Page 65 of Killing Emma

“Okay, great. Great.”

“If you’re looking for Luca, he just went in,” a voice says from a table away from us. “You can still probably catch him.” I peer around Jude to a man with dark eyes and a somber expression.

“Thanks,” Jude mutters, switching directions and tugging me toward another set of double doors. “Now we can leave.”

“No,” I jerk my hand away from him. “I want to talk to him.”

“No, you don’t. But see? He’s not sleeping with anyone, just murdering them.” Jude lets out a dry laugh. “All good. Let’s leave.”

“I’m not going,” I turn toward another set of doors that say begin. It’s not that hard to put it together. I race for them and shove them open, ignoring the whispers and chuckles behind me.

A creepy man with a mask sits behind a desk, and the lights flicker as I stumble through. “You’re a sight,” he cackles. “What can I do for you?”

“Did Luca… Is Luca here?”

The freakishly slender man tilts his head at me. “Why’re you looking for him?”

“Because… I want…” My voice trails off as a lock thuds across the doors behind me—followed by the sound of Jude shouting from the other side.

“He’d probably enjoy a change in the cage. I haven’t sent anyone in.”

My heart throbs in my ears. “I don’t want to…” die.

“No? Then why are you here? We don’t allow anyone to watch. You either join, or you leave. But you’re here. And I know you’re no killer—but I bet you’re faster than the big-titted deranged blonde I was going to send in.”

My chest rips with hot jealousy, and I start to wonder if it’s what Jude said, or if it’s just some sort of sick sex game. “Fine. Put me in with him.”

He nods to the door on my left. “He’s waiting for you.”

Heart pounding and hands shaking, I approach the door, wondering what the fuck is on the other side. I press down on the handle, and push in, freezing as the darkness seems to swallow me.

I step inside and let the door click shut behind me, a blast of cold air hitting me in the face. I shiver.

“Welcome to the Suicide Chamber,” a voice announces over an intercom, sending me jumping sideways. “We decided to give you something different tonight. Enjoy your first female kill in the cage, Luca.”

Holy shit.

I spin around, and press against the door, trying to get back out. But the doors are locked. It’s too late. The guy at the front was fucking with me to get me to enter.

And now I’m up against the man that’s already almost killed me twice.

“We’re not switching patrons out,” a voice says over the intercom, as if someone is arguing with him. “We’re an equal opportunity chamber.”

I blink my eyes, trying to peer into the blackness. I hear footsteps, but I can’t see them. I shy back quietly, finding a wall. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Maybe it’s just a game. Maybe it’s just a game.

I keep repeating it in my head as music begins to play over the speakers, filling the abyss in front of me with heavy, sullen music. It’s like a sex playlist—or a killing playlist. Either would work.

“Let’s just get this over with,” a familiar voice calls out into the blackness. “Find my voice, and it’s over.” As much as I’ve grown used to Luca’s voice, it’s insidious sounding now.

I should say something, but as I open my mouth, I’m frozen again. Just like the night I found him in my kitchen. I can’t move.

“This is the most deranged one you have?” Luca calls out.

“Oh yeah, she’s real fucking delusional,” a voice cackles over the music.

He’s not even wrong at this point. I wring my hands in front of myself and wonder what will happen if I find him. Is there a time limit? Maybe if I just hide, he’ll never even know I was ever here. I can go back to his house, I can finish the dishes, and I can wait for him to come back.

---