Page 56 of Five Fingers of Death

A large hand landed on my shoulder, and I jumped, letting out a terrified yelp as I scooted away from Jason. He came around to kneel in front of me, his eyes concerned as he watched my every move.

“Isabelle, tell me what’s going on.”

I shook my head slowly, my eyes drifting closed as a headache started pounding. I could barely keep my eyes open anymore. It was all too much. I couldn’t handle the pressure any longer. I just needed a break from it all.

“Maybe you should go.”

I glanced up and saw Vira shooting Jason a knowing look. Then she ushered Carli to the door, keeping herself between the little girl and me. She needed to protect her—not from monsters and strangers, but from the woman who was going crazy, who had the ability to hurt that little girl with my chaotic thoughts and words.

As the door snicked shut, I closed my eyes and leaned on the armrest, breathing a sigh of relief that they were gone.

“You did well,” Ebarardo said. “But he never should have been here to begin with.”

“I know.”

“Don’t test me again,” he growled. “Get upstairs. You know what I expect.”

A sliver of fear skittered down my spine, but I listened, getting to my feet and taking the steps one at a time. I didn’t like what I had to do, but I knew there was no way out of this. There never was.

“If you go easy, I’ll only make it worse.”

I nodded, walked into my room, and closed the door. It was time for my punishment.

* * *

Ebarardo stood in the corner of the room with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me as he waited for me to make a decision. I looked around, trying to find something that would be sufficiently appropriate, but nothing appeared to be quite what I needed.

I walked over to the closet and opened the door. I could sit inside in the dark for the rest of the day. Glancing over my shoulder, Ebarardo shook his head at me. It wasn’t good enough.

I shut the door.

If that wasn’t what he wanted, then I’d take things to another level. I marched into the bathroom and yanked open the drawer, pulling out the blade I kept stored in there for when I needed to feel something no one else would understand. After quickly undoing my pants, I slid them down and lifted one leg onto the toilet seat. My hand shook, but only for a second. I knew relief would soon follow.

The blade sliced into my thigh and the pain released something in me I had been craving for days. A feeling of calm washed over me, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. One time never was. I slid the blade over my skin again, letting the blood dribble down my skin.

A tear slipped from the corner of my eye as the pain receded, morphing into pleasure. I didn’t get off on cutting myself, but it reminded me of something… I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Do you really think this was what I meant?” Ebarardo snapped.

My eyes flew open and I spun to face him. He glared at me from the doorway of the bathroom.

“You look like you’re enjoying your punishment far too much.”

“Ebar—”

“What is this supposed to be?” he yelled.

I swallowed hard, the blade shaking in my hand, nearly biting into my skin. “A reminder.”

“A reminder of what?”

“Of how to behave.”

“And?”

“To always follow the rules.”

“And what did you do wrong today?”

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