Page 147 of Wicked Nightmare

Her smile was gentle, full of life. "Especially then. Besides, I'm arguably worse than you and I make no apologies. Neither should you, so how about we don't do that again. It's weird and it makes me feel weird."

I chuckled and came up behind her to wrap my arms around her waist as she finished with her hair. "Come on, Lakes. We've got some shit to do."

Chapter Forty-Four: Lakey

The stairs creaked under our feet as Cam and I descended, his towering presence a comforting shadow at my back. Below, three pairs of eyes locked onto us. Kyle's narrowed suspicion, Rose's barely concealed anxiety, and Sarah's professional curiosity. My lips curled into a smile that I'm sure didn't quite reach my eyes. It's none of their fucking business what we do to each other.

"Everything's just fine. Just got fucked like no tomorrow," I chirped. I could practically feel the tension in the room as Sarah eyed me, trying to psychoanalyze what she thought just happened behind that door.

I walked up to Sarah, my gaze zeroing in on her, her body tensing slightly away from me. "I need another hypnosis session. Right now." The request came out soft, almost childlike, but there was spice beneath the sugar.

Sarah's brow furrowed, her professional mask slipping for just a moment. "Lakey, we typically space out sessions to allow for proper processing and—"

I cut her off with a wave of my hand, my smile never faltering. "I understand, really I do. But this is important." I leaned in, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I think I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. You wouldn't want to impede my progress, would you?"

As I spoke, I could feel Cam's eyes boring into the back of my skull. He knew me too well, could probably sense the desperation clawing at my insides. But fuck it, I needed answers, and I needed them now.

Sarah hesitated, her internal struggle playing out across her features. I almost felt bad for her. Almost. But the itch beneath my skin, the burning need to know, overrode any semblance of empathy.

"Please," I added, layering on the charm. "I promise to be a good little patient." My fingers twitched at my sides, itching to grab her, to shake the answers out of her if necessary.

I could see the moment Sarah's resolve crumbled. Her shoulders sagged slightly, a barely perceptible nod signaling her acquiescence. Victory surged through me, dark and intoxicating.

As Sarah began to prepare for the session, I caught Cam's eye. The knowing look he gave me made something tighten in my chest. He saw right through my act, knew the lengths I'd go to uncover the truth.

I snatched a fuzzy blanket off the back of the couch, wrapping it around myself like armor. I plopped down, cross-legged, a picture of childish eagerness that masked the predator lying in wait. I had something I needed to confirm. A nagging in my gut.

"Comfy?" Sarah asked, her voice strained as she fumbled with her notepad.

I grinned, all teeth. "Oh, absolutely. I feel like a kid at Christmas. You're Santa, and my memories are the presents."

Out of the corner of my eye, Cam, Kyle, and Rose slink towards the kitchen. Cam's casual swagger couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders. He knew something was brewing, and it made him uneasy to leave me.

"You sure you don't want to stay and watch, baby?" I called out. "Might learn something interesting."

Cam's chuckle made me smile. "I'll catch the highlights later, doll. Try not to break our therapist, yeah?"

As they disappeared into the kitchen, I turned my full attention to Sarah. She looked like she was about to face a firing squad instead of leading a hypnosis session. Must have been something on my face.

"Shall we begin?" I asked, settling back into the cushions. My mind was already racing, hungry for the truth buried in my fucked-up psyche. Whatever nightmares were waiting for me, I was ready. Bring on the monsters, doc. I've got a few of my own to unleash.

Sarah's voice faded into a distant hum as I slipped under, the world around me melting away. Suddenly, I was floating in a sea of white, sterile and cold. I was lucky I landed back in this same room.

"Patient X shows remarkable progress," a crisp voice cut through the haze. "Genetic modifications are holding steady."

My eyes snapped open, but I wasn't in control. I was looking through the eyes of a younger me, strapped to a metal table, surrounded by faceless doctors in pristine lab coats. Their voices echoed around me.

"Heart rate stable, brain activity within optimal parameters. The emotional suppression techniques are functioning as intended."

I wanted to scream, to lash out, but my body remained motionless. Inside, though, a darkness was brewing. These fuckers were talking about me like I was some kind of science experiment. Well, newsflash assholes, your little girl grew up to have some sharp fucking teeth.

"Aggression levels are off the charts. We've never seen such a perfect blend of controlled violence and emotional detachment. She feels nothing at all."

A warm glow of pride bloomed in my chest, battling with the rage and disgust. I was their perfect little monster, wasn't I? Bred for violence, raised in hell, and polished to a deadly shine.

"The subject's capacity for focused brutality is unprecedented. With proper conditioning, Patient X could become our most effective asset yet."

Asset. That's all I was to them. A weapon to be aimed and fired at their discretion. Unfortunately, they forgot one crucial detail. Weapons have a nasty habit of turning on their masters. And I became their worst fucking nightmare. My pride was quickly replaced with rage.