Page 33 of Snowman

The sound of their weight sliding over the ground, scraping against branches and rocks, was like a pleasing melody to my ears.

Five minutes.That's what separated us from the spot where I hid thekill kit.

As groggy voices began to return, their screams mingled with the crunch of snow. They were clawing at branches, trying to break themselves, but it was pointless. Every scratch, every bruise—they would feel it all.

"My dad's the chief of police!" Josh yelled, desperation cracking his voice. "You'll rot in prison for this!"

I stopped abruptly, the shirt pulling tight in my hand. I turned more slowly, letting their bound legs fall to the ground.

Josh, motivated by the pause, tried again. "That's right," he spat, his voice rising. "You better untie us now!"

I crouched down, and with slow motions, I leaned forward and untied his legs. He stood up, then, brushing the snow away from his pants.

"Who's scared now, huh?" he sneered, his grin wide.

I said nothing. I merely kicked the snow aside with my boot, revealing a box buried beneath. His smile faded as I pulled it out and opened it.

"You," I growled.

His confidence shattered, and he struggled to his feet to run, but I was faster, slamming him back to the ground. Vic fainted again, his body going limp.

I pulled out an injection of epinephrine from the box. Adrenaline was the perfect fuel for pain. I rammed the needle into Josh's arm, his eyes jerking as his body twitched when the medicine hit.

"You will feel it all," I calmly said as I tied his hands behind him and strapped a rope tightly around his waist.

Throwing the rope over a thick branch, I pulled, hoisting his body just high enough that his toes barely brushed the ground. He struggled, twisting and turning, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins made his fear more visible to my eyes.

I turned to Vic, repeating the process, injecting him with the remaining dose. Immediately, his eyes snapped open, wild with terror, and I tied him up, leaving him on the ground for now.

"W-what are you going to do?" Vic stuttered, his voice shaking.

"I'm going to make you pay," I said, my tone icy, with no emotion. The white plastic mask reflected the faint light on my face, I was like a ghost, searching through my tools.

I pulled out a small hunting knife from the toolbox, its blade sharp and shiny. I just tuned Josh out as he came near, begging and promising me money and connections.

"Stop crying like a bitch," I told him, slicing his shirt down the middle and pulling it off.

"Let's start with an R," I muttered, laying the blade against his chest. He screamed as I cut into his skin, the letter welling with blood down his torso.

"A…," I went on, the knife digging deeper, "P… I… S… T."

His screams echoed through the trees. His chest heaved as I stepped back to admire my work. "Now," I said, my voice low, "let's take care of the rest."

I unbuttoned his trousers and couldn't help a smile as I saw his shriveled, pathetic attempt at masculinity.

"I have a better idea," I whispered, my voice little more than a murmur. I left him hanging in confusion and turned to Vic.

I leaned out, snatching the rope tied to his middle, my fingers clamping down on it and tugging him upright. His feet stutter-stepped as he struggled to find his balance while his eyes went large, frantically wide.

"You're going to take your fist," I said, "and shove it in his ass." I laid my palm on his shoulder, steadying him, feeling the fine trembling of his body.

"N-No," he stuttered, his voice breaking as he shrank back. Disgusted, his face screwed up, a deep furrow forming between his brows, and he shook his head violently, taking a few backward steps.

"I might let you go," I said with a very slow, taunting grin, "might."

He froze, his body rigid. The bark of the tree met his back, he was trapped, and I closed the gap between us. Without hesitation, I grabbed his wrist, yanking his hand toward me, and began unrolling his sleeve, exposing his bare skin up to the elbow. His pulse thudded beneath my fingers.

"No, please," he cried, his voice breaking, desperate. But I didn’t respond to his pleas—just as they had ignored hers.

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