the front of his wifebeater in my fingers. “Why did he send you to spy on me?”

He shook his head back and forth ferociously. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Jordan, I swear. ” A pathetic sob got lodged in his throat, making his words come out choked. “I just had to go to the bathroom. When I saw it was you in here, I hesitated. That’s all. You have to believe me.”

My, my, he was very convincing. Unfortunately for him, he’d have to do a lot better than that. I’d just finished washing my hands when I spotted him poking his head around the corner, staring me down like he was trying to get a read on me or some shit.

I inhaled deeply, his fear so potent that I could fucking taste it. Exhilaration pumped through my veins, bringing forth a high that I’d been refused for too long. He had to be spying on me for Dr. Theodore, right? He couldn’t possibly be telling me the truth.

It was hard to tell.

I’d been diagnosed with Delusional Disorder and Psychosis, so it wasn’t always easy to separate reality from the inner workings of my mind. The medication they gave me made me sick. It turned me into a zombie, to the point of not being able to shower myself properly. So, I simply just didn’t take it. They knew better than to question me most of the time.

Tyler’s nasally voice sliced through my thoughts. “ Please . Just let me go. I’ll stay out of your way, I promise.” His mouth was busted, blood trickling down his chin. My lips twitched in amusement. Seven would go crazy if he were here right now.

Sighing, I eased up.

You’re just being paranoid. Let the poor kid go.

Quit being a fuck-up.

He just had to use the bathroom. You’re scaring him.

If you kill him, you’ll really have to deal with Dr. Theodore then.

Swiping my hands through my blonde hair, I shook my head, trying to force the unwanted thoughts away. They were right, though. Dr. Theodore turned a blind eye to a lot of things, but murder wasn’t one of them.

I rose, staring down at the wimpy looking kid still sprawled out on the nasty tile. Hope flashed within his almond-colored eyes.

“Get the fuck out of here,” I growled. “And if you utter a word of this to anyone, I’ll finish the fucking job.” I narrowed my eyes at him for emphasis.

He nodded frantically and stumbled to his feet. “I won’t say anything, you have my word.”

His word didn’t mean shit to me, but before I could tell him as much, he was already bolting out of the room. Blood seeped into the floor and my lip curled. That was a mess that would be difficult to clean. Then again, why bother? Fights broke out here all the time. If there was no body to go with it, then they’d just figure that was all it was.

Glancing down at my white T-shirt, a sigh fluttered past my lips. Blood stained my collar, chest, and stomach. I peeled the shirt from my body, letting it fall to the floor. My tatted torso was on full display, the mirror shining my reflection back at me. I was sixteen when I got my first tattoo. It had been a Pentacle my friend’s dad had done. He owned a tattoo shop back in my hometown and was exceptionally talented. It was located on my bicep. My mom had been horrified when she saw it, demanding to know who had the audacity to tattoo her son in the first place, let alone something as demonic as a pentacle.

A small smile graced my lips but was soon wiped clean off as pain laced through my chest. I shoved my sweats down my legs, followed by my boxers and made my way over to one of the many shower stalls that adorned this place. Reaching inside, I turned on the water. I’d already prepared for a shower before that asshole had interrupted my quiet time. My clothes were placed on a bench only a few feet away. I suppose that if there ever was a good time to get drenched in blood, it was now.

Once the temperature was to my liking, I stepped beneath the hot spray. The liquid pelted my skin, washing the blood from my hands and wrists down the drain.

My breath hitched as memories resurfaced, reminding me why I was even here in the first place. I’d done some fucked up things during my episodes. Things that could never be undone again. I think what triggered them in the first place was witnessing my father kill my mom in cold blood. I’d never encountered an episode prior to that event. I was sent to live with my step-Aunt and Uncle. It seemed like the perfect arrangement. Their son—my half-cousin, was away at college and they had a spare room. Plus, they were lonely. I still remembered everything that had happened the night it all went wrong…

My head spun, voices caressing my mind, telling me things that weren’t right. A part of me knew that they weren’t right, but my head steered all of my actions. It was like I was in a daze. The other part of me felt like it was right, too. A complete tug of war within my mind.

