Page 66 of Judas

As I’m speaking to her, I go through the motion of her eyes popping out and find it difficult not to laugh. It’s highly distasteful, but seeing the way she reacts as I explain something I did to him in the bowels of Darkwater is extremely satisfying.

Keeping my attention on Nadia, she looks over at the girl who has now gone still. The crazy one in her head is taking a breather, I’m guessing, preparing to drive me utterly insane later once I’m done playing with Nadia. Lord knows Kate doesn’t sleep—sweet girl confessed that when she told me her adopted parents would barricade themselves in their bedroom.

Tilting back to me, her hands slide down the line next, reaching for the several feet of cord now a daunting collar. Her fingers attempt to dig under it and while she gets one layer, she won’t get much further—if she does, I’ll cut the damn things off.Force them in her mouth, then sew her lips shut and torment her body until she chokes on them.

Still crouched over her, I jerk the cable again. Using it as an unforgiving leash that pinches her fingers and she can’t help but haul them away to keep from getting caught. Nadia begins to fall apart under me. She starts to scream but finds it rather difficult to do; instead of that, her face reddens faster. I know she’s going to start getting lightheaded soon, with all that blood building up in her cranium. Her legs and feet kick in silence as she reaches for me, but I slap her hands away.

Don’t touch.

I’m rather fond of this version of Nadia. Helpless, no true fight left in her. I’m sure it’s hard to speak when your vocal cords are being suppressed, but the old Nadia would have found a way to dish out some smartassed retort. Hell, she was able to when she was restrained to the bars in Darkwater, kicking and screaming, fighting as the inmates had their way with her.

The one that broke the agreement I had with the AB, God, what was his name? Matthew? Joseph? Stephen? It doesn't matter; he is of no consequence. Anyway, when he broke the agreement and I snatched his life away, that was the only time I ever truly felt remorse for anything. And it was for Nadia, of all people. What a fool I was; can’t stand looking at her now—miserable, not fit to be a living-breathing person. I was prepared to pull strings to get me out so we could be together, just like I planned when we were little, but she had to bring Sadie into this world instead. While Sadie has her father’s likeliness, existing in this state just to torment me, her demons have aroused mine. Now that I’ve gotten her to commit heinous crimes, I’ll get her to submit or she can be fed to the wolves just like her mom.

It’s starting to get hard to see out here. Reaching back to the rear of my jeans, I fish out the small book of matches I’ve had with me since I started this whole ordeal. Only a few are left,but I only need one. Nadia stills as I twist at the waist; the knife is agonizing when I stretch and bend that way, I just don’t let it get in the way of murdering her. However, I am in need of the kitchen torch that I was using.

Pulling it free, I hold it steady in my hand and turn the dial until the sound of butane fills the space between us. Getting a match out and striking it is a bit more tedious and more labor intensive than it should be, but I’m eventually successful. Even dropped the almost empty matchbook on Nadia’s chest as it caves in and out, trying to get deeper breaths. If she would slow down and breathe through her nose, it would be easier. Trying to gulp is tensing her neck muscles and making it harder to draw in a decent breath.

I take a moment to admire the small flame; it’s popping and crackling while dancing on the end of the cardboard. Nothing compares to the inferno she will be frolicking through soon enough. Waving the match through the gas, it illuminates into a soft roar.

“Beautiful, isn’t it, sister? Feels weird saying that—it’s almost too gracious for you. Reserved for a woman of God, and you fall nowhere on that scale. Just a miserable tramp who no one wanted. Mother left you, your father cast you out, and used up by men who only saw you as a piece of meat. Don’t get me started on slutting yourself out to the pretty boy. I’m doing you a favor, you see, ending it all. You won’t feel any more pain, if that’s how you want to look at it. Nothing else may make sense, but this does—dying does.”

Moving to stand, I’m amazed that Nadia just lays there. There used to be an unparalleled fight in her that many others, like myself, were in awe of, but now it’s simply gone. I guess the world finally broke her enough where she’s just as ready to be sacrificed as Sadie is. Stepping from over her, I’m quickly reminded not to underestimate her ass when she curls up andflings her legs at me. Whacking me hard enough to send a twinge of pain shooting up both thighs. Starting from the knees, which has them buckling under me and drops me down to the earth with an audible grunt.

