“K—kill me. Not—not her,” I stutter. I don’t know if he can hear me. I can only feel my lips moving, but my ears are now pounding.
I want to scream, but I can’t. My throat is all closed up.
He doesn’t speak again. Just keeps watching me. Head tilted. Face expressionless. He’s making a decision, and it feels like it’s taking him forever.
Even through my haze, I see the moment his jaw ticks. His eyes narrow — just a fraction. Then he lets the phone clatter to the ground and moves toward me.
Before I know it, he’s sitting on the beat-up mattress and pulling me into his arms. I can barely feel his touch. My skin is buzzing.
He rests his chin on top of my head and gives me a light squeeze. It doesn’t do much to stop my shaking.
I want to throw myself out of his arms. Hit him. Do something. But I’m paralyzed with fear. And somehow, the rhythmic beating of his heart feels soothing. Just like it did all those years ago.
“Shhh,” he whispers. “Calm down. I won’t hurt Liz.”
“You—you’re lying,” I sob.
He gives me another squeeze and moves his hand up and down my arm. Almost comforting.
“I’m not. Why would I hurt Liz? I used to play catch with her at the park. Remember?”
“The photos,” I breathe. “There’s so many. You wouldn’t have them if you weren’t planning something.”
“I’m just keeping an eye on her. Make sure she’s safe. After all, she’s all alone and far from home,” he says. “She needs someone to watch out for her, doesn’t she?”
That’s messed up. Isn’t it? Shouldn’t it be?
I try to push away from him, but he tightens his arms around me.
“You had a photo of her sleeping,” I accuse, my voice finally losing its trembling.
He chuckles lightly. Like I said something stupid. Irrational. “She went to a house party. Fell asleep there. That wasn’t very smart of her. My guy just kept an eye on her and gave me an update.”
That sounds logical. I hate that it sounds logical. It’s making me even more confused.
He moves a little and reaches for his phone again. Then he turns it toward me.
I almost close my eyes. I don’t know if I can look at those photos again.
“See?” he murmurs, his breath fanning my hair. “It’s not her room.”
I look more closely at the photo, and… he’s right. There’s pictures on the walls of some girl and her family. Somehow, I feel relieved, stupid, and enraged all at the same time. Cheated, in a way.
“I only thought you’d like to see your sister,” he says, voice like silk. “I didn’t think you’d overreact like this.”
I want to call him out. I want to scream in his face that this is exactly what he wanted.
But I don’t. Because I don’t trust myself. I don’t understand what he’s doing anymore.
The adrenaline leaves my body in a rush, and I sag against him. It feels good. And for some fucked up reason, it feels safe.
For just one moment. One moment before I remember where the fuck I am — and the monster I’m dealing with.
I push at his chest — harder this time — and crawl out of his arms. I feel my strength coming back to me.
“This was a sick game. Why would you want to keep Liz safe? She’s no one to you,” I say, my voice stronger than before.
He moves away from the mattress and crouches next to me, looking intently at my face.
