Page 162 of Monster in Disguise

My pulse is racing, my breathing labored.

God, no!

"Lina..." I whisper, and I see her back away, as much as her bounds allow her to. Franco is upon her in seconds, his hands grabbing at her legs and pulling them towards him.

I can't watch this! I try to tug my hand free from the cuff, but it's in vain. The pole is highly secured, the cuff tight around my wrist.

"No!" Lina yells, trying to kick at Franco. One hand clumsily works at the front of his trousers, while the other keeps on tugging at her dress.

No!

I turn back to my restraints, knowing time is of the essence. I will my mind to work and think of all the possibilities. I can't uproot the pole... I can't break the handcuffs, but... I can break my own hand.

Lina's cries intensify, and they only spur me on. I hold on to the pole with one hand, and fold the other within the cuff, my thumb directly parallel with the other digits. Then I pull. So hard my eyes tear up, I pull and hit the cuff at the same time. I do it until I hear the sound of bones cracking; until my hand becomes a limp mass of crushed bones. Until it slips free.

Swallowing the pain and using it to feed my anger, I'm up and upon Franco in a second. There's only a slight relief at seeing that he didn't get to Lina before my good hand and what's left of the other wrap themselves around his neck. Using the strength in my wrist, I curb his struggles and twist his neck at an angle, effectively snapping it. The adrenaline must have kicked in, because I have no notion of time as I kick his lifeless body to the side and kneel in front of a scared Lina.

Her eyes are wild as she sees me, but I note a hint of relief in them as well. I hesitate as I reach for her, and when she doesn't shy from me, I pull her closer, holding tight.

"I'm so sorry, Lina. So sorry," I breathe out a sob. "I'll get you out of here. You have my word, I swear."

She doesn't speak, her body shaking with fear. I reach behind her back and with uncoordinated movements; I attempt to untie her hands.

"What a touching scene," Nicolo's voice mocks from behind. I turn around, and I watch as he comes closer, a hint of annoyance on his face as he takes in my limp hand.

"You know, I never thought a monster like you would be capable of such deep emotions. I used to praise your father all the time for the training he put you through. You were really the perfect killer. Until her."

He removes a gun from the back of his trousers and points it at Lina. I react instinctively, putting myself in front of her, shielding her.

Nicolo's laughter echoes in the room right before he presses the trigger. I let out a gasp as the bullet embeds itself in my shoulder. Lina's hands reach out for me, her expression mirroring the pain I'm feeling.

"Marcello." Her mouth is wide open as she looks in disbelief at the blood that gushes out of my shoulder, mingling with the already dried blood of my other wounds.

"I'm fine," I croak, trying to give her an assuring smile.

"Just kill me," I turn to address Nicolo. "Just kill me and let her go, please."

"Why would I do that, when your pain gives me so much joy?" He smirks, rotating the gun around his fingers. "You can't die just yet."

"Why?" I croak, still using my body as a shield between Nicolo and Lina. "I don't understand why you'd go through so much trouble to impersonate Chimera foryearsjust to torment me. Why?"

It makes no sense. If he were only after my position, he would have killed me a long time ago. So why do this? Why use psychological tricks when he could have just attacked me in the open?

"That's the thing, boy. You don't even know..." His mouth curls up in anger, baring his teeth at me. His face immediately darkens, his hand still waving the gun around.

"Tell me, does your wife know you killed your own mother?" Nicolo asks smugly. Lina gasps, and she looks at me in disbelief. I shake my head.

"She killed herself. I had nothing to do with it," I declare confidently. That's one thing he can't accuse me of.

"You didn't?" He raises an eyebrow before heading to the back of the room where the burial places are. I quickly turn to Lina, trying to get her free before he comes back.

"If you see an opening, just run, okay?" I touch her face tentatively, reveling in her presence one last time.

"What about you?" she asks, her voice hoarse. I give her a small head shake.

"It doesn't matter. I'll hold him back." I know that in my current condition I won't be able to put up too much of a good fight, but maybe I can buy Lina some time to run away.

"Go to your brother. He'll know what to do," I say, barely finishing the sentence before Nicolo comes back, carrying with him an object covered by a white cloth.

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