Page 28 of Cole

Maddy wouldn’t either.

The man sighed. “I’ll tell you what. Because I don’t want you to think I have no empathy, I’ll let you see your boy.”

Abel stared at him uncertainly.

“You don’t trust me?” He chuckled. “I wouldn’t either, after…” He gestured toward the other cage and smiled. “But as a show of good faith, I’ll leave your little sis here with you while I go get him.”

Abel glanced at Savannah.

“Be right back.” The man exited the room, dragging the door closed behind him and locking it from the other side.

“Do you really think he’s gonna let us see Maddy?” Savannah whispered.

“I don’t know.” Abel hurriedly surveyed the large room, most of which remained in shadows. “Savannah, I need you to try to find something to break me out of here. A metal bar, something. If I can get free, maybe… maybe I can get a jump on him when he comes back.”

Savannah hesitated. “He’s big… a lot bigger than you.”

“That’s why I need to surprise him. Go! Look!”

Savannah scrambled to her feet.

“Take the flashlight, there on the floor. It’s weak, but it might help.”

Savannah recoiled when she neared the other cage, quickly snatching up the flashlight. She moved quickly around the room. “I-I can’t find anything,” she sobbed. “There’s nothing.” Savannah rushed back to Abel when the metal door unlatched and huddled close to the cage. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Abel murmured. “It’s not your fault.”

The door screeched open, and the man entered with Maddy, a cloth bag over his head.

“Maddy!” Savannah cried out and started to run to him when the man warned her off.

“I said you could see him. That’s all. No touching.”

When the kid heard Savannah, he struggled against the man’s grip and emitted muffled cries from beneath the cloth bag.

“Maddy…” Savannah whimpered. “Please don’t hurt him… please…”

“You see…” The man sighed and shook his head. “There’s the rub, darling. I offered your friends a fair deal, but they are planning to fuck me. My boy should know better, but apparently he needs to be reminded who I am.”

His boy? Abel went rigid with fear. “What do you mean?”

The madman’s countenance twisted in an evil grin as he pulled out a large blade.

“No…” Horror flooded Abel.

“No!” Savannah cried.

“This time…” The man dragged the tip of the blade along Maddy’s ribs, and the boy flinched, breathing harder as panic gripped him. He shook his head and emitted muffled cries and protests. “… I believe my boy will learn his lesson, once and for all.”

“Don’t—”

The man turned Maddy, and stabbed him in the stomach, wrenching the blade up through his soft flesh as the boy gagged and fell against the knife.

“NO!!”Abel staggered back in horror.

“Maddy!!”Savannah wilted onto the floor, screaming and crying.“MADDEEE!!”

The madman smiled small, and wrenched the knife free, letting the body drop to the floor with a heavy thud. He gripped the bloody weapon and approached Savannah.

“No!” Abel lurched forward, slamming against the cage. “Don’t touch her!Don’t fucking touch her!”

The man just smiled dully and grabbed Savannah’s arm. The girl screamed in maniacal horror and fought him frantically as Maddy’s blood smeared her skin.

“Let her go!”Abel bashed violently at the bars.“Don’t fucking touch her, you fuck!!”

Dragging the shrieking girl toward the door, the psychopath pointed at the boy’s body, bleeding out on the floor. “I’ll be back for him. Maybe I’ll wrap him up in a pretty bow andmailhim to my boy.” He chuckled and exited the room, closing the heavy metal door, muffling Savannah’s screams.

Abel clutched the bars and stared at Maddy’s body. The crack in his mind webbed outward, eroding his sanity.

We’re not going home…

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