Page 68 of Back In the Shadows

“Like I can believe you,” John whined.

“I’m offended. I’m definitely a man of my word, and when I say I’ll kill you, make no mistake I absolutely will kill you.”

John’s face contorted with disgust as he spat on the floor in front of me. “Then I’ll take my secrets to the grave. It’s a matter of honor for a man to choose how he dies.” He sneered. “And I’ll die with my fucking mouth shut about your little piece of ass getting kidnapped.” He chuckled, as if his words were the funniest thing in the world.

The sound of his laughter triggered a primal rage inside me. A feral growl erupted from my throat. “Don’t you ever speak about her like that again.” I stood up and walked towards one of my favorite tools for dealing with troublesome individuals. Kip, always prepared for any situation, had made sure it was within arm’s reach.

I picked up the small yet effective tool and ran my hand over the handle, savoring its cold metal against my skin. “Are you familiar with combing or carding, John?” I asked in a low voice.

“Like being carded at a club?” he replied, attempting to mask his fear with a feeble attempt at humor.

I let out a cruel laugh. “You wish it were that simple. It’s an ancient form of torture where iron teeth used to prepare wool are instead used on human flesh.”

John’s Adam’s apple bobbed frantically as my words sunk in, sweat trickling down his temple. As I reveled in his terror, a twisted grin spread across my face.

“It’s one of my most effective methods of torture,” I hissed, grabbing him by the throat and hauling him to his feet. “And you’re about to experience it firsthand.” I dragged the sharp comb down his arm, slicing through skin and muscle until bone was exposed. Blood spurted from the wound, painting the floor in a macabre display.

John’s screams were muffled by my hand as I squeezed tighter, relishing in his agony. “Who is your boss?” I demanded, my voice cold and emotionless.

John’s cheeks reddened as he gasped for air. “I’ll tell you!” he pleaded.

“Speak,” I said, tightening my grip.

“They call him the Pied Piper,” John sobbed. “He’s a notorious killer with a legion of followers. He doesn’t want Ella … he wants you. You and he are tied together.”

My pulse raced with both fear and excitement at this revelation. The Pied Piper had been after me all along. And now, I finally had a name to put to the monster who haunted me.

My gaze narrowed on his grotesque eye sockets. “Why have I not heard of him before if he’s so notorious?”

“He stays well-hidden and only reveals himself to people he’s chosen as his followers.”

“He’s a cult leader,” I stated rather than asked.

“Call it whatever makes you fucking happy.”

“When I found Xavier, he was holding Ella in a duplicate of the home that my parents were killed in. Why the obsession with them?”

John smirked. “Are you really that stupid?”

“The blood loss must be clouding your judgment,” I retorted coldly, pressing the iron combs hard against the side of his face.

If he still had eyes, they would have bulged from their sockets at the sight of the metal. “Apologies for my bluntness, but I am not in the mood for games,” I growled, slowly dragging the combs down his cheek just enough to prove my point, eliciting screams from him.

“I’m sorry!” he cried out, trembling under my grasp. “I didn’t mean it!”

But it was too late for apologies. The pain and rage coursing through me consumed any trace of mercy or forgiveness.

“He’s your man. He’s the killer that left you an orphan. But you probably don’t remember all of that, do you?”

“I remember enough,” I snapped.

“But not what happened directly after. Just that your buddy found you huddled in the corner of the kitchen.” He licked his dry lips.

“If you’re asking if I recall stabbing my father, I do vaguely. I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or real.”

“Real. The Pied Piper had several hours with you though. He told me all about it.”

I paused, desperately trying to recall any memories from that night. But there was nothing. No flashes of violence or screams for help. Just a gaping black hole in my memory.

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