Page 54 of Sadistic Retribution

“It’s for the best.”

Maybe they’re right. I'll never see 3 or 6 again, and I have no one. Instead of retreating backwards into my mind, I unleash a roar I didn’t know I was capable of. I jump out of the chair, throwing the headphones across the room. I feel an iron wall slam down in front of my mind, blocking everything out. I let the rage build, and everything else fades away.

I scream a battle cry but then fall silent.

I stop fighting.

I'm breathing heavy when the lights come back on. All four masks kneel in front of me.

Demon smiles. “Now you’re ready.”

Horns adds, “Good job, 11. I'm impressed.” “Let the games begin!” Jester cackles.

Chapter 19

Hunter

I'm scanningthe perimeter of the vast property of The Retreat when I see a blip of something. I zoom the screen in, seeing a small, square structure a good several miles past the fence. What the hell? I squint, seeing it looks familiar. I make a sound, zooming back out, searching for anything that looks similar. As I zoom out, I notice there are multiple storage sheds throughout the back of the property.

Thor rolls up to my side in his chair. “What did you find, man?”

I point to the structure, zooming in again. “That. What is that?”

He looks closer. “Maybe a storage building? But why would it be clear over there?”

Excitement makes my hands tremble as I stare at it. “Could this be it? A way into The Morgue?”

He purses his lips. “Maybe, but it’s awful small if it leads there.”

“True, but if it’s attached to a tunnel...”

“Shit!” Thor curses. “I’m calling Jax. This could be a lead!”

My phone buzzes right at that moment. I glance down to see it’s Trikk. I grab the burner out, calling him back.

“Bro! I saw something in the forest. A storage shed way past the electric fence.”

“I just saw it, too. We're looking into it. Please—do not jump the gun.”

“How the fuck would we even get to it? That fence is not scalable or anything!”

“I don’t know but I’ll see what I can find out. Hold on, okay? Stay still until you hear from me.”

I disconnect as Jax comes in. “Sounds like we have a lead? This could put at least two of these cases to rest, if it is. It would be enough to take steps against The Retreat. And, of course, retrieving Phoenyxx.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” I say. “How can we get to it, though?”

Thor chimes in, excitement in his voice. “I can try to hack into their security and loop the feed. Then I can bypass it for a few minutes. Maybe, anyway.”

Jax nods. “Get on it.” He claps us both on the backs. “Notify me as soon as you have answers. Good work.”

Frost

I fly through the front door, hoping the guys are all there to relay what happened at that fucked up dinner with my father.

I cup my hands around my mouth to holler out to them. “Guys!”

They all come skidding into the living room, minus Ghost. I’m really hoping he’s just off somewhere; not hurting himself anymore.