Page 96 of All Your Hate
He places his hand over mine and says, “Whatever you want. If it feels right, do it. If it feels wrong,definitelydo it. Don’t beafraid of what you’re feeling. Channel it and make him suffer through his last breaths.”
“Do I need to interrogate him?”
“No, I’ve been doing that all week and he gave me nothing new.”
Still no information on Summer. It feels like I’m never going to find her.
“Wynter, I don’t want you to get in your head. Just do whatever feels natural.”
Taking a deep breath, I settle any lingering nerves and give Bones a determined nod. I can do this.
We head back inside the mausoleum and when the man sees me he starts to struggle again, begging me to help him, but I ignore him.
I remember my own pleas for help going unheard by him or someone just like him. The men were all the same. Brutal uncaring monsters that only got off on my pain.
“Did you not think to help me rather than take advantage of me when I was drugged? I was just a toy for you and all the others to use when…when Tommaso was done with me.” Saying the man’s name feels like letting his ghost back in to haunt me, but nothing changes once it’s out in the ether. I look back to Bones who’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a deadly smile on his lips as he watches me.
He is the only demon that matters now.
I find myself wanting to prove to him that I am strong enough to protect myself.
“We were told it was okay to do what we wanted as long as no one came in you,” the man blubbers through the fabric.
“Did I say those words?”
He shakes his head.
“No, I didn’t. So you had no right to go anywhere near me! I wasn’t some man’s property to be loaned out to whoever wanteda go. I was just a person. Someone that needed help, not to be hurt even more. Do you have anyone you love in your life?”
He swallows and looks over at Bones. “You’re not answering to me. Tonight she’s in charge.”
“A girlfriend.”
He raped me then went home to his girlfriend. The thought makes me feel sick.
“You’re disgusting. She’s going to be better off without you. The entire world will be.”
I run my fingers over the cool handle of the dagger on my thigh, before pulling it out and admiring its beauty.
“Let's have some fun.”
The man starts crying even harder, begging for his life. His girlfriend soon forgotten.
Bones circles around us to the corner of the room.
Out of nowhere, heavy symphonic metal starts playing. When Bones shifts, I spot the record player he's set up for this moment. That’s so sweet.
My breath catches as I watch him in his element. He craves this sort of macabre dance with death. It’s a part of him and soon it will be for me as well.
The first time I watched him torture for me was an odd mix of emotions. I wanted to bolt right out of the room, but I also wanted to see how far he would go for me. Turns out he’s all in.
“Did you even know my name as you abused me?” I ask tonight’s victim.
“No,” he sobs.
“Guess we’ll remain strangers for your last moments on earth then.”
I step in front of him and hold the dagger out, but I’m not sure what else to do with it.