Page 70 of My Turn
I released her and grabbed my bag. When I reached the door, I paused. “Stay away from that teacher, even at work. You won’t like what I have to do if you disobey me.”
Without waiting for a response, I flipped the light off and closed the door. It wasn’t smart that I was trusting her not to go to the police again. I’d cum in her and she could fuck me over because of it, but I enjoyed the idea of her not showering and going to sleep wearing my scent. Not mine, but Erebus’. It still made me feel good.
On my way out, I set a kiss beside the coffee pot. One of these days, she’d fucking eat one of them and somehow, it would be a gesture of trust.
*****
“Alright, how are things coming along?” I asked.
It was quiet in the basement and I thought about turning on music, but I didn’t want to draw attention down here if anyone was outside. I didn’t know why they would be, but murder was a good reason to be a little paranoid. My phone would alert me if someone was outside, as well as if Alana used her code to get in, but if she heard the music, she might be curious about what I was doing down here and try to investigate. She was nosey like that when she was bored.
I adjusted the temperature of the composting vessel and gave it a once over. Preston’s body was lying on a bed of alfalfa, wood chips, and other material that would help him to biodegrade. I’d covered him in a good layer of it as well. If someone did come across this, they might not see what was inside unless they took the time to really look. I wouldn’t give them that much time.
The vessel was tucked behind a false wall with panels that slid into each other to open, so it was unlikely anyone would make it this far anyway. Unless they got close and investigated, I was safe. Every time I did this, though, the fear heightened.
Preston was the third person I’d composted. A guy named Ted was the first. He hit on Alana at a bar, which pissed Jake off. He was pretty drunk and threw a punch. It escalated and Ted threatened to have him arrested. While he was on his walk back home, I intercepted him.
It wasn’t just Alana I’d kill for. I was fiercely protective of my entire family. There were tiers, though, which was why Jake ended up in this vessel before Preston. She came above everybody and that would never change.
The body had only been in the vessel for about a week. I’d have to mess with it a few times but overall, it was an easy process. In a little less than two months, he’d have a new purpose, a better one than he had in life.
There was a notification on my phone that made me quickly move the wall back in place and head upstairs. I opened the front door and was nearly knocked over by Ben. He grabbed both sides of my neck and put his forehead against mine in a weird fucking greeting.
“What’s up, Jayce? Long time, no see.”
I glanced around, then motioned for him to come inside. He followed me into the kitchen where I poured us each a cup of coffee.
Ben leaned his elbows on the counter and the position made his biceps bulge. It was November, but he wore a t-shirt as if it wasn’t forty degrees outside. I was convinced he just liked to display his tattoos. He had full sleeves, which I was jealous of. I would’ve gone past my elbows, but I stalked a woman seven days a week and it was easier to hide them this way. I didn’t need to risk someone seeing any identifying marks.
As he drained his coffee- which was still piping hot- his green eyes roamed the space. He observed everything, storing away tidbits of information like a chipmunk stuffing its cheeks. If you were ever looking for something specific, he’d immediately be able to recall if he knew where to find it. And if he needed to, it was easy for him to act like he was ignorant of everything in the world.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I hate unannounced visits.”
“Pretty sure you hate all visits unless they’re from a certain green-eyed history teacher.”
My jaw clenched as I took a drink. The fucker had a sixth sense for these things. It might’ve been protective instincts, although I wasn’t sure he had those.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I pointed out.
“Oh, right. That favor you owe me.”
I fought the urge to groan. Finding Alana on Halloween had been the most important thing, but I hated being indebted to anyone, especially Ben. We weren’t friends. We were acquaintances who wouldn’t arouse suspicion by associating with each other if we were noticed because our relationship went way back. Owing the guy was not ideal, considering he dabbled in a little bit of everything. If you needed something, he was the one you called. If he was the one who called, you had to be prepared for anything ranging from picking up his groceries to burning a man alive.
He ran a hand through his ashy brown hair. “Alana still works at Alpine Grove, right?”
“Yeah,” I replied cautiously. “You of all people should know that.”
Waving a dismissive hand, he drained the second cup of coffee. With how squirrely Ben was, it’d be easy to think he wason drugs, but he didn’t fuck with that sort of stuff because of his dad.
“They let you in the doors? Don’t even make you check in, probably.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I shrugged. “Sure. They like me there.”
He flashed me a suggestive smile. “Bet they’re all happy to see you when you come around.”
“What do you want from me?”
“My cousin is a sophomore there. He’s going through a tough time, his dad is getting divorced. Carson’s failing one of his classes and the coach said he can’t play if he doesn’t fix it.”