Page 78 of The Butterfly Killer

Roman’s question made Marcus think about the dark shed. He shook again as a visceral reaction went through him. He didn’t understand why his body was betraying him like this. He wasn’t there anymore. The threat was gone and he needed to worry about the true threat right in front of him.

Marcus’s eyes glazed over. Somehow he was looking at Roman, but he wasn’t really seeing him. He was looking at Michael.

Roman cursed lightly to himself. He gently grabbed Marcus’s chin, angling him so he looked into his eyes. The gentle yet firm touch shook Marcus out of the nightmare descending upon him. His mouth slightly parted as he realized how vulnerable he’d become while thinking once again about the past.

“He’s—”

Marcus bit his tongue before he could say more. He’d already said too much.

Roman’s face darkened. “You don’t have to worry abouthim. I’ve taken care of it.”

Marcus’s eyes widened. “You—what do you mean?”

His words were barely above a breath. He was winded without moving much at all.

The darkness upon Roman’s face lifted some. The look softened only when Roman was looking at him. It was strange and kinda frightening that he could change emotions so quickly—at least, it should have made Marcus uncomfortable that he was sitting in such an unpredictable person’s arms.

“Let me show you something,” Roman said, starting to get up.

Marcus stirred, but Roman didn’t let him get up by himself. He was there to help the whole way, making sure Marcus didn’t have to lift a finger to get the make-shift crutch under his arm or that he had to work at all to get down the rest of the steps.

Roman lifted him off the last step and sat him on the ground with ease that did make Marcus feel some type of way. It wasn’t unease though. It was a burning feeling in the pit of his stomach that could only cause trouble.

Marcus held onto Roman as they walked around the small cabin. They passed by the stump and the pile of wood. The axe lay abandoned in the grass next to the stump. When Marcus looked at it, he thought about how strong Roman was and howMarcus probably had never stood a chance against him in a fight.

They stopped on the side of the cabin. The snow had melted completely since the sun touched this side of the building the most. The ground was disturbed. What little grass was left from the tough winter had been carved out in an almost perfect rectangle.

Roman leaned Marcus against the side of the cabin. He rubbed his hands up and down Marcus’s arms. Marcus stared at the ground.

“Tell me that’s not…” The words died in his throat. The darkness came creeping back at the corner of his eyes. His feet were heavy as cement. He was being dragged back down in that abyss.

“I can show you.” Something feral creeped into Roman’s voice. There was an edge to it, not quite a bet and not a threat, but an offer.

Marcus’s eyes snapped to Roman’s. A long silent heavy minute passed as they stared into each other’s eyes.

“Then show me.” The words weren’t his own. It came from him, but he didn’t know the person speaking them.

Roman’s lips twisted upward. It was a mockery of a smile.

He stepped away from Marcus. Marcus regretted that Roman’s touch was taken from him again. His body tried to chase after the touch. He stopped himself before he tripped. It seemed he’d used all his energy and strength to get out the front door.

He sagged against the side of the cabin as Roman sauntered to the back. He came back holding a shovel, lips still tilted upward, and headed to the disturbed bed of dirt.

He didn’t wait a second before staking the tip of the shovel into the hard dirt. It had softened as the snow had melted, but it was still slightly frozen from the cold.

He shoveled the tough dirt and tossed the caked pieces into a pile to the side.

Marcus’s anticipation grew as he stared at the spot Roman shoveled. Only a few minutes later, cold rotting flesh started to peek out from the clear dirt.

Marcus couldn’t move. He couldn’t even cover his mouth from the breathless gasp that fell from his lips.

Roman kept digging until the entire face of the corpse was uncovered. Remnants of dirt was sprinkled on the handsome face, but Marcus didn’t need to have it clean to recognize the man buried a few feet away from him.

Marcus tried to back up. His back was already against the side of the cabin. He took a step back and only ended up bumping his head against the siding. His eyes widened and his heart quickened.

Michael’s face was stuck in a look of terror. The face that haunted Marcus was deformed like a ghoul. Lifeless, his eyes stared eternally at something or someone that was no longer there.

Roman stabbed the shovel into the ground upright and let go of it. He laughed as he spread his arms. He joyously walked around Michael’s body.

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