Chapter Thirteen Cam
The moment we stepped out of that hellhole, Lakey's fingers intertwined with mine, her grip tighter than usual. I glanced down at her, taking in the way her long blonde hair caught the rising sunlight, almost masking the haunted look in those beautiful eyes of hers.
"You okay there, sweet cheeks?" I asked, squeezing her hand twice.
Lakey's lips curved into that smirk of hers. "I’m great. If we find where they’ve gone, I can bury my blade into their cunts. There’s nothing like revisiting childhood trauma to get the blood pumping and the torture ideas flowin’."
I chuckled. "That's my girl."
We stood in the overgrown yard, the decrepit building behind us, the stench of death still in my nostrils like a rotting corpse. My eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of a basement entrance. No cellar attached to the building…
"Well, isn't this charming," I gestured to the wild tangle of weeds and debris. "I can see why you loved it here so much."
Lakey's grip on my hand tightened, her nails digging into my skin. "Oh yeah, it was a real five-star experience. The nightly beatings were my favorite part. The screams of the other girls helped me get off, what can I say?"
Protective rage rose inside me at her sarcasm, but I swallowed it down.
Now wasn't the time for vengeance—that would come later.
This was recon. My gaze landed on a dilapidated shed tucked away in the corner of the yard, its wooden structure barely clinging to life.
It was well hidden amongst overgrown bushes and a couple of dead trees.
"Bingo," I murmured, nodding towards it. "Wanna bet that's our ticket downstairs?"
Lakey's eyes lit up and she bounced on her toes. "Lets fucking gooooo."
Most people would be running for the hills, but not my Lakey.
She was as fucked up as I was, and I loved her for it.
Bet most of the girls who were in here went on to live lives that consisted of daily therapy visits and opioids, hiding under the guise of some white picket fence mirage, but not her.
No. My girl had a hankering for blood, and she was unstoppable once she caught the scent.
A sliver of pride clutched my heart. I made this happen for her.
I unleashed her full murder potential, the one she hadn’t even known was lurking in her soul.
And she would take it the rest of the way, cutting down everyone who ever thought they could fucking step on her and get away with it.
God, I half hoped she’d cut the skin from their faces, and we can weave original masks.
The old ones were great, but lately we’ve been so damn rushed, we can’t even be theatrical with it.
Maybe if we find Father Christopher, we can make it a whole puppet show. My face twisted in a grin. Yeah… we were going to destroy these fucks and restore balance. I only hoped all these unwilling sacrifices would feed her inner psycho and not destroy it once her mission was through.
I rather enjoyed the way her shadows danced with mine.
I pushed open the creaking door, wincing at the ear-splitting screech of rusted hinges.
The interior was dim and cluttered, filled with abandoned tools and forgotten nightmares.
To the left was a rusted pair of pliers and a tooth.
Now that was something that disgusted me.
Something about someone else’s teeth was so fucking repugnant, it made me recoil.
My vision slowly adjusted to the gloom, landing on a skull perched atop a rickety table.
"Well, hello there," I quipped. "Looks like someone forgot to clean up after their last tea party."
Lakey let out a soft laugh, running her hand over the skull. "Wonder if its real." She picked it up, kissing it gently on the cheek. “Think we can nab this on the way out? Would look fucking amazing as a planter.”
I turned to her, cupping her face in my hands, running my thumb over her cheeks. "Most indubititibly.”
“That’s not how you say that word.” Her eyes rolled back in her head, but she smiled all the same.
“Whatever, you knew what I meant, so I did just fine.”
She laughed, swatting at my arms before looking around the shed. “It’s gnarly in here. Look at the rake. Hella rusted. Probably old blood. Fuck, imagine being run through by a rusty rake? Fucking wild. I’m definitely taking the skull. Remind me when we come up.”
I threw my hands up, “Whatever you wish for is yours, baby girl. Take it if you want it. With any luck its one of the sister wives.”
“Nuns, babe. They were nuns.”
“Same thing. They all worshipped at the cock of the Father.”
She opened a rickety drawer, causing the rotten structure to fall apart, “Can’t argue with you there.
I heard their moans many nights and the only thing I could think was ‘thank fuck it’s not one of us’.
Pretty sure Sister Anne was fucking one of the other sisters.
Whenever I had to make dinner, the spatula was always covered in that weird fucking crusty cum shit. ”
“I mean… if you wanted to fuck a girl, I wouldn’t care. I’d wanna watch though.”
