Page 194 of Boys Who Taint

“Aspen!” I yell, jerking free from Apollo’s grip to chase her.

But that motherfucker actually blocks my path. “I will end you if you don’t get out of my fucking way.”

“Try. I’ve been waiting for the chance to gut you myself,” Levi replies, tucking his hand into his pocket where I’m sure he’s hiding a knife too.

“Don’t you two dare,” Apollo interjects, as he swiftly puts on sweatpants and approaches. “This is my room. Read that sign?” He points at a small placard on the door. “No fighting. No stabbing. No murder. This is my sanctuary.”

“Fuck that shit,” Levi growls. “We should’ve killed him when we had the chance.”

“He’s still a Phantom, Levi. Whether you like him or not, you can’t hurt him.”

“You heard him,” I hiss. “Now move.”

He glares at me for a moment before finally stepping aside, and I bolt past him, shoving him out of the way. I have much more important things to deal with first before I put him under the ground.

I put on my jacket and rush down the stairs, following Aspen outside. “Please, wait.”

“No,” she rebukes.

“Please, let me explain.”

“Stop following me,” she says.

“I can’t,” I say, finally catching up to grab her hand. “You’re my girlfriend, my world.”

She jerks loose. “Is it true?” she mutters. “Did you tape me?”

The cat’s out of the bag now, thanks to Levi. There’s no other way to regain her trust than by being transparent.

I nod.

God, how I wish this day had never come.

Her face scrunches up in anger. “Show me. Now.”

Aspen

Grey gulpsand walks down the steps to his car and opens the door, looking at me like he wants to drive me somewhere.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“You don’t have to. We’re not driving. Everything is in here.”

He sits down on the front seat and opens up a hidden compartment that fits a small laptop and a hard disk to store all the material.

I can’t believe he kept all this in his car.

How did I never notice?

I step closer and finally decide to sit down on the passenger’s seat. The danger is real, but the need to know is stronger than my need to stay safe.

He hands me the laptop like it’s a smoking gun.

“Password is Aspen,” he says, sighing.

It’s like he’s given up completely.

I type in the word, and sure enough, the laptop opens up. Dozens upon dozens of files all labeled by date. I open one of the folders and inspect the videos inside. I sift through the files without care, blipping through each raw video footage of me.

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