Page 76 of The Caged Girl

Shaking my head, I looked up. “No,”

“Demi, pick a girl and let’s go.” His voice shifted to anger. I knew I was risking Bradley’s exit from this place if I didn’t play by the rules. These girls, some who I considered my friends, were all dead now. I couldn’t fight for them.

“Her.” I pointed at a random girl I didn’t know, and one I had never met.

“A good choice. She’s been here for a while. I’ll call someone to pick her up.” I followed Alister out, but paused at the entrance. There were rows and rows of magazines. Lifting one up, I flipped through but dropped it.

The breath left my lungs. It was image after image with ‘product information’ listed below.

“You know our most high-paying clientele are the men who come here for these ladies. Necrophiliacs are shunned in the real-world, Demi. But truly, we are real men; we’re the ones who have power and control far greater than life. The ones who can appreciate the beauty of a woman in all forms. I mean, you may think we are sick, but think of these women, the ones with all their fake hair extensions and wigs. Demi, the best ones are made from human hair. Do they truly think all those girls voluntarily shaved their heads? The wives who come here leave with top quality hair from these women. Then we have our fun.” He spun around in the morgue proudly.

Please don’t make me do this.It’s what I wish I could say, but I didn’t. Instead, I followed my husband back to the penthouse as grief overcame me. Because I knew if I didn’t obey, I’d be stuffed into a freezer, too.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

I stoodin front of the corpse that was lying in our bed. She now wore a red-lace lingerie set and a white wig had been put on top of her head.

“You’re going to fuck her and me. Then, I’ll have you both.”

A video recorder was set up in front of the bed. “Don’t worry, my love, I only keep these films for my personal collection.”

“Shall we?” He began to direct me to get on top of her.

“Kiss her.” Stomach acid rose in my throat as I straddled the corpse. Closing my eyes, I started to think about Bradley. He’d get to leave, and maybe he’d get to change. Maybe therapy or something could help heal the childhood trauma that led him to this path, or maybe he’d just finally soak in the sun and live a real life.

I pressed my lips against the shriveled ones in front of me. “Open your eyes and use tongue.” I turned and looked at Alister pleadingly as he stroked himself in bed.

“Do it, Demi!” he barked at me and then revealed a knife. “Do it well, or do it while bleeding.” He waved it at me before I did as I was told.

He forced himself on me, brushing his naked body against mine as he kept telling me what to do. I hated myself and I hated him. I hated her for being here, even in death. My mind spiraled as he raped the corpse, and then choked me as he forced himself inside me.

I didn’t see him, I didn’t see her, I just let myself die inside.

I knew once he choked me hard enough, I’d lose consciousness. “Harder, Alister,” I begged.

And just like that, everything went black.

* * *

I opened my eyes, and they immediately grew wider. I was staring straight at the corpse. Her lips were painted red. Did Alister put lipstick on her?

“She’s beautiful, but you are far more gorgeous. I’ll have her lips added to my art. I can’t believe I never did earlier.” His arms tightened around me as he squeezed. “Last night was everything of my fantasy and more, my raven,” he softly said into my ear.

I sat up and wiggled out of his grip full of disgust and remorse. “When is Bradley leaving?”

“Today. Although I didn’t want to, but I think it’ll provide you closure. He’s requested that you come and say goodbye to him. I told you I’d make your wish come true.”

I slid out of the bed from the end and turned to Alister, who was cradling the dead woman next to him. He kissed her lips and smiled back at me. “Don’t be jealous.” Red lipstick was smeared on his mouth.

“I’m going to shower and get dressed.” Everything hurt inside, and I didn’t want to even think about what Alister had done to my body after I fell unconscious.

“I love you, Demi,” Alister called out to me. When I didn’t return it, his voice changed. “Say it back.” He warned.

I knew I had to stay strong. “I love you, Alister.” Looking down, I added, “I’m just feeling very shy after our wild night.”

A look of pleasure painted his face as he sank back under the covers. “Go on, my love. Bradley is leaving in thirty-minutes.”

I scrubbed my body so hard that my skin felt raw. I brushed my teeth and gargled with mouthwash before crying into the sink just to cleanse and purge the death, torture, and pain I could feel seeping into my every crevice.

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