Page 77 of Judas

“Now that you’re awake, let’s talk about how the hell you got out of prison.” Unscrewing the top to the bottle, I bring it to my lips and begin guzzling it down like it’s the most pure form of water to ever exist. Cold, refreshing, and if looks could kill I’d be a dead man. This is solely for my amusement, truly; the silent pleading in his angry eyes is like a reward. Go to prison, die, live through hell, hunt your killer down, and have a refreshing gulp of water while he slowly thirsts to death—among his other ailments.

“Do you know what the definition of insanity is, pretty boy?” Lucien asks, I know where this is going but I’m going to play stupid anyways. For some reason he’s always had this notion that I’m a dumb fuck when I’m not. Must be the sarcasm. Oscar Wilde did say ‘sarcasm is the lowest form of humor;’ what people seem to forget is the rest of the sentence which is ‘but the highest form of intelligence.’ Leave it to this shit to forget the most important part of the whole lesson.

“What’s that?”

“Doing the same thing over and over,” he starts.

“Expecting different results,” we finish at the same time.

Putting the water bottle down on my table of instruments, a single sip left at the bottom that likely has more backwash than anything. I lean forward and put my elbows on the tops of my knees. Hands brace my head as I smile antagonizingly at him. It’s humiliation that really gets him going. Pain is only a small influence on him; took me a few years but going to a memory specialist helped me recall all of the smallest interactions I had with him behind bars. Psychotic, yeah, but he uses that tohis advantage by trying to brainwash and manipulate people. Corrupt them one way or another and use them to his advantage.

Xavier was able to use his connections to get copies of the Internal Affairs and Federal Bureau of Prisons investigations where I studied every aspect of the riot. Narrowed down who were the major players, who survived, where their associations branched to, and so forth. The information was a spiderweb of horseshit revealing more snakes than anything. Yet the most interesting factor was how Lucien came in at the ass end of everything but played a huge impact—at least to Nadia and I.

What’s everything? Well, we all know corruption runs deep. Politicians, law enforcement, churches, universities, and corporations—they’re crooked as fuck. Seeing names and networks as they forked into every industry known to keep our country afloat was rage inducing. I lived blindly in my bubble until Nadia came along, and when Lucien happened, it opened my eyes wider. I see it all now.

Choosing Havok as an alias was intentional, just not in the way Bible-thumper here assumes. Destruction, disorder, and confusion isn’t too far off the mark but his dumb ass isn’t quite there yet.

“Thought you had something there, didn’t you?” It’s not a question. I’ve asked plenty of those and he’s not given in. We’re going to play on his field now. Pain exacerbates his manipulation—fighting back now. However, the war is psychological versus physical.

Lucien mean-mugs me—his everlasting default setting. Looks like the bleeding has slowed too, so we’re going to talk and keep the torture to a minimum since the sun is out. Don’t want to alert the neighbors to our shenanigans. If the police show up and take all of us in, Lucien will disappear and I’ll have to start all over. My girls are not safe in this world as long as he is walking free.

“You were only half right on the whole ‘Havok’ biblical shit, you know that? Really coming up short here, Lucien. I expected more from you since you’re the one with all of the influence, and seem to know everything.”

He smirks, at which part I have no damn clue but it’s irrelevant.

“First off, James 1:14-15. ‘But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.’”

The shit’s interest is piqued now—let’s see if I can set the hook.

“Killing me, while I hadn’t realized it at first, was the silver lining I had been searching for for a very long time. You brought death to a boy so the man could be delivered.”

“You’re welcome.” He responds with a quickness, tilting his head as if he’s proud of himself. A look of accomplishment smears across his smug face, like the blood he poured all over my daughter. Masking all of my annoyance, I plaster on a smile and provide him the praise he desperately craves.

“Many thanks.”

“Don’t mention it again. The Lord only requires submission and acceptance to receive His forgiveness, Kace. You still have time to repent all of these unclean things you’ve committed through your short little lives. Consider your survival a second chance.”

“Oh, I do and I’ll be making the most out of it moving forward. Which brings me to my next point.” Lucien nods and I continue, “2 Thessalonians 2:7”

Babel smirks just out of my focused field of vision, but I’ve gathered his attention too—especially now that our brother in Christ has mutated again. Watching him slide through different mindsets so easily is truly fascinating. Still, I elaborate.

“‘For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.’ Now, what could that mean?”

“Your blasphemy knows no bounds and will be punished!” Lucien snaps at me and I laugh.

“And on the third day he rose again.”

“Silence!”

A full bodied laugh shakes my ribs and shoulders; watching him jerk and try to toss himself ever which way has me appreciating the circumstances. Even Babel is shaking his head with a grin. Slapping both hands down on my knees, I stand once more. Shaking my head when I pick up the water bottle again. I’m caught off guard when Lucien stills and his voice is low—angry, menacing. Hoping to get a rise out of me and take control of the situation; something he won’t do again.

“You may have me where you want me, think you’re getting ahead because you’ve managed to find a relationship with our Creator. But I promise you, I’m not done ruining the way Nadia looks at you. All of this vengeance and it could mean nothing when she chooses to walk away from you and ends up in the arms of someone else.”

Lucien's head snaps to the side when my reflexes retaliate and I crash my hand into his running mouth. So much for not getting a rise out of me. A snarl of my own glares down at him, his words fill my vision with red so potent I can sense it swallowing me from the inside out. Rearing back to deliver another—hell, however many it takes to permanently silence him—I’m stopped.

Swivelling around, every muscle in my body is coiled tight, tense, vibrating with all of the energy I need to split the bastard into pieces. I see Babel there, his hand snug on my bicep. The man waits quietly, letting me work through the anger pumping through my veins.

“Why don’t you go get some air, hmm? Spend some time with your family and clear your head,” he suggests. “I’ll deal with him while you’re gone.”

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