Page 88 of Make Me Scream
CHAPTER 26
PERIS
A loud,incessant buzzing pulls me from the deepest depths of unconsciousness. “Ugh, fuck,” I groan loudly, head pounding as I smack my lips. My mouth tastes like ass, and I wince, wrinkling my nose. The vibration sounds again, and I finally manage to crack open an eyelid, grimacing at the sunlight that peaks through the curtains.
“Jesus Christ.” I try to move my right hand and cry out when my fingers flex and a blinding pain shoots up my right hand. My eyes shoot open wide, and I come face to face with a black and blue hand, bones swollen and misplaced.
“Shit, that’s definitely broken,” I mutter to myself, wincing as I rub my thumb over my knuckles.What did I do?This could ruin my career. If my hand is broken, I can’t play. And if I can’t play, they can revoke my scholarship…
Fuckfuckfuck.
And then, it all comes swinging back.
Abel.
My AbelAbelAbel.
“Runt…” I whisper to myself, and tears fill my eyes unwillingly as the memories of last night come rushing back.The way he held onto that man, the way he talked of sucking him off, the way he said I was no one…
I sniffle, dragging the back of my good hand over my nose, fighting back the burn of tears that threaten to spill. I can’t believe this happening… that itdidhappen, that itis stillhappening.
My phone vibrates beneath me, and I startle at the sensation, rolling onto my side as I try to reach for it with my good hand. I don’t recognize the number on the front, but it’s nearly ten in the morning, which tells me I slept for at least a few hours, give or take how long it took me to finally pass out.
My eyes flick toward the empty bottle lying on the floor, and I wince. No wonder I feel so fucking shitty. I’ve never drank so much in my life. Not my brightest moment, but fuck, I didn’t know what to do.
I still don’t. I don’t know how to handle this or what any of it means. For me or for us.
I can’t be with someone that doesn’t respect me or our relationship, but I also can’t let him go.
He’s mine. Now and always.
I swipe my thumb across the screen to answer the call, scrunching my eyes shut to avoid the bright light. My phone’s almost dead, so hopefully, the battery lasts through the call. “Hello?”
There’s a weird pause of static, and then, a monotone computer voice states, “This is a call from—" and then another pause, and my stomach falls right out my body and through the floor—"Luke Baxter.” His voice rings through my ears for the first time in years, and I stop breathing. The phone slips from my fingers and falls to the bed.
“An inmate at Oak River Penitentiary.” I stare at the ceiling, not really seeing anything at all. “All phone calls are subject to recording and monitoring. To decline this call, press nine. Toaccept this call, press one now.” The recording has stopped, and all I can hear is static on the line, along with the heavy chugging of my heart in my ears, along with every choking breath I take—and for some reason I don’t understand, I reach down and press one.
“Thank you. Your call has been accepted.”
“Fuck.”
There’s a click, and then, my world flips all over again.
“Peris, son.”
Oh, no. Nonono, what did I do?Sweat clings to my skin, breaking out along my body and making me itch and squirm. I’m burning from the inside, and vomit crawls up my throat.
“It’s good you answered.”
“Luke,” I choke out in punctured breaths.Peris, breathe. All I have to do is make it through.“What the hell do you want?”
His deep chuckle makes my skin crawl, and the urge to run away nearly overtakes me. I squeeze my phone in my hand so hard it creaks. He then sighs and says, “I missed you, boy.”
I gag. “Get to the fucking point,” I snap, choking on the bile burning my tongue.
“I’m getting out. You will probably hear soon enough, but I’m meeting with the parole board, and it’s looking promising. I’ve been a model prisoner, and I wanted you to hear it from me first.” And he sounds so fucking proud of it, too.
I lose my will-power over my gag reflex and upchuck all over the floor, phone falling to the bed. The echo of Luke’s laugh is nothing but a background inflection to the sound of my vomiting permeating the room.
