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But then, as I struggle, a piece of research I read once filters through my brain. If he ties me to the chair, I can get out. It’s my best shot.
The research I read said that you need to make your body bigger by pulling your shoulders back, expanding your chest, straightening your arms, and pushing to flex against the rope. Once your captors leave you alone and you collapse your body back in, you’ll find yourself with more slack in the rope, making it easier to escape.
I do just that, hoping and praying that Stone doesn’t notice.
He doesn’t. He has no clue what I did.
“I’m going to get my brother. And then, dear, sweet, stupid Layla, I’m going to slit your neck. Better yet, North will do the deed. It’s time he does what he needs to do. And he will start with you.”
Without another word, he’s gone.
The moment he’s out the door, I collapse my body, and the ropes do just as I read. It worked. The ropes are loosened. With them no longer strangling my limbs, I can try to escape again.
I take a deep breath and start to move. Now is the time to execute a plan. I hold my breath, praying I have enough time to get free before he returns.
I’m almost climbing out of my bindings when the door swings open.
I expect Stone to walk in, but instead, Cain appears in the entrance.
Stone strides in behind him with an arm wrapped around Cain.
And a giant knife at his throat.
49
Layla
“Don’t do this.”
“Too late, baby brother.” Stone laughs. “It’s already done. Just like the one before. And the one before that. I’ve been killing the women trying to harm you since Mom. I have always been the one to protect you.”
“Those women . . . They’re not mom. Their only sin was looking like her—”
“Shut up!” Stone bellows, cutting off Cains’s words and the truth.
The truth, that none of the women he murdered, had done anything wrong. They just unfortunately looked like the woman who had hurt his little brother.
“You have to stop, Stone. I know why you did it. I know what my life has cost you, but it’s done. It’s enough.”
“It’s not enough. Everything was fine. You were fine. Then you had to find her, fuck her and now everything I’ve done for you is fucked up. You owe me, baby brother. You owe me her blood.”
I watch from where I’m strapped down, biding my time. I need a clear plan, a way for both Cain and me to survive this.
I watch as Cain tries to talk sense into his brother. But Stone ignores him. “You weren’t strong enough then. But you will be strong enough now.”
They’re talking about Cynthia. What happened seventeen years ago.
“You thought I was so easy to kill. You left me for dead. But you weren’t smart enough. You never checked if I was breathing. You never checked my pulse. You were a pussy then, and you’re a pussy now. But I will make a man out of you.”
“How did you survive the—?”
“How did I live past what you tried to do to me? You failed, that’s how. Twice in one night. You and Jim thought I was dead, but I wasn’t. I slipped out the back window while the fire raged, and you both left me to burn. Then I ran into the woods and hid in a hollowed-out tree until you were gone, and I could escape without being seen. You guys couldn’t stop me. And now . . .” Stone’s eyes meet mine. Hollow. Dark. Dead eyes. “There’s more blood to be spilled. More stones to be turned.”
“It's done, Brother.” Cain says, his chest rising and falling with his words. “It’s over. Everybody who could have hurt us, are gone. You no longer have to fear Cynthia.”
“I never would have had to fear her if it weren’t for you.” he breathes out. “Her death is on you. You couldn’t live in the shadows. You brought the compass killer back to life. I had no choice but to rise from the dead. It’s your fault I’m back. I had to fix your problems.”
“I—”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of you—”
“I never wanted your approval.”
“And here it would seem I haunted you all these years. Your name is fitting . . . Cain. I guess that would make me Abel. The brother you killed. You should be thanking me. I did it all for you. I killed them all for you.”
“It wasn’t your responsibility. What happened to me wasn’t your fault.”
“Our mother deserved it. She was going to sell you.” Stone starts coming completely unhinged. His eyes frantic and crazed. “She deserved it,” he parrots while he grabs Cain’s hair. The knife nicks Cain’s neck, and blood trickles.
“Just do what your brother wants, Cain,” I plead.
