Page 88 of The Corruption of Hollis Brown

“I’m sorry,” Hollis said. “I’m . . . I’ll be back.”

He stumbled a few times but managed to make it across the room into the downstairs bathroom, then he locked the door.

Rock

It was pink and terrible in there, shag rug and mildew, but Hollis clung to the privacy like a lifeline.

Walt was crying too hard to talk, and Hollis melted, curling his legs up to his chest. He laid his cheek on his knee and put a hand into his hair, petting it the way Walt had that the first night.

“Shh, shhh, I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” he crooned. “You’re safe, I’ve got you.”

He could feel Walt flashing in and out of him. His face, his fingers, his legs, his elbows, his palms. Rattled and running through his body like a cat.

Hollis sat still, and let him. Scraping a hand over his scalp, very careful not to invoke that shivery feeling Walt was still learning to like.

“Sweetheart,” he said, the way Walt did when he was crying.

Are you all right? he asked. Are you going to be all right?

Walt wept desperately still, so Hollis let him cry. Let him cover their face in tears and sob loud enough that Annie and Yulia could probably hear them.

But he didn’t stay his hand until Walt finished.

Tremble

I didn’t mean for that to happen to Annie. I’m so sorry.

It’s okay.

You’ve gotta understand, she got sick because we didn’t have a deal the way you and I do. It was only for a second, but I didn’t want it to happen at all. She doesn’t feel like you, I can’t . . . she wasn’t.

I’m sorry that happened to us, Hollis said gently. It won’t happen again.

Hollis, this is my fault. All of it is my fault, you don’t understand.

I don’t care. You’re back with me and I—

Hollis was too thankful that Walt was back inside him to be angry, too desperate. He wanted to tear Walt out of him so he could eat him back up like a beast. He wanted and wanted until it made him feel grotesque.

Hollis had their arms and their mouth, so he kissed their wrist so Walt could feel the heat of it. His own skin. Licked it, lush and greedy until the slime of it choked and doubled them over and Walt’s breath came fast in his head.

I didn’t know you could . . . How does it feel like that? You touching you. How is that worse than when we’re touching each other?

Hollis ignored Walt, raked his teeth across their palm, then sucked hard enough to bruise.

We’re going to the hollow when this is done. And then you’re going to tell me your story and face the music.

Oh God, oh God.

When you’re done, we’ll make a new deal, and we’ll figure out how this works best for us.

Hollis rubbed his mouth against his purpling wrist until the shocks of it made Walt twitch.

Hollis!

Fine.

He stopped and breathed until their heart slowed. Waited until they were presentable.