AllFreeNovel
Share Us
20
Devil Inside
Jay
It’sbeenmonthssince the cops have given me any kind of update on Juliana, which doesn’t really matter in the end because I know where she is, kind of.
I’m grateful for the call from Ember earlier when they told me they found her and brought her to a safe location. But it eats at me to know she’s been alone with these strangers for months now.
The call from Julia all that time ago truly rocked me to my core. Hearing her in distress was agony. I’ve hoped she’s okay with every fiber of my being, but hearing her break down nearly short-circuited me. I’m going to kill whoever ended the call so abruptly.
And now I know I can follow through.
Evidently, vengeance has been on my mind recently. I got retribution from the scumbag who took her, but the list of people who deserve my anger is quickly growing. Whoever hurt her enough to call in a doctor is at the top of the list. And to an extent, the people who are with her are up there too. It doesn’t matter that they’re right to make me stay away. I’m angry, and it fuels every choice I make.
It makes sense to keep my distance. It’s worth the discomfort, even if it minimizes the risk of someone finding her by the smallest fraction. But I can’t help but feel I should be there with her.
During the months of waiting, the only thing to do is to continue with life as normally as possible, which means running the club and making sure everything’s ready for Julia when she comes home. Because she will be coming home.
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot more time experimenting with some of my darker inclinations; turns out I have an affinity for torture and lies.
Rosie is quickly gaining a reputation among those in the underworld as a person who can make things happen. She seems to know the right person for whatever you need done. So much so, people are seeking her out. So when someone first approached her about needing information from an uncooperative individual, she asked me.
Friends do help friends, after all.
I’ve never been squeamish around blood, but it’s surprisingly easy to get what I want without breaking skin. I guess my dual theater and psych degrees are finally paying off. The rest of it is for my own enjoyment.
I’ve changed since Julia was taken. The club isn’t enough to keep me occupied, and I need another way to process. I need to do something with the energy refusing to diminish. But here I am, going through the motions: reviewing payroll, paying bills, and reviewing contracts with vendors. The days drag on and blur together. Only broken up by those few moments of red.
When a stranger walks into my office, I am taken aback. It’s unexpected, and my stomach twists at their appearance. I would prefer not to deal with more dramatic events if I can avoid them.
They quietly shut the door of Julia’s office and move to the chair before me. Their posture is relaxed, while I am on edge.
“We have a problem.” Their voice betrays the calm exterior they display.
Based on their voice alone, I decide—this must be Ember. And this can’t be anything good. I’m not sure I’m ready to hear whatever they have to share. “How is she?”
“Oh, yeah. She’s fine. Doing a lot better.”
The answer is unsatisfying, but I hesitate to push for more. I don’t want to cut off my only tie to Julia because I’m following my impulses rather than rational thought. I haven’t heard anything for weeks. I need this.
“She’s been pushing hard for you to come to visit. Won’t shut up about it,” they say.
That sounds more like the Julia I know. Not the tearful woman I listened to over the phone.
“What did she threaten?”
They let out a small laugh. “How’d you know?”
“She’s my best friend.” I shrug.
They look at me for a while, and I know they can see what I’m not willing to say out loud. Not yet, anyway. Especially not to anyone other than Julia.
“She’s threatening to sneak out on her own. Thought we should take that seriously.”
“Probably for the best.” My words are selfish. “And?”
“Well, things have been pretty silent for the past few weeks. We figure maybe it’s time for us to complete the job.”
