Page 27 of Kill Me Sweetly

Angel and I set them in the center of the room, and I brought Four to where Aziza wanted him. He sat, hands on his thighs, and waited.

“Hello, Four. My name is Aziza. I’m just going to talk to you for a few minutes, and all I ask is that you listen to me, if that’s okay?” She was studying his every move, so I had a feeling her talking was for a reason.

“I specialize in helping people who have been through horrific traumas. Some are locked inside their minds because it’s the only safe space, and others are stuck in there, a prisoner in their own head.”

Four didn’t stir, so whatever she was doing had no effect.

“People are fascinating creatures. We have the ability to overcome great odds, fight illnesses that were set out to kill us, and achieve impossible goals. But with all the good, comes the bad, Four. See, as good as our brain is at helping us get to those places, it’s also more fragile than anyone realizes. Sometimes all it takes is someone figuring out how to cut through the armor and bury themselves underneath it.”

Still nothing. Aziza didn’t seem bothered by that.

“The longer a person has been in the custody of…let’s call them a monster, shall we?”

Four’s fingers twitched and my eyes darted to Aziza, but of course she’d noticed.

“The longer that monster has them in their clutches, the longer the person believes its lies, and as soon as that happens, manipulation is easy.”

Aziza’s eyes were focused on me, and I swore she was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t sure.

“JJ, has anyone ever called you worthless?”

I flicked my eyes to Four before answering. “Uh, sure? I mean I don’t know if worthless was the word.”

“Tell us a time when someone was trying to tear you down.”

Okay, I wasn’t sure why that was helpful, but I’d do what she wanted. “In high school I was bullied a lot. I was a scrawny kid. They’d say I was a loser and nerd, typical macho dickhead stuff.”

“How’d that make you feel?”

“Then? Pretty awful. I mean I wasn’t a bad person, but they picked on me anyway.”

She pursed her lips. “Did you ever believe them when they called you a loser?”

I thought about it. That was a long time ago, but I’d been an impressionable kid. “Yeah, I did.”

“So you walked around being the loser they told you that you were?”

What the fuck, lady?

“I…” I glanced at Angel, and he nodded at me. “Yeah, I suppose I just lived each day as a loser.”

“Did other people call you names when those boys did? I bet they did. I mean everyone can’t be wrong, can they?”

“Are you calling me a loser?” My brows shot to my hairline. I wasn’t sure if that was what I was supposed to do, but I didn’t like this shift.

“Well, I mean…has anyone ever said you aren’t a loser?” Aziza’s chuckle was followed by Angel’s laughter and…What the ever-loving?—

“You shut up!” Four stood in front of me, almost guarding me, shooting daggers at Aziza and Angel.

They stopped laughing immediately. “Hello, Four.” Aziza smiled. “I’m glad you could join us.”

“What was that?” I asked as I carefully placed a hand on Four’s arm.

“He’s never gone, are you, Four? I’ve dealt with many people who have catatonia. You’re not one of them, but you are conditioned. Aren’t you?”

Four was breathing heavily, his gaze sharp and not leaving Aziza even to blink.

“When JJ found you, I imagine you were deeper into your head. Your training has made you that way, hasn’t it? Your darkness that they keep you in until they need you?”

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