Page 34 of Killer (Project)

“What is it?” I asked.

“He knows the truth, and he won’t tell you. Tell her, Richard. Tell her!!” He was yelling, and my head was on the verge of exploding. Too many voices, too much noise. I couldn’t think straight.

“There is nothing to tell her, Roger. Nothing at all.” The way my father spoke caused shivers to run down my spine. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest.

“There is. Tell her because if you don’t, then I will.” Roger’s voice was going in and out in my mind. The look on my father’s face said all I needed to know. There was more than I knew. More than I was being let on to know.

“Is Roger right?” I didn’t want to question anyone else because I knew just how manipulative Roger could be. But I also knew something wasn’t right. I could feel it deep inside my bones.

“Tell her why you took the job working for my father, Richard. Tell her what she is.” Roger’s voice was fading. I clenched my fists together knowing what I was about to hear was going to change my life forever.

“What’s he talking about, and don’t you dare fucking lie to me. I can tell you know something. Just tell me.” I almost allowed myself to beg, to be weak. Never again would I do that. I wouldn’t lose sight of hope in this place.

“Can we just talk about this after we go back and get Killer out? He should be waking up soon.” My father dismissed my anger and uncertainty. It was uncanny to say the least. I glanced over at Roger, who was now fast asleep.

“What are you lying to me about?” I growled, taking steps toward him until I was gripping him by the arm.

“I cannot tell you here. You wouldn’t understand.” He defended himself, shrugging away my grip before walking out of the room and down the hall. My gaze drifted from Roger to my father… What was he lying about? Without hesitation, I entered the hallway. The walls were white and clean. Making me feel like a speck of dirt. The tiles reflected my facial features from them as we made our way down the hallway. I cringed, tear streaks marring my cheeks at seeing the red marks from Roger’s hands.

My father placed a key card into a slot in a door, and it opened. A glass wall and steel door separated me from Killer. I remember the way he looked at me, the things he said to me not that long ago.

He was lying on the ground in the middle of his cell. I couldn’t even tell if his chest was moving. Fear seized me. If he were truly dead, I wasn’t sure I could live with myself.

I pounded on the glass before yelling at my father.

“What did you do to him?”

“He was going to kill me. I had to do something, Maggie.” A shiver rippled through me as I whirled on him.

“What did you give him, the same thing you gave Roger? What are you hiding? Are you even on our side?” The questions kept coming. I was so confused, afraid, and unsure. I was about to have a breakdown.

“Breathe. He’ll be okay once we get him out.” I clenched my fists staring at him through the glass. His dark hair shielded his face, hiding his eyes from me.

I hoped he was right because if Killer were anyone but himself, we wouldn’t be able to escape this place, and we most certainly would be dead.

nineteen

killer

Something in myhead pounded. It echoed deeply through my mind. My eyes felt heavy, my body unable to move effectively… Anger bubbled to the surface, the past and present clashing as one.

More pounding. Where was it coming from? I forced one eyelid open, and then the other, gazing around the cell I was in. Richard was gone. Maggie was gone. I was alone. They left me here. For some reason, the thought made my chest fill with sorrow.

I sat up, facing the glass barrier. What my eyes landed on had me thinking I had seen a ghost.

Maggie. She stood there helplessly afraid. There was tension built up in her body, and she looked like she could explode at any point in time.

She used you. She wanted you here.

The beast inside of me reminded me of what she had done. A growl rumbled deep within my chest.

“We will release you only if you promise not to kill us.” Richards’s voice came over the intercom in my cell. I wanted to laugh at his comment. It was amusing of him to ask me not to kill him as if they would indeed release me. If they were smart, they wouldn’t step a foot inside of this cell.

“Well, that would be going back on my promise then. Plus, I plan to make your death far worse than hers.” I sat up stumbling to my feet.

I watched Maggie’s hand cover her mouth, fear riddled out of her. I could smell it—taste it. It was delicious, and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it.

“It was all a lie. A big huge lie, Killer. You have to believe me. You have to,” she cried out to me from the other side of the glass.