Chapter 14 TRACE #3
I’ll admit, I felt some type of way about letting him borrow the mask.
I could tell Olivia didn’t like it either.
Despite my desire to wring pain from her tonight, my heart ached for her the moment she saw it.
I can’t imagine what she must have felt seeing her brother's mask on someone else. Someone else she also left behind. But I didn’t let that feeling sink in further than it needed to because what’s done is done.
And she doesn’t get my pity or my empathy.
Obviously, it’s apparent just how bad my fucking obsession with her has gotten.
Blood rushes to my cock when I remember how she almost came on my fucking gun.
Her little kink is worse than I thought and I almost had half the brain to ignore the rest of my plans tonight just to watch her fall apart against me.
But I want to edge my little flower until it hurts her so bad; until she begs me to put her out of her misery.
Besides, I would have never continued. I was hoping she would be fucking honest with herself and with me by admitting that she wanted it.
I needed to hear her to tell me to stop or to continue but she didn’t really do either so it was perfect timing when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, signaling my exit.
“What’s on the agenda for the rest of the night?” Evrin asks, flipping his zippo lighter through his fingers.
“I think I need to have a little sit down with Broden,” I respond, the menace in my tone indicating exactly what I mean by sit down.
“You want us to join in?” I turn my back on the cabin to face Evrin who is now swiping his thumb over Sage’s bottom lip.
“No. I need you to make sure everyone stays in there fucking place.”
“Well, we checked out the haunted house. Everything is all set up so I don’t think anyone will be bothering you. Until tomorrow night anyway.” Sage confirms, letting me know that I’ll have the empty basement all to myself and my little guest.
Tonight, I will get the answers I crave most. I don’t even really care who the killer is, I just want to know who hurt my sister.
Who assaulted her. Anyone involved needs to fucking bleed for that pain they caused her.
Broden knows something and I will get it out of him.
I am going to be the justice system he and everyone else who is responsible will have to face. I want to be the one to end their life.
“I can watch the others if you want Sage can keep watch on Olivia if you’d like,” Evrin interrupts me as I dream of the ways I’m going to make Broden fucking squirm as I torture the truth out of him tonight.
“No. You both know where I need you tonight. Olivia will be fine.” I wave my phone.
“Of course, you sick fuck,” Sage chides but it only causes me to chuckle as I pull up the camera feed I have on Olivia’s Cabin.
And in Olivia’s cabin.
She’s currently tucked into her bed and I know that I need to get done whatever I have to do quickly tonight, because soon, she's going to need me.
“I’ll visit Broden alone,” I say. “You said the movie was wrapping up?”
“Trace, the movie ended hours ago,” Evrin says.
I look at the time on my phone and realize it is getting close to breaking sunlight soon. A little later than I’d like but it is what it is.
Sage steps up. “So unless he took a detour through the woods, he should be back at his cabin right about-”
“Now,” I say as I notice him appear from behind the trees across the path. He strides up to the porch of his cabin before fitting a key into the lock and steps inside. I see a light flick on and I know that now is my chance.
I start to make my way over when Evrin stops me.
“Do you think he killed your sister?”
That’s the question, isn’t it? Well, maybe theirs. Not mine. Because what he doesn’t know, the one vital piece of information that I’ve kept from them, from everyone, is that I know who killed Seren.
I’ve known all along and soon that person will be revealed.
“Okay, dude. What the fuck?” Broden argues as I push him along with my gun at his back.
I don’t say a word, not really wanting him to know that I’m the one behind him yet, so I pinned him against the wall of his cabin, threw the black trash back over his head and pushed my gun into his skin, threatening to shoot if he screamed.
I pull him into the abandoned house and lead him to the top of the basement stairs. He whines when I push him down and he tumbles a bit, but catches himself on the railing before completely falling down.
“Wait, where are we going?” Broden begs as he guides himself down with me right behind him. “I’m one of you, man. And I didn’t think the game was supposed to start till tomorrow.”
I chuckle when he thinks that this is part of some game.
Some of the football guys decided to initiate their own little private game for the weekend.
