Page 220 of Brainwashed

“He raped me,” Felix says calmly.

All three sets of eyes jump to him before they share a look.

“Good call, then,” Velle says firmly.

“Yea, let’s chop him up and feed him to the sharks,” Joy says, giving Felix a comforting smile.

“That sounds like a perfect way for him to go,” Rook agrees. “But I’m gonna need a mask or something… ’Cause this smell isnotworking for me.”

Velle laughs, brushing his fingers through Rook’s hair before turning to me. “Let’s get to work.”

And it takes us hours.

Hours of dismembering Templeton’s body and slinging all the pieces into this giant wheelbarrow Rook found, then bringing them to the rock ledge at the south side of the island and dumping it all into the ocean.

Felix really wanted to be the one to do that part, but Velle drew the line at letting him leave the prison. I’m guessing he doesn’t know he shares a roof with The Carver at least two nights a week.But we’ll just keep that to ourselves for now.

After that, we have to clean up the blood and guts. And it’sa lot. But Felix brings his little stereo and we pop in the Best Of Depeche Mode CD. The music helps it all go a little smoother. We’re like one of those cleaning crews that takes care of crime scenes.

It’s actually kind of fun.

When we’re done, Felix goes to take a shower and retreat to his room while I help them finish up.

“I can’t believe you’re dating a serial killer.” Joy snorts, ripping off her rubber gloves and dumping them into the trash.

“Is that bad?” I ask teasingly.

She and Rook share a look and she gasps. “Are you actuallycool, Dr. Love?”

I chuckle. “I don’t know about cool…”

“But you’re like a regular person,” Velle surmises. “Which is hilarious because we all thought you were a creepy robot until like… right now.”

“Hey, there are worse things to be,” I tell them, wiping my hands with sanitary wipes.

“Just know that if psycho boy fucks up in any way, it’s on you,” Velle asserts. “I’m not taking the heat for his nonsense anymore. That was, like, the worse thing ever.”

I peek at him. “Was that really what caused all of this drama? One prisoner escapes and everything falls apart? I find that hard to fathom…”

“Nothing here has ever been stable, Love.” Velle side-eyes me. “It was all hanging on by a thread until you snipped it.”

I gulp. “Sorry about that…”

“Shit happens,” Joy jumps in.

“Yea, and to be honest, I think it was for the best,” Rook says, nudging Velle on the arm. They grin at each other.

Watching the three of them together gives me some warmth in the chest. They really make a great team. And I feel a hundred percent better about staying here with them in charge. But then I remember something…

“Look, I don’t know if I can talk about it here,” I whisper to Velle. “But keep your eyes open. He said something to me about changes…”

Velle’s dark blue eyes linger on mine. He doesn’t appear worried, but I think that’s just part of who he is. I’m sure he’ll be on his guard for the foreseeable future.

Before he can say anything, all three of their walkies go off. “Incoming… New inmate. Just pulled off the ferry.”

Velle’s head springs in the direction of his partners and they all share a confused, anxious look.

“I think I know who that is,” I tell them. “Come on.”