Page 26 of Under the Bed

My savior.

Sick, my father’s voice taunts.

My stepbrother, I answer.

Murderer. He’s escaped, and he’ll kill you next.

The only person who ever believed me.

Psychopath.

Don’t care.

He’s been occupying my mind for hours, days, months. I tried resisting it. Tried shaming myself for falling for mystepbrother, who had blood on his hands. Who hasn’t shown an ounce of remorse for what he’s done.

He tore out the hearts of the kids who molested me. He killed the innocent guard and driver.

That ought to snuff out any hint of desire I might’ve had for him.

Unfortunately, feelings don’t work that way.

For years, I’ve thought of him as more than my stepbrother. I’ve craved him.

I pull the mask closer to my face. Open my eyes.

There are still a couple of inches separating us.

I lower myself to the floor, taking him with me.

Pretending he’s here.

Kaleb seemed bigger in the picture they had on the news. Broader. He must be taller, too. To put his face to mine, he’d have to bend to kiss me. I’d be so small next to him.

He’s here, my twisted mind tells me.

Then it does more than that.

His mask changes in my grip. An invisible face stretching it from the inside.

High cheekbones and a square jawline push against the aging material. The mask is warm to the touch.

Heat rushes up my neck as my mind dives deeper into my fantasy. Resisting it is as useless as it’s ever been.

I want him here. Confined within my dream world where he won’t hurt me. Or, he’ll hurt me until he rids me of all the guilt that’s been eating me alive for years.

My jaw goes slack. My lips part. In my mind’s eye, the lips on the mask do the same. They part for me. Invite me.

No, not inviting. Ordering me to press mine to them.

There’ll be hell to pay if you deny me. It’s a hushed warning. It’s as loud as if he were actually here.You’ll deserve it, too, little sister. I’ll take my sweet time carving your heart out of your chest.

I imagine all the pain he could inflict, and I have to bite my cheek to stifle a moan. I’m mortified. Humiliated.

Doesn’t change the fact that my body craves him. I lean into the mask at the same time I crush it to my mouth.

Lips on lips. A moan I can’t hold back anymore slips past mine.

My eyes close, giving in to the moment.

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