Page 11 of Fragile Facade
“Because it’ll piss off Yates, earn you status, get you in good with the rest of the crew so that when we flip their leadership and eventually team with The Misfits in this fight against Reaper Corp, you’ll be our bridge. Suffer now and prosper later, Ghost. Problem?”
Major fucking problem, but I keep my mouth shut, ignore Riot, and leave the room. Always the same.
Suffer now, Ghost. Buckle under, Ghost. Take the heat, Ghost.
Yeah, fuck that. I’m at my wit’s end with being the punching bag around here. I’m the biggest asset Vile House has, and fuck Director for using it and then denying me any of the glory. I’ll be his ghost, but outside of my jobs, I refuse to be subtle any longer.
I climb the stairs and march down the hall, banging my fist on Krypt’s door. I try the handle, but it’s locked, and it grates on my already frayed nerves to be denied access to yet another thing.
“Remi!”
He unlocks the door and yanks it open. “What’s wrong?” he asks, seeing the frustration written all over my face. I bury it.
Everything is wrong. Nothing is wrong. It’s the same feeling I always have. Complete rage and confusion over something that doesn’t make itself clear. I’m pissed off about being in The Misfits while everyone else here gets to shine as a Vile Boy. I’m jealous and envious of their fame while I lurk in the shadows. I’m even mad that Remi is so settled, so broken but whole because of the way Krypt made him see himself.
I’m broken… Why can’t I be whole like he is? Why does no one want to fix me?
Because I’m not fucking broken! Not on the outside. My illusion is strong, and until the day I die, I’ll make sure it stays intact.
“Selena is at home. Let’s go check on her and Mom.” When he hesitates, I growl at him. “Grow a fucking backbone, Remi. You don’t need his permission to leave.” I walk away.
“Soren, wait.”
“Ghost,” I snap, not waiting for him to lock Krypt’s door.
There was a time when Remi relied on me, turned to me, and trusted me for everything. He used to look up to me, and together, we set our minds on fighting this curse and beating it side by side. He never knew I was actively taunting it, but I was in his corner. I was in his corner so hard that I herded him to Vile House that night Malone stalked him through the streets of Moros. He thought I was out to kill him to end the curse, but I wanted him to come here for protection. I just hadn’t anticipated Krypt jumping on his bargain before I could.
But now he has Krypt… and I don’t know how to feel about not being needed. I don’t want the burden, I just want to be important. Iamimportant and I want everyone to know how much.
Remi follows me down the stairs, silent, but emitting energy like he wants to say something. “I heard… I heard you play last night.”
“You asking me something?” I head towards the basement to access the tunnels.
“No. I don’t know. Are you okay?”
“Remiel!” Krypt shouts, storming towards us. Remi stops. Krypt grabs my brother by his tattooed throat, looks him straight in the eye, and lets all his monsters shine.How dare Remi move without telling Krypt. Fucking pathetic.
I roll my eyes and keep moving, only to be stopped at the entrance to the basement stairs by the fucking prick who is apparently going to ‘build me credit’ in my own gang. Yet another kick to the nuts.
I open my mouth, ready to rip into him, but he talks over me. “You never know when to shut your mouth, do you, sweetheart?”
“What’d I say if you called me that again?” I push past him, once again thriving now that he’s here to rile me—that perfect coupling of desire and despair.
“Didn’t say shit, actually. Started the threat and never finished it.” He follows me down the stairs. “You ready for tonight?”
I spin and grabhimby the throat, pressing him back until his head clacks off the wall of the stairwell. I crowd him, my chest against his hard pecs, his abs shifting against mine.
“So twitchy to get your hands on me again?” he asks while suffocating.
“Listen, asshole. I don’t need you to build me credit with The Misfits. Tonight will go off without a hitch becauseI’llmake it go off without a hitch. You’re there to deal with Yates. Not me. Got it?”
He only grins, his grey eyes full of unspoken taunts.
“Don’t blow my fucking cover.” I slam him back and shout, “Remi! Let’s go!”
* * *
I stareat Remi’s arms while Mom makes lunch for the three of us. I don’t trust her, but she’s still alive, and Axel isn’t controlling her anymore. She’s still a zombie, but part of me thinks it’s an act. She’s up to something, and the amount of times she’s asked me where Gregory Malone is sets off alarm bells in my mind. Why does she think I’d know?