‘They want to hurt you.’

‘They only took you in to make themselves look better.’

‘They don’t love you.’

Rage filled every crevice of my body, and I jerked to my feet. Uncle Baron was still watching the game as he had been half an hour ago. He kept the TV up, the sound traveling up the steps and bleeding into my bedroom. Aunt Lucille was tucked away in bed as she usually was this time of night. She was eight months pregnant with a little girl she planned to name Valerie.

My lips curved into a malicious smile, heat spreading through my limbs as a wicked idea sprang to mind.

I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen. The voices grew louder with every step I took. They demanded vengeance. My legs moved me in the direction of the medicine drawer located near the back of the room. Uncle Baron had a variety of different pills he took for his injured back, which worked well in my favor tonight. Taking two capsules out of one of the bottles, I laid them on the marbled countertop. Turning to the cup cabinet, I retrieved a glass and then moved onto the fridge to grab a beer. The two of us had watched the game together while sharing a beer on countless occasions—he always told me not to tell Lucille, and I never did. It wouldn’t strike him as odd if I offered him a drink now. Especially under the guise of wanting to relax in front of the TV.

Twisting the cap off, I poured the liquid into the glass and then pulled the capsules apart, sprinkling the powder in after it. I swirled the drink around a few times before grabbing a beer for myself and slowly made my way into the living room.

When I approached, the corners of his eyes crinkled with that familiar smile of his.

“Thirsty?” I grinned, offering him the cup.

His smile widened and he accepted it graciously before scooting over to make room for me. I sank down beside him, bringing the beverage to my lips. The liquid slithered down my throat with ease.

We sat like this for a while. Comfortable silence stretched between us as he watched the game, and I watched him. Every now and then, his eyes would blaze with triumph when the team he was rooting for scored. Toward the end of the game, his lids started hooding, shadowing over his cheekbones.

“You seem tired,” I acknowledged. “Are you about ready for bed?”

His eyes met mine in a delayed sweep. “The game’s almost over. I’m sure I can wait it out long enough.”

I shrugged, not caring either way. Though, it would be much easier if I could haul him from the bed rather than up the stairs. Nervous energy spiked within my veins. The mere thought of what I had planned was both exhilarating and nerve wracking.

Bringing my beer to my lips, I tilted the bottle. Bitterness coated my tongue, but that didn’t deter me anymore than my anxiety did. My free hand rested on my lap, my fingers rubbing together impatiently. He had to be exhausted by now. I gave him double the dosage he was supposed to take.

As soon as those thoughts bounced around my head, Uncle Baron stood.

“You were right.” He chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll be able to finish the game. Tell me who wins?” He didn’t wait for a response before vacating the living room.

I watched him disappear up the stairs, a smile stretching across my face. I’d give him twenty minutes tops. He needed to learn who was truly in control here. If he thought he stood a chance against me, he was sadly mistaken.

My foot tapped against the hardwood floor as I waited. The tension thickened in the room even though it was only me in here.

Once I figured it had been long enough, I rose. My feet carried me across the room and up the stairs, determination driving me forward. My hands curled into fists at my sides. Anger was a potent emotion and revenge…well, now that was deadly.

When I reached their bedroom at the end of the hall, I slipped inside. Darkness blanketed me instantly, wrapping around me like a cocoon of sinister promises. My gaze snapped to the two lumps in the bed once my eyes adjusted enough to make them out. Uncle Baron should be in a dead sleep right about now. If he wasn’t then…I’d have to improvise.

Striding over to his bedside, I peeled the covers off of him. His snores echoed through the room making my lips twitch. Here he was sleeping so peacefully, not realizing the monster they’d allowed into their home. He should have thought about that before targeting me. I’d make him pay. I’d make them both pay.

