Page 2

Chapter 1

May-Martha

Gus’ sweaty, exhausted body dropped next to mine as he grunted, huffing and puffing. I waited patiently for him to move before I did, knowing that was what he preferred. He was always dominating me.

“Oh, May-Martha,” he wheezed, exhausted from fucking me too hard, something I was going to regret allowing him to do. “You always know how to get me just right.” Gus smiled as I reflected the gesture, faking it as always.

“Yes, well, I try.” I just wanted him to leave.

I was glad he was finally done. Normally, I could slip something in his drink or get him to knock out sooner, but today, he was a bit more determined than usual.

Gus rolled from the bed to his feet, redressing as I slowly sat up and adjusted my lingerie and disheveled hair. He walked to my side, tossing a few folded bills on my nightstand. It was noticeably smaller than our usual agreement.

“That’s it?” I softly scoffed, reaching for the money. The fucker was shorting me. Gus grabbed my face and stopped me.

“Next time, show me a little more excitement.” His thumb ran along my lower lip, smudging the red color. “ Then , I’ll pay you more.” He pressed harder against my mouth, hurting me. “I like hearing you make a little noise. Shows me you’re enjoying yourself as much as I am. You may think this is business, May, but deep down, I know it means more to you than that.” He kissed my forehead, lingering.

The unexpected sound of screams outside startled us both, and he quickly grabbed his coat and police hat, rushing from my room. “Stay inside!” Ignoring him, I grabbed a long robe and followed, dashing down the brothel stairs.

The street was packed with muttering townsfolk huddled over something just outside the brothel. Gus pushed his way through, his police chief hat now back on his head as he resumed his public image.

“Step aside!” He blew a whistle, and the people obeyed him, something I knew he liked a little too well. “Hells bells.” He dropped the whistle from his mouth, his pale face draining of all color.

My curiosity got the better of me as I forced my way through the crowd, everyone pushing and shoving me as I nearly bumped into him. Gus pushed me back as I finally saw what horrified him so, my own scream bleeding into the crowd as my eyes widened in fear. It was a man and what seemed to be a woman, her face destroyed, unrecognizable. They had been slaughtered and left in the street, their blood soaking into the snow around them like a blanket of velvet red. The man’s chest was shredded by what must’ve been an animal or beast of some kind, his throat torn apart.

“What creature could have done such a thing?” I asked, looking up at Gus.

He turned, and we both noticed something sticking out from the man’s jacket. He reached for it, pulling out what appeared to be a blood-stained piece of paper, and examined it close.

“May,” he quivered, handing me the paper. I gave him a confused look as I took it from his hand, reading the handwritten note addressed to me.

Did you think I was gone?

Say hello to Gus for me, May-Martha.

I’m coming for you.

“It can’t be,” I whispered, my eyes watering as I looked up at Gus again.

“He’s back, and it seems he’s coming for all of us.” My eyes frantically began to search the crowd, fear and anxiety consuming me.

He’s back. He’s really back, and he’s coming for me.

Just then, I heard an odd and eerie laugh. It reminded me of someone I knew long ago, someone I had almost forgotten about—a child from school.

I spun, searching the many faces, noticing something peeking out from the shadows across the street: a set of glowing yellow eyes. I knew those eyes. It was him. It was the Grouch.

He’s really here.

As I blinked, those burning, menacing yellow irises disappeared, leaving only a faint trail of that same eerie laughter. After all these years, he’d finally returned for his revenge.

I pushed through the crowd and rushed back inside the brothel, locking my bedroom door behind me. His note remained in my hand, the man’s blood now smeared across my skin. I threw it down and began to search my dresser, tossing clothes and belongings aside, rifling through every drawer.

“Where is it?” I snapped, distressed. “I know I had it somewhere. Where is it?” I pulled one of the wooden drawers out, groaning as I threw it against the wall. My heart was racing, my thoughts jumbled and conflicted.

It has to be here somewhere. It has to be!

I dropped to my knees, grabbing my head as I groaned and cried, frustrated with losing something so important.

Where is it?

I slammed my fist into the floor at the same time as I noticed something under my bed. I reached under, grabbing the small square tucked tightly between the boards. I pulled it out, standing as I stared at the dusty box. Relief and old feelings seeped from my body as I looked up at my reflection in the dresser mirror. The box brought a wave of buried emotions to the surface, forcing me to truly look at myself for the first time in so long.

