Page 54 of Psycho

“What do you want with me?”

Frustration seeped into my voice as I asked, because I had to ask. I would much rather know.

He hadn’t done anything to meyet, and I would much rather be prepared than not.

Micah didn’t answer me for a moment. Then, “Everything. I want everything.”

10

LAINEY

I stayedin the bathroom for way longer than I should have.

I couldn’t just make my feet move out of here, not after… all that.

Not with him on the other side.

There was no lock on the door, and I was sure Micah would come in and get me out if I stayed in there any longer.

I looked at myself in the mirror, where I had cleared off the steam.

I was in one of his shirts and boxers, with my own panties underneath. These were the clothes he had set out on the sink for me, so I assumed this was what he wanted me to wear to bed. The shirt dwarfed me.

My hair was wet from a quick shower I had just taken.

He had given me my backpack. I didn’t think he looked through it, because all my money was still there.

It wasn’t like he had any need for it.

I was sure being a criminal paid him nicely.

Everything. I want everything.

After he told me that, we had a small dinner of ravioli with tomato sauce, which Micah had cooked himself. Then he brought me to the bathroom and told me to get ready for bed.

I didn’t exactly know what he would want after that, and I was afraid to find out, especially since I knew for a fact there was only one bedroom in this place—one bed.

He showed it to me after giving me a half-ass tour, as if I was on vacation and he was the listing owner of an Airbnb.

I knew I couldn’t possibly hide in the bathroom forever, but wouldn’t that have made an already shit daymarginallybetter?

I could even sleep in the bathtub.

All I needed was a pillow and a blanket. Everything about the place was meticulously clean, including the massive bathtub in the corner.

My long hair was a mess, and I tried to run my fingers through it, wincing a little when I got to a tangle. I cringed, just imagining what it would be like the next morning when I woke up.

Micah had some earthy, citrusy shampoo and a bottle of body wash, and that was all.

My face was pink from the hot water, and my green eyes seemed too big for my face right now, exhaustion clear in them.

I was just so tired.

Not just physically, but…

I was just so tired of life.

Only twenty, and it felt like I was being pulled down by a force I couldn’t see, couldn’t fight.

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