19. Nineteen Cam
Nineteen: Cam
T hat one little word hung in the air like a fuckin' death sentence. Fucking Chimera. The whispers of a ghost. No one knew whether Chimera was real, and they sure as shit didn’t want to dig deep enough to find out. Almost all the juvie’s had spoken the word in the night, trying to get real about conspiracy theories or some shit, but from what was understood, it was something dark. Something so big it was as complex as a human body, it’s veins supposedly reaching far and wide, it’s hands in everything… and everyone. I’d never placed much value on it, just content to ride out my life the way it had always been and yet… Now we were face to face with it, needing to figure out how real shit was about to get. Lakey's eyes widened, her usual playful smirk replaced by something I rarely saw on her - fear. Real, genuine fear.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to look casual while my mind raced. Skeeter lay in the bathtub, his head resting against the tiles, watching us as we processed the bomb he just dropped on us, a small smile playing around the corner of his lips. It could just be in my head, but I could have fucking sworn his fear was replaced by a glint of excitement.
"Well, shit," Lakey said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is... unexpected."
I kept my eyes locked on Skeeter. The bastard knew more than he was letting on, that much was clear. But how much of a threat was he really?
"Cam," Lakey said, her voice steadier now. "What do we do?"
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "We find out what he knows, sweetheart. Then we decide if he lives or dies."
Lakey's lips curled into that familiar, vicious grin I loved so much. "Ooh, I vote for option two. It's been way too long since I've gotten my hands dirty."
I couldn't help but smirk. That was my girl - sweet as pie one minute, ready to kill the next.
"Easy there, killer," I said, pushing off the wall. "Information first, murder later. That's the rule, remember?"
Lakey pouted, but I saw the gleam in her eye. She loved our little game of cat and mouse.
"Fine," she sighed dramatically. "But make it quick. I'm getting antsy."
I crouched down next to Skeeter, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanking his head forward before pushing it back, relishing in the loud thud. "Alright, asshole. Start talking. Chimera is a ghost, a story to tell kids so they stay in their bed. Since when is he real?"
Skeeter's eyes darted between me and Lakey, his tongue darting out to wet his lips before he hummed.
"I don't know much," he said. "Just that it's big. Bigger than anything you've ever seen before. Chimera extends beyond anything. Anyone. There’s no beginning and no end."
Lakey giggled, the sound sending chills down my spine. She was on the verge of fucking losing it. "Oh honey," she cooed. "You have no idea what we've seen."
I watched her face as the gears turned in that beautiful, twisted mind of hers. Her eyes widened suddenly, that innocent look masking the vicious thoughts I knew were brewing.
"Wait a sec," she chirped, tapping a finger to her chin. "Didn't this dipshit mention something about Janine Almine having a foster kid?"
My ears perked up. Lakey's hunches were rarely wrong. "Yeah, he did. What're you thinking, babe?"
She sauntered over, her hips swaying in that hypnotic way that always made my pulse quicken. "Well," she drawled, tracing a finger down my chest, "what if it's not just any old foster situation? What if little Janine's playing mommy to some poor kid caught up in this Chimera bullshit? Considering I got shipped off to the nunnery, and you ended up in prison, is that so far fetched? I don’t think so."
I felt my jaw clench. Human trafficking was one of the few things that could still get under my skin. Memories of our own fucked-up childhoods flashed through my mind.
"You think it's a trafficking ring?" I asked.
Her eyes glittered with excitement. "It would explain a lot, wouldn't it? The secrecy, the big money involved. I mean that lab was worth hundreds of thousands, and they just abandoned it without a care in the fucking world. Not to mention keeping that place a secret. Come on, Cam. Put the pieces together."
I nodded slowly, absorbing what she was putting out. "Fuck," I muttered. "If you're right, we're in deeper shit than we thought."
Skeeter laughed, but when I side eyed him, he stopped short and had a coughing fit. Asshole. I walked over and drove my fist into his face, hearing the crunch of his nose. Feeling satisfied, I stepped back, watching as blood poured from his nose.
Lakey giggled, clapping her hands like a kid on Christmas morning. "Ooh, doesn't that just make you all tingly inside? The danger, the intrigue..."
