I saw Jensen collecting money from the guys who are participating shortly after he arrived earlier today.
“Just get down the fucking stairs,” I snap at him as I push him with the tip of the gun. The same gun I used on my little flower earlier.
We make it down the steps and I lead him over to the chair and the supplies that Ev and Sage left out for me.
The room is cold; frigid air clings to the cement walls as darkness sweeps over the expanse of the basement. The upstairs interior is already fully set up with all the makings for a haunted house—the event planned for tomorrow night.
I push Broden into the chair.
“Dude, seriously. What the fuck is going on?” I don’t answer him as I force his arms behind his back and start to tie him up using mostly duct tape around hiswrists; zip ties for added measure to bind his arms behind him to the back of the chair. I also strap down his ankles to each leg of the chair before walking behind him. Only then do I remove the bag over his head.
He struggles, trying to catch his breath while also fighting against the bids I’ve secured on him. I watch the fear that twists in him as he tries to wriggle free, his fight or flight just now kicking in.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I start as I circle around him, my voice laced with a dark and cold timbre. “I thought it was time we had a little chat.”
His eyes widen when he sees my mask and I can tell that now he knows he’s in fucking danger.
“Yo, what the fu-”
I reach up to swipe at the creaky old light fixture that hangs above him, shutting him up abruptly as it violently rattles against the chain that holds it in place. The dim lighting flashes over Broden, lighting him up and then covering him in darkness once more as it swings back and forth a few more times.
I round him as he struggles once more but then he flinches when the cold point of my blade greets him; I press it firmly into the side of his neck and he freezes.
“Now, before you go making any dumb decisions, I highly suggest you think about how painful it might be to have your neck ripped open. I can get you right where it tends to bleed most or you can give me what I want without all the added theatrics. All up to you.” I circle him once more, letting my blade drift with me as I walk around to face him, tracing his skin to the front of his throat.
I notice the tiny droplets of sweat dripping down his skin, beautifully accentuating the goosebumps my knife leaves in its wake. He’s scared and I am thriving off it.
Keeping the blade in place, I use my other hand to slide my fingers under the bottom of my mask and slowly drag it upward, leaving it on top of my head, and revealing my face. I know he already knew who I was before taking it off, but I think the reality sets in because his face pales.
I watch as he starts to tremble, his lips quiver and his eyes shake back and forth as if he’s begging for someone to jump out and save him. I press the knife a little further into his Adam’s apple and he whimpers.
“What the fuck is your pr- problem?” he stammers and a smirk pulls on my face.
“My problem?” I tilt my head. “Well, let’s see. My sister was assaulted and murdered, as you may know. And I believe that those responsible are still fucking breathing. My problem is that you had something to do with it and I’m here to figure out what it is.”
“M- me?” He looks up at me with confusion painting his face.
“Don’t play fuckin’ dumb with me. That’ll only make things worse.” I take a step back, removing the sharp point pressed into his skin and I watch as he swallows freely.
Suddenly, he starts thrashing against his restraints, eager to get loose. But I know it’s no use. Instead I just step back and watch him make a fool out of himself.
“Let me go. You’ve fucking lost it,” he shouts in a panic, his fear starting to take over.
“Oh, you’re not going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know.” I wave my knife maniacally in the air.
“I don’t know anything, you psycho. Let me the fuck out of here.”
I jump, crowding him in a matter of seconds which causes him to crash into the back of the chair, nearly falling backward. I lean in, gripping the back of the chair and holding him in with my knife pressed to his gut. A pathetic whimper falls from his lips.
“I don’t have time for your bullshit. You will tell me the fucking truth or I will strip you from the inside out.” My warning is sharp, my tone is sadistic, and my heart is racing with pure excitement.
I take a step back and allow him to breathe, knowing that soon, I intend to take his last breath from him the way that Seren’s voice was taken from her.
“Did you know that my sister wrote everything in a fucking diary, Broden?”
I turn to face him, eager to capture his reaction, but his head is hung as snot runs down his lips and over the edge of his chin.
I slide my hand into my pocket, fitting my fingers through the brass mold before walking back over to him. He flinches the closer I get but I stop at his feet and lower my voice.
