Page 170 of Sinful Lord

To my surprise, no one objects. We all know what we have to do.

Fuck.

It almost feels like old times. Like we’re a team.

Like we’re a family. A dysfunctional, ragtag, contentious family. Hell, that’s the only type of family I’m used to. All that’s missing is the most important piece.

Melina.

Her life is in my hands. And my future is in hers.

I won’t let her down.

I can’t.

She will be mine again.

Even if I have to kill the last cancerous bits of my old family to get her back.

31

Melina

There’s no use in staying calm. It won’t do me any good.

But it feels like I’ve already done enough kicking and screaming. I’m worn out.

If only I had the option to rest.

Instead, I’m trapped in a fucking horror movie, and the end is near.

Just around the corner, I hear Krol sharpening his knives. In the window to my left, I can just make out his reflection. His demonic figure is occasionally lit by the spark of his whirling belt sander.

The terror builds with every sighting.

But every time I try to take a deep breath, or do anything to keep my limbs from violently shaking, I get a whiff of something I hadn’t noticed before.

The stench.

Maybe I’m just losing my mind, or maybe there’s no distracting myself anymore, but the smell of rotting flesh and blood has been progressively creeping into my nostril ever since Krol disappeared around the corner.

“No, no, no,” I murmur, clenching my eyes shut. But I can still hear that whirling belt in the other room. Why are his knives so dull?

Fear tears at my heart.

It seems obvious. He’s been practicing. That’s why this place smells like it does. I’m not his first victim. Though, I might just be his last.

“Don’t die afraid,” I tell myself, whispering those words over and over again in a foolish mantra. “Don’t die afraid. Don’t die afraid…”

But what other options do I have? I’m surrounded by evil. Restrained by death and hate and revenge.

Shit.

Death and hate and revenge.

Who does that remind me of?

For a split-second, my suffering is forgotten. My mind latches onto the only two men who could save me from this nightmare.