Page 63 of Beneath Her Skin

I chuckled darkly. “Surprised? That’s right, Barron. I’m the famed Incel Annihilator. And you’ve just committed the ultimate sin. Actually multiple, if my sources are correct.”

Barron narrowed his eyes. “What?Her? She was aprostitute, Selina! She?—”

I turned on my chainsaw, interrupting whatever else he was about to say.

Barron huffed, exasperated. “Comeon, Selina!” he yelled. “We’re family! You wouldn’t hurt family, would?—”

“Oh, just shut up!” I screamed as I swung the chainsaw at his torso. Barron jumped back at the last minute, and it narrowly missed him by mere inches. But I didn’t care. I was done, far from done. “I’m so sick of you men going around and treating women as if they’re worth nothing more than shit! I’m sick of you men thinking we’re only good for our bodies and what we can do for you, and I’m tired of the sneering and the catcalls and all of it! And Barron, you were thelastperson I thought would be like that, but it turns out you’re just like all the rest of them, and I’m fucking done!”

Barron’s expression fell until something akin to resignation appeared in his eyes. “If that’s how you truly feel…” He trailed off, drawing out his machete and giving it a twirl. “Then bring it, but I won’t go down without a fight.”

Neither will I,I replied in my head, readying my chainsaw for another swing. Barron charged at me, swiping his machete at my side. I leaped to the side, but not before the blade snagged on my hoodie, tearing open the fabric in the process. I blinked, dumbfounded, before quickly regaining my composure. I didn’thave the luxury of being caught off-guard, not when my own cousin was actively trying to kill me.

Barron pressed his advance, but this time I was ready for him. Before he had a chance to swing again, I swiped, aiming for his machete, knowing if I could just land that target, I could destroy it, and he would be weaponless. I missed—but ended up hitting something else instead.

Something a lot more interesting.

His three longest fingers, which had been securely wrapped around the machete, now dangled lifelessly off his hand, barely hanging on by a few single strands of nerve. A piercing shriek ripped up his throat as blood streamed down his hand. The machete was now on the ground at his feet, soaking in a pool of red. But what caught my attention more were his eyes. They were furious, two burning pools of hatred, and as he bent low to collect his machete with his remaining good hand, I watched as the cousin I thought I knew disappeared completely.

What stood in front of me was nothing more than a monster, an empty shell wearing my cousin’s skin, and I knew he no longer saw me as the cousin he had grown up with, either. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” He chuckled darkly. “You’re just like them, aren’t you, Selina? Just another whore to stain my blade.”

My heart sank at his words, but I didn’t respond. The time for exchanging words was over. Tonight, only one of us would walk away.

Revving up my chainsaw, I squared my shoulders. I had the advantage. But would that be enough?

Time to find out.

Barron swiped at me again, and it stung as the machete scraped the side of my shoulder, cutting through flesh as if it were butter. I danced out of the way before he could do any more damage, lashing out with an attack of my own. The HoodedKiller pivoted, the chainsaw missing him by only inches, before cracking the machete across my cheek. My world spun, and I stumbled backwards, my cheek stinging as something wet and sticky began to coat the surface.Blood,I realized, but I didn’t have time to assess just how severe the wound was. Because within an instant, my cousin was on me again, this time sinking the tip of the machete into my right side.

I cried out as the blade pierced my flesh. Barron loomed over me with a sick smile as he slowly slid the machete out of my side, as if he wanted me to feel every inch of his blade. As if he knew the power he currently held over me and wanted me to know he was in charge.

But I realized what was happening. None of the wounds my cousin gave me were lethal or crippling, as if he were toying with me. As if herelishedin this game we played and wanted me to suffer as much as possible before finally ending me.Sick bastard!Barron was so sure of himself, so sure he would come out on top, that hewantedme to continue to be able to fight him for as long as possible.

Unfortunately for him, he severely underestimated my abilities. He prepared for another swing, but before he could, I used all the strength I could muster and brought the chainsaw across my body, blocking his attack. The machete clashed with my whirling chain before folding in on itself, the kickback from the collision nearly causing me to lose my balance. I watched in awe as my cousin’s weapon broke into two useless pieces of metal, my muscles trembling as I struggled to hold onto my own weapon.

I smirked. “Well, this just got interesting. Pretty boy lost his weapon!”

Barron glared at me before something akin to fear flashed beneath his façade. Because now,Iwas the one with the upper hand, and he knew it.Oh, how the tables have turned.He thentried to leap off me as if I’d just scorched him, but I was quicker than him.

Much quicker.

The chainsaw pierced his gut before he had a chance to untangle himself from my legs, blood and intestines spilling into my lap as I cut upward into his chest. Barron’s mouth formed a silent scream, his wide eyes going glassy in minutes as the life drained from them. And still, I kept cutting, if only to make sure he was truly dead.

So he wouldn’t hurt anyone else.

And as a means of avenging every single woman he had harmed. Mothers, wives, daughters—the list went on, each face blurring into a cacophony of pain and melancholy that had haunted me for months ever since I first heard about him on the news.Hehad been the reason I took up this job to begin with, and now that it was finally over, I allowed myself to finally grieve for those I could not save. One cut for one life lost, dozens upon dozens mottling his paling flesh as the memories of them surrounded me. I had never believed in the paranormal, but I pictured them all there with me anyway, watching as I put their killer into the ground.Thankingme before finally departing to rest in peace.

I cut until there was no doubt in my mind that he was dead, and then for good measure, I lobbed his head off, watching it roll down the street and stop near the dumpsters, where the woman I failed to save lay. And then, I finally pushed Barron’s body off me and rose to my feet, a battered and bloody mess.

It was over.

Finally, it wasover. I had won, and he would harm no one else. The streets were now safer because of me, but now, I was well and truly alone.

Because I had also killed my cousin, the only family member I had left. And I knew that there was no coming back from that sort of trauma, no matter the good that had also come from this.

For the first time in my life, I felt empty, and I didn’t see that void getting filled anytime soon.So much for celebrating.

EPILOGUE

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