Page 163 of Sin Like the Devil

“Stubborn bastard,” Ripley chuffs.

“You know me.”

“Do you think I want to be locked in here with you? I’d much rather be facing whatever shit they have planned alone. You’re a liability.”

“Me a liability? You’re the reason we’re in here!”

“Because you’re still not sorry!” she snaps, like the words are a weapon she can wield.

I stare at her. “Sorry for what?”

“Holly was all I had. She became family.” Her voice splinters, leaking with despair. “And you took my family away from me to save yours.”

For all the sorrow and heartache we’ve inflicted on each other, I can look at my nemesis and admit to myself that it wasn’t worth it. I didn’t know what kind of monster my actions would breed.

She has become the threat I never could have anticipated. In many ways, I can see now that I masterminded my own downfall. It was always meant to be her.

Mouth clicking open, I’m not sure what words are forming. Nothing feels quite adequate to summarise the undeniably toxic importance we’ve come to mean to each other. At least hatred was simple.

But understanding?

Maybe even empathy?

I can’t possibly have those things for Ripley. Not for the woman who orchestrated our incarceration and torture. We ruined her life, but she perpetuated the cycle of violence the day she offered us up for slaughter.

Even here, she’s continued to destroy our lives from afar—ensnaring Raine in her web then somehow penetrating my best friend’s icy shell. We’ve tried our best to ruin each other without stopping to consider the greater threat.

Before I can figure out what to even say to her, the hatch in the door slides back. Eyes peer in, finding us both awake, before the hatch slams shut. The steel door clanks as it’s unlocked.

Shoulders set, a bastard with regimented military hair saunters in, his fingers hooked into his belt hoops. Cruel eyes scan over us.

“Always nice to have new arrivals.”

“You,” Ripley breathes in fear. “Harrison.”

“Nice to see you again, stooge. Or should I say, ex-stooge. Is the accommodation to your liking?”

His voice is lilting and playful in an entirely unhinged way. I’ve met his likes before. We’re in for a rough time if he’s in charge of our reconditioning.

“No?” He pulls his lips down in a dramatic pout. “Such a shame. Perhaps we should clean it up in here a bit before the fun begins.”

Stepping out of the cell, he huffs loudly while dragging a covered machine in with the help of another guard. This one wears a cap over his short hair, shading slightly effeminate features.

“Bath time!” Harrison exclaims.

Yet another guard enters the padded cell, this one bald and dead-eyed, joining the other one wearing a cap. Harrison leans against the machine, still smiling to himself.

“Strip them.”

“Not a chance.” Ripley gingerly draws to her feet.

I wobble, trying to stand. “Seconded.”

“I wasn’t giving either of you a choice.”

Each with an approaching guard to contend with, we both find protective stances. I’m still dizzy and can’t seem to get my legs to work. Ripley, on the other hand, is ready for a scrap with her knees bent and fists cocked.

I lose sight of her as baldie stalks towards me. He grabs my ankles then heaves, splaying me out on the concrete. Pain reverberates through me. I move to boot him in the leg, but when he pulls out a taser, trepidation causes me to tense.

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