Page 78 of Muerte

I’d sooner stick my dick in a meat grinder.

“I’m going to keep this brief. In two days’, time you will be evaluated and assessed. The result of that assessment will determine where you end up—whether it be breathing or dead.”

Her eyes narrowed. "Is this where you tell me you'll change your mind and let me out of this cell if I beg? Or should I promise to be good?" The defiance in her voice grew stronger, but there was an undercurrent of desperation, too.

“When has begging me for anything ever gotten you anywhere? In all honestly, I don’t want you to do anything but cease to exist. In fact, that’s a win for both of us and a guarantees you’ll be free of this cell. You just have to leave it as a corpse.”

Anya's eyes flashed with anger and fear, her posture stiffening as she processed my words. "You're a monster," she spat out.

I laughed lightly. She had no idea. If I had a dollar for every time I’d been called that, I would be a little richer than I already was. I slipped my hand into my pocket and turned away, pretending I was done with this whole debacle.

“Wait, please don’t go," she called out. “You took my friend… Have you hurt her?”

“Depends. What’s your friend’s name?”

Her jaw clenched. “Have you hurt any of the girls you took?”

Hm. She didn’t want to tell me Lolita’s name. I paused, feigning contemplation as her plea echoed in the cramped cell.

“Hurt her?" I fixed my gaze back on her dirt-streaked face, a sardonic smile playing on my lips.

"The fascinating thing about my Lolita is how she finds pleasure intertwined with pain. It’s a beautiful thing."

Anya's face contorted with a mixture of horror and disbelief. "You're lying," she accused, though the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her.

“You’re not anyone I would feel the need to lie to. In that regard, it’s only fair for you to know that whatever friendship you had with Lolita is over now.”

She rapidly shook her head back and forth. “I-I don’t understand. What the hell are you planning to do with her?”

“Whatever I want.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Curse me from inside your cell all through the night?”

The look of defeat that slowly crept into her eyes was deeply satisfying. The most pitiful thing about Anya was that she wasn’t stupid.

She thought like a man and behaved like a vapid viper, and that ruined anything decent about her. She’d fucked so many men, she probably had no idea which one she’d pissed off enough that I was asked to hold her here. Not that I wasn’t benefiting from it too, though I preferred to see her rotting body instead of this living one.

Having what I needed, I turned to leave, giving her one last cutting truth. "Anya, unlike you, Lolita is much more than just a captive. She's everything to me. Find solace in knowing she will experience pleasures and riches that are beyond your wildest imaginations, far exceeding anything you've ever known or attempted to obtain.”

Her eyes widened, the defeat turning to anger and an acute sadness. She bowed her head and looked down at the ground. “As long as she’s safe. I can keep myself safe, too.”

“Excellent pep talk. You’ve got great spirit,” I deadpanned, and because I was an asshole that couldn’t help myself, I asked, “Do you want to know the best part about this?”

“Just tell me,” she whispered brokenly.

“She didn’t have to fuck half a nation to get it. She only had to come home." With those final words, I left her alone with the reality of her situation.

As I walked down the dimly lit corridor, the idea of visiting someone else flickered through my mind. The lower levels of Carcerem held many secrets, two of them belonging to me. But tonight, my thoughts were elsewhere.

I returned to the upper level and exited the prison, the decision I’d come to further solidifying as I approached my car. I slid into the driver’s seat, cellphone in hand. I dialed my father as I reversed.

“Are you just now leaving?” he answered with a question.

“Pulling out now to head home.” I sat my phone in the cup holder once the Bluetooth connected. “I’m going to take your advice.”

“If you recall, this was mostly your idea to begin with. You changed your mind twice.”

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