“Answer her,” Jason snarled from the corner.
Daniel’s head popped up, and he shifted in his seat to look back at Jason. I could see his apprehension, the real answer probably one that neither I nor Jason would like.
“I wanted to see if I could get away with it,” he said, swallowing hard. “When we met, I could tell you lacked… well, everything.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, anger flaring in my chest.
I couldn’t bring myself to feel anything other than anger as I watched him fight back a smile.
“The way you hold yourself screams vulnerable. You lack confidence and honestly…”
He stopped mid-sentence, his words trailing off.
“Honestly, what?” I said through gritted teeth.
“I heard fat chicks were easy and wanted to see if it was true,” he shrugged.
Before I could react, Jason grabbed the back of his neck and yanked him out of the chair, throwing him to the ground. He pressed his boot against Daniel’s chest, a look of fear flickering across his face. Daniel squirmed underneath Jason’s boot, his face beginning to turn a bright shade of red as he pressed the tip of it against is throat.
Part of me knew I should stop Jason, to keep him from hurting Daniel any more. But another part of me, the part that I’d kept hidden and buried for far too long, wanted to see him suffer. I wanted to see him beg for mercy. I wanted to see him beg for hislife.
“Apologize,” Jason snarled, his muscles rigid as he held himself back.
“I-I’m s-s-s-orry,” he gasped, his face now turning a deep purple.
“Get him out of here,” I mumbled, turning to Jason. “Please, just get him out.”
Jason turned to me, his eyes filled with anger, and nodded. He removed his foot from Daniel’s chest and reached down, pulling him by the collar of his coat to stand. They headed for the door, Jason pulling the key from his front pocket, a loud click sounding in the room. Daniel turned back to me, panic etched into his features.
“Please, Lila. Help me!” he screamed as Jason dragged him from the room.
I looked him in the eye, his words twisting in my head.
“No,” I said before turning my back toward him.
The sound of the door shutting behind me sent a chill down my spine, Daniel’s screams still echoing in my head as I lay down on the bed. Broken sobs ripped through me, and I clutched the blanket against my chest.
Daniel’sscreamsechoedthroughthe living room as I continued to drag him through the house. Anger rolled through me as I replayed his words about Lila in my head, and the way her face fell when he spoke them.
She'd never outwardly say how badly his words hurt, but I knew they did. I'd read some of her journal and knew she felt ashamed of herself.
I stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to him, his hands gripping my arm as he tried to pull me off.
“Give me one good reason I should let you live,” I said, my grip tightening around his coat collar.
His chin trembled as tears slid down his cheek, the fear I saw on his face making me smirk. He shook his head vigorously and shut his good eye tightly.
“Please don’t kill me,” he begged. “I’ll do anything!”
“That’s not an answer. Tell me, right now, why I shouldn’t kill you.”
“Who would take care of Lila when you get caught?”
“Haven’t been caught yet,” I said with a shrug.
His face paled, and the smell of urine filled the air. I looked down to see the crotch of his pants wet, urine seeping down his leg, and pooling on the floor. I looked at him in disgust and threw him against the wall, his head hitting a picture frame that hung there.
“Fucking disgusting,” I growled as I stepped over the puddle. “You’re pathetic.”
