Page 71 of Pretty Little Fears

Thisshed used to belong to my mother.Wewould retreat here during our days together and spend hours painting.Shewould display all of my artwork and some still desperately cling to the wall.Iused to come in here after her death and dedicate my free time to creating.OnceIstarted my education atBlackwood,Imade the choice to not visit the house or the shed.

Myplan was to cut ties after graduating from the university.Beingback here is unsettling and the reason for my return pisses me off that much more.Thankfully,I’dbe making a beautiful final memory.Somethingto carry with me for the rest of my days and hold close to my heart, similarly to the memoriesIhave with my mother.

Thewalls are practically crumbling down and the unfinished canvases lay scattered through the back of the shed.Cansof dried paint are shoved into a corner and the smell of art supplies makes my heart boom even more so than the absolute hell coming my father’s way.

Lookingat the man who ruined my life long before he ruinedBlair’s, crushing my soul in the process,Ifeel more fury thanIever have.He’stied to a chair that's bolted to the ground, similar to how he had me tied up when my heart was being ripped from my chest.Blair’sscreams ring through my ears and my body is practically vibrating trying to contain the violence buzzing through my veins.

Theonly difference between our captures is his ropes are much tighter and his ankles are not left untied.Itwas one thing to ruin me, one thing to allow my life to be a mere mirage, but to hurtBlairand use her for his own financial gain and satisfaction will cost him his life.

Youdon’t take what belongs to others.Itwas a golden rule everyone learned as a child.

MaybeJamesmissed the memo or he truly doesn’t give a fuck.Theone good trait he passed down?Idon’t give a fuck either.Blairis the only thing keeping my soul intact.Theonly thing that keeps the blood pumping through my body and has defrosted the organ within my chest cavity.Forthis, he’ll pay.He’llpay with blood, tears, and his worthless soul.

Bythe timeI’mdone putting everyone in the ground,I’llbe the new fuckingGrimReaper.Collectingthe souls from those who took what’s fucking mine.

Yearsof pain and torment kept stored away under lock and key, crawl their way to the surface.Ifa single hair on her head has been hurt,I'llpersonally pull him back from the depths of the hellI'mgoing to send him to and repeat the process.Thedevil himself will be frightened of the untamed bloodshedI'mgoing to inflict on anyone who has hurt my little obsession.

Theymay believe they have power because they have wealth and connections, but these bastards are in for the rudest awakening.Theyhaven't seen the power behind a man who lost the one thing keeping the darkness tucked away and his soul at peace.Hellwill look like a vacation compared to whatI’llunleash on every.Fucking.Person.Whodaredto take away what belongs tome.

Bytaking away my purpose in this life,Iam left with nothing but the deepest need to inflict pain.Inflictviolence.Inflicttorture.Inflictdeath.Iwill, andIwon't stop until my splintered soul is rejoined with hers.Mymind is shouting at me, and it's desperate to be heard.

Kill.Kill.KILL.

Withthe image of my sweet little obsession floating around in my mind and the voices shouting,Istalk over to the piece of shit that made a very,very,stupid decision.Awar wages inside me of whetherIshould be taking my time with him or making it quick soIcan go find my girl.

Grimmwalks in and turns the bag in his hand upside down, the various tools clinking and falling to the ground.Hedrops a larger duffle bag down next to the scattered tools, landing with a thud.Idon't recognize myself or the feeling of bloodlust pumping through my body.ButIguess that’s what happens when you give a caged monster something to hold on to.Somethingto love, to cherish, and then take it away.Hebreaks out, and he breaks out with vengeance.

Lookingdown at his tied up body, a smile spreads across my face. “Karmais such a sweet concept.Don’tyou think,James?”Iask while peering down at him.Hetries shouting behind the gag in his mouth.Thesound muffled as he jerks on the ropes binding him.

“Nottoo long ago, you had me tied up just like this, didn’t you?Whileyou made me watch as you sold my.Fucking.Girl.”Ibark, my blood seems to pump harder and the demon inside is itching to come out and play.Turningaway from him and his useless screaming,Ihead over to the bagGrimmdropped on the floor.

