Him
“Do you think I want to remember how many days have I spent doing literally no progress? when she could very well be enduring God knows what kind of atrocities.” My heart race picks up at the thought of her absence for how many... ten days? Ten days!
How must she be feeling? Helpless. Defenseless.
Possibly even hating me for not being able to make it to her for so long.
I bite my nails while lighting up a joint. A friendly hand pats on my shoulder, “I know how hard it is. And I don’t deny the fact that she would be facing... monstrosities possibly. But thinking about it will make it harder for you. You need your brain in working condition. You need to think straight right now Naksh.”
I gulp hard and puff harder, before nodding at him thoughtfully, “How are we going to reach him?” Dad’s words from last night are still in my head. People leave trails... I need to look for the trail. Where the heck should I begin?
“Maybe, we could reevaluate our plan for capturing Jessica.” Divit suggests.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean she may be the trail we need...” he suggests, “Because I’m certain we shouldn’t wait for him to fulfil his threat.”
...because you’ll be expected to watch.I’m not stupid enough to underestimate that monster.
“That could be it. She should contact him one way or another...” I speak.
“That’s right. Anya suggested that to me by the way. She...she’s quite capable of logical reasoning.”
Curiosity gets the best of me, “Hey... What’s going on between you two, dude?”
He startles, “Me and Anya? No, nothing – nothing’s going on between us.” But his reaction to the question tells me otherwise.
I huff a breath. Need to focus. I don’t have the time or energy to keep bugging him about her; not when I already know the truth.
“Did you inform the others about our extended stay here?”
“Yeah, I did. And I booked our tickets too. Tomorrow evening, okay?”
“We can go over our next steps when we get back. Till then let’s just keep scanning for private island owners in the entire stretch till the Balkans.” I suggest and he nods.
My phone pings once, but before I could look Divit puts Hades on the call, pulling all my attention towards him.
“So, you mean she’s isn’t involving in anything sus. But she’s still not in town, right?” Divit’s Black mode is on.
“Yeah, she’s still in Mumbai, probably in her beach bungalow. The drones are our only resort at the moment.”
“Keep an eye on her. Install the microphones, okay... But be more careful than ever, because she might be expecting it already.” I suggest.
We’ve done it more than a few times and only the two of us are guilt free about stalking people like that. Does that make me feel guilty? Absolutely no. Because it works like magic every time.
“That’s what I thought...” he pauses before speaking with great enthusiasm, “And about the compromised account access. I figured out how to get the bitcoins back. That night the account was compromised by the same people who hijacked your call and logged you out for a time good enough for King to intervene. When you guys are back, we’ll work it through.”
“That would be great. Thanks again.” I reply almost hanging up the call when Divit stops me.
“What about our guest?” he enquires.
Rayan chuckles through the receiver, “No updates as such... Although she was more than happy when I visited her last night...”
Divit’s frustration is growing and he’s not even trying the least to hide it while I casually watch him. “Do you think this is funny Rayan?”
Rayan’s chuckle break into a full-blown laughter, content after seeing Divit lose his shit. “Relax, Mr. Antihero... I just went to deliver the dinner. Really, we only talked for some time and then I came back. But I really feel like we should release her. I mean at least don’t keep her captive like our usuals. She’s a nice person; doesn’t deserve the torture.”
I snatch away the phone before Divit could create a scene, “Yeah... I was thinking the same. Rayan, we’ll talk about it when we get home. You guys stay safe. Okay.”
And I hang the call turning to Divit, “Can you stop the obvious suspicious behavior, Divit? Really you sound like you’re catching feelings.”
He starts answering when my phone pings again... And again... And again.
The notifications buzzing wildly. Who the heck has something so important at this hour of the night. I unlock my phone to discover notifications from a private chat link. Some dark web shitty link. My heart drops instantly.
“Divit, somethings wrong...” He rushes over as I connect to the browser and log in.
My heart stops at the sight before me.
Not a single fucking beat.
My ears are ringing loudly.
Only my eyes are alive. Everything else is paralyzed.
My screams fill the entirety of the mansion which once took away my everything, echoing in the dead empty air as I shatter everything on the table off to pieces and shards on the ground.
NO! No! No! What have I done? What have I done?
Divit holds me in his arms when I fall to the ground.
My throat is numbing with the meaningless cries that are screeching its way out, as I watch the live horror video play on the browser.
Destroy me... leave her. Please!
Scavengers all over her dead body.
My baby is dead, I can see it in her eyes. And I’m the reason!
I AM THE FUCKING REASON!
For the first time in my life, tears roll down the corner of my eyes as I grind my teeth not being able to help her. She is whimpering in pain. Bloody and dirtied.
One by one, my mind memorizing every one of those faces. Faces that I will deport to hell and in the worst way humankind would ever witness. Even if that makes me one of them. A monster...
The video ends when their bloody orgy is well done. It went fucking fine just like it used to be. Only this time the hunted was my one true. The only thing that mattered ever to me.
Twenty of them. I will take turns just like they did. Just then the movement on the corner of the screen catches my attention.
The man sitting behind the desk... shirtless, stoned, smoking and well spent. The dog...
Konstantin.
All I can think of is tearing this man apart – bit by bit – morsel by morsel. He destroyed my life, and now he took the one thing that was bringing back my sanity. Fine, I’ll give him what he wants. Insanity it will be! I’ll personally escort you to hell. I promise.
I sob in Divit’s arms like a dead body that I feel like.
I failed her... but I can’t lose her. Because then there’ll be nothing left worthy in this world.
My heart is cut open seeing the death in her eyes.
She lives, I live. She dies, I die.