Steeling my spine, I grabbed one of his arms and tugged, my muscles flexing with the motion. He was one heavy son of a bitch, and I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure I’d be able to carry him from point A to point B without dropping his ass. Hefting him up, I hooked my arms beneath his and lured him over to the wooden rocking chair positioned near the window next to the mahogany bookshelf.

A grunt slipped past my defenses, every muscle in my body straining as I dragged him toward the chair and eased him into it. The old thing creaked beneath his weight, but still, he didn’t so much as stir.

Blowing out a breath, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my black hoodie and retrieved the rope I’d gotten from the store. My chest heaved up and down from the strain it had put on me just to carry him. I needed to get into the fucking gym. Shoving those thoughts to the back of my mind, I started winding the rope around him and the chair repeatedly, making sure it was impenetrable. When I reached the end, I tied it into a knot and stepped back to admire my work.

Perfect.

Turning away from him, I ventured over to Lucille’s bedside. She was lying on her side, her breaths even. Even with the comforter draped over her, the roundness of her baby bump stood out beneath the sheets. Pulling them back as I’d done to Uncle Baron previously, my gaze swept down her body. She was wearing a maternity night gown which had excitement coursing through me at that knowledge.

My fingertips brushed along the inside of her thigh, and she shifted slightly in her sleep. I didn’t typically go after older women, but Lucille wasn’t hideous. She’d taken good care of herself over the years from what I could tell. But this wasn’t even about my own sexual desires. It was about showing them who they’d fucked with and making sure it never happened again.

Light stubble prickled against my fingers as I ran them up her leg and toward her thigh. I couldn’t expect her to shave with her being so huge and pregnant, but it wouldn’t have deterred me otherwise, either.

My hand disappeared beneath her blue nightgown, breaching the sensitive parts of her thigh. Finally, she rolled, her eyes fluttering. Yet, she remained asleep. I’d just have to try harder then.

I crawled onto the bed, shoving her legs apart so that I was positioned between them. When I realized she wasn’t wearing any panties, a grin broke out along my face.

Naughty, Naughty girl.

‘She wants this.’

‘It’s a trap.’

‘What are you waiting for?’

Shaking my head to clear the voices, I hitched her gown over her hips and leaned down. My breath feathered against her pussy making her shiver even in her unconscious state. I swiped my tongue along the crease of where her folds met, my hands moving to grip her hips. Another swipe of the tongue, and then another. When she still made no move to wake, I tightened my grip around her and plunged my tongue inside.

A startled gasp punctured the air, but I didn’t bother checking. I knew that had awoken her.

“J-Jordan?” she panicked sleepily with shock coursing through her tone. “W-what are you doing? Where’s Baron—” Her words stalled, probably spotting him across the room.

I groaned against her pussy, knowing it sent a vibration careening through her. Despite her pleas for me to stop, she was growing wetter by the second. She started thrashing around violently, sobs racking her body. She was ashamed and scared. Just like she should be.

“Baron!” she screamed, her nails digging into my shoulders in an attempt to force me away. What she didn’t realize, though, was that I liked the pain. I fucking welcomed it.

She continued to scream for him like the helpless bitch she was. When he finally started to come to, I pulled away from her and kicked my pants down, making sure to keep one hand on her at all times. The last thing I needed was for her to dial the police before I got to have any fun.

“No-No!” Baron’s voice sounded throughout the room, followed by him fighting against his bindings.

I positioned myself over the woman I’d considered family at one point. Before she conspired with my uncle to harm me. Before I realized she didn’t give a shit about me. With one snap of my hips, I was buried inside her.

I wish I could say that raping my step-Aunt was the worst thing I’d done that night, but it hadn’t been. While I didn’t regret teaching the couple a lesson, killing a pregnant woman wasn’t one of my brightest moments. The unborn child didn’t deserve that.