I couldn't help but crack a smile. Only Lakey could find joy finding out we were involved in something to do with Chimera. Most people would run for the fucking hills. If the whispers about it were right, we were in for one fucking wild ride. If we survived, that is.
"You're one sick puppy, you know that?" I said, pulling her close.
She nipped at my earlobe. "Takes one to know one, handsome."
I was about to respond when another choked laugh caught our attention. We both turned to look at Skeeter. His face was a mess of bruises and blood, but that didn't stop a twisted grin from spreading across his mug.
"Everything is connected," he wheezed out between bursts of laughter.
The sound grated on my nerves, setting my teeth on edge. I felt Lakey tense beside me, her earlier playfulness evaporating like mist in the sun.
"Care to elaborate on that, chucklefuck?" she asked, her voice light. It was the tone she used right before she got real nasty. I'd seen it reduce grown men to blubbering messes.
Skeeter just kept cackling, like he'd heard the world's funniest joke, and we weren't in on it.
Lakey's eyes narrowed, and I could practically feel the frustration radiating off her in waves. She slinked towards Skeeter.
"Listen here, you sniveling little shit," she hissed, leaning in close. "I've got a whole bag of tricks that'll make you sing like a fucking canary. So why don't you save us both the trouble and spill?"
I watched, my cock straining at my pants. That's my girl - a goddamn force of nature wrapped in a cute package. And right now, she was ready to unleash hell on this poor bastard. I knew he was a disgusting fuck from day one, but I hadn’t pieced it all together. It was looking a lot like he was some integral fucking part of this whole thing. Ironic since he was so nondescript. Just a little granny fucker. Honestly, I was kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. I would have picked someone who would blend in if I ran some secret, underground cult.
Skeeter's laughter intensified, his eyes wild and unhinged. "Oh, you kids think you're so clever, don't you?" he taunted, spittle flying from his bloodied lips. "But you don't know shit. You're just pawns in a game much bigger than your little murder spree. You’re so fucking stupid. Playing house while they watch. They’re always watching. You think they just let you go? Think again. You were released."
I could see Lakey's patience fraying at the edges. Her fingers twitched, itching to wrap around Skeeter's throat.
"Babe," I murmured, "let me handle this."
Lakey shot me a look that could've melted steel, but she stepped back. I sauntered forward, towering over our captive. The room felt smaller, tighter, like all the air was being sucked out.
I leaned in close, my voice barely above a whisper, "Listen here, you worthless sack of shit. Your time's running out fast. You've got two options: tell us how Chimera works, or I'll let my girl here get real creative with that rusty spoon she's so fond of."
Skeeter's laughter faltered for a split second, and I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. Good. The fucker was starting to realize just how deep in shit he was.
"Tick tock, asshole," I growled. "I’m growing tired of your fucking games."
Skeeter's bravado crumbled like a house of cards. His eyes darted between me and Lakey, panic setting in as he realized we weren't bluffing. And that we didn’t give a fuck about Chimera or his role in it. Not beyond getting what we needed and then shoving his body in the garbage bin.
"Wait, wait!" he blubbered, his cocky grin replaced by a pathetic grimace. "I—I can tell you more! Just... please, don't kill me!"
“What?” I hurled a spitball, pleasantly surprised when it landed smack dab in the middle of his forehead.
He sighed. “My laptop. It has everything. If you just let me go, I can help you. I promise.”
“Thank you for your service, Skeeter.”
I didn't even blink. My mind was made up the moment this piece of shit opened his mouth. Without breaking eye contact, I pulled out my blade, its edge glinting in the dim light.
“But you sa—”
"Nah, I didn’t, you just assumed." I said, my voice cold as ice. "Should've thought about that before you decided to play games. Thank you for your honesty, may your sacrifice please Chimera."
In one fluid motion, I plunged the knife into Skeeter's chest. He let out a strangled gasp, eyes wide with shock. I twisted the blade, feeling the resistance of flesh and bone give way. It was almost too easy, like cutting through warm butter as I sliced upward, splitting his sternum like a cracked egg. Taking my knife, I pushed it in again, starting with his left nipple and slicing horizontally to his right. A beautiful cross.
