Page 71 of Meet Me In The Dark

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Micah could not fucking wait until this motherfucker died. He might even convince the others to keep the man’s skull and place it on the mantel above their fireplace in the cabin. Or taxidermy his body and stick it on the wall, like a hunting trophy.

Well, maybe not that. That was too morbid, even for him. But the skull thing? That had possibilities.

Micah sighed at the thought.

Christopher eyed him. “Something you want to share with the class, Mr. Feldman?”

“Oh, just that one day, your skull will make a nice candle holder,” Micah said lightly, relieved to draw the asshole back into his web. To turn his anger back on Micah. The beating before had hurt—and knowing his family suffered alongside him hurt more. But he’d take that over Kara being frightened in the shower. Or worse.

He was egging Christopher on. Of course he was. And the man was going to try to torture them, psychologically, to make up for it. Maybe physically. Micah needed them to bestrong enough to handle it, because Christopher was going to slip up and tell them something—something that would help.

“Thank you for the idea,” the professor said. “That sounds aesthetically pleasing. Maybe I’ll save your skulls for Kara to look at, after you’re gone.”

Micah tried to hide how his ears perked up.Scooby Doohad gotten it right, after all: evil villains often liked to share their plans; if they didn’t, how would they get the accolades and the response they wanted? Micah, too, was a villain. Not evil, but Machiavellian enough to skirt that line a bit. However, he didn’t need anyone to praise his machinations, which served him better than having an ego.

Behind him, Kara was frozen solid. Micah wanted to pull her into his lap, to comfort her, but that would give too much to Christopher. Instead, he tried to telegraph strength to her.

And she must have picked up on it because she said, “And what doesourlife look like together, Chris? Me trapped in your big house, you forcing me, knowing that you’ll be stuck with someone who hates you? It doesn’t really matter, it’s not like you could ever make me come, anyway,” she scoffed. “It’s going to be, well not fun, but a little satisfying, watching you live your pathetic life while your brothers have all the power and just leave you table scraps. Watch New York’s literati make fun of your pretentious, stilted writing and inability to create a satisfying ending to a single novel, being known as a one-hit-wonder. The laughingstock of the book world.”

Micah was torn between being proud of her and wanting to hide her. He forced himself to let go of the latter. She was showing her strength, he had to trust her.

“You know, on second thought, maybe I’ll just save yourskull, Kara dear. I’ve always wanted to skull fuck someone, and I won’t mind doing it when you’re dead.”

The entire cell went electric, Conor and Luke’s fear and desperation and rage pulsing around them like a living thing. None of them spoke.

“Let me weave you my own story,” the professor continued through gritted teeth. “After all, there’s no need for an element of surprise anymore. You deserve to know how it’s all going to end for the four of you. I promise you, this one does have a satisfying conclusion.”

And then he began. “You see, as you all grow closer, it only makes your imminent demise that much more painful to think about, doesn’t it? Especially because one day—and you won’t know exactly when—I’m going to come in here with my guards, and stab all three of you men in the gut. You’ll bleed out slowly while I rape your little whore’s mouth in front of your eyes, and you’ll be unable to do anything. And Ms. Blum, I’ll make sure to switch things up and rape you from behind after, so you can see as the life leaves their eyes. You’ll all be helpless to stop me, won’t you? As I pound into your cunt and tear you up inside? I’ll let these guards have a go at you, too. They deserve a little extra compensation for their hard work.”

Luke spoke softly, and Micah was impressed at how terrifying he sounded. “Careful, Christopher. You remember we killed the others, don’t you?”

“Ah, which makes them even more excited for revenge.”

Micah was repulsed to see that the professor was the excited one, as the man adjusted his dick in his slacks. Repulsed, but unsurprised.

It was okay. They needed him to get lost in his fantasy, so they could hear the rest.

“And then what,” Micah asked, adding fear to his own voice. “What happens after you’ve hurt her?”

“Ah see, I think a synchronized climax is the answer to this. My guards will wait for my signal—my own climax, you understand—and shoot you all at the same time that I snap Kara’s neck.” He shook his head. “A waste, in some ways. All of your deaths will be a waste. After all, you did good work for my family when you all thought you were heroes but were really killing good men.”

Micah glanced at Luke, expecting this to affect him, but Luke didn’t even twitch.

“A waste,” the professor repeated, and his eyes gleamed as he turned his attention to Conor.

And Micah, who until this point was positive he had control of the situation, braced. Because Conor hadn’t worked through his shit yet—his own need for control, his own guilt, which had come much too late in the game. And Micah couldn’t work through it for him.

Whatever Christopher says next, don’t fall for it,he tried to telegraph to his lover.Don’t let him manipulate you.

“A waste of life,” the professor said a third time. “Especially Ms. Blum’s.”

…at the same time that I snap Kara’s neck.

The words sliced through Conor. He couldn’t decide if that was better or worse than a life spent trapped with the professor. Oh, he knew Kara was strong, and she could overcome anything, but he didn’t want her to have to, damn it. He didn’t want Kara to die. He loved her. He didn’t want this for her.

If they’d never taken her, would she have lived?

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