Page 38 of Unholy

“That isn’t healthy, and I think you know that,” he tells me.

“What does healthy mean?”

“It means that you have a clear path ahead of you, and that isn’t just about obsession and what you want.”

“You remember me telling you once before that I didn’t give a shit what you thought? It’s about time for you to hear it again, Doc. I’m me. I’m messed up. I’m fucked in the head. There’s no curing me so why even try? You know what I like about Ash? She doesn’t try to make me be something I’m not.”

“She can’t condone the things you do, does she?” he asks.

“Not everything, but she still doesn’t try to talk her way into my head and fix something that can’t be fixed.”

“We can try other therapies, Tristan.”

“Mock execution, electroshock therapy, role-playing. Nothing has worked, Doc. What makes you think something else would?”

“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?” I shake my head.

“No. I don’t think it is. I think I’m too far gone and fucked up to be brought back to the real world.”

“Is that what you feel? That you aren’t in the real world?”

“I know I’m in the real world, asshole. You know it’s just a saying.” The buzzer rings, and I stand, saluting the asshole once more before heading out the door. It’s October thirty-first. It’s fucking Halloween night, and I have plans for Ash.

I hop on my bike and take off back to the warehouse, where she’s waiting for me. Tomorrow, her little boyfriend comes back, but tonight, she’s all mine.

I make it back and kill the engine, climbing off and heading inside. Ash sits on the couch, looking up and smiling when I walk in.

“How was your appointment?”

“Same as always,” I reply. I walk over to the bed and grab the bag, tossing it to her.

“What’s this?”

“Halloween costume,” I tell her.

“I don’t do Halloween, Tristan,” she says.

“This year, you do. Put it on.” She doesn’t smile; she just opens the bag and pulls out the costume, holding it up in her hand.

“What is this?”

“A nun costume.”

“Why?”

“Cause you’re my dirty Little Nun, that’s why.”

“And this?”

“That’s a collar.”

“For what?”

“For you to wear.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh, I fucking think so. I’m going to make you do so many dirty and disgusting things tonight, Little Nun. And you’re going to look sexy as fuck with that around your neck,” I tell her. Ash isn’t sure what to do as I strip out of my clothes and put on my costume.

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