A game called Snatcher that they plan to take place tomorrow night after the haunted house.
The point is to kidnap an unsuspecting victim in the dark using any means necessary, essentially taking them hostage.
You then hide your hostage somewhere not easily found and leave.
If someone finds your hostage within the hour timeslot, then you face a round of Russian roulette.
If your hostage goes un-rescued, then you win part of the prize pool money.
I saw Jensen collecting money from the guys who are participating shortly after he arrived earlier today.
“Just get down the fucking stairs,” I snap at him as I push him with the tip of the gun. The same gun I used on my little flower earlier.
We make it down the steps and I lead him over to the chair and the supplies that Ev and Sage left out for me.
The room is cold; frigid air clings to the cement walls as darkness sweeps over the expanse of the basement. The upstairs interior is already fully set up with all the makings for a haunted house—the event planned for tomorrow night.
I push Broden into the chair.
“Dude, seriously. What the fuck is going on?” I don’t answer him as I force his arms behind his back and start to tie him up using mostly duct tape around his wrists; zip ties for added measure to bind his arms behind him to the back of the chair.
I also strap down his ankles to each leg of the chair before walking behind him.
Only then do I remove the bag over his head.
He struggles, trying to catch his breath while also fighting against the bids I’ve secured on him. I watch the fear that twists in him as he tries to wriggle free, his fight or flight just now kicking in.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I start as I circle around him, my voice laced with a dark and cold timbre. “I thought it was time we had a little chat.”
His eyes widen when he sees my mask and I can tell that now he knows he’s in fucking danger.
“Yo, what the fu-”
I reach up to swipe at the creaky old light fixture that hangs above him, shutting him up abruptly as it violently rattles against the chain that holds it in place.
The dim lighting flashes over Broden, lighting him up and then covering him in darkness once more as it swings back and forth a few more times.
I round him as he struggles once more but then he flinches when the cold point of my blade greets him; I press it firmly into the side of his neck and he freezes.
“Now, before you go making any dumb decisions, I highly suggest you think about how painful it might be to have your neck ripped open. I can get you right where it tends to bleed most or you can give me what I want without all the added theatrics. All up to you.” I circle him once more, letting my blade drift with me as I walk around to face him, tracing his skin to the front of his throat.
I notice the tiny droplets of sweat dripping down his skin, beautifully accentuating the goosebumps my knife leaves in its wake. He’s scared and I am thriving off it.
Keeping the blade in place, I use my other hand to slide my fingers under the bottom of my mask and slowly drag it upward, leaving it on top of my head, and revealing my face. I know he already knew who I was before taking it off, but I think the reality sets in because his face pales.
I watch as he starts to tremble, his lips quiver and his eyes shake back and forth as if he’s begging for someone to jump out and save him. I press the knife a little further into his Adam’s apple and he whimpers.
“What the fuck is your pr- problem?” he stammers and a smirk pulls on my face.
“My problem?” I tilt my head. “Well, let’s see. My sister was assaulted and murdered, as you may know. And I believe that those responsible are still fucking breathing. My problem is that you had something to do with it and I’m here to figure out what it is.”
“M- me?” He looks up at me with confusion painting his face.
“Don’t play fuckin’ dumb with me. That’ll only make things worse.” I take a step back, removing the sharp point pressed into his skin and I watch as he swallows freely.
Suddenly, he starts thrashing against his restraints, eager to get loose. But I know it’s no use. Instead I just step back and watch him make a fool out of himself.
“Let me go. You’ve fucking lost it,” he shouts in a panic, his fear starting to take over.
“Oh, you’re not going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know.” I wave my knife maniacally in the air.
“I don’t know anything, you psycho. Let me the fuck out of here.”
I jump, crowding him in a matter of seconds which causes him to crash into the back of the chair, nearly falling backward. I lean in, gripping the back of the chair and holding him in with my knife pressed to his gut. A pathetic whimper falls from his lips.
“I don’t have time for your bullshit. You will tell me the fucking truth or I will strip you from the inside out.” My warning is sharp, my tone is sadistic, and my heart is racing with pure excitement.