Page 30 of Corrupt Me

Just hearing the name sends spiders crawling up my spine, spinning webs inside me and trapping me in a poisonous snare.

“Mm-hmm,” I say, breathing in and out in a soothing rhythm, trying to regulate my pulse.

“She’s doing a fantastic job as the school principal. Your mom would have loved how involved her best friend was with you two.”

Too involved. The memories slam into me, coating my skin with filth I can never scrub away.

“Good for her. Anyway, I’ll be there,” I say and hang up.

With tunnel vision, I march up to the punching bag and pummel it until my knuckles split, but I don’t stop, hitting it repeatedly. Nothing ever bloody helps, though. This violence inside of me craves a release that’s always unreachable.

I let out a groan, blood coating my knuckles. I didn’t tape my hands, craving all that pain to anchor me in the present, far away from a past I can’t change—where I was helpless, cornered. I am so inside my head that I startle when a dainty hand touches my arm.

“You’re hurting yourself,” Bailey says softly, watching me with big eyes.

“Do some warm-ups. One mile on the treadmill, three rounds of thirty squats, push-ups, and sit-ups.”

“What happened?”

“Bailey.”

“Don’t ‘Bailey’ me.”

“Do as I say. Don’t make me show you what happens when you don’t loosen your muscles first.”

With a resigned look, she finally listens while I keep slamming my fists into the bag. It dents with every hit, just like my control. Trying to keep my demons leashed demands everything in me.But knowing she’s near makes it better.The thought is as dangerous as it is alluring.

“Done.”

More stable and accepting Bailey’s innate power over me, I stop and move to the boxing ring. “Get in position.”

She lifts her arms, hands curled into fists in front of her face, and I do the same, running through some drills.

“Doesn’t it hurt? You’re still bleeding.”

“Focus.”

She rolls her eyes at me. She is stubborn, but I am even more stubborn.

When we move to combat training, she holds her position better and anticipates my moves, not only defending herself but pushing my fists away. I try not to smile, but it’s impossible. I aim for her feet next, but she lunges forward, landing a hit right in my stomach. She squeals, jumping up, eyes radiating excitement.

“Did you see that? I totally saw that coming.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s normal that you’re learning my moves.”

She huffs. “Would it kill you to praise me just once?”

“You want praise, then fucking take me down.”

She comes at me again, running on high emotions. Without effort, I put her on her back. She closes her eyes for a moment, exhaling loudly.

“Stand up.”

“Why should I? This is where I’ll land, anyway.”

“Stop wasting my time, kitten.”

“That’s all I am to you, right? A nuisance, a damn burden.”

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