I tilted my head back, allowing the water to run over my face and neck, warming the skin beneath it. My hands pushed through my hair, a sigh of content leaving me.

Once I deemed myself clean enough, I stepped out of the shower, pulling a towel off the rod and wrapped it around my waist after drying off. The cool air kissed along my skin, sending a shudder tumbling through me. Mirrors adorned the wall on the opposite side of the room with sinks embedded within them. As shitty as this place was, it was well structured. The cleaning crew just needed to up their game.

I grabbed my shirt off the bench and tugged it on, followed by the rest of my clothes. Once completely dressed, I grabbed my dirty belongings and headed back to my room. The floors were made of marble as my legs carried me down the hallway, the light creating a shine that bounced off the ground. Slipping through my bedroom door at the end of the hallway, I dropped my clothes in the hamper.

A full-size bed took up the furthest side of the room near the barred window. White sheets adorned the mattress, making it look more like a big hospital bed than anything else. It wasn’t like I had family who would even dare to bring me anything else. My mom was dead, Dad was in prison, and my aunt and uncle were dead.

Anyone who Dr. Theodore deemed a threat to society was prohibited from sharing a room with others. The last thing they needed was for one of their patients to be suffocated or murdered during their slumber. It worked out well for me, though. Sharing anything wasn’t really my forte.

The only people who weren’t forced to share despite having a violent background were the narc twins. Mostly because they were sisters and despite being psychopathic narcissists, they stuck together. A chill swept down my spine. They were probably the most sadistic little bitches in this asylum. At just fifteen years old, they murdered their four-year-old sister pointlessly. Why? Who the fuck knew. Maybe it wasn’t much better than what I’d done, but at least the child hadn’t even tasted fresh air yet.

Slipping on my shoes, vacant of laces, I slipped out of my room again. Seven and Archer had mentioned going to the library prior to my shower. It was one of the only places where we could speak freely without the unsettling feeling of being overheard.

The library was massive in size. Bookshelves adorned the room from top to bottom, filling up the entire space. Near the entrance was the librarian’s desk. The only time she left that damn thing was when she had to, so lucky for us, we didn’t have to worry about her roaming around.

Toward the back of the library was a secluded area with a couch and more shelves. It was the spot we’d claimed as our own. Even a table sat near it, so we had our choice of seating.

The two guys were seated at said table, a book sprawled out in front of Seven as he thumbed through the pages. Archer’s blue eyes drifted up to meet mine and his shoulders lifted. His dark brown hair swept across his forehead as usual, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

I dropped into the chair across from them, planting my palms on the surface of the wooden table.

Seven closed the book, bringing his gaze to meet mine as well. He was blonde like me, but the shade of his hair was much lighter in comparison.

“That was one long shower,” Archer pointed out, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

I couldn’t fight the twitch of my lips at that statement. “Was it?” My shoulder lifted in a shrug, but these guys knew me too well to believe it was an innocent gesture.

My body relaxed into the chair, the tension rolling out of my muscles. This was one of my favorite times of the day. No regulations, just relaxation, and being around my two friends. That’s why we made this our spot, though, we did have others. The woods were great for partying, fucking, hunting, and strolling through nature. The garden was great for planting, reading, fucking, and relaxing as well. When I first came to the asylum, it took a while for me to get the hang of things around here. In the end, I learned that the only way to make sure people left you alone was if they feared you. The only ones who never backed down from me were the two guys sitting in front of me now. Then again, they were just as fucked in the head as I was.

Seven’s smooth voice cut through my thoughts like a blade would through skin. “Might want to get those bandaged up.” He smirked, his dimple becoming more pronounced. I followed his gaze to my busted knuckles. “They might get infected .”

A laugh tumbled out of me and my fingers flexed of their own accord. If an infection was the least of my worries here, then I’d say I was doing pretty swell.

After all, what was life without a little bit of pain?