Page 194 of Deviant

“And Ruby?” I ask.

“She’s alive.”

My brows furrow since there is no sign of her anywhere.

“I don’t believe it. I have to see him for myself. Where’s Henry?!” Elias starts to shout, his expression a dangerous mix of fury and madness.

“We left him downstairs… you know… to take care of the body,” Abbie informs him.

“Elias—”

But before I can get a word in, Elias dashes toward the basement. I sprint after him, but he’s just too fast, leaping two stairs at a time. By the time I reach him, he’s already at the painted doors, hurling himself against the white door, trying to kick it down.

“Goddamn it!” he shouts with frustration as his boot repeatedly makes contact with the door, yet it still doesn’t budge.

“It’s made of fiberglass, Elias. You can’t kick it down like that. Besides, Henry is probably long gone.”

“Fine. Then I know where he’ll be next.”

“Elias!” I shout to gain his attention, but he just runs past me again.

I run after him as fast as my legs allow, only to see him open the double doors to the mansion.

“Elias, no!” I scream as he darts outside. Fear crawls up my spine, picturing a dozen dogs feasting on his flesh. But when I step through the doors, my heart races at the sight of Elias at the gate, pulling Andy’s mangled body away from Henry’s cart. As I close the distance, I hear the hopeless murmur of Henry trying to console an inconsolable Elias.

“Master Larsen, I know the pain that you must be feeling is unbearable, but the body that you are clinging to, no longer belongs to Master Scott. He’s at peace now. Away from this horrid place.”

It’s the first time I’ve ever heard Henry speak ill of the mansion and his bosses by affiliation.

“Henry,” I call out softly. “Just give him a minute. To say goodbye, at least.”

“I can give you a few minutes—nothing more,” he says, no longer looking shackled by his employers’ rules.

I stand to the side as I watch Elias brush Andy’s hair away from his face, holding him in his lap.

“He was so annoying at first. Always following me around like a lost puppy. But he made me laugh. Fuck. He was such a funny kid. So full of life in him. He didn’t deserve to go out like this. He didn’t.”

Tears begin to sting my eyes as I watch the man I love say goodbye to the only friend he’s ever had.

“Master Larsen… Elias, it’s time,” Henry says after a few minutes pass by.

I bite my inner cheek when Elias places Andy’s body back on the cart.

Elias is right.

Andy didn’t deserve to die this way. Nor did he deserve to have his body dumped into a cart like someone is taking out the trash.

He didn’t deserve it.

But neither did Harper.

Or Chris.

Or Lucy.

Or Lucas.

The Scourgeis picking us off one by one, mercilessly and without prejudice.

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