Page 468 of Rage

I nod, not trusting my voice. The closer we get, the more vivid the memories become. I can almost taste the salt in the air, feel the sand between my toes. It's been exactly one year since that night, a fact that hasn't escaped either of us. There's a poetry to it, a symmetry that feels both terrible and right.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold," I murmur, more to myself than to Jaz.

He chuckles, a low sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "And we've let this one chill for a full year," he agrees. "It'll be positively glacial by now."

The metaphor should be comforting but instead, it makes me shiver. I think of the pain I've carried for the past year, the rage that's become my constant companion. It hasn't cooled; it's crystallized, sharpening into something hard and deadly.

As we round a bend in the road, the beach house comes into view. It's a sprawling structure of glass and wood. Lights blaze from every window, and even from here, I can hear the thump of bass. My stomach clenches, a mix of fear and anticipation roiling within me.

My breath catches in my throat as I spot the bonfire on the beach below. The flames dance in the darkness, casting long shadows across the sand. It's so similar to that night, yet everything has changed.

"Remember," Jaz says, his voice low and intense. "We're in control. Every step, every moment--it's all on our terms. You say the word, and we're out of there. No questions asked."

I nod, grateful for the reminder. I take a deep breath, centering myself. "I'm ready," I tell him, and I'm surprised to find that it's true.

We make our way down to the beach, the sand cool beneath our feet. A massive bonfire blazes some distance from the house, casting long shadows across the sand. Figures move around it, their silhouettes distorted by the flames. The scene is eerily familiar, like a nightmare come to life.

"Look," Jaz murmurs, nodding towards a group near the fire.

My breath catches in my throat. There they are—Tyler, Marcus, and Ethan. They're laughing, red cups in hand, looking for all the world like normal college guys enjoying a party.

Chapter Five

My eyes lock onto them, a cold fury settling in my chest. Tyler, with his shaggy hair and lazy grin, looking more haggard than I remember. Marcus, his eyes darting nervously, a far cry from the confident predator of my nightmares. And Ethan... my fists clench at my sides as I take him in. He looks unchanged, still radiating that easy charm that once fooled me. They look so normal, so carefree. As if they hadn't shattered my world a year ago on this very beach. The injustice of it burns through me, igniting a rage that threatens to consume everything in its path.

Jaz's hand on my lower back grounds me, his touch a reminder of why we're here. "Easy, little Bee," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. "Remember the plan."

I nod, forcing myself to take a deep breath. We make our way towards the bonfire, blending in with the crowd of partygoers. The music pulses around us, a primal beat that seems to sync with my racing heart.

As we draw closer, I catch snippets of conversation. Ethan's voice carries over the din, boastful and loud. "...and then I told her, 'Baby, you know you want it,'" he laughs, his friends joining in with raucous approval.

The words hit me like a physical blow, memories threatening to overwhelm me. But Jaz's steady presence keeps me anchored in the present. I feel his muscles tense beside me, barely restrained violence in every line of his body.

"Soon," he promises, his voice low and dangerous. "Very soon."

We circle the bonfire, keeping to the shadows. I catch Tyler's eye as we pass, and for a moment, I think he recognizes me. But then his gaze slides away, dismissive. I'm just another pretty face in the crowd to him now.

The realization steadies me. We have the element of surprise on our side. They have no idea what's coming for them.

As the night wears on, we watch and wait. Jaz slips away at one point, returning with a predatory gleam in his eye. "It's done," he murmurs. "Now we wait."

The party reaches its peak, a frenzy of dancing bodies and drunken laughter. And then, one by one, our targets begin to falter. Tyler stumbles away from the crowd, his face pale and sweating. Marcus follows soon after, clutching his stomach.

Ethan holds out the longest, but eventually even he succumbs. I watch with grim satisfaction as he staggers towards the house, his golden boy facade crumbling.

"Now," Jaz says, his voice tight with anticipation.

We move swiftly, following Ethan into the house. The music fades behind us, replaced by the sound of retching coming from upstairs. We climb the steps silently, predators on the hunt.

The bathroom door is ajar, light spilling out into the darkened hallway. Ethan is hunched over the toilet, oblivious to our presence. Jaz moves first, swift and silent. Before Ethan can react, he's pulled back, a cloth pressed over his face.

The night air chills my skin as we drag the unconscious men into the trees near the house. My heart pounds, a mix of fear and anticipation coursing through my veins. The familiarsurroundings bring painful memories flooding back but I push them aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Jaz secures our captives, his movements efficient and practiced. "I'll be right back," he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple before melting into the shadows.

Left alone with my rapists, I study their slack faces in the dim moonlight. They look so ordinary, so harmless. But I know the monsters that lurk beneath.

The distant thump of music grows louder, revelers oblivious to the dark drama unfolding in the trees. Jaz returns, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes gleam with dangerous intent as he unzips it, revealing an array of tools that make my breath catch.

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