Page 123 of A New Days Don

“What? You don’t like it when your victims are coherent and able to talk back?” I snarl, and he throws his fist into the wall, hissing in pain. Despite how hard he hit the wall itself, whatever material it’s made of barely dented.

Vicek aims his gun at me, and I laugh in the face of it, “Right, because you are a pathetic piece of shit. The only way you can subdue your victim is if you have an advantage. Is that why you have brought your gun? Can’t drug me, so you thought I wouldn’t bite back with it as a threat?”

Fuck! I don’t know what I’m saying!

But every emotion that has built up over the last six years is fueling my rage and loose lips. I hope that I have nailed every aspect of Vicek’s fragile personality, otherwise, I’m about to earn myself a new hole.

I have been studying the killer for the last three months. Without realizing it, I have been studying Vicek’s behaviour and putting together his profile. A cocky, self-righteous misogynist with a God-complex.

Vicek’s face slowly turns pink with his rage. The gun in his hand shakes as if he is contemplating shooting. Every muscle in my body stiffens as I wait for him to take the shot.

C’mon, Vicek, are you going to prove a girl right, that you are as pathetic as I described?

When he tosses the gun to the side and begins to approach me with predatory strides, I feel like I can breathe. He may be almost a foot taller than me, but at least now we are almost on even playing fields.

“You think you are a fucking threat?” He snaps, and I take a step back, putting some space between us. Vicek rounds me, his hands clenched into fists and his slightly overweight body shifting clumsily from foot to foot.

My heart rate spikes, but I keep my focus on him even though my brain is two seconds from freaking the heck out.

“No, I may not be a threat to most, but I know I’m a threat to you, and that is all that matters,” I smirk, keeping my breathing even.

It may have taken six years and several near-death experiences, but it ends right now.

Judgment day is here, and I am his Judge, Jury, and Executioner.

Something must change in the way that I look at Vicek, because he takes a hesitant step back. His aging face and sharp features twist into one of terror, and I fucking bathe in it. Do you feel that, Richard Vicek? The terror you have rained down on me and every other fucking woman in this city is coming back around, and karma has made sure I get to enjoy its sweet, sweet avengement, because this isn’t revenge, it is retribution.

Do I look as feral as I feel?

I wouldn’t know.

But I’m not going to die today and let him walk.

If I die, he’s coming to hell with me.

Vicek doesn’t hesitate, his wild eyes dark with bloodlust as he jumps for me. An arm winds its way around my neck, and I dig my chin into the crease to stop him from choking me.

Vicek struggles and grunts from behind me as he tries to subdue me with less-than-stellar moves.

“A little harder this time when I’m not out of control of my body with drugs.” My voice is muffled into the sweaty, hairy pit of his arm, but when he growls with rage, I know he understood me.

I adjust my body, hooking my foot around his ankle. It doesn’t take much to trip him, even in his enraged state. His anger fuels his lack of coordination, and we both go down with a hard thump, me on top of him. Though that doesn’t last long before I’m beneath him, his hazel eyes shining with wicked delight.

My screams echo in my mind.

It was only a split second, but for a moment, I’m not in this house in the middle of nowhere. I’m back in that alley with a slightly younger Vicek, hungry to live out a twisted fantasy.

My younger self screams.

Pain.

There was so much pain.

Vicek starts to work at his pants, his forearm pressed into my neck, keeping me pressed to the sharp pieces of gravel biting into my skin. The pin pricks of pain pull me from the past.

Not this time.

When I pull my leg up, it gives Vicek better access to slot himself between my legs, but I keep my mind focused.