Iunzip the duffel bag and peer inside.I'mmet with various useful devices and large liquid items.Thelabels read, “poison,” “chloroform,” “acid," and "wax."Lookingdown at the pile of knives, bludgers, and other tools,Iraise a questioning eyebrow atGrimm. “Iwasn’t sure what you needed, man.Don’tlook at me like that.”Helaughs.

“Fairenough,”Isay with a nod, not recognizing the deadly tone lacing my voice.Lookingback down at the pile of destructive weapons, a long thin knife with a sharp point catches my eye, as well as the bottle of acid.Islide on some thick gloves to protect my skin.Pickingup the filet knife, used for skinningfish,Igrab the acid and turn back to daddy dearest.

“Listento me very closely.Iam going to ask you questions, and you are going to answer.Truthfully.That'sit.Gotit?”Igrip his face and shake it in an up and down motion. “Good.Iknow telling the truth is a little challenging for you, butI’mpretty sureGrimmhas brought plenty of items to help encourage you.”Givinghis cheek a quick pat,Ipry open his mouth and take out the gag.

Withhis mouth empty, he speaks. “I’mnot fucking telling you anything,Emmett.Untieme and let me go, immediately.”

“Idon't think you’re understanding me,James.”Ispit, “I’mthe one with the power now.I’min control.”Ibegin to list my demands, vaguely hoping he isn’t feeling cooperative because now,I’mthe one feeling stabby. “Iwant the names of every fucker involved.Ineed the name of the man who announced her sale like cattle.Ineed the name of the man who beat her and killed my unborn child.Ineed the name of the idiot who transported her like a fucking piece of luggage.Ineed the name of the person who believes she belongs to them.”Igrowl, my anger rising. “Forevery nameIneed, and don't get,I'lltake a patch of skin from you.”Ilet a manic smile slowly spread across my face.

“I'llmake sure it's close to the surface.I’llskin you deep enough that the raw skin is visible, but not deep enough to cause you to bleed out and die.Becausedeath is too simple, too kind for you.I'llskin you until there isn't an inch of your skin left for me to take off.”Ipause, tilt my head, and then continue.

“Youknow whatI'lldo after that?”Iask. “I'lltake this acid, andI'llpour it over your freshly skinned body.I'lldo that until there isn't a drop left in the bottle.MaybeI'lleven fill a bath with it and plop you right inside.Andafter that, if your pathetic body is still breathing,I'llcut out your heart and shove it down your throat.”

Hisresponse is a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes.Hewants to play this way?Fine.

Let’sfucking play.

Stayingtrue to my word,Iskin him.Takinghis cuffed hand,Istart at the tip of his pinky finger, slicing my way through the top layer of skin.Ipeel back the thin sheet asIgo, ignoring his pleas and groans.Itisn't untilI'vereached the base of the finger that he starts sputtering names like his life depends on it.Funnyenough it does, but he won't be leaving alive either way.

“ItwasHarold.HaroldClark.That'swho beat her.Theyneeded to remove the fetus andBlairwas combative.Youshould be fucking thanking me, anyways.Youwouldn’t want to pass your genes on, you pathetic fucking spawn.”Hesputters out.Hiswords piss me off andIdon’t feel like hearing them.

Itake the knife and remove the upper part of his pinky’s skin.AchildIwill never get to meet because of him.Hedoesn’t get to speak on it, his words mean nothing.Theonly syllables that hold value are the names of those who chose to partake in this business, only seeingBlairas a walking dollar sign.

AsIgo to throw it to the side, an idea forms in my head.Ihold up the skin in front of his face.Asinister smile spreads on my face asIspeak. “Verygood,James.Wouldyou like a reward?Here.Atreat for your troubles.”Iforcefully shove the skin into his mouth and down his throat.Hisnatural instincts kick in and force him to swallow his own flesh to keep from dying.

“You’refucking sick.You’renot my son.Nobastard as vile as you could ever be my son.”Hespits.Ican’t help but chuckle at that. “Ilearned from the best, butIstopped being your son a long time ago.It’sa shame it took you this long to notice.”Ishrug.

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