Page 63 of Grotesque
“Oh my gosh, Quint. Are you fucking serious right now?” I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to move past him, only for him to block me again. I pointed my finger sharply in his face. “Stoptrying to win me over. You think I’m crazy. You don’t think I’m crazy. I don’t really care anymore. What I do care about is that you have me trapped in a bathroom right now.”
“It’s him!” He reached for me again then curled his hand into a fist, drawing it back to his side. “That dude you’re with,” he pointed over his shoulder, “that’s who I saw.”
Shit, I’d actually forgotten the story he’d told me. About the man with long horns who had kissed the top of Grandma Macky’s head. Ok, well, I knew Corban was real – obviously. I should have put two and two together earlier.
My heart hammered as I reassessed the crazed look of Quint’s eyes again. He wasn’t just an animal that would bite, he was one that would chew off its own leg, hurt everyone around it, just to get away. I could smell it on him. Beneath all the alcohol was the sweet scent of fear and desperation.
Dread filled the space between us. Corban was going to come looking for me if I didn’t get out of here soon and there was no way he was going to let Quint off a third time.
“Quint,” I said slowly. “I need you to listen to me very carefully, ok? True or not, I need you to let me out of this bathroom right now.”
He flung his head back in exasperation. “Are you even hearing what I’m telling you?” He gestured wildly back at the door. “That is not a man out there. That is a monster. This isn’t a game I’m trying to play with you. Rob recognized him too; he’s one of the guys that was there with me that day. We don’t talk about it because how could that have been real, right? But it’s him.”
The dread wound tighter, stalked toward us. I looked around the small space. Were the shadows getting darker?
“Quint,” I warned. I pursed my lips and moved to the side as I slowly inched my way to the door he was still pressed against. If I could get him to turn his attention with me, turn his body with mine, then maybe I could duck out.
His eyes narrowed, stopping me in my tracks, and he looked at me. Really looked at me. His gaze dropped down to my legs that were now bare and blemish free. But they hadn’t been. I’dshown him the bruises. “Holy fuck. You know. Is he what hurt you– holy fuck you saw him! It washimyou saw that night. That broke in.”
I would have to try a different angle. “We can talk about this later when you don’t have me trapped. Corban is going to come looking for me and I’d very much like to leave before that happens.”
“What has he been doing? Is he holding you hostage?” He took hold of my arm again and looked over his shoulder, then to the vent and to the mirror. His eyes darting around like he could find another exit. “I can get you out of here. Get you away from him.”
“Let go, Quint.” I jerked my arm against his grip, but it just tightened.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll get you away.” Those fingers curled tighter, tighter until I could feel the bruises expanding across my skin. “I’ll get you away and it’ll be fine. We’ll get rid of him.”
“Quint!”
The door crashed open, sending Quint flying past me into the wire rack of bathroom supplies. I caught hold of the railing beside the toilet the moment Corban rushed in, the door banging shut behind him.
The shadows that had been gathering at the corners of the stall exploded. Black tendrils writhed like snakes, striking and snapping like they could jump free, and latch hold to something for real. I pressed myself against the railing, my nails chipping away the cheap paint on the wall behind it as I cast about for something, anything that would help me get us all out of this situation.
Corban twisted his fingers around Quint’s neck and in a single graceful movement lofted him into the air. “Remember me now?” he snarled. “You were just a boy, sticking your nosein places it didn’t belong. Clearly, not much has changed since then.”
Quint gurgled as he kicked. His feet made solid impact against Corban, but the grotesque didn’t so much as flinch.
“So many times I could have killed you. So many times I’ve spared you.”
“Corban,” I whispered because it was all I could manage, terror closing my own throat. Quint’s face was turning purple, his eyes bloodshot where they should have been white.
“I meant to let you live tonight, but then you went and touched her.” Corban gave Quint a good shake for emphasis. Quint clawed at the hand around his throat, his kicks becoming twitches.
The smell of piss was stronger now and, oh– Quint had pissed himself. The denim of his pants darkened between his thighs.
Corban’s eyes blazed bloodthirsty red, with all consuming hate. He was going to kill him.
I reached out a shaking hand, my eyes locked on the vicious set of his face as the glamour he held over his appearance flickered. “Corban,” I said, louder this time. “Corban, look at me please.”
His nostrils flared before he flicked his glowing gaze down to me. I could only see one of his eyes, as his focus still almost entirely on Quint, a deadly attention fierce enough to burn a hole through his head. I would have stumbled back were I not already pressed against the wall. Hiseyes–their pupils were slitted, vertical like a vipers’.
“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. Corban, please let him go.” I rested my hand on his muscled arm.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t snap his neck.” At the widening of Quint’s eyes Corban’s sneer deepened.
He truly was a sight to behold. There was such unbridled fury roiling from him that I should have been running in the other direction. Instead, all I could do was stand there in awe. I hadthe good sense to still be terrified of him, but something was clearly cracked inside my brain that held me there completely captivated.
“It would make me happy if you did.” I conceded, tilting my chin down when his nostrils flared again and he turned in my direction. “It would make me happy if you didn’t kill anyone tonight. If you came home with me instead.” I had no real feelings for Quint, but I didn’t need Corban thinking I might.