As quickly as I can, I catch myself and flip over. Urgently needing to get back to my feet, seeing as though Nadia is already on hers and reaching for the knife. It’s fast and hectic, the ordeal along with the pain disorients me just enough where Nadia is able to get hold of the hilt and yank it out. With a shout, blood sprays from the hole where I howl in pain. Retaliation kicks in, reinforcing the outrage that boils inside of me and I swing at her, narrowly missing her face. But the second time around, I aim lower and snag just enough of her jacket to jerk her back to me.

“Where do you think you’re going!?”

“Right here!” she screams and stabs me again, again and again.

I roar in her face, spittle flying out of my gaped mouth. Respecting her fight, I hate her just as much for it. Rearing my head back, I send it crashing into hers and knock her dizzy once again. She’s gasping for air now; the restriction of the cords around her neck have become tighter I’m sure. Must suck, not being able to breathe when air is essential in a fight. Nadia dashes across the ground closer to the cross I had every intention of attaching her to. Her second to last resting place. She was going to be nailed to the very thing she should have been praying to. Then? Then I was going to let the wildlife pick her bones clean.

In our struggle, I dropped the still-burning torch. It has since burned through the woodland debris in a two foot radius. Leaving several small flames that creep along the forest floor and embers glowing in the darkness. On my knees and holding my side with my weaker hand, I swipe at the torch. The ongoing blood loss makes it difficult to maintain my clear-thinking andbalance. Noticing Nadia racing toward it, she makes it there before me. Tossing herself on her backside, she points the silly thing at me like a gun.

I get a real good look at her and can’t stop the hooting, the bitter pain ebbing in my torso as it jostles from the view before me. She’s still wearing the cable like a sort of clerical collar. The irony is amusing, even as I bleed all over the damn place.

“It doesn’t shoot rounds, Nadia. Besides, titanium knees now, good luck blowing those out.”

“Fuck you,” she rasps out.

“How many times do I have to tell people that I don’t partake in sins of the flesh?” I snarl at her. Shaking my head, I start walking away—knowing she’s not going anywhere anytime soon—and make it to Sadie. She’s out cold. Hanging there by her wrists, just like I left her—such a good girl. Absolutely breathtaking. It’s taken me this long to realize just how beautiful she is. Who knew I’d have my own sacrifice one day. She’s just missing one thing and we always aim to please the Lord.

Tugging my hand away from my wounds, it assists the other in capturing the front of Sadie’s loose-fitting shorts and slides them down her bruised and muck covered legs. Dropping them in the dirt, I look around for the knife Nadia used on me—would make it much easier to remove Sadie’s shirt, as all virginal sacrifices are nude.

“Touch her again and I’ll blow a fucking hole through your head.”

Oh, that’s new.

Turning my head to the left, I twist around. Meeting one furious stare, and the shining end of a rifle.Now we’re talking.Putting pressure back to my sisterly-delivered holes, I give the new man my rapt attention. Silently waiting for him to roll out his next set of demands as if he has any sort of authority here. Even Nadia stills off to the side—like mother, like daughter.Doesn’t scream for help even when it’s staring us right in the face. A small piece of me wants to believe that it’s their way of subconsciously allowing themanof the family to protect them. I could do just that, if they ever would have allowed me to.

“Other than the gun, because getting shot is not something I enjoy, why would I listen to you? You’ve stumbled on a family matter, one I will break your neck over. Ought to leave while you’re able to.”

“Not a chance, kid. I’ve watched you fuck that young girl over for weeks now and I’ve had enough of it. Bring her down now and let the other one go, too. Doubt you’ll make it to my neck before you’re bleeding from yours.”

Shaking my head, full of all sorts of giddiness lately, another laugh rumbles from my chest when I look over to Nadia. She stares back at me just as confused. At least she’s looking at the right person now—me.

“You believe this guy?”

Eyes connect again but they're quickly silenced when a distinct bang interrupts my words and blood blooms high on my chest. The wretched sound of Nadia screaming pierces my ears and adds to the chaos.

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