Page 38 of Save Me

She found out her mother was raped, so the chances that even her mom knows who it is, are slim. But for her sake, I hope she gets some kind of answer.

“We attended college together and later ended up working at the same law firm,” her mother begins, wiping away fallen tears before locking eyes with Starlet once more. “We were good friends, but when I met your father... well, he didn’t take it well. Oneevening, after work, as I was heading to my car... he attacked me.”

Starlet’s face contorts from anger to sadness at her mother’s words. She places a comforting hand on her mother’s shoulder, “Who is he, Mom?”

Her mother glances briefly in my direction, revealing the hurt and humiliation in her eyes, before turning her gaze back to Starlet.

“Um, Storm. Dalton Storm. He was arrested a few years after that for rape and attempted murder of his wife.”

I watch as Starlet’s face drains of color, her hand trembling as it withdraws from her mother’s shoulder.

Storm? Why does that sound so familiar?

Suddenly, the heavy footsteps of Starlet’s father echo down the staircase, causing me to tense, ready to intervene if needed.

But before he can utter a word, her mother’s hand connects with his face, a resounding slap that echoes through the room.

“You fucking monster! Don’t come near me or my children again, do you understand?” Her words, filled with anger and defiance, pierce the tense atmosphere.

I move towards Starlet, grasping her arm gently, “Get your mother and sister and get out of here.”

“What? Why—”

“Just do as I say,” I demand firmly and without hesitation she nods and grabs her mom, asking where her sister is. Starlet glances at me before dragging her mother out of the house and slamming the door behind them.

I turn my attention back to the old bastard, his face contorting in realization.

“I told you I’ll be back for you.” I taunt him with a smirk, relishing the moment. Before I can take a step forward, he darts past me, his footsteps echoing through the house.

Really? Stairs again?

Frustration surges within me as I race up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. He slips into a room at the end of the hallway, but I am quick to follow, pushing the door open with force.

The sudden movement causes him to stumble and fall to the ground. The sight of him triggers a surge of anger, my blood boiling with a mix of emotions.

“I've seen my fair share of sick people, but you, you must be the absolute worst,” I seethe, my eyes narrowing as I take slow, deliberate steps toward him.

The sound of his frantic scrambling fills the room as he desperately tries to get to his feet and I can see the fear etched across his face.

“Your wife needed you. But instead, you got jealous of a fucking rapist. And instead of taking it out on him, you wanted to take it out on an innocent child.” He retreats behind his desk, a feeble attempt to create distance between us. As if that could save him.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he stammers, his back pressing against the cold windowpane. I navigate around the desk, coming to an abrupt halt mere inches away from him.

Our faces are almost touching, and I can practically taste the acrid tang of his fear permeating the air.

“You’re a pussy.” I whisper venomously. “And I am going to make sure you get what you deserve, just like your bitch Zavier did.” The intensity of my words causes his eyes to widen in terror.

Before he can utter a single word, I seize the nearby curtain, swiftly wrapping it around his exposed neck.The fabric constricts, turning his face a deep shade of crimson as he desperately struggles for air.

Leaving him there, gasping and helpless, I turn my attention to the burning cigar resting on his desk. A twisted smile creeps across my face.

With careful precision, I grasp the glowing red ember in my hand, feeling its searing heat against my skin. I grab a sheet of paper from the desk and turn to face him, still wheezing for breath.

“I apologize for leaving you hanging, but I have things to do.”

As I hold the cigar to the paper, it instantly ignites, flames dancing and crackling in the air. With one last sinister smirk, I place the burning paper within one of the nearby bookshelves, instantly engulfing it in a furious inferno.

I turn and make my exit through the door. Leaving behind the chaos I’ve created.

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