I lunge, my knife shifting forward as it lands on the target, piercing it with ease. Too much ease.
There’s a loud pop, and I’m so surprised that I leap back a step. The figure deflates, falling into a sorry heap at my feet. My brow furrows, and I rub at my eyes.
What the fuckwasthat? Was that…a balloon?
I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight, the beam spilling over the deflated doll crumpled on the ground. It gives a wheeze as the last of the air leaves it.
Like a dying breath.
I stare at the knife in my hand, my brows bunched. How did I miss that this wasn’t an actual person lingering in the corner of the room?
Am I that inept?
Do I need to get my eyes checked again? I’m certain I had an ophthalmologist appointment recently, but maybe more time has passed than I realized.
A muscle jumps in my jaw as I flick the knife in and out repeatedly. Someone decided to plant a blow-up doll in my office.
I know who did it.
I know it in my bones.
Neo.
The question is, what am I going to do about it?
I stalk back to my computer and sit down, my mind spinning. Oh, the things I want to do to Neo to make him behave. Not sure any of them will work. He seems like a wild creature, one unwilling to be caged.
I bet it would make me feel better though. My monster definitely would. He doesn’t see Neo’s behavior as irritating. No, he sees it as an invitation.
That’s what scares me the most.
I wiggle the mouse, and my screen bursts to life.
A box pops up. My hold on my knife tightens as my brain processes what I’m seeing. It’s a grainy video of me lunging toward the blow-up doll, my startled expression that quickly gives way to confusion. The idiotic way I glare down at it.
When it’s done, it plays again. Apparently, Neo has set it up on a loop.
Brat.
As if that’s not bad enough, my phone vibrates. My eyes flick down to see a message from Harley.
Harley
Good one, bro! Way to kill the balloon, man.
My jaw clicks. Fucking great. Neo didn’t just record it, but it appears he shared it with my brothers too.
I may not punish him, I may murder him.
Another message pops up, this time from Dalton.
Dalton
Good thing Dad taught him so thoroughly.
It’s followed quickly by messages from the others. Apparently, there’s a full audience for my humiliation.
Cade
