“So, we’re still crazy?” I asked.
“Absolutely. It’s just that we occasionally also see things, talk to ourselves, make up situations to fit a narrative that we need. We live in our own little bubble half the time.”
Fear shot through me as I thought of the life Killian had built for us over the past few years. “Please tell me that everything in Primrose is real, that it happened. That our men…” I held my breath, searching his expression. “Runo…”
“I’m fucking you. Most of that is real. I couldn’t tell you what isn’t though. That’s part of this whole DMD thing. Hopefully, our men will be happy to give us a little rundown. For now, I’ll take it from here.”
That was fine with me. I still needed to process that my best friend had created me because he had been lonely. All of this was fucked up.
The outside world slowly faded as well as our bodies until we were just entities in Runo’s brain. It felt strange watching the world dissolve into nothingness, Daemon asking one last question.
Was there really a car accident?
Runo shrugged. “Hell if I know. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow if the pain is still there.”
This wasn’t part of the fucking plan and I already hated this new existence.
AERON
It had been three days since we had last heard from Finn. After his car had been found in a wreck on a road toward the edge of Primrose, we had all been worried, wondering where the fuck he had disappeared to. Chief Matthews had been tight-lipped and we couldn’t find Finn’s ex, anywhere.
The Revival ran article after article, saying that the newest killer—The Unknown—had stepped up his game from just killing to kidnapping. And right beside the main article was an expose on Merchant himself, something that Samael was less than thankful for.
The investigation into Nyla’s death had run cold and with the chief’s son missing, everyone was on high alert. We had to be. Primrose was terrified of what their little city had become.With no clues or explanation to where Finn was, we just sat and waited and held our breath.
Despite being killers and terrible men, we were pitiful in our own right, spread out in Samael’s office, peeking at my board every so often as if a clue would jump out at us.
The worst part in all of this was that Finn wasn’t the only one missing. A few people had disappeared in the last few days and I was beginning to wonder if this wasn’t part of Finn’s plan. How could it be? Or would we find another personality lurking in the darkness, trying to play games with us?
I sagged against the couch cushions, cherishing my last bit of curry. Nyla had been a tasty bitch but not as tasty as when I had shared a meal with Finn. I could still feel the ghost of his touch running along my back and the kisses on my skin as he fucked me.
A pillow hit me squarely in the face and I glared at the culprit, Slash returning the stare tenfold. “Moan one more goddamn time and I will stuff that curry up your ass and fuck you in it.”
I clutched the bowl to my chest. “Absolutely not. We do not desecrate my masterpieces.”
“Thenswallowthose moans and keep them to yourself. Fucking hell.”
Samael piped up from behind his desk. “What is it?”
“Niles rejected my resignation and wanted me to come in but he’s not answering his phone. One of the other doctors said hehasn’t been to work all day.” Slash started typing away on his phone, a suspicion I absolutely hated bubbling up in my head.
I stood up and ventured into the hallway, waiting for Samael’s trusty shadow to step in my way. When nothing happened, I took a few steps toward the kitchen, waiting for movement and finding none. So, I returned to the office. “Where the fuck is Brent? He’s supposed to be here, right? Anyone else think it’s fucking odd that people around us are disappearing?”
Samael’s expression darkened as he stood, his hands fisting at his sides. Just before he could comment, my phone rang, Finn’s number running across the screen.
“Finn? Thank fuck. Where have you been?”
A chuckle met my ears as I placed the call on speaker. “Actually, it’s Runo. And I’ve been around.”
“Where the fuck is Finn?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
Slash ripped the phone from my hand. “Cut the shit. Where have you been taking all these goddamn people? Where is Finn?”
“You really didn’t pick up all the clues? God, I thought you were smarter than that. Well, then. I’d like to introduce myself. Hello, I’m Runo Matthews. You might have picked out that I was Runo Ipse but Ipse just meansmyself. I thought it was clever.”
A heavy breath fell from my lips as everything clicked together.
