27. Twenty-Seven Cam
Twenty-Seven: Cam
I kicked the door open, my arms full of the unconscious girl I was carrying. Lakey stumbled in behind me, panting like she'd just run a marathon.
"Jesus, she's heavier than she looks," I grunted, maneuvering towards the couch.
Lakey shot me a look that could curdle milk. "Less complaining, more moving, big guy."
Finally making it to the couch, I laid her down as gently as I could manage, which wasn't very. Her head lolled to the side, dark hair spilling across the cushions. For a second, Lakey and I just stood there, staring at each other like we'd both lost our damn minds. Which, let's be real, we probably had.
"Well," I said, breaking the silence. "This is new. Normally we’re dragging unconscious girls out of the apartment to the killing spot, not dragging them in."
Lakey ignored me, dropping to her knees beside the couch. She reached out, hesitating for a split second before brushing a strand of hair from the girl's face. Something in her expression softened, and it sent a shock through me. She actually seemed to care about this woman.
"What are you thinking, sweetheart?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
Lakey's fingers lingered on the girl's cheek. "Well, I thought it might be her. But it’s not. So, now I'm thinking we might've just made the biggest mistake of our lives." She paused, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Or the best decision ever. Jury's still out."
I couldn't help but chuckle. It was always a toss up with Lakes. She liked to wait until the last possible second to figure out what she was doing and how she felt about it. "And here I thought our lives couldn't get any more complicated."
Lakey looked up at me, those big blue eyes of hers swimming with a cocktail of emotions I couldn't quite decipher. "We have to help her, Cam. We can't just... we can't send her back there."
I raised an eyebrow. "Since when did we start running a charity for wayward lab rats?"
"Since now," Lakey said firmly, her jaw set in that stubborn way that meant arguing was pointless. "Besides, WE are wayward lab rats, dipshit."
"Yeah, well, whatever," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
Truth was, I had no idea why I'd let Lakey believe we’d take the girl. I was just going to dump her on the lawn and let whatever happen, happen. But no. If my girl said jump, I said how high. Call me whipped, but at 5’1, she was more terrifying than the assholes I went to juvie with.
Lakey turned back to the girl, her expression a mix of determination and something softer, almost maternal. It was a look I'd never seen on her before, one I assumed had a connection to the way she so badly wanted to be a mother. Only this wasn’t a child, it was a full-grown woman. Malnourished, sure, but a woman none-the-less.
"What have we gotten ourselves into, darlin'?" I asked, more to myself than to her.
Lakey's answer was quiet, but it echoed in the stillness of our apartment. "Something big, Cam. Something that's gonna change everything."
And as I watched her tend to our unexpected guest, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was right. For better or worse, our little family of two had just become a family of three.
I took a step back, crossing my arms as I eyed the scrawny little thing on our couch. She was all skin and bones, pale as a ghost with a mess of dark hair that looked like it hadn't seen a brush in years.
"You sure about this, babe?" I drawled, my voice low and skeptical. "We ain't exactly equipped to handle a stray, especially one that looks like she's been through hell and back. I mean, look at us for Christ’s sake. We can barely take care of ourselves and now we’ve brought her in. Like what the fuck? Are we going to be her parents? Is that what you want to happen here?"
Lakey shot me a look that could've melted steel. "We can't just leave her, Cam. You saw what they were doing to her. Besides, she’s probably twenty or something. Even if I wanted to be her mom, that would be ridiculous." She snorted as if she told the worlds funniest joke, but I knew it was just a deflection for the pain she was hiding about her supposed daughter.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I know. But—"
My words were cut off by a sudden scream that nearly made me jump out of my skin. The girl's eyes had flown open, wild and terrified. She thrashed on the couch, her skinny limbs flailing as she tried to escape some invisible threat.
"Shit!" I hissed, taking a step back. The girl's screams echoed off the walls of our apartment, making my ears ring.
"Easy there, sweetheart," I tried, putting on my most charming smile. But the girl wasn't having any of it. She scrambled off the couch, backing herself into a corner like a frightened animal. The way she looked at me made me feel greasy. Like she could see exactly what I was.
I glanced at Lakey, raising an eyebrow. "Any bright ideas, darlin'? 'Cause I'm starting to think we might be in over our heads here. If she doesn’t stop screaming, we’re bound to have the 5-0 called and we don’t need that, do we babe?"
Lakey stepped forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. Her voice was as smooth as honey when she spoke, but I could hear the underlying steel.
"Hey there, little one. It's okay. You're safe now," she cooed, her blue eyes wide and innocent. It was the same look she'd give right before slitting someone's throat. "No one's gonna hurt you here. Promise."
I watched, fascinated, as Lakey worked her magic. The girl's screams died down to whimpers, her eyes darting between us like a cornered rabbit. Huh. Who knew someone besides me would find peace in Lakey’s presence? Normal people sensed something was off about her the minute they tried to engage with her. They always stayed, just a bit longer, which usually led to their downfall. However, for those few minutes before, the ray of her light was so intense, so beautiful, it made it all worth the pain.
