Page 32 of Mutual Prey

“The… bomb?”

“Yeah. I planted a bomb under the gymnasium. Or rather, in that little clump of bushes right next to the back entrance. I did it after setting up this trap. My next four names are inside.”

He chuckles. “Uhm, but so are about three hundred other people.”

“Yeah, but my four names are inside,” I repeat. “Also, most of the lecture hall students from this morning. Two birds, one stone.”

His chuckle turns into a full-belly laugh. “Damn, that’s cold, baby. You’re a real psychopath, aren’t you?”

“I’m not a psychopath,” I snap. “I told you, my next four names are in there. And I have to kill you first, Finn. It’s the order of the list. I replaced Cotton with you, and he was on my list above those four other people. I can’t change the order.”

“Well, can’t you change me? Can’t you put another name in my place?”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Yeah, I guess it doesn’t.” A third long sigh. “You know, I’m the only one who understands you. And you’re the only one who understands me. Too bad I’m gonna have to kill you.”

“No, Finn.I’mkilling you.”

“Oh, right. Right. I forgot. Well, get it over with, already. I’m getting lightheaded from dangling upside down like this.”

I sigh too, going back to dragging the knife up and down his chest, wondering where I should stab him. I don’t want itto be too painful; I guess the asshole has managed to worm his way into my empty chest cavity. I also can’t bear to ruin those beautiful abs. Maybe I could slit his throat, but that would mean not being able to chat with him while he dies, and that would be too bad. I guess Iwillmiss him once he’s dead, because in an astoundingly short amount of time, and despite how hard I’ve tried to resist it… well, hehasbecome Daddy.

“I wish I didn’t have to do this,” I murmur in his ear.

“That’s okay, baby. I know you can’t help it.” From his upside-down position, he reaches his hand out to awkwardly pat my head. “Why don’t you lick it first?”

“Lick… it?”

“The blood on my chest. I saw you staring at it. Practically salivating at the mouth, my little cannibal, huh?”

He’s going to die soon, so I don’t bother objecting. “Yeah, I guess so. I don’t know if it’s the blood or the abs that does it, but…”

I edge closer to him, dipping my head toward him, pushing a tongue out to…

Fuck!

He grabs my neck, forcing me into a chokehold, while his other hand grabs my knife and presses it against my left tit.

Fuck! He got me again!

6

“Untie me now, or I’ll hack your tits to pieces. I swear to god, baby, I’ll do it. I won’t kill you, but I’ll hack those tits of yours right off. I’m more of an ass man, anyway. Oh, hi, Billie.”

“Get off of me! Finn, let me go! Fuck!”

I struggle hard, and his knife digs into my left breast.

“You have ten seconds to do what I say. Stop struggling, baby, or I won’t get to ten before I accidentally hack one off, andI, unlike you, don’t cheat. Hey, Billie, can I get a hand?”

“Uhm… what?”

I hear Billie’s squeaky, shy voice as she draws near. “What are you guys… doing?”

“Just playing a little lovers’ game,” smiles Finn. “It’s calledWhack-a-tit. Can you untie me, Billie?”

“Uh…”