Page 92 of Sick Bargain

My sister belongs to Vile House. She initiated. My brother is a Vile Boy. My… maybe-boyfriend is a Vile Boy. My mom is chipped and controlled. Krypt is missing. I have no home and no life other than him.

“I can’t leave. She’s going to take me to Dr. Graves. He has Krypt.”

Selena’s other hand lands on my shoulder. “Krypt is there willingly.”

My eyes water. “No. He’ll… they’ll brainwash him.”

Selena shakes her head at me, but she’s pushed aside a moment later. Soren takes her place, coming out of nowhere. He lifts my chin, looks me straight in the eye, and makes me a promise. “They’ll try, but he didn’t get his name for nothing, Remi. I promise you, we’re getting him back.”

Selena’s eyes widen. “What the fucking fuck?! You’re Vile, too?!” Selena gasps. “I thought you were in The Misfits?” Guess she doesn’t know everything then. Soren ignores her.

“He won’t be the same.” Tears fall down my cheeks.

“He’s a fucking master of mental control, Remi.”

No, he’s not. He gets overwhelmed by emotions. He can’t talk about anything. He doesn’t know how to express himself with anything but violence. He’s not a master of control.

Soren grins, probably knowing what I’m thinking. “Okay, let me rephrase. He’s a master at mental fortitude. Nothing gets in or out if he doesn’t want it to. Trust him, Remi.”

I look into my brother’s blue eyes and break just a little. “He freed me.”

Soren scoffs. “So you’d pick him willingly. Don’t be naïve, Remi. You’ll never escape him, whether you want to or not. He did this to make you choose him. But even if you don’t pick him, you’re still his, so relax, okay?”

“Where is he?” I ask, trying not to think about that because it’s making me too hopeful that Soren is right. That Krypt still wants me to be his.

“Right where he’s supposed to be. Come on. We’re going to Vile House.” He looks at Selena. “All of us. Initiate.” He grins at her.

She grins back. “What about Mom?”

“Leave her,” Soren says with indifference. “We’ll deal with her later.”

When we walk out, Mom is sitting at the table like she’s awaiting her next order. I don’t think she realizes when we leave. If she’s this badly mind-controlled, what’s going to happen to Krypt?

30

THIS IS A HUMAN BRAIN

KRYPT

There’sa memory trying to creep its way in. A time when my mother, Gia, looked at me like I wasn’t even human. Her blond hair, so different from mine and Killian’s, curtained her eyes, but I could read her lips.

He’s sick, Owen. We need to… end him before he kills us or hurts Killian.

My dad, Owen, looked at me then. His lips said something about me never hurting Killian, but there was agreement in his eyes. My parents were going to kill me. For being sick.

Do you see him?! Look, Owen! See! See him for what he is! Open your eyes and see!

C. C. C. C.

I hate the letter. I hate blonds.

The memory is real, but it doesn’t shift into what actually happened. I was fourteen at the time, and that very night, I killed my own parents. Killian helped. It was the first time I really gave in to my sickness, let out my monsters, and ruined a set of lives that wanted to end me for being born this way. I stabbed my mother in the throat and watched her die while Killian gave our father fourteen stab wounds to his abdomen. One for every year he treated me like a monster.

But that part never comes.

In this version of the memory, Gia smiles at me and says, “Don’t worry, darling. We’ll get you the help you need. We love you.”

My brain stutters. Memories and realities aren’t meshing… but fuck, I want them to. I want it to be real. I want just one look from the woman who birthed me to be full of love and understanding. Compassion and acceptance.

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