Page 19 of Little Psycho

We begin to walk out of the basement, and my nerves grow with each step.Still, I listen to her ramble on about her expectations of me and threats of what will happen to me if I disobey Mr.Brown in any way.

“All of your medication is packed, too, and I tossed in the bottles in case you need to take more,” she laughs, making a crazy gesture with her hand as we step into the night, the fall air wrapping around my body like a glove.

Looking around, I think about all of the friends from my past who I haven’t seen in years.The pain of their abuse is still etched on their faces, but I’m determined to fix it all.I can’t fuck tonight up.The pressure is overwhelming, but I’m ready.

As I say goodbye to my mother and slide into the back of the limo, I remember my journal upstairs—the one with all the names written on the back cover.I don’t ever want to go back in that room, and I don’t need to.I memorized all twelve names on the list, and counting the one from tonight, all thirteen.There’s no fucking way I’ll ever be able to forget them.

I keep a smile on my face as Mr.Brown joins me, shutting the door to my past behind him.In a way, I’m grateful for this man, even if it is fucked up to admit.If it weren’t for him and whatever deal he made with the amount of money he paid, I’d still be trapped in the attic with no way out in sight.

I’ll make his time worth it.I’ll make sure he gets everything he paid for and then some.

And as we drive away from the house that held so many horrors, I begin plotting silently in my head, a smile on my face the entire drive.

* * *

Pulling up to another mansion—hismansion—I begin to wonder if his walls hold sinister secrets like my parents’ mansion did.

“We’re here,” he says, breaking the silence that we sat in ever since we left my parents house.

He helps me out of the limo, holding my hand tightly.I notice Gunnar parked behind us, waving at me with a cunning grin on his smug face.I wave back and blow a kiss as Mr.Brown leads me up the steps to the front door.Wondering if Addy came with me, I nervously look around before we walk in, hoping she didn’t abandon me when I need her the most.But as soon as we enter his house, I see her sitting on the white leather couch, a smile on her face that matches mine.

“Take your meds,” she says, nodding to the backpack in his hands.

“Mr.Brown, may I have my bag, please?I need to take my medication,” I ask sweetly, batting my lashes at him.

He hands me the bag without question, already giving me more freedom than my parents ever did.“Sure, why don’t you go get freshened up and meet me in the bedroom?”He points to a bathroom at the end of the hall on the bottom floor, removing his suit jacket and slinging it over the back of the couch.

“Okay.”I keep a smile on my face even as I walk away, my eyes frantically searching for cameras.

“If you change, leave your heels on,” he yells, just as I close the door, and as soon as it clicks shut, I cringe, bolting to the toilet to throw up.

I collapse on the cold tiled floor, trying to catch my breath after dry-heaving, shivering from the sweat coating my burning skin.Right away, I unzip the bag and pull out my medication, popping them like candy just so I can feel better.Thoroughly searching the bag’s contents, disappointment floods my systems when I realize there’s nothing inside that I can use as a weapon.

“Drug him,” Addy says randomly, obviously reading my mind.

“Great minds think alike.”I pour out two of the tranquilizers and tuck them into the hidden pocket in my dress, deciding to keep it on instead of changing into the leggings that my mother packed.

I pull myself together and stand up to brush my teeth and fix myself until I’m comfortable enough to leave the bathroom.

“Can we do this, Addy?”I ask, looking at her as I look into the mirror.

“Of course we can.This might be our only chance, Cali.You can’t fuck it up.”

“Thanks for the pressure.”I shake my head, splashing cold water over my face.Sighing, I grab my backpack and open the bathroom door, walking straight into Gunnar.

“Whatever you’re thinking, I wouldn’t even try it, Little Psycho,” he sneers, grabbing my throat and forcing me to look directly into his dark, evil eyes.

I rip myself out of his grasp and keep my head held high, refusing to show him how scared I truly am.“I’m not thinking about anything, Gunnar.Don’t you have somewhere to be?”I flip my hair in his face and walk away from him, hoping I can make it to the bedroom before he reaches for me again.

And I do.

“There you are,” Mr.Brown says as I step in the threshold, sprawled out on his bed in just his suit pants.His smile fades slightly when he sees Gunnar behind me, and I take the opportunity to get rid of him.

“Sorry, this one won’t leave me alone.”I point behind me, rolling my eyes, and trying to play it off the right way.

“Gunnar, do I have to call Mrs.Harlow to remind you of your job?”His temper shows through his threat, reminding me that he’s just another powerful man set out to hurt me, not help me.

“No, sir.I’ll be in the car right outside if you need anything.”I can hear how pissed and humiliated he is as he walks off, which only makes me smile more.

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