“What the hell do you want?!” he screamed, his voice cracking on the last word. “I’ll give you anything, just let us go!”
“What do I want?”
I threw him to the floor, and his head smacked into it with brutal force. He let out a scream of pain as he reached back, his hand coming away slick with blood.
“I want to make you suffer,” I said with a laugh.
He glanced up at me, his eyes trying to focus, and he shook his head.
“I want to make youpayfor all the pain you’ve caused.”
He tried to sit up, but I pressed my boot into his chest, forcing him back down.
“I d-d-idn’t h-h-h-hurt nob-b-b-ody,” he stuttered.
“You sure about that?”
He nodded, and I released him as I leaned down to pull out my phone. I brought up a picture of Lila, her crimson-red hair blowing in the breeze, her ocean-blue eyes bright and full of life. I turned it around for him to see, and his chin started to quiver as tears welled in his eyes.
“She look familiar?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Fucking answer me!” I yelled, punching him in the jaw.
His head snapped sideways, and blood spewed from his mouth. He started crying, and I pulled him up to sit, meeting my gaze.
“It’s too late to feel bad about it now,Steven. The damage has been done.”
I pulled him up and sat him in a chair, watching as he swayed back and forth. He pressed his head into his hands, deep sobs wracking his chest. I stood with my arms crossed, waiting for him to end his theatrics.
“Alright, alright. That’s enough,” I said, slapping the back of his head.
He hissed in pain and looked up at me, anger flaring in his eyes. He tried to stand but stumbled back, groaning as he gripped the table beside him.
“Did she send you?”
“She has no clue I’m here.”
He sighed in relief, his shoulder sagging forward as he leaned back against the chair.
“Then you can still let me go,” he whispered, looking up at me.
“Not a chance.”
“Why? What good will any of this accomplish?”
I shrugged, pulling another syringe out of my pocket. His breathing quickened as I stepped forward and leaned over him, our faces only inches apart.
“You’re lucky I have even a sliver of self-control. If it were just for me, you’d be dead right now. But, this isn’t for me. It’s forher.”
“But she doesn’t even know you’re here!” he shouted, his voice unsteady. “You don’t have to do anything. Just let me go, let me take care of my wife.”
“Lila deserved better than the piece of shit parents she got,” I snarled.
“I-I-I thought her mother would take care of her,” he said shaking his head. “She loved her.”
“No,” I scoffed. “She loved theideaof having a family. The minute you left, Lila ceased to exist to her.”
