Page 21 of Soul to Possess

I froze. “What is this ‘art’ you keep talking about?”

I understood the words. But not the meaning. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but I couldn’t stop the words from falling from my lips anyway.

He answered like I’d asked him what day it was. “My art. My special art.”

That clarified nothing. I blinked. “Oh, wow. Thank you. That cleared everything right up.”

His grin spread wider. “If you’d start paying attention, you’d see it. It’s all around you.”

He gestured to a piece on the coffee table—something I’d vaguely noticed the night before but hadn’t reallylookedat. Now I did. I wished I hadn’t. It was a sculpture, maybe. A crude one. And it looked like it had been made entirely from… teeth. Human teeth. Some yellowed. Some cracked. One of them had a filling. I had dismissed it last night, thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but no - it was there.

My stomach flipped.

Then he nodded toward the far wall, where another piece hung that I hadn’t noticed before. It was round. Bulbous. It looked like a giant, lidless eye—and hair sprouted from it in chaotic patches. Blonde. Brown. Red. Strands twisted together like the clippings of a hundred different people’s scalps, none of them matching.

A sick wave rolled through my chest. “That’s… disturbing.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. Most normal girls find it a bit off-putting. If it really bothers you, I can move it to the outbuilding.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Why would I care what you keep in your house?”

He shrugged, slow and smooth. “Maybe it’ll be your house too. That is… if you decide not to leave.”

My mouth went dry. “Why would I ever stay here?” Fear turned my stomach into a rolling pit of bile. What had I walked into?

He tilted his head again, as if I’d asked the wrong question. “You said you were lonely, didn’t you?”

I blinked. “Yes. That’s why I answered Marvin’s ad.”

The moment stretched thin. I could feel him watching me—not just my face, but the invisible parts too. My cracks. My soft spots. He wasn’t looking at me like a man looks at a stranger.He was studying me like I was a canvas. And I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be flattered or afraid.

“Do you love Marvin?” The question came out of nowhere—sharp, unexpected. Atticus grinned as he said it, that crooked smile sparking something wicked behind his eyes, like he already knew my answer.

I blinked at him. “Of course not. I’ve never even met him.”

I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to explain, but I did. “I mean… I guess I feel kind of fondly toward him? I liked the letters. I liked the idea. But love is a strong word.”

I tilted my head. “Why does it matter?”

Atticus leaned back, all relaxed confidence. “Well, if it’s not love, and it’s just loneliness… I might know where you could find a man. Sexy. Serious about commitment.” He paused, eyes gleaming. “And not interested in turning you into art.”

My stomach twisted. “Your obsession with that word—‘art’—is terrifying.”

He smiled wider. “Aww. Thank you, Gennie girl.”

The words made me freeze. “What?”

“Thank you,” he repeated. “That was a very kind compliment.”

I stared at him, stunned. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

He shrugged, unbothered. “Still. I appreciate it.”

I wanted to scream. “I’m not staying here. The second I can get out, I’m going to Marvin.”Heaven above, help me get away from this crazy man.

There was no wobble in my voice. I made sure of that. I wasn’t about to let him think I was a helpless, wandering girl with nowhere else to go. Some part of me thought maybe he might like that a little too much. I should’ve never told him I was lonely, what had I been thinking?

He nodded, all calm, like I’d just told him I didn’t want sugar in my tea. “Fair enough. But if you change your mind…” His voice dipped lower. “You just let me know.”

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