Page 55 of Psycho Killers

So he has to die, and I'm going to make it as painful as fucking possible. I grab my backpack and take out my lighter fluid, completely dousing his legs in it until the bottle is empty. Grabbing my lighter, I flick it, watching the flame flicker as it casts a glow on his face.

"Yall might want to step back because in a second this place is going to be filled with flames and smoke," I warn them, leaning in close to my father and putting a final shaky kiss on his pale, clammy cheek.

“Enjoy your last moments,” I whisper, my voice laced with contempt as I ignite the flame and watch it bloom into a blaze that engulfs him whole.

A surreal warmth radiates around us, the kind that makes the hairs on my arms stand tall. I feel alive, electric—with every flicker of fire that dances against his skin, I find myself shedding the last remnants of fear and doubt.

The screams that erupt next are a symphony—a song of victory that plays in my ears. I can’t help but smile; it feels like every cruel thing he ever did to me is unraveling in front of my very eyes. For the first time, I hold the power. I am no longer the victim; I am the savior of my freedom.

“Cali, let’s go!” Dom shouts over the cacophony, pulling me back to my team.

I look at the flames swallowing my father, the twisted satisfaction carved across my lips. But as I pivot to flee, I glance back one last time, taking in the horrifying beauty of their fates entwining. My mother’s lifeless body bleeds out onto the floor still, while my father’s form is now fighting a battle with flames—one I know he’ll never win. It feels surreal, as though I’m watching a scene from a movie, the kind of sadistic horror that’s not supposed to happen in real life, allowing myself just this moment to revel in what I’ve done.

“I said move!” Killian grips my wrist, a fierce urgency stretching across his expression, and I nod, jettisoning my lingering thoughts away as we race from the house.

The fire dances behind us as we burst out of the front door, the heat on our skin a reminder of the release I’ve just unleashed. Sprinting through the grass, the world beyond feelselectrified. The sounds of the fire crackling and my father's final screams begin to fade as we make our way into the darkness, cast in shadows as we leave the remnants of my parents behind. The guys follow closely, a protective circle returning after my unhinged spectacle.

As we reach the end of the driveway, undertaking that final step from my past into a new life, Five pulls me aside, urgency in his gaze.

“Cali, did you leave the drive? Where they can see it?”

Panic spikes through my chest. I had so easily overlooked the flash drive in my moment of vengeance. “I—” But before I can finish, guilt twists in my gut. “I forgot to leave it in the house, I?—”

He mutters something under his breath, frustration coloring his voice while he looks off towards the flames now lighting up the night sky.

“We have to go back, Cali.”

“No!” Ash barks, our hearts thundering. “No, absolutely not! I’m not going back there. We have to get the hell out of here!”

“If we don’t, they’ll have nothing left to tie them down! That evidence was supposed to be the key!” I gasp as Five grasps my shoulders, grounding me amid my turmoil.

“I should have thought about that,” I murmur, anger flickering inside me, but then there’s a surge of determination rising to silence the doubt.

He searches my face, and I see understanding and frustration mingling there, like flickering lights in the backdrop of a darkened room.

“So what’s the plan?” His tone softens as if he realizes I’m treading treacherous waters, trying to stay afloat.

“I'll attach the bag to the front door so they'll be forced to see it before going inside.” I draw a shaky breath, summoning the resolve no longer tied to fear but rather to a picture of my future—the one I hope is devoid of their shadows. “Let them fucking burn. It’s time for me to own my life. They made their choices. This is my liberation.”

I see Five weigh my words, the slow nod of acceptance conveying trust as he steps back, watching me run back down the driveway to the front door, attaching the baggie where it's in plain sight. Reluctance hangs between us like an unspoken promise—our role in this story has shifted. No more hiding, and no more shackles of the past. The horizon is set with new beginnings, and as we slip into the darkness, I can feel it calling me.

“Let’s move before someone spots the fire,” Dom urges, efficiency written all over his demeanor, pulling us into a brisk jog.

As we make our way toward the shadows of the distant street, a sense of lightness begins to settle over my heart. I hold my head high; the air feels almost too fresh, the scent of smoke and ash drifting away. The rush from the flames fades into my past with each step we take.

“Are you okay?” Ash asks, moving in alongside me, concern lacing his voice as we continue to move swiftly together through the row of mansions.

“More than I’ve ever been,” I reply, feeling the bursting optimism vibrating through my veins, beating to the rhythm of my newfound freedom.

As we advance deeper into the city, past the flickering shadows that had once imposed fear, the dawn of purpose unfolds before me. I don’t know what the future holds, but for the first time, it’s mine to discover, a canvas stretched wide before me, the colors brilliant and untamed. I’m no longer a prisoner of my parents' madness; I’m the master of my fate, stepping boldly into a world unencumbered by their darkness. And as we walk, leaving the chaos of my childhood shatteredbehind us, I feel a sense of liberation unlike anything I’ve known. The future awaits, uncharted and terrifying, but with a new power growing in my chest—a promise that they won’t dictate my life any longer. It’s time to rewrite my story.

"You ready for what's next?" Five asks quietly as we reach the bar where our bikes are parked, casting away the firelight behind us.

"Absolutely," I whisper, and as the sun breaks over the horizon, painting the sky with shades of hope, I take in the moment, filled with a resounding belief: I will rise from the ashes.

1. Mother

2. Father

---