Page 120 of The Sea Witch's Son

My efforts are once again rewarded with a soul-piercing scream. I hit the brake, and the blade comes to a shuddering stop, embedding itself within the thick tissue of his neck.

“STOP IT!”

“Tell me what I need to know.”

I watch the blood ooze down the edge of the blade and splatter along the floor. Jack’s legs are flailing, desperately trying to fight the wooden blocks holding him prisoner.

“I said there’s nothing on earth that would make me buy from MarlinSeaborn. I said fuck the drugs, they can’t be that good anyway.”

“Not what I want to hear. Goodbye, Jack.”

“LET ME FINISH!”

Blood continues to trickle down his neck and onto the floor below. There’s quite a puddle forming, the metallic tang adding to the fluff balls floating through the air.

“You have thirty seconds.”

“But that was the point, he said. I would buy the drugs from him and not you, so that way I could still get the high.”

“You need a lot more than a high, Jack.” I lean down and wiggle the blade lodged in his neck, “When did you start working with Hao?”

He whimpers, “I didn’t even know Hao was involved. I just know the guards would drop off a sample package once a month and I would e-transfer the money.”

I pause, looking at the stuffed animals lining the pews. Everything about the setup is basic and simple, but most of all, it’s lazy.

There is no effort in the animal’s clothing nor in the faces hastily drawn with marker. It’s the act of a spoilt child, a man who has never needed to use time or effort to achieve his goals.

Jack Heart is guilty of buying the drugs and using them, but he’s just a fall guy. A way to keep the Dragon off someone else’s scent for a little while longer.

“Where did you e-transfer the money?”

“Some offshore account, I don’t know.” A whine slips out, “Let me go.”

“Give me a name.”

“I don’t know his fucking name!”

“How do you know it was a man then?”

“His username was some weird macho shit.” His voice breaks as tears start to flow again, “KillTheBeast717 or something like that. P-Please, Marlin. Don’t do this.”

More blood pools out as the blade leaves his neck. I lock it back into position at the top and give the handle a wiggle to make sure it doesn’t have a quick release.

“I look forward to your next performance, Jack.” Giving him a pat on the back, I make my way back across the playroom.

“Wait. Marlin,wait!”

He shakes the guillotine with such force the blade swings dangerously at the top.

“You need to let me go.”

“Do I?” Casting a smile over my shoulder, I meet his bloodstained eyes, “Last time I checked, your mother comes to watch your shows every night. If only I had a mother who cared as much as yours.”

“Don’t leave me like this!”

“Sorry, Jack. I’m afraid our time together has run out.”

Pushing the tiny black door open, I duck through and let it shut out the anguished screams coming from inside.

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