My lips spread into a maniacal grin as I stared down into the eyes of this peasant. Before he could take another breath, I twisted his wrist with a hard jolt, a resounding snap echoing with the impact. His shank bounced to the floor as his hand lay limp at an odd angle.
Walter’s eyes burned with hatred as a loud grunt escaped his throat. I had to give him credit, he earned points for not squealing like a pig as his bones shattered. Even a few more, for having an ounce of practicality and not outright attacking me on instinct alone.
My fingers raised to circle his throat. “I had one rule. What did I say?” He shook his head (well, as much as he could with my hand cutting off his airway). “I told you never to touch what was mine.” Then I shoved him back on the bed.
Walter choked while scurrying back against the headboard, as far away from me as possible.
“I didn’t take shit. It wasn’t me. You’ve got the wrong guy.” I bent and twirled his shank between my fingers, admiring the handiwork and ingenuity. “I swear, Psycho. I haven’t touched anything.”
“Ah, but that’s a lie, isn’t it? You touched her. And she’s mine.”
Realisation sparked in his features, his pale face now sweating profusely.
I knew what he saw when he looked into my dead, black eyes. I gave him a glimpse into my tarnished soul, an open gateway to the beast inside, manically laughing in the background of his misery.
“You roamed your unworthy hands over her body, placed your diseased tongue over her perfect, unblemished skin. You touched what is mine!”
Walter sobbed. “Fuck! I didn’t know. I’m telling you, Psycho, I didn’t know she was yours.” I ripped out his legs and dragged him over the edge of the bed, his body thumping hard against the ground.
Solid and unmoving, I stood over his whimpering form. The executioner had come to collect.
I live for this shit, die for this shit, fucking get hard for this shit.
“You will repent by saying her name. What is her name?”
“Dr Chaser.”
“That’s not it.”
I preened at the knowledge that I was one of the select few who knew my girl’s name—her real identity. I swear that lit some type of bliss in my stone-concrete organ of a heart.
“I don’t know…I-I don’t fucking know her name.”
Latching onto his greasy hair, I yanked his head back for the disrespect, his neck straining as my gaze bled into his.
“That’s right. And you’ll never know,” I said, before slamming his face into the ground.
I veered around his trembling body as liquid pooled over the floor.
Did this motherfucker piss himself?
Sidestepping the puddle of urine, I lifted his uninjured hand. “You defied my request, made a mistake. And you will pay for that mistake. Once I’m done, consider justice paid in full. Let’s see if you survive it.” Bending over, I got to work.
MICAH
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THERE’S NO FOOTAGE?!” Mayor Oakview screamed through the monitor, the speakers crackling from the onslaught.
We were jammed into Burner’s office, forced into an emergency debrief meeting regarding the astronomical failure that was the fundraiser ball.
Oakview Asylum was in lockdown, two staff members murdered and no suspect in sight. Since their gruesome deaths, most hadn’t returned, leaving Burner and I to clean up the mess.
“I don’t know, sir. The whole server’s been wiped,” Burner said. “The police can’t find anything.” He looked like shit, his appearance unkempt, an all-around fucking disaster.
“It was one of those lunatics! I don’t care which, pick one and be done!” Mayor Oakview shouted, his carotid thumping down the side of his neck. He should have been more careful. He could have given himself a cardiac arrest, with all that stress.
I forcibly pushed my smile back, adopting the ideal mourning image.
“And now we have to deal with this inmate in the Intensive Care Unit. How the fuck are you running this place, Burner?”
Burner’s knee bounced beneath his desk. “We assume it’s the same person. They used Fern’s swipe card to access Walter’s room.”
My attention perked at the name. “What happened to Walter?”
Burner softened his tone. “He was attacked overnight. His hands were mutilated beyond repair. Plus, he’d lost a lot of blood by the time he was found. His tongue was cut out.”
“Prognosis?”
“It’ll be a miracle if he makes it out alive.”
Mayor Oakview grunted, unfazed. “Good. He can be our suspect.” Said and spoken like a true politician.
My lips involuntarily pursed and Mayor Oakview caught the expression, as if only just realising I was in the room.
“I apologise for the callousness, Dr Chaser. If you’re struggling, please go home and rest.” His voice was calm and soothing.
“I’d prefer to continue as normal, please.” They both agreed, and I excused myself from the stifling environment.
