Page 25 of Sinful Addiction

“You say such nice things.I’ll remove it, but only because you asked so kindly.”I rip it from his shoulder not caring that the jagged edge of the tip has pulled some of his flesh out with it and severed important tendons.

“Luckily for you, I came prepared.”I wipe the blade on Freddy’s shirt then place it back in its holster and immediately pulling out the cable ties I have tucked under the waistband of my trousers.In a matter of seconds, he’s tied to the chair, unable to escape.

“Wh-what are y-you going to d-do t-me?”His cries of pain outweigh his ability to talk.

I hate this part of the job.The winging, the whining, the pitiful apologies.I look around the kitchen for something to shut this fucker up.I spot a hand towel hanging on the oven door.That will have to do.

“Time to shut up, Freddy, or I’ll lose my patience with you.And we do not want that.”I plaster on the smirk that scares every man.“Now, where were we?”I turn to the table and pick up the cards I dealt him.Observing his hand, my jaw drops in mock shock.“You could have won with this hand but you folded?I thought I knew you better than that.I’m disappointed, Freddy.I guess it’s time for you to pay your dues.”

I round the table to where I left the remainder of the deck and flick through it until I find the card I’m looking for.

“We are going to play another little game, you and me.I’m going to hide two cards behind my back and whichever card you choose is going to be the one that determines how you die.Quick and painless, or slow and torturous.”

I place both cards behind my back and wait for him to indicate which one.His sobs are muffled by the towel, which I’m grateful for.His shrill voice is displeasing.

“I’m becoming tired, Freddy.Pick now or I will pick for you, and you do not want that to happen.”

He nods to his left—my right, and I smile with glee.He had the choice of a plain card or a card with a utility knife blade tapped to it.He chose the card without the blade.

I hold the card skyward for inspection.Of all the cards in the pack it was theJokerthat did it for me.

“Can you see the irony of this situation, Freddy?I think you may have played your final hand, my friend.”He jerks in his chair trying to loosen himself, but it’s no use.The cable ties won’t budge and he’s weak.

I walk around him like a shark circling prey.The smell of body odor, blood and urine penetrates the air.I look over his shoulder and confirm that, yes, he has finally pissed himself.“Fucking hell, you’re a grown man.There’s no need to soil yourself,” I guffaw.

Xander was right to send me here.I’m having the time of my life.Who knew a little torment would ease the chaos that is stirring inside my body.All the voices telling me to do all different kinds of things like find a whore to bury myself in and forget who I am, kill this idiot and get it over with, or stay here and play while his heart beats erratically and his blood is still warm, go to Lacey, not go to Lacey, what am I having to drink once this job is over.The list is as long as the Empire State Buildingis high.

I decide to stay and play.

“Well, it seems like we get to hang out a little longer than anticipated.Stay still, this won’t hurt too much.”I laugh as I rip his top from his body, clearing a canvas for myself.I then take the plain card and dig one of the corners into the knife wound to see what damage it can really do.To my amusement the edges of the card split the opening further.Perspiration and blood roll down Freddy’s skin.It’s a sight to behold and one I’m putting no effort into.

I’m merely an entertained man-child.

I take my time digging into his arm.I’ve managed to make the cut deeper, but the card has become soggy and unusable.Not letting the disappointment ruin my fun, I pick up the other card from the table and trail the sharper than sharp edge over his collar bone, swoop it up his neck toward his ear, glide it under his chin, then mirror those cuts on the opposite side.

My veins fill with adrenaline as his drain of life.

The more I paint the canvas the deeper I want to see.I want to see the map of veins that create the highway of life.

I want to peel him back layer by layer until there is nothing left.I want to rip every beating organ out until he’s as frozen as me.

“This is why I don’t feel emotion, Freddy.This is why I don’t let women inside my head.They ease their way in then rip you apart shred by miserable shred.They never handle the lifestyle I lead; can you believe it?I can be nice.I always untie them after I come inside them.I’m a giving man.Why do they always have to ruin a good thing?”By this point, I’m yelling at the worthless man I’m skinning to death.

“Look at me, Freddy.Do you think I’m such a monster?”I hold my arms wide for him to take me in, but his head hangs limp and the only thing holding his body on the chair are the cable ties I used to bind his arms behind him.

I put an end to the job I came here to do.I peel back the last section of skin until I’m satisfied with my work.

If I’m honest, I’m numb.Probably as numb as the asshole in the chair in front of me.Making the final move, I take my Ka-Bar from its holster and make a nice incision from ear to ear severing the jugular.

It makes me think of the times I was used as a punching bag.Hecreated the rogue man I am today.Hemade me this way.

I take a look around, examining my surroundings and there is nothing homey here at all.The walls are white, and the closed drapes are a washed out burgundy from sun fade.

My eyes rest on the deck of cards I left on the table earlier, so I pick them up and search through them, finding the perfect one for this occasion.

I wedge the card hard into the incision in his throat and take a step back.The other joker.

“Jokes on you.You shouldn’t have messed with us.”

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