Page 24 of No Way Back
“You’re going to die tonight, kid. She decided,” I tell him, hoping that maybe if he understands this isn’t something he can fight against, he’ll stop struggling.
Makes it easier for me this way.
“N-no.” Kyle shakes his head.
“Yes,” Camila sings from the shadows.
“She is your reaper,” I confirm, pulling him by the broken wrist to stand.
“Fuck! Fuck!” he screams, wailing and snotting freely down his lips.
I take his other wrist and match the injury, not waiting for his shouting to subside before I close each shackle around it. He’s restrained to the wall now, feet still freely on the ground, but those can be easily removed.
He takes noisy breaths, working through the pain of shock as he shakes in the chains.
“Disembowelment?” she asks with a peppy voice, turning from the table with a sharp surgical knife.
“I think we’ve already done it,” I remind her.
She brings the tip of the knife to her lip, like it’s helping her think. “We could flay him?” she suggests, lifting the pliers.
“That’ll take longer than the ax. Just use the chainsaw.” I walk over to where I dropped it.
“Mm, yes. I agree. Cut him in half!” she declares, lifting her thumb in the air.
He’s screaming like an absolute lunatic, a mixture of incoherent babbling and pleading that does nothing but draw more attention to the basement. We need to move quicker. I lift the chainsaw and position it at his midsection before lifting it back again.
“No!” she shouts, grabbing my attention before I cut. “Not like that. That’s the boring way.” I frown, waiting for her to clarify. “Hot dog! Not hamburger.” She makes a vertical gesture with her hand.
The smile creeps its way back into my face. She really thought this one out. I squeeze the throttle, bringing the buzzing blade right next to his ear.
“No, no, no, no!” he pleads, trying to crawl up the wall with his feet.
“And start from the bottom, so he stays alive longer.” She props herself up on a torture table, crossing one leg over the other as she readies herself to watch.
Kyle’s eyes roll to the back of his head, and then he goes limp, fainting before I’ve even started.
10
Some of us are only meant for misery.
Naya
Everything hurts.
The power went out, and at first,everyonefreaked out. It’s Halloween, so of course I assumed it was just part of the event. The guards didn’t even attempt to calm anyone, didn’t show signs of alarm, so whywouldn’twe have been safe?
Then, the crowd got rowdy, and before I could even see what was happening, there were actual inmates flooding the cellblock. Some knocked me down in the stampede, kicking and stepping on me. They seemed to be after the guards, but there was no mercy for those of us who were just collateral damage.
My right hand throbs, my fingers unable to bend at will, but it’s not the most painful of my injuries. There’s a dull ache registering throughout my body, but the worst is the sharp stabbing at my ribcage when I breathe. I don’t dare try to look or give it too much attention. Not here.
I should stay in this cell. I should slam it shut and lock the door like I was told. I can be safe until whatever is happening ends. Kyle abandoned me at the first opportunity, but it’s not him I’m concerned about.
It’s my best friend.
Two years in a row that we somehow end up entangled in Halloween madness. I can’t just leave her out there this time. Not again.
My hands shake, the cell door inches from the lock.
