I took a step, and he matched me, taking one back.
"Is this because I flirted with your sister?” He snickered. “You think scaring me is going to make me back off?" Moth straightened. "Nice fucking try. You don't scare me, Priest."
I lifted the axe and swung it. Moth jumped and fled into the maze.
Here we go.
I cracked my neck and strode into the maze after him. While he had the advantage inside the hotel, with everyone on his side and the speed to catch me off guard, I had the advantage here. I'd made myself familiar with every twist, turn, and wall. I walked slowly, listening for his heavy breathing and the crunch of his boots on the snow.
I turned and swung the axe, only managing to get a scream. His cries were lost in the howling wind.
"What the fuck is your problem?" he shouted, stepping out from his hiding spot. "You wanted me dead then too. I knew it. I could see it in your eyes every time you looked at me in group. They said our rap sheet was the same, but I knew you were far worse than I ever was."
I didn't answer. I was going to let him do all the talking. He backed away slowly, shaking his head. "No, it all makes sense now. It was because of her, wasn't it? The guy you killed, was he trying to get with her?" Moth stopped walking. "She's your sister, dude."
I shook my head slowly.
I didn't care if he knew the truth now. He’d be dead soon.Harsh wind paled his face even more. His lips began to tremble. I could see the recollection of my file in his eyes. It was all coming together for him. Marco Brandis, murdered by axe. They never found the killer, but I was the main suspect.
I lifted the axe and he took off again, tripping and scurrying back up. He knew I wasn't playing. He had to get out before I could catch him, but that wasn't going to happen. Hearing him on the other side of a wall, I swung my axe out, and this time, I felt the impact of metal on flesh.Squelch.
I let him flee, clutching his arm, now spurting blood. It wouldn't be long now. I followed behind, aiming for his legs this time. I caught him close to the exit but managed to trip him instead of maiming him. Moth fell onto the snow, staining the white ground red.
"Please, don't. I won't touch her. She's all yours, man."
I stepped over him, pinning him under me.
"I don't even like her. She's just a quick lay. I'm not going to take her from you." He pleaded.
I raised my arms and the axe over my head, poising to deal the final blow, when suddenly Moth's eyes went from panicked to overjoyed as he raised his good arm and clicked open a pocketknife, jamming it right into the back of my calf.
Grunting, I fell to my knees, sitting on his chest. Moth lost his breath but managed a cackle as he drove the knife deeper into me. I dropped the axe from one hand and swung my fist at his face, landing square on his nose. It crunched under my knuckles. Blood spurted from his face, causing him to fall back. I took the distraction to tear the knife from my calf and toss it aside. I could have stabbed him directly in the chest and ended it now, but I wasn't ready.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled the mask off. We both knew it wasme, anyway.
"Out of all the people my little sister could have had a crush on, it had to be you."
"I always fucking hated you," he said, while still clutching his nose. "They kept saying we had the same mind, but even I’m not sick enough to fuck my sister."
"Oh right, you’re just a serial killer. Killing the less dead, right?" My hand drifted back to the axe, and I wrapped my fingers around the cold, wooden handle. "Did you stop after you got out, or did you just get better?"
He chuckled, and blood spurted out and onto my jacket. "Do we ever stop? What do you think my real plans were for this week? To write a book? I haven't written shit my entire life. My parents hired a ghostwriter and I play the part. I’m just a shitty tattoo artist who’s here because Tristan wanted to kill?—”
"Kill who?"
"The virgin. I didn't realize she'd be that fucking hot."
"You're more deranged than I thought." He was going to kill Delaney this week? If I hadn't been there, he would have!
"They let me out, so they must have thought it was okay. But you'll never escape Cunningham's. Did you ever truly leave Priest Duvall?"
I brought the axe to my lap and then passed it to my other hand. Slowly, I began to lift it over my head.
"I wouldn't be too concerned about me, Moth. It's you who won't be leaving." I swung the axe down and split his head right down the middle. I stood, my leg shooting with pain from being stabbed, and then grabbed the mask, sliding it back on.
I stared at his body. He was still in the maze. He wouldn't be found for a while. Deciding to leave him there, I stepped toward the exit and then paused. I went back to him and dug into his pockets until I found his phone, keys to his room, andwallet. I grabbed his hand and used his pointer finger to unlock the phone. Just then, a text came through from Laney.
Delaney: Are you still up?
