Page 73 of Brainwashed

That said, I know there’s more to this… The reason he’s so quick to kill people who harm children, and add them to his list of victims, the rest of which is made up of other people’s children.

How do you go from killing Emmanuel Pedroia to Ivan Wilkerson? It’s like night and day.

I barely even notice that I’m frantically scribbling all of this down in my notebook. But a knock at the door pulls me out of my zone. “Come in.”

Kent appears in the doorway holding two paper bags, and I tell him to leave them on the table, which he does, stalking away without a word.

Felix’s face is lit up like a neon sign, obviously because of the smell that’s suddenly swimming around us. “Is that Chinese food??”

I nod. “Open up the bags and take everything out. We’re going to eat and talk today.”

“Holy fucking shit.” He practically leaps over the table, grabbing at the bags, tearing into them like a wild animal.

My mouth quirks at the sight, before I force a frown becausewhat the hell is happening to me??These errant smiles are more than peculiar.

Felix goes about his business, removing a few plastic containers of Chinese food. It was prepared by the Warden’s chefs, but I had some last night and it was delicious, so I can vouch for their abilities.

He opens one up—it looks like orange chicken with bok choy and white rice—and immediately digs in, making some severely appreciative noises. He’s groaning while eating, and I can’t help how it reminds me of the video I saw earlier. Though these sounds seem much happier.

Reaching over, I pick up a container of Kung Pao shrimp and a fork, watching Felix all the while as he practically inhales the food.

“This is amazing,” he grumbles when he finally comes up for air. “Thank you.”

There’s some orange sauce on his lower lip that’s distracting me as I mutter, “I’ll give your compliments to the chef.”

He stares at me while his tongue slides and laps up the sauce. I focus on my food, taking a bite.

“Tell me more about your inclinations,” I ask, in more of a command.

But he does, without a second thought. “I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that not all of my victims were my boyfriends.” He takes another bite while I nod subtly, doing the same. “Well, the lot of my victims whoweredied because they wanted to leave me. The first person who ever left me was… Cam.” He swallows visibly after uttering the name.

I lift my brow, encouraging him to go on.

“Cameron Kline. He was my best friend growing up, and the first boy I ever loved. I was secretly into him, since I was still young and figuring my shit out. But Cam was like… perfect. He was justeverythingI wanted in a boyfriend. He was smart, and sweet, and outgoing. The opposite of me in a lot of ways.”

“Sounds familiar…” I mumble, calling him out with a look.

He huffs a laugh. “Yea, he was like Emmanuel. Like most of the guys I dated. Clearly, I have a type.” He chuckles, then takes another bite.

“Okay… but tell me about the others.”

His amusement falls away. “Right. Myothervictims, the ones I didn’t sleep with, or engage with sexually, for the most part… well, they were like Wilkerson. Maybe not all that heinous, but they were modeled after someone who was. Someone despicable, who definitely deserved to die for what he did… What he took from me.”

Felix’s eyes turn dark, and a glimpse of that rage he holds deep within shows itself. His entire demeanor changes, and he actually gains this menacing air about him. It’s a withering aura, and it glues me to my seat.That’s The Carver.

I expect him to tell me who he’s referring to, but he doesn’t. And I don’t want to push, but I’m dying to know. So I ask, “And who would that be?”

He stares off into space for a full minute. Dead eyes aimed at the wall. It’s like no one’s home.Felixis gone.

I’m desperate to see what he’s seeing in his head right now.

But eventually he kicks back to life and takes another bite. “Did you know that Chinese is my favorite food?”

I’m not surprised by the subject change. And I pick up my notebook, jotting down a reminder to circle back to the conversation. “How would I know that?”

He shrugs casually. “You know so much about me, but not really the stuff I like. Other than killing people, I guess.”

“Well, Felix, if you feel like your other interests will help this process, then by all means. Spill.”