Page 11 of Deliver us from Evil

What the hell am I thinking? Of course they won’t be happy. This—I open my eyes and glare at Gabriel’s door—thisis what they want.

WhatIwant.

What we’vealwayswanted since that first repulsive hand touched us. Since that first voice whispered to us that everything was going to be fine, as long as we play along.

It’s just a game. You like games, don’t you, Mason? Can I call you Mason?

My skin crawls at the thread of unwanted memory, but I’m too agitated to push it away. So it slithers in deeper, grabs hold of my conscious mind.

I fold my fingers around Gabriel’s door handle. Open the door. It should be locked, but it isn’t.

This game, I call it hide and seek. But we’ll be playing it a little differently, okay?

My Ghost’s voice raises goosebumps on my skin. I grit my teeth and step inside Gabriel’s apartment. The next door is standing open. I swear I can hear sounds coming from inside.

I’m going to take this chocolate—you see it?—and I’m going to hide it. You like chocolate don’t you, Mason? You must be hungry. If you find the chocolate, then you can eat it.

My heart hammers inside my rib cage like a fist trying to break down a door. I slink to the side, pressing my back to the wall.

There’s a clatter from inside Gabriel’s room.

Fuck. He’s here. I have to leave. Go wait by the stairs. Watch him. Send a message, let my brothers know—

Now close your eyes, Mason. Close your eyes so I can hide the chocolate. Good boy. Keep them closed. I’m hiding it now. Good boy. Keep them closed. Give me your hand. Yes, good boy. Now I want you to find it. Go on. Don’t be scared. Put your hand in, Mason. There. You feel that? Feels good, doesn’t it?

Nausea wells up so fast, so bitter, I taste bile in my mouth before I can swallow it down.

The world swims, and for a second I’m convinced I’m back there in that room. My first night with my Ghost. Playing hide and fucking seek with a sicko.

I cataloged them all. My Ghost, their Ghosts. They’re all saved neat and tidy inside my head. Their voices, what their aftershave smelled like, the size and shape of their dicks. Any rings, or freckles or scars on their hands. Those that showed their faces? They’ll be the easiest to find. But we’ll find them all.

Each and every last one of them.

Keep them for as long as it takes. Untilwe’resatisfied.

And then burn them at the motherfucking stake. A sacrificial offering to the God who abandoned us, left us to rot in that basement with those demons.

My phone trembles as I bring it out of my pocket. The memory retreats. Finally have my body under control again. Sticking to the plan.

But before I can back out, something slams closed inside Gabriel’s room. Thankfully, instinct takes over. I throw myself against the wall, crowding into a corner by the small key table. Holding my breath, closing my eyes.

He swarms right past me.

I catch a whiff of his aftershave as he disturbs the air, and like I always have, compare it to the database inside my head.

Unless he’s changed what he wears, he’s not one of them. Not one of the men who abused us.

Gabriel leaves his apartment in a rush, not bothering to close the door behind him. I wait for my arms and legs to stop quivering, and then slip out of the room and follow him down the hall.

I start to type out a message, but then I hesitate.

I almost lost control back there. Teetering on a knife’s edge. Me. Them. I’m good at bringing myself back from the void, but they aren’t. It’s their one weakness.

I’ll follow Gabriel, see where he’s going. If he looks to be leaving, then I’ll let them know. Then we can take him down.

I lick my lips as I wait for him to hurry down the first flight of stairs, then I follow him.

Silent.

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