Page 91 of Madness & Mayhem

The old man laughs, his belly shaking with the force. He turns to Reign, his finger sliding over the trigger. My entire body freezes, I think all of us do, and we stand in absolute fear as we wait for the trigger to be pulled.

“I think I’m the one holding the gun, not you,” the old man spits.

Reign tilts his head to the side, not appearing to be as worried as the rest of us are. “I’m not scared of an old man with a rifle. I’ll have your throat ripped from your neck before you even pull the trigger.”

I gasp silently, shocked at the brutality in his tone.

Posie nudges me with her finger, and I glance over at her. She nods her head toward Archer. My eyes lift to his, and he has a knife behind his back, blade drawn, ready to be used.

My breath shakes out of my chest, but Kyler notices, because he also glances over at Archer.

A plan forms silently, as Reign and the old man are at a standoff. I have no idea if he knows what is about to happen, I don’t think any of us do. All I know is something is about to go down, and someone isn’t going to make it out alive.

“My wife is already inside, calling the police as we speak. Maybe I’ll just hold you here until they come. Watch them all drag your asses off my property and to prison where you all belong!” He lifts the gun, and it ends up level to Reign’s chest. “But one wrong move, and it’ll be self-defense on my part. So I suggest you all stay where you are, and don’t make any funny movements.”

Reign stiffens, and that’s when I realize he knows what’s going on, and he’s preparing for the wrath, the possible downfall.

No, I mouth.

I can’t lose him. I refuse.

Reign reaches behind him, and my eyes widen when I see him pull out his mask. The old man’s face twists in disgust as Reign slips the mask over his face.

My slasher.

As if on auto pilot, I reach behind me, my fingers slipping into my bag. I grab my own mask, pulling it over my face. It’s still covered in blood from the two police officers we killed in the woods near the cabin. My own markings of death.

“You sick fuck. I should put a bullet right between your—”

I leap off the bale of hay, rushing toward the old man.

“Lakyn, no!” The roar comes from behind me, and it isn’t just one voice, it’s multiple voices, all of them telling me to back down.

“Stay the fuck away from him!” I scream.

The old man turns toward me, fear in his eyes before they narrow in anger. I watch in slow motion as his fingers tightens on the gun, the tip of his finger turning white as he pulls the trigger.

Bang.

“No!”

My body jolts to the side, but it’s too late. Burning hot pain roars through my body as I fall to the ground, my head slamming against the dirt. Tears roll down my eyes as I drop my head to the side. I blink, staring as everyone rushes toward the old man. The gun goes off again, blowing a hole right through the roof.

Archer knocks him to the ground, pulling his knife around his back and shoving it straight into the man’s gut. Kyler kicks the gun away, and Reign picks it up, holding it with both hands before shoving the tail straight into the old man’s face. The man’s head bounces off the ground, and he lets out a groan as he grows weak.

Reign hits him again with the gun, and again.

Whack, whack, whack.

It’s a constant sound of flesh crunching beneath the weight and force of the gun. It’s a brutal sound, one that would have me wincing if it didn’t feel like my body was actively tearing in two.

The girls start hitting at him, and it feels like I’m watching back in time, when all of us ganged up on Zane, tearing him to pieces for hurting me.

These people in front of me, they are my blood. Forever.

Reign stands above him, twisting the gun until the muzzle is pointed right in front of the man’s face. His breathing is labored, weakened as he stares at Reign with fearful eyes. His face is black and blue, no longer the angry man but a weak, tired, distorted image of his former self.

“Shouldn’t have fucked with her. If I can find a way, I’ll bring your ass back to life only to kill you again. And I’ll keep doing that shit until the end of time.”