"That's it," Lakey continued, her tone gentle but firm. "Just breathe. In and out. Nice and slow."
The girl's chest heaved as she struggled to follow instructions. I couldn't help but admire her technique. She could charm the pants off a priest one minute and gut him the next. The thought of her doing that to the Father made me hard and I had to turn and adjust my pants to refocus on what the fuck we were doing.
"We're not like the others," Lakey assured, taking a slow step closer. "We got you out of that hellhole. Do you remember anything about that?”
The girl's eyes widened at that, shaking her head profusely. Well, she was unconscious, so that tracks. She slumped against the wall, all the fight draining out of her. The silence that followed was deafening.
I studied her, taking in her haunted expression. Those eyes had seen some serious shit, no doubt about it. Maybe she wouldn’t remember anymore than we did. Part of me wondered if we'd bitten off more than we could chew. But hell, when had that ever stopped us before?
I figured it was time to make my introductions. Stepping forward, I flashed my most disarming smile. "Name's Cam. And this lovely lady here is Lakey." I gestured to my partner in crime, who was still crouched by the girl like some demented guardian angel.
The girl's eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of fear and curiosity swirling in their depths. I could practically see the gears turning in her head, trying to figure out if we were friend or foe. Smart kid. I dunno why the word ‘kid’ fit for her, but it just did. Maybe because she looked so small and innocent.
"We're the good guys in this story," I said, laying on the charm thick. "Well, as good as it gets in this fucked-up world, anyway." I winked, hoping to coax a smile out of her.
Lakes shot me a look that screamed 'tone it down,' but I ignored her. This was my moment to shine.
"So," Lakey interjected, her voice soft but eager, "what's your name, honey?"
The girl's lips parted, and for a second, I thought she might actually speak. But then she clamped her mouth shut, shaking her head vigorously, gripping her arms around her knees and hugging them to her chest.
Silence stretched between us, heavy and uncomfortable. I could almost hear the unasked questions bouncing around the room. Who was she? Where did she come from? And more importantly, what was going to happen now that she was here?
I glanced at Lakey, seeing my own uncertainty reflected in her eyes. We were in deep now, no turning back. As I watched the girl curl in on herself, I knew we'd just adopted one hell of a stray.
I leaned in closer, my eyes drawn to a flash of white on the girl's wrist. "Well, shit," I muttered, reaching out to gently turn her arm. She flinched but didn't pull away.
"Patient 101011," I read aloud, my voice low. The plastic wristband was like a neon sign screaming trouble. "Looks like we've got ourselves a patient, Lakey."
Lakey's eyes widened, a mix of horror and intrigue dancing across her face. "Oh, you poor thing. I was hoping that you were some kind of new recruit when we found you down there. But looks like they’ve gotten to you before. Crying shame," she cooed, trying to raise her hand to pet her head, only to drop it when the girl winced. "They've reduced you to a number, haven't they? We… we were patients too."
I watched as Lakey's gaze roamed over the girl, probably cataloging every bruise and scar. Her eyes lit up suddenly, and I knew that look. It was the same one she got right before suggesting we adopt a three-legged cat or toast marshmallows over a burning body.
"Look, Cam!" she exclaimed, pointing to a faded tattoo on the girl's arm. "It's a rose. Isn't it beautiful?"
I squinted at the blurry ink. "If you say so, babe. Looks more like a blob to me."
Lakey ignored me, her face breaking into a radiant smile. "That's it! We'll call you Rose. Do you like that, sweetheart?"
The newly christened 'Rose' blinked, her expression a mixture of confusion and tentative hope. I couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to Lakey to try and slap a pretty name on our potential time bomb.
"Rose it is," I said, shaking my head. "Let's just hope our little flower here doesn't have too many thorns."
I leaned against the wall, watching Lakey fuss over Rose like she was an abused puppy instead of a potentially dangerous escapee. My mind raced, trying to piece together the clusterfuck we'd just landed ourselves in. If she was anything like Lakey, it was just a matter of time before she fucked us over… or worse, killed us in our sleep.
"You realize we're basically harboring a fugitive, right?" I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Christ, Lakey, we don't even know what she's capable of."
She shot me a look that could've melted steel. "Oh, please. Like we're ones to talk about capabilities."
She had a point, but I wasn't about to admit it. "Yeah, well, at least we know our own brand of crazy. This girl? She could be a serial killer."
I glanced at Rose, who was now eyeing us both with a mixture of fear and... something else. Curiosity, maybe? Or was that a glimmer of hope?
"Look at how she's watching us," I said, lowering my voice. "It's like she's never seen two people just... exist together before."
Lakey's face softened as she followed my gaze. "Poor thing probably hasn't. God knows what kind of hell she's been through. If it’s anything like the files… it was bad."
