Page 12 of The Colour of Revenge

That, along with… everything else, makes it hard for me to believe a man would be nice to me without reason.

But I've spent the last eight years working on myself, unlearning my fear, convincing myself that not everyone is out to hurt me.

My therapist would be so proud. About opening up to trust? Sure. About the fact that the guy I'm trusting is a literal serial killer? She'd probably tell me to run.

But it's not like I listen toeverythingshe says.

Carina:I hope you’re proud of me.

Doc M:Always, but do you want to tell me what for?

Carina:I’m following your advice. Trusting someone.

Doc M:I’m incredibly proud of you. Keep me updated.

Nate and I text every day.

At first, it’s just strange, hypothetical questions that serve no real purpose but somehow give me little pieces of his mind.

I've learned that Nate has a disturbing fondness for chaos. He likes pushing people to their breaking point to see how far they'll bend. He orchestrates tiny situations to watch them spiral. His humour? Dark—laugh-or-you'll-scream dark. But it's also sharp, calculated, and annoyingly clever.

I've also learned that while he's twisted, there's something… real underneath it all.

Something raw.

Sometimes, he says things that make me wonder if he's as far gone as he wants me to believe. Other times, he's better at hiding the truth than I'll ever be.

And yet, I keep texting him.

I should stop, but his mind is a puzzle I can't resist. And maybe… I don't even care if I'm the one tangled in it.

Tonight, though, I have real questions.

Pink Princess:I have a question.

Daddy Death:I might have an answer.

Pink Princess:Completely hypothetically speaking, of course.

Daddy Death:Go on…

Pink Princess:If I wanted to make someone die incredibly slowly… What would be the best way to do that?

A pause.

Daddy Death:Hypothetically, huh? Should I be concerned?

Pink Princess:Answer the question.

Daddy Death:Alright, princess. Do you want pain or poetry?

Pink Princess:Why not both?

Daddy Death:Someone's in a mood.

Daddy Death:Slow and painful? Start with the nerves. Fingers, toes. Small cuts, deep enough to sting but not bleed out.

Pink Princess:…Detailed.