I didn’t like who I saw looking back at me. After all these years, my features had remained the same despite my heart hardening. My hair was still long and brown, the curls framing my face as they reached my chest, my cheeks flushed a faint pink. The only physical change was the absence of the life that once danced behind my green eyes. It was gone, leaving them dead and dull, much like my soul.

Look at what you’ve become .

I held the box close, closing my eyes as I reminisced about the day it was given to me. I carefully opened it, staring at its contents, running my fingers along it while a single tear fell down my cheek.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

MAX

Both my own laughter and distant screams filled my ears as my hand held his, my feet skipping down a dark alley, guiding us back toward the woods. I felt so electrified and alive, excited by the chaotic and murderous spectacle we had caused. I was bursting at the seams with pride and adrenaline, and seeing that mean old meanie happy was the best fucking part. We’d terrorized people before, but killing them? Oh, that was a whole new level of intimacy. It almost felt as good as sex with him. Almost .

“Oh… ” I spun, turning to face him. His yellow eyes glowed like golden fire, his grin stretched high and unnatural. He was dripping with such rage and power, the air thickened with it, the buzz of his own excitement mixing with mine, swirling and vibrating between my legs. I felt more alive than I had in years. “Did you see the looks on their faces?” My eyes were burning with life. “I bet?—”

His mouth crushed to mine as he shoved my body roughly against the wall of a building. My spine throbbed at the impact, but I enjoyed the pain.

“You were perfectly wicked,” he grunted as he lifted me higher, my legs automatically wrapping around his torso as he kissed my neck.

Perfectly wicked… What a beautiful thing to be called .

“I need to fuck you, freckles. Right here. Right now.” He bit my neck, his sharp teeth piercing my skin. I gasped, my body leaning into his, his claws scraping the skin of my thighs as he raised my skirt. “I need you so fucking bad.”

He wasted no time and, without warning, he forced himself inside me. My body jolted at the immense pressure, unable to fully stretch around him as he pushed harder, again and again. His tongue glided over the fresh blood beading from his bite as his hot breath caused my skin to prickle. I couldn’t breathe, enjoying every second of this moment as my back ground against the harsh brick wall.

“That’s right,” I breathed, grabbing his neck for support, my nails digging into his fur. “You need me? Take me. Fuck me as hard as you can. I’m yours to break.” A low, animalistic rumble vibrated through his chest as he pounded into my aching pussy, unleashing all his desires and feeding his carnal hunger. I didn’t stand a chance, overly excited that someone might see us. I struggled to control myself, fully dissolving into him as I cried out, coming around his furry cock. The cold air dried out my throat as I contracted and squeezed around him, smiling so hard, it hurt. Being fucked by him didn’t just feel good—it felt right. So right .

He braced his arm against the wall, his claws digging into the brick as he came inside me, pumping me so full, it began to seep from my pussy and drip down my thigh.

“Fuck,” he moaned, slumping over, his large frame pressing me harder against the wall. We stood there, panting, burning up despite the cold and snow. I wanted to pull him closer, to hold him tight, but I could feel his cock slowly sliding away. He was finished.

“We should go,” he whispered, his eyes staring into mine as he lowered me to my feet. His claw fixed my skirt then quickly adjusted his pants as he stepped away. “They’re going to be searching for me.”

“For us ,” I bit. “You didn’t kill them alone.” I raised a brow. “Just wait until May-Martha hears of what we did.”

“I’m sure she already knows. I left her a note.” My smile dropped at his snarky tone.

“You did what ?” My head tilted as I impatiently waited for him to respond. He simply ran a claw along the underside of my chin as I shivered at his oddly gentle touch.

“Don’t sound so sour. I only warned her I was coming for her, just like everyone else. Try not to let your jealousy show, Max.” He walked past me, heading towards the woods.

Jealous? No, I’m not jealous. I’m territorial. You’re mine. Despite all these years with me, you're still thinking of her. My chest burned with rage. You don’t need her.

“Come on, freckles. I need you to help cover our tracks.” I turned around to see him standing at the edge of the woods, those yellow eyes glowing in the night as his smile sharpened. I shook the negative thoughts away and skipped towards him.

That’s right. You need me. Me. Not May-Martha. And I’m going to spend every moment reminding you of that.