Page 96 of Tear Me Down
I can almost feel his lips on my forehead, and the way he presses them lightly in what was once a soft display of affection, but now I can’t help but interpret as a kiss of death. A chilling warmth that entangles with past and present, pulling me back into limbo, but refusing to let me fully cross to the side of reconciliation. More disgusting noises float through the air around us, but his poke through—forcing its way to the front and standing as one last attempt at a barrier between my sanity and the destruction around me.
“I’m coming for you, little wolf…”
Then just like that, the fantasy is gone, and I'm dragged back to the moment when I feel his thrusting intensify, rocking me harshly in place… I want to go back to the lake… but I can’t picture it anymore. The only thing in my sight is the dust and cobweb covered ceiling of this warehouse—shoving me back to reality in a violent push.
I begin to feel drowsy, lightheaded, and sick as Dranan stills, and his warmth fills me, tainting me as one last groan escapes his mouth. I feel the acid climbing up my throat, and both men release me in just enough time for me to fling my head forward. In a show of how much this retched man disgusts me, I’m sure to vomit on him. A disturbing roar flies out of his mouth, and I’m greeted with another slap to the face. Pain explodes through my cheek, and I don’t hide my cries anymore. Sobs escape, and as weak as I feel for allowing that to happen, I can’t stop it. My whole body shakes with each sob, straining each cut and gash and making me cry harder. I make a point to keep my head down, not daring to look at that camera again.
Suddenly, a loud boom screams from outside, compelling me to look up. They fling their heads towards the door at the sound, only to be followed by waves upon waves of gunfire ringing out like applause. Their eyes widen, and the second man actually takes a step back, clearly not expecting that type ofactivity. Dranan’s hands tremble as he tucks himself back inside his now vomit covered pants, and while the sight is utterly disgusting, my sobs turn amused, and I can’t tell if I’m laughing or crying anymore.
“You’re fucking pathetic…” I manage to say through the sobbing laughs, and I lose the strength in my neck again. My heavy head hangs lower, but my amusement doesn’t stop. I can feel him here now, and just like he promised…
He came for me.
More laughter escapes my lips as I hear forceful steps come towards me once again, and a large hand grabs my jaw painfully, pushing my head up. The horrid man I just endured stares at me, and while nothing but hatred and fear glisten in his eyes, all I can imagine is what the love of my life is about to do to him.
“What is so fucking funny?” he screams as his face contorts, turning a shade of red that I can only describe as pained.
“My God of War is here…” I laugh again, either becoming hysterical or finally succumbing to the pain. “I'm curious… Have you thought of your last words yet? Because I guarantee you won’t have the chance to say them…”
Chapter thirty-five
Damien
‘The Offering’ – Sleep Token
My chest heaves painfully, constricting and threatening to fail as I watch the heart wrenching scene play on the screen. My heart thunders against my ribcage and the waves of guilt roll over me fiercely. The moment his hand moved between her legs, I knew what would happen next—an agony I’m not sure she’ll survive a third time. Actual tears prick my eyes, and I can’t conjure up the willpower to look away. If she has to endure this, then I will carry that burden with her—so when the time comes for her to heal, I can sustain it for her entirely.
“Go on, dear. Call out for him,” he taunts, striking my heart with a painful blow.
“No…” she weakly refuses and the loyal defiance in her voice tears me apart.
“I said, call out for him!” his voice cracks through the speaker.
“NO!” She starts to fight back, unwillingly crying out as she fights against him, and now a second man runs behind her. A tortured shriek flies out of her mouth, making the breath leaving my lungs come to a painful halt. Then Hugo grabs her legs and doesn’t waste a moment before defiling her. A single tear spills over my lids, and I stumble backward, feeling the weight of my failure crash down upon me. The enclosed space around me starts to tilt as I focus on her face. Her dissociated gaze weakens me, so much so that Zeke has to catch me before I topple over.
Just go to sleep, baby… Please don’t stay awake for this…
The moment his arms make contact and wrap around my chest, something inside me changes, and I dive into it—choosing to fall into it like dead weight and allow the sensation to take over completely. The cold wave of sorrow morphs into an icy wrath—one that is inescapable. Something malign, sinister, and baleful, an evil that would secure my place on a dark throne. My soul now lays itself in front of her altar as an offering, a sacrifice in exchange for her freedom.
“HOW MUCH FUCKING LONGER?!” I shove Zeke away and scream at Crewe.
“Five minutes! Suit up!” Everyone stands and starts to load our suits. Knives in all five sleeves, extra gun clips, fucking grenades, anything that I could possibly use to tear through whatever defense he has. I can practically taste his blood on my tongue, and I’m so desperate to feel his pulse pound against the palm of my hand that I’m imagining the harsh beat against the tough skin. My call for vengeance won’t be forgotten, and it will be carried out in a way that will etch itself into the deepest fibers of time.
I'm coming for you, motherfucker.
We all stand together by the door, surrounding each other in determination and rage, ready to tear everything down. Though this will be the last battle in my war against Hugo, it certainly won’t be the longest. I may be injured, but I've never felt so strong—so determined to get back what’s mine, and the torture he’ll endure after I have him in my grasp will be all too sweet.
A countdown calls from the front of the truck, and I close my eyes, allowing the darkness to fully take over, encasing me in a hollowness that needs to prevail. My little wolf’s whimpers and sobs play against the concentrated quiet, and it’s all the fuel I need, along with the images that are now burnt into my very essence. The moment this truck comes to a stop, Hell’s gate will open, and my depravity will flood the property with such attrition that Hugo will be a withering mess by the time I reach him.
Pounds of metal hang from my suit, and yet it feels as light as if I were wearing nothing at all. The only thing I feel is the emptiness in my heart and the cool, smooth synthetic casing of the grenade in my hand. My finger is hooked around the pin, and the moment Crewe’s countdown reaches one, I pull it, signaling the beginning of my massacre.
As the back of the van doors open, we’re immediately met with oncoming gunfire. The smell of sulfur and charcoal permeate through the air as it rushes to greet me, but it will be nothing compared to the putrid stench that will haunt this building once I’m through.
The moment my boot hits the concrete, I release the grenade—throwing it outward and hitting the main doors with skilled precision. A symphony of screams rings out, but it’s not enough to feed the monster inside me. I immediately draw my military-grade machine gun and aim true, tapping the trigger ever so lightly and firing out in short bursts, making my first few kills in rapid succession. My father and Zeke are sure to take out the men on the roof before engaging the men on the ground, knowing we don’t need any surprises to hold us up.
She’s here. I can feel her as if we were in the same room. Our ethereal connection calls to me like a compulsion, and her warm, vanilla aura creates a trail that only I am meant to follow. One that I won’t lose track of. I’m desperate to feel her again, to see those amber eyes and watch as the light returns to her face the moment we meet each other’s gazes.
More men pour out of the now blown front doors, aiming and ready to fight back, but my feet continue with resolute strides. There’s no amount of men or artillery that can keep me from getting inside of that building, and their harsh assault shows that they know what’s to come. We quickly mow them down, practically ignoring the incoming fight as we push forward. I’m jolted by a small pain in my left side but remain unfazed as another threat reveals itself.
