Chapter 27 Jade #2
“So, yeah, Jade. What you said about karma…I agree. Maybe we didn’t light the match then or now, but we are guilty.
Both of us. If I’d been a better person, no one would have died that day.
You might have been the one to push Karl over the edge by being a complete bitch.
” Jade mumbled a weak protest, but Raya continued.
“The thing is, Jade, maybe this is karma, the universe avenging itself on us weak, stupid fools. Maybe we do deserve to ride the red truck. Fuck it.”
Raya looked down at her feet and kicked angrily at the floor. Jade crumpled up her nose. Well, that hadn’t helped. Wasn’t Raya meant to make her feel better?
A slow clapping made them both jump.
“Well done,” said a low voice. Ellis was standing in the doorway.
Instantly Jade felt unnerved. There was something wild about his expression, something she hadn’t seen before. He seemed almost…predatory. Like a tiger looking for an easy kill.
“Nice story.” Ellis walked forward slowly. He had one hand behind his back, hidden from view. “Makes perfect sense. Running away. Hiding. Cowardice. All classic Raya Mori.”
Raya must have sensed the danger. She was watching Ellis nervously.
“Cathartic, isn’t it? Confessing your sins. Admitting your guilt,” Ellis said.
“Yeah, you should try it sometime, dickhead,” Raya shot back.
Ellis was staying close to the door, close enough that he could use his superior speed to cut her off if she tried to leave.
Jade was too nervous to speak. Even in her messed-up state she could tell this was not going to end well.
Ellis was searching for a new victim, and their secret pact must have expired now that Jax was gone.
No more two-for-one deal. She started to feel very small, squeezing herself against the counter as though it could swallow her up and offer some protection.
Raya straightened up, standing as tall as her build allowed, her hands balled into tight fists.
“Where are the others?” Ellis said coldly.
“They’re searching the outbuildings. I was just going to go and help them.” There was a slight waver in her voice.
“Sure.”
Raya took a tentative step towards the door. Ellis didn’t move from the doorway. He just stood there, both hands behind his back now.
Raya took another step, watching Ellis closely.
He turned almost infinitesimally as though to let her pass; his back came into Jade’s view for the first time.
She gasped. In his right hand, he was gripping a plastic zip tie.
This was not good. Not good at all. Her instincts were right. Ellis meant trouble.
Raya took her chance. She stepped forward and grabbed the rusty old door handle, pushing down hard on it. The door creaked open. She backed into the open doorway, still facing Ellis. Her relief was palpable and premature.
“Before you go, I just want to say thank you,” Ellis said. His back was now fully turned towards Jade. She could see his fingers playing with the zip tie.
“For what?” Raya asked suspiciously.
“For making this easier.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Ellis?” Raya looked like she wanted to end this and get out of here. She shuffled backwards impatiently, every inch of her leaning towards escape.
“Well, now I know your guilty secret, I won’t feel so bad about this.” He smoothly brought his hand in front of him, holding up the zip tie.
A look of shock crossed Raya’s face. There were no words. She fell back into the glaring sunlight and turned to run.
That was all it took. Ellis moved in, his right hand swinging forward, his left reaching up and around, fast and efficient. Raya didn’t stand a chance. In seconds she was pinned on the ground, her hands bound. Ellis had her exactly where he wanted her.
She tried to scream, to call for help, but Ellis’s full weight was on her.
“STOP! Oh my god! Just stop!” Jade was on her feet. She wanted to run at Ellis, to hit him and scream at him. But she couldn’t. Her feet wouldn’t move. Fear coursed through her. If she tried to fight him, he would kill her. She knew it.
“Jade, sit back down and shut the fuck up,” Ellis growled. “Just focus on my voice and do what I’m telling you. You’ll be all right if you do exactly what I say. Sit down.”
Jade sunk to her knees, sobbing, hands tight at her sides. She could see Raya, pinned on the dirt, unmoving.
“Wha…what are you going to do to her?” she whispered.
“What do you think?”
“But…we can…Ana said—”
“What?” Ellis’s voice was cutting. “What do you want, Jade? To search for fairies and fucking unicorns until we all get blown up? Or do you want to live? Ana doesn’t want to face the truth, so she’s going to lead anyone stupid enough to follow her straight to their death.
The only way any of us walk away from this goddamn motel is if we play the game, and right now, that means Mori has to cross the line. Do you hear what I’m saying, Jade?”
Jade nodded; she couldn’t find words.
“Good. Then listen carefully. I will get us both out of here alive. Do you hear me, Jade? I have a plan for us, okay? For you and me. Right now, the only question you need to ask yourself is: do you want to live or die?”
Through his legs, Jade could see Raya’s face. Her eyes were open, staring at Jade, imploring. Dirt was smeared across her face, in her hair.
“What’s it going to be, Jade?”
Jade was shaking, her whole body quivering with shock. Too much horror. She couldn’t hold a thought.
“Jade?” Ellis barked at her.
“Live.” Her response startled her. “I…I want to live. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Raya. I’m sorry.”
“Good choice.” Ellis turned abruptly.
“Jade…please…” Raya’s words were muffled. “Jade, help!”
Jade put her hands over her ears. She couldn’t hear this. She couldn’t watch. She couldn’t…
Pulling Raya to her feet, Ellis dragged her away from the building, heading towards the line. Towards the death machine.
There was nothing else for it. It was too much. Too much. She couldn’t do this anymore. No more.
Jade closed her eyes and screamed over and over and over.
Karma.