Page 53 of Monster

I turn back to my baby doll and her tears are running down her face rapidly. She’s curled into a ball in the corner of the bed. Her hands are wrapped around her knees and her entire body is shaking. I shift until I’m a mere six inches away, and I drop down until I’m squatting in front of her, my face is almost level with hers.

She doesn’t move one iota and it brings a smile to my face, even through the madness. I reach my hand out and run my index finger down her cheek, catching one of her tears on the tip of my finger. I bring my finger to my lips and suck the digit into my mouth, licking every last trace of the salty essence from my finger.

“Fuck, baby doll. I told you months ago I wanted to taste your tears more often, but this whole situation was a little excessive, don’t ya think?” I chuckle as I bring my hand back to her face and run my fingers across her skin, tracing every inch of her. She doesn’t move as I caress her, and I begin to think maybe she’s actually frozen from the fear. I run my finger along the scar gracing her delicate little neck, and that snaps her out of her reverie.

She jerks her entire body away from me and she screams, “Don’t fucking touch me! Don’t touch me!”

“Baby doll… Don’t tell me what to fucking do,” I growl at her. I grip her wrist and halt her from moving further away from me, but she doesn’t stop screaming.

“Stop fuckin’ screaming, baby,” I warn her, but she refuses to listen. She’s hysterical as her screams get louder and I start to worry someone will hear her because of course we’re in stupid motherfucking apartments right now.

This is exactly why I love my house and my trees—no one around for miles.

As much as I hate to, I think I only have one option. “I’m sorry, baby doll. I don’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.” I throw my hand out and wince as it swiftly connects with her face, and she falls limp into my lap. Her eyes flutter closed, and she feels light in my lap—much lighter than I remember her being.

“Oh, baby doll… What have you done?”