Page 153 of Moth to a Flame

That’s what despair must feel like.

Have I let it stop me? Fuck no. And my dedication has paid off.

My obsession has brought me to her.

Regan.

The tenth and last black and bleeding nail is here. It’s waiting for me in a small town in Alaska.

Wind whips at my hair. A cold chill tries to seep beneath my black coat and into my bones.

Let it freeze me. Let it try to slow me down.

Nothing could come between me and Regan.

Satan can rise from the depths of hell and have a go at striking me down, and I’ll still be here, standing.

If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll save her.

I have to. Have to make it up to Regan for choosing the wrong path at the fork of the road seven days ago.

My instincts weren’t on point, and I’ve been hating myself ever since. Beverly enlightened me on that motherfucking bit when she saw them leaving in the other direction.

When it was too late.

After that, it’s been a struggle to catch up to them.

I’ve been trailing close behind them, always sniffing them out with the help of Beverly. With the help of my deep connection to Regan and the breadcrumbs she left strategically in the most abandoned shitholes.

She did so good that I was even able to make a quick pitstop, just so that my revenge will be extra sweet.

Throughout this entire time, I always heard her, loud and clear inside my head.

I’m here, Landon. He took me there, Landon.

Come save me. Come save me. Come save me.

I’m here. I’m coming for you.

Though it hasn’t been easy. Though it’s taken me way more time than I would’ve liked.

Over the past seven days, Lester has been a sneaky fucker. But wherever they went, one camera or another caught them.

Despite how he chose unpaved roads, deserted areas, and small towns where they hardly have any cameras.

I’ve found him.

No one knows where he is now but me, Beverly, and Vince. After Beverly got us a secure line, I told them everything about what happened. I also ordered Beverly to not share Regan’s whereabouts with the authorities anymore.

Once they couldn’t find her in New York, they were useless to me.

I’ll be the one to find her. I’ll be the one to slay her monster.

Regan’s family isn’t in the know either. I instructed Rosemary to stay put. They didn’t need to see the nails. Didn’t have to witness the multiple crimes I was going to commit later.

The murderous desires in me are like vines with thorns. Crawling inside of me. Latching onto every organ. Poisoning every blood cell.

The pain I’m feeling is unlike any other. Unmatched. Un-fucking-paralleled.

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