1
BANE
“Why do you think he’s ghosted me? Hm?” I ask the man tied to the chair. He’s lost part of his scalp and one of his eyes, but I left his ears. I know he can hear me. I left them attached for that very purpose.
I need someone to reallylisten.
“Teddy says Georgiy was leading me on. He got what he wanted from me and then took off. But hey, I didn’t give himanything. Not really. And not for lack of trying. I tried to give it all to Georgiy.” I sigh and pick up my phone, staring down at the messages that are just sitting there, unanswered. It’s been weeks and nothing, no response.
I hold it up to the man in the chair, and when he doesn’t answer, I wrench his head back, blood oozing from his scalp.
“Take a good look and give me your opinion.”
The man moans. Very unhelpful indeed.
“Come on, Carl. I know you have an opinion. Telling me the truth won’t make you any less dead.”
When he doesn’t answer me, I let his head flop down, and my eyes move to stare at my bloodied hands.
Hm. I do like that color. I want it on another car.
One I can use to transport victims to and from the property. I have one already, but I want two—one that’s a little sturdier, with more trunk space. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.
My dreams can come true.
One of them, at least.
I sigh and then glance back down at my phone.
“I should just…I shouldn’t unblock him, right? Teddy would be so disappointed in me if I did that.”
The man moans in pain, and I peer over at him.
“You’re very unhelpful, Carl. I mean, why keep you alive if you’re just going to be such a crybaby?”
I pick up an electric saw and turn it on, the whirl of the machine making my blood zing with excitement. I’m over this guy. He’s already given my boss, Anthony Costello, the info he needed. And since he hasn’t helped me at all with my predicament, I think it’s time to just be done with it.
“Time to meet your maker, you cunt.”
I let out a loud laugh as the blade meets flesh and bone.
And when the top half of the man falls to the floor, the bottom half still tied to the chair, I turn the saw off and step back, deciding which parts of him to keep and which to dissolve. I have quite the collection. I love adding to it.
It’s a great hobby.
With a flick of my fingers, I swipe the excess blood from my skin, watching as it pools and disappears down the drain in the floor.
“Well, now I have to shower,” I murmur as I take a step back. “Good thing I got that new soap. Really smells nice…”
As I say this, something stings the skin of my neck, and the room suddenly starts to spin.
My body sags to the right slightly, and strong arms come around me to hold me up.
“Wh—” I begin, but my mouth is slack, my tongue two sizes too big.This is not good, I think as I start to fade into the blackness.
And when I do, I hear my name. A whisper.
In a Russian accent.