Rose's eyes darted between us; her brow furrowed in concentration. It was like she was trying to decode some complex puzzle, and we were the pieces.
"Hey, you think she understands what normal even looks like?" I asked, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "Because if she's looking to us for that, she's in for one hell of a disappointment."
Lakey's eyes flashed with that dangerous glint I knew all too well. "Normal's overrated, baby. We're gonna give her something better."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And what's that?"
"Freedom," she said, her voice dripping with conviction. She turned to Rose, her tone softening. "You hear that, sweetheart? You're free now. And we're gonna make sure it stays that way."
I couldn't help but snort. "Free to do what, exactly? Become psychos like us?"
Lakey elbowed me hard in the ribs. "Don't be an ass, Cam. She deserves a chance at... whatever she wants. A normal life, if that's her thing."
I rubbed my side, grumbling. "And how exactly are we supposed to give her that?"
"We'll figure it out," she insisted.
I sighed again, feeling the fight drain out of me. If I was being honest, the idea of helping this girl – this broken, haunted creature – had a certain appeal. Maybe it was the challenge, or maybe it was just Lakey's infectious enthusiasm.
"Fine," I conceded, locking eyes with her. "But if this goes south, we bolt. No hesitation."
Her face lit up with that manic grin I loved and feared in equal measure. "Deal."
I slumped onto the armchair across from the couch, my eyes darting between my girl and our new... what? Ward? Prisoner? Fuck if I knew. Rose was curled up in a ball, her eyes wide and wary, like a spooked animal. Lakey sat beside her, all soft smiles and gentle touches. My gut had been right. She really would have made a fantastic mother. A weird feeling settled in my chest. Uncomfortable and tight as I thought about what a dick I’d been about her daughter. It didn’t really matter if she was mine, did it? I loved Lakey and by extension, loved everything to do with her. Random daughter and all. I sighed heavily, leaning back and closing my eyes for a moment.
"So," I drawled, breaking the tense silence. "What's the plan, babe? We gonna enroll her in high school? Get her a part-time job at the mall?"
Lakey shot me a withering glare. "Don't be a dick, Cam. We'll figure it out as we go."
I snorted. "Yeah, 'cause that always works out so well for us."
Rose's eyes ping-ponged between us, confusion etched on her pale face. I could practically see the gears turning in her head, trying to make sense of our dynamic.
"Look, kid," I said, leaning forward. "I don't know what kind of life you had before, but—"
"Cam," she warned, her voice low and dangerous.
I held up my hands. "Relax, I'm not gonna scare her. Just being honest." I turned back to Rose. "Thing is, we're not exactly model citizens. But Lakey here seems to think we can help you. So... here we are."
Rose just stared at me, silent and unblinking. Christ, it was unnerving.
I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling the weight of what we'd taken on. "Fuck," I muttered. "What are we doing, Lakes? She doesn’t even talk. Who knows if she even fucking can? What are we gonna do with a mute?"
Lakey's eyes met mine. "We’re doing the right thing, for once," she said quietly.
I couldn't help but laugh, a harsh sound in the stillness of the room. "Us? Doing the right thing? That's rich. Lakey, you literally got me to fuck women, just to murder them, do you remember that? How the fuck… What? Do you think this is going to cleanse our sins? Cuz baby, I love you EXACTLY as you are. I don’t need some purified fucking version of you to love you." Now I was getting heated. Lakey was acting like salvation was right around the corner and all she had to do was fix this thing.
But you know what? You can’t fucking fix broken. No. It just compounds and builds and reshapes until the thing in front of you is some unrecognizable mass of sinew and steel with a heart as black as coal. No. There was no ‘saving’ us.
The fact of the matter was, I didn’t fucking want to be saved. Didn’t need it. Purity was for the saints who touched little kids at night, and if that’s what it means to be saved, keep me chained to Lucifer himself, serving hell on a silver platter.
Lakey’s face contorted as she processed my words, turning towards me in anger. As she opened her mouth to no doubt spew some angry tirade, I cut in. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t mean to piss you off, but the thing is, you and I… we are who we are. I need you to stay my wicked little nightmare because that means you’re real. It means you are exactly who you’ve always been and who you are meant to become.”
Her face softened as she stood and sat in my lap. “Oh, my twisted little dream. I’m not changing who I am, I’m evolving. I don’t want to run in the same spot like some fucking hamster. Knowing what I know, I have found my purpose, and I’ll drag you with me at the end of a chain if I have to, but we are doing this together.” She smiled and kissed me gently before biting my bottom lip so hard blood spilled into her mouth.
I looked at Rose and then at Lakey, her face set with that beautiful brokenness I knew so well, something shifted inside me. Maybe we were monsters, yeah. But even monsters could choose to be... something else. Something more.
"Alright," I said, my voice rough. "Let's do this. God help us all."