Marvin’s smile falters at the crude and direct threat; his eyes quickly flit to me, narrowing them at me. It dawns on me that my presence here interruptedtheirintimacy, a friendship of years built on trust and rotten flesh. Marvin took care of Jasper in ways I am only just beginning to understand, and I am fracturing it; as one would with brittle bone, crushing it with barely any effort.
“Of course, Sir… Miss, it was never my intention to make you… uncomfortable.”
He gives me a small, uncomfortable smile which never reaches his eyes.
“No problem, thank you, Marvin.”
“Was there a reason why you’re here?” Jasper asks, slightly annoyed.
“Just wanted to check up on you, Sir.”
He was checking whether I was already dead, I think to myself. Maybe they would sip a glass of wine after Jasper killed one of the previous women. Celebrate another death. Either way, Marvin doesn’t seem pleased that I’m still breathing oxygen, though I don’t understand why.
Jasper thanks him, and we wait until the van disappears from sight. I can’t help myself and blurt out the words.
“Did he always visit after you killed a woman?”
“What? No. Never. That would be ridiculous.”
Jasper’s response puzzles me even more.
“Then why did he check up on you?”
“He does that from time to time, to see if I need anything I have forgotten. Food, books, whatever comes to mind. It’s what I pay him for.” He shrugs.
“Right.” It hadn’t occurred to me, but that makes sense; he is, after all, Jasper’s personal assistant of sorts. Without Marvin, Jasper will need to venture into the open, and I have witnessed firsthand why that is a dangerous idea. He’s not made for the modern world; he’s happiest secluded, surrounded by nature rather than people.
“Ready for ourhunt, Starling?” he asks, pulling me from my reverie.
My stomach instantly flutters with excitement.
“Yes,” I breathe.
My stamina hasn’t improved over the last few days, and the further along we are on our hike, the more my lungs protest as I do my best not to wheeze. There’s not a person in sight, despite the warmer weather. I almost lash out, no longer able to ignore my body’s protest, when Jasper stops and points. Grateful, I suck in some air, and my lungs greedily accept the offering. When I follow the direction his finger points, I see them: two guys and a girl.
“Isn’t three a bit too much?” I ask with a frown.
“Stalking your prey is part of the fun during the hunt, Starling. With Patrick, we had it easy; he literally walked into our trap, but these three. All we need is one; the plan is to separate them.”
He doesn’t even hide his hunger for blood or the darkness that fuels it. When we exchanged our first message, that first ‘hello’, I never could have imagined the importance he wouldcome to hold in my life. A sin disguised as salvation, which makes him therefore my favorite forbidden embrace.
“You’re the strategist, tell me how.”
He gives me an audacious smile.
I grin and shake my head when he explains what the plan is. While I listen, I just know I was destined to fall from grace with him by my side.
At a lazy pace, we close in on the threesome, their backs to us. Jasper signals to me, and I drop to the ground, letting out a loud cry. Even though he knows it’s pretend, I see him wince and fight the urge to lift me and help me. I suppress a giggle. The trio turns around quickly, startled by the noise I made, and instinctively runs toward us, coming to our aid.
“Are you okay?” the girl asks, worried.
I shake my head. “I think I broke my ankle.” I manage to push out some tears.
“We can help carry,” one of the men offers, and the rage that Jasper exudes at the suggestion is palpable, but he manages to keep a straight face.
“I-I am afraid that might make it worse,” I sniff. “Could you perhaps get help?”
The three of them glance at each other. “Of course, we don’t have reception in these woods, but the parking lot is like an hour away from here, so we can go there and call.”
