Page 147 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did…”

“You do. You know exactly what you did. Your wife.”

His eyes go wide as he stares at the unblinking skeleton mask in front of him. He finally realizes why I have him here.

“Who are you? Were you fucking my wife? Is this some kind of revenge for her death?”

I can’t stop the maniacal laugh that bubbles from my chest. It’s always the same with these men. They demand to know if I was fucking their wives, as if that would be the only reason for someone to seek justice for the crimes they’ve committed.

“No, but I’ve fucked your daughter. Pretty little thing. She screamed so beautifully while she was choking on my cock.”

He somehow grows even paler in the dim lighting, and it only spurs me on.

“Tell me, Rayes, why did you do it? Did she finally stand up to you? Tell you she was leaving you?” I ask as I take a step back deeper into the shadows.

“It was a robbery,” he stammers. “They broke in, and she was home alone. They’re the ones who…”

“There was no robbery, Rayes. If you wanted that lie to be convincing, you probably should have actually removed some of the valuables in your home. Ones that would’ve been taken in a real robbery.”

Another step back into the darkness, and I can see the struggle on his face as he tries to keep me in his view.

“You could’ve busted open that glass display case on the mantle. Removed those precious trinkets you thought showcased how rich and powerful you were. Maybe you should’ve wrecked the place a bit more. Had a few Rolexes go missing. Maybe the gold cufflinks that sit on top of your dresser. Or maybe even the wads of cash you kept stored in the top drawer in your closet.”

“No…How could you know that?”

“I know everything, Rayes. I’ve watched you. Studied you. I’ve been inside your house, just like I’ve been inside your daughter,” I smirk.

“You fucking bastard,” he snaps as he stands.

“Sit. Down,” I say flatly.

His raised fist lowers as he sinks back down into the chair, finally looking away from my barely visible silhouette. Only the light on the mask can be seen from the shadows now.

“You were willing to offer me her flesh for your freedom just yesterday…Now you’ve suddenly grown a conscience?”

“Please don’t hurt her…She’s all that’s left.”

“Of your bloodline? Yeah, I’m aware. Don’t worry, I won’t harm a single hair on her head. I’m not like you, Rayes. I don’t hurt the innocent. So here’s how this is going to work. Leave using any path you wish. Count to ten out loud as you walk through the dark. Once you hit ten, the hunt is on. If you find the door and escape, you’re free, but if I catch you…”

“You’ll kill me.”

“Exactly. Now…start counting.”

I stand against the far wall watching him scamper into the darkness then wait for him to hit ten before I strike. I can hear his panicked breaths as he slowly tries to maneuver in the dim lighting to find the hidden steps. He’s counting out loud, slower and slower with each number. Annunciating each letter as if it will buy him more time. The second he says ten, I can hear him panic.

His steps echo off the brick walls that make up the maze. Each twist and turn will have something special at the end of it. A photo or a medical form showing him all the damage he did to her over the years.

“Help me! Someone please!” he screams as he races through the maze.

“No one can hear you screaming, Rayes. It’s just you, me, and the ghosts. Oh, and Parker too, ” I laugh as I cut him off at the next turn.

He stops, skidding and bracing his hand against the wall before doubling back and turning down another path. Left, right, left, left.

“Oops…Looks like you’ve hit a dead end, Rayes.”

I come up behind him as he stares at the photo on the wall illuminated by a small bulb. It’s a photo from the crime scene of his wife’s murder. Her body was lying lifeless at a crooked angle. Bruises cover her body as her dull dead eyes stare into the distance.

“I didn’t mean to,” he cries.