Page 61 of The Psychopaths

I stop at the small window, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. My reflection shows what weeks of captivity have done—beard unkempt, eyes hollow, body leaner from Arson’s sporadic meals. A far cry from the polished Hayes heir everyone expects.

“Patience is power,”Father has always said.

One of his many lessons I accepted without question. How many things did I willingly accept? Arson’streatment? Keeping Lilian at arm’s length to protect her from our family’s corruption, from me? All of it was for nothing.

Now she’s caught between a family full of dark secrets and my psychotic twin.

Above, I hear Arson moving around his living space. The sound of a shower running. He’s humming—actually humming.Fucking dick.

I played my part, and I know it wasn’t right. I know I should’ve tried. Should’ve spoken up.No. Don’t think about the boathouse. About choices made and prices paid.

Focus on the now.On Lilian.

I’ve been playing it smart, biding my time, trying to conserve energy, watching for the perfect opportunity to escape. Knowing Arson’s revenge would burn itself out eventually. Except it hasn’t, not yet, and I have no more patience. Not with Lilian involved. Not when I hear that satisfaction in my brother’s voice when he says her name.

I shake my head in disappointment. She thinks she’s strong enough to handle this, him, our family’s secrets. She’s survived their manipulation, their constant control disguised as protection—but Arson is another beast. I don’t know what her intentions are, but she’s in over her head. I know my brother better than anyone else. We’re the same, even if he refuses to see it. He’ll offer her a taste of freedom, of power, and then use it against her.

He’s rotten, straight to the fucking core.

If only she knew I’m so much worse.

As badly as I want her, to corrupt her, mark her, claim her, watching him ruin her is not a fucking option. I was too much ofa coward to save him, but I’m older now. Smarter, and stronger. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

The humming stops abruptly, and his footsteps move away. I grit my teeth, the tension in my jaw making my head ache. He’s in a good mood, which my addled mind tells me is because he saw her tonight. Or did something to her. Either that, or he’s planning to.

I press a fist to my head. I have to get out of this cage. Have to stop this before Lilian falls too deep into our family’s poison.But how? How do I get out of this place?There’s another option. If I can push Arson to lose control and kill me, then Lilian becomes useless to him. Then he won’t have a reason to involve her.

Maybe he’ll leave her alone.

Or maybe it’s too late for that. Maybe he’s realized just how tempting she is, how much her light calls to the darkness inside each of us.

Fuck, either way I have to try.

“ARSON!” I yell, and my voice bounces off the concrete walls, echoing through the ventilation system. “Come on, Brother! Let’s talk about what you’re doing to her!”

I’m greeted with silence even though I know he can hear me. He designed this prison himself, made sure I could hear snippets of his life above while he keeps me buried below. Torture at its finest.

“Getting squeamish about sharing?” I yell louder, letting anger trickle into my voice. “Or just afraid she’ll figure out you’re theTemuversion of me?”

Something crashes above—a glass or plate shattering.

Satisfaction burns deep in my gut.Good. He’s listening.

“ARSON!” I scream until my throat burns. “We both know this has nothing to do with her. If you want to hurt me, then come and do it yourself. Stop hiding behind her like a coward!”

Blissful silence follows, although it’s heavy with potential violence. He’s close to breaking, I know it. I can feel it. I need him down here, need him angry enough to make mistakes or end my life.

“She’ll never want you!” My voice cracks, but I push harder. “You’re just wearing my face, playing dress-up in my life. The only reason you’ve made it this far is because you’re good at pretending to be something you aren’t. Something you never will be. The moment she sees the real you?—”

The sound of heavy footsteps moving with a dangerous purpose fills my ears. Not running—Arson never runs. He stalks. Is it something they taught him in that place? Or something he learned after his escape? I may never know, and that’s okay, because I don’t want to know anything about him.

“Do you really think she’ll accept you? Accept your darkness?” I’m practically shredding my vocal cords now. “It’s a shame if so. She’ll only pity you. The poor broken brother, twisted by trauma. That’s all you’ll ever be to her!”

He’s approaching the cell, and I brace myself against the back wall, ready for whatever comes next. Excitement builds in my veins as I continue to taunt him.

“What’s wrong? You’ve gone quiet so suddenly.” I call out, forcing a mocking laugh. “Did I hit a nerve? Oh wait, don’t tell me she already realized how pathetic you are?”

The observation window darkens as he stands before it.

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