Page 113 of Pretty Little Fears

Allthe color drains from his face as he raises the gun straight at me.Idon’t hesitate asImake sureI'mfully in front ofBlair.Ashot goes off making me close my eyes asIwait for the pain to register but it doesn't.

Aguttural shout fills the air making me crack my eyes open to seeRicardobent over, clutching his shin.

“Youfucking bastard!”Heshouts asGrimmraises his gun up and blows the smoke from the barrel like he’s in some fucking movie shootout.

Myheart rate starts to decrease at the reality thatI’mfine, and more importantly,Blairis safe behind me.Sheclutches onto the back of my shirt while peering over my side to look.

“Iwould say sorry, butI’mnot.Idon’t appreciate it when people point guns at my friend,Ricardo.Itake it very personally.”Grimmfakes sadness, using the barrel of the gun to mimic a tear on his cheek.

“Idon’t know whoSerais you fucking-”Ricardodoesn’t get to finish his sentence asGrimmswings the gun and hits him in the head.

“Yes, you do,”Igrowl, even as uncertainty swims inside me.

“I’mher son,EmmettBlackwood.Idon’t take kindly to liars,Ricardo.Thelast person that lied to me ended up choking on her own blood.Tryagain.”

“I’mnot lying.I’mtelling you,Idon’t-”Iclap my hands together effectively shutting him up.

“Iguess we're doing this the fun way, huh?”Isay towardsGrimm.

“Iguess so,” he responds in a sing-song tone.HegrabsRicardoas he curses and shouts at him.Iwalk over to helpGrimmrestrain him as we bring him over to a kitchen chair and tie him up.

Oncetied up,Grimmheads back out of the house to grab something from the car.Comingback inside, he shakes the gas canister and smiles, “Itold you that you never know what you’re gonna need.”Laughing, he walks over and starts to dump the gas onRicardo.

AlthoughGrimmbrought a torch lighter,Igrab the smaller lighter from my pocket.I’mabout to walk towards him whenIfeel a light tug on my shirt.Lookingover my shoulder,Blaireyes the lighter in my hand and then holds her palm out. “Doyou wanna give him a little scare, baby?”Shehesitantly grabs the lighter while giving me a nod and then walks over to him.Flickingthe flame to life, she holds the little fire close enough to his face that he can feel the heat but not close enough to light him.

“Isaw you, you know.Atthe gala.Iwas there too, against my will.”Blairsays, her voice isn’t as soft as it normally is. “It’sactually pretty idiotic to get such a large tattoo on your neck when you’re in thisbusiness,” she tilts her head, looking at the 8-ball on his throat. “Makesit really easy for your enemies to not only target you, but to find you, too.”

Prideswells in my throat as she looks more like a lioness than a gazelle in this moment, making a grown man piss his pants as she holds a flame to his gasoline drenched body.There’sno one to blame but himself.Hecreated this mess all on his own.

Mybeautiful, destructive, obsession.

Blairwrinkles her nose while looking down at his pants.Youcan't see the wet stain due to his clothes already being covered in gasoline, but you can smell its pungent scent along with the smell of gas.

“Pathetic.Youknow,Ididn’t piss on myself whileIwas held captive by a vile man similar to you.WhileIwas raped and beaten,Ididn’t show weakness as quickly as you have.Allit takes is a little lighter?”Shewaves the tool in front of him, making him whimper.

Seeminglydone with the games, she brings the lighter between his legs, “I’mgoing to ask you one time and one time only.Ifyou don’t give me the answerIneed, you and this entire house you’ve spent your millions on, will go up in flames.WhereisSera?”Shedemands.

“B-basement.Basement.S-she’s in the basement,”Ricardostutters.

“Whichis where?”Hischin juts out and points towards a door down a hallway, on our right.Blairnods her head as she gets what she wants and tosses the lighter on his lap, letting the flame lick at his gasoline covered skin.

Hiseyes widen in shock, his blood curdling screams filling the room. “Itold you what you wanted to know!Please!”

Blairshrugs her shoulders, letting out a small chuckle, “Whoops.”

I’mmoving and pulling her back before the lighter can reach his lap.Idon’t know if it’ll make a flame big enough to hurt her butIam not about to find out.WithBlairsafely tucked back against my chest,Iwatch as his body goes up in flames, as his screams become engulfed by red and orange, and his skin sizzles and drips off the bone.

Kissingher templeIwhisper in her ear, “Soproud of you, brave girl.Youdid so well."Shegives me a pleased hum whileIrelease her body and grab her hand, leading her to the basement.Grimmstays back to watch our human bonfire while we head in the directionRicardopointed us to.

Thedoor locks from the outside, keeping whatever is inside, trapped.Iunlock the door and yank it open.Myheart pounds in my chest andIfeelBlair'shand tighten around my own.

Witheach step down the darkened stairs, my heart rate increases.Idon’t know what to expect, but with the way my gut is twisting,Iknow it can’t be good.Enteringthe dim room,Ilook around and don’t notice anything out of the ordinary for a basement.

Asmy eyes start to adjust to the space,Ispot a figure in the corner of the room.Theorgan that was beating too fast, stops altogether whenIspot it.

“Stayhere,”Iwhisper toBlair, unsure of who that is or what to expect.Lettinggo of her hand and comfort,Islowly make my way over to the figure.

AsIinch closer,I’mable to make out the blonde strands of her hair.Myheart leaps and a lump forms in my throat.Thereis no way.Absolutelyno fucking way.Isaw her hanging, her lifeless eyes, her porcelain skin turning blue.Thereis no way-

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