Page 55 of Broken Skulls

My skin is already crawling with the thought of her blood on me.

“This one is fresh, if you know what I mean.”

“Is it ..?” I run to the sink on the other side of the room, emptying my stomach. Oh my god.

“It’s not who you think it is, but she does look a lot like your friend. Well, she used to. She came in this morning. Perfect timing for our next painting. I thought it would be nice to paint straight from the source. You don’t mind, do you?”

When I turn around, Mr. Baxter is rubbing his hand over the girl’s leg lovingly.

He has tortured me in many ways, but this … this is more than my brain can process.

“I can’t …” I begin to stutter, backing from the room.

“Kneel,” he orders sharply. He looks away from me, so sure I will obey. He watches his own hand as he slides his palm up the woman’s torso, stopping over her left breast.

Slowly, I fall to my knees. The floor is cold, the room is cold, the look on his face … cold.

“Don’t look away, or you might find yourself in her place.”

I watch in horror as he picks up a knife and places it against her chest. My eyes blink closed for a second, but only a second, because I’ve learned Mr. Baxter keeps his promises.

A few minutes later, he steps toward me. “Hold out your palms.”

Reluctantly, I do as he asks. My brain shuts down completely when he places the girl’s heart in my hands.

I’m pliable as he moves me around like a doll. He positions my hands over my heart, warm and beating hard beneath my skin. Hers is cold and sticky against my breast.

Blood continues to trickle from her body, his paintbrush frequently dragging through it before being meticulously brushed across my skin.

Anthony snaps in my face, pulling me from my mind.

Jacob’s hand strikes like lightning, wrapping around Anthony’s throat. “Don’t do that again,” he growls.

Dirk and Jackson move toward us, but I stop them with a look.

“Jacob, it’s okay,” I say, prying his fingers from Anthony’s neck.

Anthony just smiles at us. He is the calmest, yet craziest man I’ve ever met.

Jacob releases him, his eyes resting on me, concern pulling at his brows.

“I’m ready to see him now,” I say.

He takes my hand, giving Anthony one last glare before ushering us in the room.

As soon as I’m standing in front of Mr. Baxter, I realize I’m anything but ready. The door closes behind us, and it’s me, Jacob, and him.

Mr. Baxter smiles at me.

I wait for Jacob to attack him, but instead he relaxes against me, hugging me tight from behind.

“Do you like my gift?” he asks.

The gravel in his voice makes my stomach clench.

Mr. Baxter laughs. “No one has given her a better gift than I have. Isn’t that right, Lizzie?”

Jacob stills.

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