When will it be enough?
When will I stop smiling at the people who deserve this?
Liem steps over his body crouching down beside him. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Been thinking about what I’d do to you if I ever found you.”
“Piss off, asshole.”
Liem smirks. “I would love to take my time with you. But this isn’t my battle.”
My breathing is heavy as Liem stands handing me the gun. “You don’t have to do this. I can do this for you. But I want to give you that choice. You deserve to have a choice.”
I look down at the metal weapon that’s being handed to me. I’ve never killed anyone before and it’s terrifying, yes, but it also excites me. Should I really end his life after he took mine from me?
Reaching slowly, I place my hand on the gun and Liem sets his much larger one on top of mine. He steps into my space, his large form wrapping around me in comfort. I want to confide in him, sink into his strength. But there’s a small part of me that lost his trust when he left, and I can’t forgive him so easily.
He winces, stepping back when I don’t return his way of intimacy.
I will do this. I’m going to kill the man who caused me so much suffering. I’m going to take my first life, and I’m not even scared.
THIRTY-FIVE
Danika
My hands shake, not because I’m afraid but because this will mean I’ll finally be free. Does this make me a monster like him? The fact I can take another life without hesitation.
No. I’m nothing like him.
He bores into me, his emotionless eyes piercing straight through me with the slight raise of his lips. I don’t even know his name. And I never want to know it.
“You don’t have it in you, little rabbit,” he curses out, spitting blood on the floor.
Liem’s fist curls at his side but doesn’t put himself in the situation. He’s giving me this. Allowing me to break free for myself.
“You took everything from me. My soul. My willingness to be carefree in a fucked-up world. You took that away from me. Not even giving me a choice.”
I will never have that choice.
To hold their tiny hands in mine. To raise a human being whom I grew inside me. Nah, he took that from me. And I’m taking his poor excuse for a life.
He scoffs, as I stare down at him. His knee and leg twisted in an unnatural position as he struggles to drag himself back against the wall. A trail of blood left on the hardwood. “Your cunt was the best I’ve ever had, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Liem twitches forward but it’s too late. I pull the trigger and the loud bang echoes off the walls and ceiling. The devil in disguise falls limp, his head lolling to the side, chin tucked into his chest.
As hard as I try, I can’t seem to move. The gun still pointing at the monster I’d just killed.
My breathing evens out but is still heavy when the dizziness starts to penetrate over me.
My hands tremble.
A warm body presses up against my back and Liem slowly reaches around, taking the gun from me. “It’s okay. It’s done. It’s over. You did good and I’m so proud of you.” He sets the gun down on the arm of the couch and turns me so I am no longer looking at the dead body, but at him instead. And I instantly grow calmer.
“I killed him.”
“You did.”
“Does that make me a monster, too?”
He levels his eyes with mine. “It makes you free. And brave. But you’ll never have to do that again. I promise you.”