The room fell dead silent, save for the wet gurgle of Skeeter's final breath. I stepped back, wiping my blade clean on his shirt. Normally I wasn’t so theatrical, but given how fucking stupid this whole situation was, I thought it called for a bit of fun.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," I muttered, glancing over at Lakey.
She was grinning from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with a mix of admiration and bloodlust. "Efficient as always, babe," she purred. "Though I kinda wish you'd let me have a go at him first."
I couldn't help but smirk. "Next time, my wicked little psycho. Promise."
A high-pitched giggle burst from Lakey's lips, echoing off the dingy walls as adrenaline set in. Her eyes raked over me, drinking in the sight of Skeeter's blood splattered across my chest and arms. We’d gotten what we needed, and I could take it from here.
"Holy shit, Cam," she breathed, her voice dripping with desire. "You look fucking gorgeous right now."
I met her gaze, feeling that familiar rush of light-headedness and arousal hitting me, as it always did after a kill. The corner of my mouth twitched up in a half-smile. "Yeah?"
I took a step back, letting the blood drip from my fingers onto the grimy floor. Lakey's eyes followed every crimson droplet, her pupils dilating with each splash.
"God, yes," she whispered, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. "It's like... art. Bloody, beautiful art."
I chuckled, low and dark. "You always did have a twisted sense of aesthetics, Lakes."
My mind was already racing, calculating our next move. We'd have to clean this mess up, dispose of the body. But for now, I let myself bask in the moment, in the intoxicating mix of violence and desire that always followed our little 'adventures'. The endorphin release was phenomenal, and I was hard as a rock.
"You know," I mused, running a blood-stained hand through my hair, "we should probably get cleaned up before we split. Can't exactly waltz out of here looking like extras from a slasher flick."
Lakey's grin turned wicked. "Mmm, I don't know. I kinda like you all... messy."
I smirked, watching her eyes roam over my blood-soaked body. "As much as I'd love to indulge that little fantasy of yours, babe, be realistic. We can fuck if you want, but we do need to be clean at some point.” I chuckled, her mouth twisting downward. Knowing her, she was absolutely serious about us going out in public looking like we just escaped a horror film.
Lakey took a deep breath, her chest heaving slightly. "You're right, you're right. Shower time it is." She glanced at Skeeter's lifeless form, then back at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Hey, looks like we're finally having that threesome, huh? Too bad our friend here's a bit... stiff."
I couldn't help but laugh at her twisted humor. "Fuck, Lakes. That's dark, even for you."
We stepped over Skeeter's body, squeezing into the tight space his fat body left for us. I turned on the shower, the rusty pipes groaning in protest. As steam filled the small space, Lakey and I took turns washing the blood off each other. Her hands moved over my skin with a mix of reverence and hunger that almost made me bust right then.
"You know," she murmured, her fingers tracing the outline of my chest tattoo, "I don't think I've ever been more turned on in my life."
I grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. "Yeah? Why don't you show me just how turned on you are, baby?"
Lakey's eyes flashed with desire. She pressed a quick, fierce kiss to my lips before sauntering out of the bathroom, leaving wet footprints in her wake. "Catch me if you can, big guy," she called over her shoulder.
I didn't need to be told twice. Following her into the bedroom, I felt that familiar surge of possessive lust. She was sprawled out on the bed, her wet hair bunched on the pillow, soaking through. It highlighted the wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Come here," she purred, crooking her finger at me.
I obliged, my body covering hers as I captured her lips in a bruising kiss. Truthfully, I was glad she decided we could get clean before this. Fucking in Skeeter’s dirty blood would have been absolutely grotesque. I bit back a grimace, refocusing on my queen. Our hands roamed, grasping and clawing at each other with a frenzied urgency. The violence of the night, the thrill of the kill - it all culminated in this moment, our bodies moving together in a savage dance of pleasure and pain.
As we reached our climax, I couldn't help but think that this… this fucked up, beautiful mess of a relationship was exactly where I was meant to be. With my angel by my side, we’d cut down, push through, bulldoze over anyone who stood in our path. We were unstoppable, untouchable, and utterly, deliciously deranged.