“Yeah right. Ain’t no one touching me, but you. Your cute lil’ lovers lance belongs to me, and my wounded gash belongs to you.”
“Holy fuck babe, that’s disgusting.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You gotta stop saying the grossest shit, my balls are now in my stomach. Aside from that… you should tattoo that on you. Property of Cameron.” She rolled her eyes, and I continued before she could cut in, “C’mon, it’d be kinda hot.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Lakey smiled, “get your ass going, look for the stairs.”
I scanned the shed's floor, my eyes catching on a section that seemed slightly off-kilter. Wooden boards, just a hair higher than the rest. Fuckin’ rights.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" I mused, kneeling down to get a better look. "Looks like someone's idea of a secret clubhouse. I wonder what they called it. Sir Christopher and the Sisters: no one else allowed."
Lakey peered over my shoulder, her breath warm against my ear. "Or a portal to the Underworld. Wouldn't that be fun? I’d love to fuck with a demon."
I ran my fingers along the edges of the raised boards. "Only you would find damnation entertaining, sweetheart. Besides, you are a demon, don’t know why you’d need to meet one when there’s one that lives inside you."
Her face lit up, “You really think so, babe?”
“Yeah, Lakes. You’re the most fucked up person I’ve ever met.”
“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” She brushed away an imaginary tear. “Thank you, baby. K, enough fucking around, get those boards up.”
With a grunt, I pried up the boards, revealing a trapdoor. The musty scent of decay wafted up, making my nostrils flare, but underneath that, there was something else. Something that made my pulse quicken with anticipation.
"Ladies first?" I offered, gesturing to the dark void below.
Lakey rolled her eyes. "Such a gentleman. I think I'll let you take the lead on this one, big guy."
I shrugged, flashing her my most charming grin. "Can't blame a guy for trying."
As I descended the narrow staircase, the temperature dropped noticeably.
Each step creaked ominously, the sound echoing off damp walls.
I could hear Lakey's soft footfalls behind me, her presence easing some of that fucking eerie feeling that settled over me with each step downward.
How the hell had she survived this place? This is fucked.
"You okay back there?" I called over my shoulder, my voice unnaturally loud in the oppressive silence.
"Peachy keen, doll," came her sarcastic reply. "Just reminiscing about all the good times I probably had in this little slice of paradise. Don’t remember them… yet. But can’t wait ‘til I do. Maybe I can add these stories to that children’s book I’m writing."
“God, you’re so disturbing.”
“I take pride in that.”
My chest tightened at her words. Sometimes I forgot just how much she'd endured while we were apart. Guilt sat heavy in my chest as I tried to lock it away. We both suffered in our separation, but I’d never regret protecting her.
Not a fucking chance. The urge to turn around and crush her to my chest was almost overwhelming.
Instead, I pushed on, determined to help her face whatever demons lurked in the shadows of her past.
"I’m here for you, Lakes," I said softly, pausing to look back at her. "Whatever's down here, we'll handle it. Just like we always do."
For a moment, her carefully constructed mask slipped, revealing a vulnerability that made my heart ache. Then it was gone, replaced by that wicked gleam in her eye.
"My hero," she rolled her eyes, but I could hear the genuine affection beneath the snark. "Now let's go find some bodies to desecrate, shall we?"
I laughed, the sound echoing off the tunnel walls. God, I love this woman. Fucked up as we both were, there was no one else I'd rather have by my side as we sat in the cage of our pain.
"At your command, lil’ psycho," I stood in a mock salute before leading us deeper into the darkness.
As we navigated the damp, winding tunnels, my instincts kicked into overdrive. Someone could be down here, and I needed to be ready to defend my girl.
"You know," I said, "I always dreamed of taking you on a romantic underground stroll. Though I imagined fewer rats and more champagne."
Lakey snorted, her fingers brushing against mine as we navigated the corridor. "Oh, Cam, you always know how to make a girl feel special. Maybe once we’re done, we can find some sacrilegious spot, and you can bury your cock in me."
I grinned, though the expression felt more like a grimace.
My dick would fall off if I whipped it out here.
It was dank as fuck. My mind raced, piecing together the layout of this underground maze.
The corridor split into 3, one main and two side shoots.
There had to be a central hub, a place where the worst of the atrocities took place.