28
CHRIS
Trevor bandaged the cut on Chris’s head, then pulled him up on his wobbly feet. The room became an amalgamation of shifting shapes and dancing shadows, making Chris wish to have stayed on the floor a little longer. Trevor supported him as they clumsily made their way upstairs, out of the basement’s chill, and into the living room’s warmth.
Jay lay naked on the floor, close enough to the fireplace to break into a sweat. Still unconscious, his hands were bound behind his back, but his legs were free.
“Jay?” Chris tried. “Jay!”
“Shut up. Best for him to stay unconscious.”
Trevor sat Chris on a chair, leaving him facing Jay’s limp body, but not close enough to reach out to him. From this angle, the dancing flames seemed to engulf Jay’s naked body.
“Trevor, please let him go.”
“Fat chance, and you know I don’t like your whining.”
“You idiot, the police are looking for us!”
“So? They’re looking for missing people all the time. And I do need them to find you eventually, but that doesn’t include your mechanic friend.”
He couldn’t remember ever feeling so helpless. Even when Tobias had held Anthony captive, Chris had been sure he was still alive.
Trevor picked up the last bottle of vodka. “Drink.”
“I’m not drinking anymore.”
“I’m letting you drink at your own pace. I can pour it down your throat instead.”
Chris reluctantly took the bottle but didn’t yet drink. His shoulder pulsed in pain, a nasty bruise already growing. But the pain helped keep him focused, his brain desperately searching for a way to save Jay.
Trevor went to check on the bags that Andy had put together before he’d gone to dig Jay’s grave.
“I might not need to kill him after all,” Trevor murmured to himself.
Chris straightened and listened closely.
“I mean, if we’re going to bury the fucker, why not let the dirt take care of everything? He can’t breathe underground. He probably wouldn’t notice a thing.” He glanced at Jay. “It’s a shame, though. I would’ve liked to keep him somewhere for a few months.”
“Do it. Keep him.”
Trevor snorted. “Right. Even more shit to deal with. I think I have plenty, thank you.” He locked his eyes with Chris. “Mechanic Jay is no longer needed. I hope the worms crawl up his asshole and nestle there. It's a shame for it to go to waste.”
Through the pain, Chris’s rage erupted, all-consuming. He screamed and hurled the bottle at Trevor, who sidestepped out of the way in time. The bottle smashed against the wall, glass and alcohol splashing.
“Fucking idiot, I’m covered in vodka!” Trevor came toward him with a raised fist. Chris tried to kick but was too slow to prevent the punch to his head. It hit the bandaged cut, sparking pain so fierce, it blinded him momentarily. He fought to control his stomach, holding back the hot bile that climbed up his throat.
“You don’t know when to give up, do you?” Trevor towered above him. “I might as well add some more bruises.”
Movement behind Trevor caught Chris’s attention. The smashing of the bottle must have roused Jay. He tried to push himself up, but the best he managed was to crouch on his bent legs, his forehead resting on the floor with his hands tied behind his back.
Any second now, he would likely make a sound that caught Trevor’s attention.
For a moment, Chris felt neither fear nor pain. He jumped to his feet, shoving Trevor as if nothing had ever been or ever would be more important.
Trevor stumbled back and was about to catch his footing when his legs collided with kneeling Jay. An “oof” sound escaped his mouth as he tumbled over Jay, hitting the fireplace on his way down. Chris held his breath as Trevor managed to roll away. He had only been in the fire’s grasp for a split second, but that was enough for flames to catch at his clothes.
Chris had never seen anything ignite so fast.
It’s the alcohol that spilled on his clothes.
Trevor rose to his feet, his screams piercing the air. He desperately tried to tear off his burning shirt, but the fire quickly spread to his hair. Chris stumbled backward, nearly tripping over a chair.
Trevor thrashed about wildly, the fire consuming more of his body with each passing second. He crashed on the couch, which immediately ignited in flames.
Chris collected himself before Trevor got a chance to grab him and burn them together. He rushed to Jay, adrenaline driving his aching body as he forced Jay to his feet.
The entire living room transformed into an oven, the heat fierce and blistering. Smoke covered the ceiling and quickly spread down like a descending cloud.
“Come on!” Chris pulled Jay toward the hallway, his muscles straining to hold him up. Behind them, Trevor’s screams dissolved into gurgles, as though his throat and mouth were melting. Chris made the mistake of glancing back, freezing at the sight of Trevor on his knees. Even though his eyes were gone, he must have sensed Chris’s presence. He let out another liquid scream and tried to crawl forward, his disfigured skin no longer appearing human.
Chris sharply looked away, his lungs clogged with smoke, his skin seconds away from breaking into blisters. He pulled Jay through the hallway, although he could barely see in front of him. He reached the front door and swung it open. The cold air hit him like a physical force, almost making him stumble. Smoke billowed behind them as the windows exploded in flames. Coughing, he pulled Jay down the front steps until they collapsed onto the damp grass.
Chris watched in shock as the wooden walls turned into a fire trap, devouring everything inside. Jay raised his head, the flames reflecting in his wide eyes.
Lights caught Chris’s attention. He watched as a truck drove closer, then slammed to a halt a few feet away. Two shadowy figures climbed out and ran toward them, the headlights making it impossible to identify who they were. Chris tensed, fearing more trouble, then one of them called his name. Moments later, Ethan sank next to Chris and held him tightly, unintentionally pressing on ten different bruises.
It didn’t matter.
Anthony crouched next to Jay, removing the duct tape from around his wrists.
“Is there someone inside?” Ethan asked. “Should we do anything?”
Chris shook his head. “Let it burn.”
“Trevor!”
Chris sharply turned his head toward the cry. Andy came running from the shadows with dirt on his clothes. He stopped in front of the burning house and turned around. “Daniel, where... where’s Trevor?”
He shouldn’t have felt anything but hatred toward the man, but seeing the terror in Andy’s eyes cut through his hate. “Trevor is inside. He’s gone.”
“No! Liar!” Andy turned toward the house and took a step forward.
“Andy, stay back! Andy!”
With a chilling determination, Andy marched up the stairs, then ran into the burning house, vanishing through a thick screen of smoke.
They watched in horrified silence as the whole place came tumbling down, sending a vortex of smoke and ash into the air. Chris's eyes stung, yet he couldn't look away. He needed to be certain that no one left that house alive.
This is where my demons die.
Ethan kissed the top of Chris’s head, his arms wrapped around him. “Are you okay?”
“I think... I think I’m going to pass out now.”
“Go ahead. I got you.”
“I know you do.”
He shut his eyes and gladly sank into nothing.