Chapter 9
NINE
CANDACE
Jason’s face pales in the dark basement shadows. His blood loss and open wounds are taking a toll on his body as he swings from his metal bindings. His head snaps up when he hears us enter the room, while he attempts to mask his emotions as if our presence doesn’t affect him.
Knox pads over to the tray of tools and picks up a pair of scissors. He grabs hold of the collar of Jason’s black t-shirt and slides the scissors down the fabric, baring his chest.
Tossing the scissors back onto the tray, he switches them out for a Philips head screw driver, twirling it in his hand while sporting a sadistic grin. Jason watches every move he makes, but doesn't dare say a word. Knox holds the tip of the screwdriver up to Jason’s right nipple.
A thrill tears through me at the sight of Knox seeking vengeance for his sister. Knowing the truth of what happened to Ivy, I know now without a doubt that Jason deserves what is coming to him and more. He deserves a fate worse than death.
“Tell me what you said to Ivy. What words did you burn into her brain that made her feel she was unworthy of living?”
Jason’s eyes darken as his lips press into a tight line. He’s not going to talk. Of course, he won’t. What could he possibly say when he thinks he hasn’t done anything wrong? Typical Narcissist. Knox’s grin grows even more animalistic.
“Let’s see if this loosens your tongue,” he twists the end of the screw driver into Jason’s skin with such force that even I grimace and clutch my own breast. The skin tears, shredding through his flesh, leaving a small puncture where his nipple used to be.
Blood drips down his stomach, a deep shade of crimson that is becoming my new favourite colour.
Jason pants between his screams, while his eyes roll into the back of his head. The pain seems to be too much for him to bear, rendering him semi-conscious. Pussy.
He tries to speak, but his words are incoherent, choking through his sobs on the saliva that drips down his chin. He’s a blubbering mess.
Looking at him now, it’s hard to believe I lived in fear of this man for so long. I know what his hands are capable of, yet I find him completely ridiculous in this light.
Knox grabs Jason by the back of the neck, giving him a tight squeeze, forcing him to turn his gaze upwards.
“Look at my face, Jace. Really look. Do you see her in me? Does recognition not hit you at all? My sister and I had both had my mother’s eyes after all.” Jason’s face pales even further.
“Y-your sister?” He stammers.
“That’s it, let it all sink in. You pushed my sweet baby sister to her death, and now I’m going to have you begging for me to end your life as an act of mercy.”
The truth of Knox’s word settles into his bones like dust in the night. Jason knows he won’t be walking out of this club alive.
Jason looks to me, a plea for help in his soulless eyes, and I begin to laugh, shocking myself completely.
“You look to me as if I’m going to get you out of this bind,” I wipe away a tear that escaped through my laughter. “What can I do, though? I’m nothing, remember?”
Slumping back down in my chair, I fold my arms across my chest. I look at my nails, a bored expression painted across my face, “If it were up to me, you’d already be dead.”
When I look at him now, I see nothing but a waste of oxygen—a skin sack of a pathetic soul that should be bleached from existence.
“You’re a fucking cunt. I knew I should have dropped you a long time ago. You sick fucks think this is funny?”
“Kinda, yeah.” I chuckle.
Knox stalks over to my side. I feel his fingers brush under my chin, turning my face up towards him. His eyes are soft, and he speaks to me with such a gentle tone, you’d think it were only the two of us in the room.
“He tried to snuff out your light, too, Candy. What are you going to do about it?” His other hand comes forward, the handle of a sharp blade held out for me to take.
I look back up to Knox, as tears brim in my eyelids.
He sees me for who I really am. I wrap my fingers around the handle, taking the knife from his grip.
Staring at the blade, at the sharp edge before me, I slide it gently against the pad of my thumb.
I hiss at the tiny slice that draws a few droplets of blood, and lick the cut, letting the taste of iron coat my tongue and set my sights on Jason.
Standing up, I take slow, careful steps toward my ex-boyfriend.
“It’s your time to shine, Sweetness. You’re in control now. How does that make you feel?” Do I want to tell him the truth? That being on this side of the knife makes me feel powerful? Like with a quick slice to the throat, I could have Jason’s blood pouring all over the floor before us.
Tears cloud over Jason's eyes. They’re so wide with fear, it’s a sight to behold.
His body shakes against his restraints, trying to work his way out of them.
He lets out a muffled cry, shouting for help.
But no one can hear him. No one will hear his cries in desperation, like no one heard mine.
His screams are like a sweet symphony to my ears, edging me with his terror.
A wicked grin spreads across my face as the words that live as an echo in my mind are now coming to me as inspiration.
“Sleep with one eye open.” I close the distance between us with two small steps, placing one hand on the back of his chair.
I lean over his body so that we are face-to-face and see his gaze drop to my tits. This fucker.
“Even when your life is on the line, you just can't help yourself, can you?”
I hold the knife to his temple and glide the blade against his delicate flesh–so gentle, yet with just enough pressure to break the layer of skin, allowing droplets of crimson to drip down his cheek.
He winces from the sting of the blade and closes his eyes, trying to pull his face away from mine.
But I don’t let him. Grabbing his jaw, I turn his face back to my attention, “eyes on me, Jason.”
He refuses to look at me, and that sparks a fire within me that won’t extinguish until he’s felt the pain he has put me through. The pain he’s caused all of us.
“Can you hold his head still for me?” I ask Knox in a sickly sweet voice. It’s like I don’t even recognize myself. He walks behind Jason and clutches his head between both hands, holding him steady. He bucks against his chains, but it’s no use in his weekend state. Knox is much stronger.
I grab hold of his left eyelid and pull the skin tight away from his eyeball.
With the sharp blade in my other hand, I slide the knife along his skin, severing his eyelid from his eye.
He screams, a hoarse, broken cry that brings me so much joy.
I leave him without the ability to blink, forcing him to look at me through his red, soaked vision.
Shoving the loose piece of flesh into his mouth, I chuckle, and he begins to gag and cough until he manages to spit it out.
“Just fucking kill me!” He shouts.
His eye twitches as the phantom urge to close his eyelid shudders through him. He’s trembling, the way I trembled each time the back of his hand lashed against my face, throwing my body to the ground.
I backhand him across the face, snapping his attention back to mine. Bringing the knife back up to his cheek, he flinches away from the blade. Dragging it slowly down his chest, a spark of adrenaline rushes through me every time he cowers away from my touch.
Trailing it behind him to the center of his back, I stand there for a moment listening to Jason’s whimpers. No matter how long I drag this out. There’s only one thing at this point that will bring me any peace. But I can’t seem to bring myself to do what needs to be done.
A warm, rough hand wraps around my own, his body pressing up against my back. I lean into him, letting his rich scent calm my nerves.
“You don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for, Sweetness. I just wanted you to take back what’s yours. If you’ve had your fill, I’ll take care of the rest.”
I release the knife into Knox’s grasp as he leans in and pecks me on the cheek. I walk around to Jason’s front and smile at him sweetly. “Goodbye, Jason, see you in hell.”
And with that, Knox glides the blade across his throat, spilling a fountain of his spoiled blood all over the concrete floor. My eyes lock onto Knox’s, and a silent moment of release passes between us.
Jason gurgles and spurts to his untimely death, but I pay him no mind.
“Wash yourself up in the sink, and head to the bar. I’ll deal with this mess and be there shortly.”
I nod and turn on my heel, ready to put the past behind me.