“Sarah…” Bruno mumbles. “Just do it.”
“Yes, listen to him. Continue your work.”
“No!” I yell from the top of my lungs. “Do you think I want to torture him, instead of you? I’d fucking do a number on you. But guess what, working you won’t bring my mother back!”
“Yes! That’s it, give in to your anger.”
“Don’t you get it? You won’t get away with this. You’re making me torture the only family I have left, and for that, I won’t forgive you.” Leon laughs hysterically. “Only a psychopath, not appreciated by his father, who treated him like shit, someone who doesn’t know what life is, means or feels, would laugh in a moment like thi—” Leon’s knuckles connect with my cheekbone before I can finish that sentence. I hit the ground, but at least the laughter stopped.
Two punches in the face on the same spot. I’m on a roll today…
Bruno starts to shake in his chair. The pain woke him up from his slumber and the rush of adrenaline is making him curse incredibly fast. It’s impossible to understand what he’s saying.
Leon picks me up. My legs are shaky, and the right side of my face feels like molten lava. Leon dusts my knees and with a sick tone, he says, “Oh, Sarah. I didn’t really want to kill your mother. You see, she was extremely polite and kind to me when I visited her. But you see, you weren’t home. Remember? I wonder what you were doing in the exact moment I severed her head from her body. Fucking him, perhaps?” He points at Bruno. “Doesn’t matter now.” He walks back to the table. “I’m on the fence about what tool you should use next. Why don’t you come over and pick it yourself?”
I go towards the table. It has items of all shapes and sizes. Of all the items on it, I can make out a scalpel. Bruno used it to make little cuts on my arm, which will never completely heal, leaving scars on my skin for the rest of my life.
“Ahh, a scalpel. How very educated of you. The choice of a surgeon or a lethal, precise killer. Everything is a matter of perspective. Don’t you think?”
I walk towards Bruno; he’s not looking at me this time. Maybe because he’s mad at me, or perhaps he doesn’t wanna make me feel defeated.
I stand behind him, kneel and start to slowly cut his shoulder. He jerks his shoulder away in pain and I promptly stop.
“What do you think this is, a tattoo parlor? Continue.” The scalpel is extremely sharp and that little dab at Bruno’s shoulder makes a deep cut with almost no force applied. “I SAID, CONTINUE!”
I pull my act together and comply with his demand. But before I can hurt him more, I hear a loud noise and the ground shaking. The tools clatter on the table. I hold a scream mid-throat and look at Leon for instructions. Leon ignores me and tilts his head at Bad Blood, ‘go check what that was.’ Everybody in the room looks worried.
Everybody, but one.
Bruno.
He’s…smiling.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I ain’t dead yet, kiddo.
Sarah
Redbeard, what the fuck was that noise?” Bad Blood says on his radio. “Redbeard? Can you hear me? Does anyone know where the fuck is Redbeard!? Anyone!?”
“Quickly, go check what the hell that was!”
“I’m on it, boss.”
Bad Blood walks out and leaves us with Leon.
This is it! I have to do it now.
“Please, tell me this isn’t you, Professor. Because if it is, it will only bring you pain, the kind that does irreparable damage. And by that I mean I’m going to shoot her in the hea—”
“Me? How could it be me? I’m hogtied to a fucking chair. Aren’t I?” Bruno interrupts. Hearing his calm and confident voice is giving me courage. I still have the scalpel in my hand and a rope in front of me.
I have to do it now.
“Do not interrupt me. Don’t forget your place,” Leon says.
That’s right— keep arguing.
