“So then why would killing Kevin—someone involved in illegal organ stealing—upset you so much?”
Emily
Eli scrunches his face, concentrating.
“Unless… it’s not that I was killing Kevin. Maybe it wasseeing it?”
I can’t help the small laugh that slips out. “It was the torture.”
“Well, I tortured Tom too,” he shrugs, like my argument doesn’t matter.
Which… I hate to admit… actually makes sense. Somehow, he’s put together a logical argument.
I swallow, trying to fight the creeping dread that I’m starting to see his point. That scares me more than anything.
This isn’t the first time I’ve stumbled upon something like this. The bloodbath I walked into at Carinas father estate still haunts me. I’d frozen, just as I did now. But then… I’d spent so long listening to her story over the years. Hearing about the awful things she went through because of him. I understood why she did it, even if I didn’t condone it myself.
Eli reaches for me; I fight the urge to flinch again. His fingerbrushes over my cheek lovingly.
“You’re seeing my point, aren’t you?”
I nod—because, well yes, I am. But also, because I told myself I was going to pretend to fall for him so that he would let me go. While I might have gotten caught up in his charm and relaxed too far, my objective remains the same. Escape. Freedom.
So, despite the fear still lingering inside—despite the image of Kevin dangling from the ceiling that will forever be burned into my brain—I smile.
“You’re right. Maybe I overreacted.”
Eli, of course, believes my words. Why wouldn’t he? He’s deranged. He doesn’t understand normal human emotions.
His hand falls back to the bed beside us.
He grins at me.
“I’ll be back,” he tells me, climbing off the bed and picking up the tray.
“Can you uncuff me fully?” I ask.
He hesitates.
“Please?” I inflict a whimper into my tone. “My wrist hurts.”
Eli sighs, then unlocks the cuff for me. He rubs his thumb over my slightly reddened skin.
Then he’s gone.
I release a long breath of relief.
But then the distinct sound of a lock clicking sucks the air back into me.
It’s Wednesday. I have until Sunday to get him to trust me enough to let me out the house on my own.
Next time an opportunity to escape presents itself… I won’t hesitate to take it.
25
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