Page 57 of Karma
“He would’ve just used me as a human shield, but I’ll accept that explanation. But no, the tire iron I found broke my nose when we ran over railroad track at the speed of lightning, it seems. Seriously, it felt like he thought we were in aFast and Furiousmovie.”
Ky smirks and holds back a chuckle. “Really? Where’d the tire iron come from?”
“I don’t think he knew it was back there, but it popped out of a compartment and hit me in the face after I bonked my head on the lid. At least I had a weapon. Was too stupid to grab the gun he had from the ground, though.”
“It wasn’t loaded,” Venom says. “I picked it up before we came here, and there weren’t any bullets.”
“Asshole knew I would’ve tried to get it,” she says. “As much as I hate him, he’s not stupid.”
She recounts the rest of what happened with Undertaker adding details she either overlooked or forgot. Knowing the gun wasn’t loaded makes her feel a little less stupid for overlooking something simple.
“And the whole aroused thing?” Colt asks through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, that was really gross. Apparently, beating women half to death gets him hot, blood relation or not,” Lex says and shudders.
“He said he never fucked any of his other victims because they were dirty,” Undertaker says. “He’d take breaks to get himself off when it became too much, but sister or not, Lex was changing his plans. That’s when I got close enough to jump his ass.”
Jaw clenched, Colt stares at the wall next to VP. “He doesn’t die until I get a moment with him.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Following his plan, with a few little additions of my own, he’ll be alive for weeks. Assuming his research is accurate,” Venom says. “You’ll have plenty of time.”
Lex’s eyes widen, and her jaw drops. “He was planning to torture me for weeks?”
Clamming up, Venom just looks above her head and shrugs.
“No, tell me.”
“He had it planned out for around a month. His prior victims were lab rats to him,” Venom says. “He kept detailed records of everything he did with notes on adjustments to make. For you.”
“Nina lasted over two weeks,” Undertaker says, his eyes on the ground. “He poured acid into her open body. She lost her voice screaming in pain, and he gave her meds to keep her conscious.”
Her stomach churns as the reality of what she truly escaped hits, and she reaches for the container Dr. West left in case she got nauseous from the medication.
“Baby?” Colt asks as Lex throws up yellow bile, and she groans in pain as she does.
“Doc!” Ky shouts, his head sticking out into the hallway.
Dr. West comes running, and he helps guide Lex back. Handing the plastic container to a nurse, he checks her vitals. “The medications can really hit hard on an empty stomach. Let’s try getting something into your system.”
It’s not the meds, Doc, but sure. Maybe a cracker will help rip the images of being chained up and tortured with acid pouring into my body cavity from my head.
A nurse hands her a small packet of crackers, and Lex nibbles on it. If nothing else, it’ll get rid of the nasty taste from her mouth.
“I’m okay. Thanks,” she says.
“You should get some rest, Alexis. Your body has a lot of healing to do. If you can do your part, we’ll do ours by getting you out of here as soon as possible.”
After he leaves, Colt runs his hand over her hair. “I wish there was something I could say to make this easier, baby.”
“You know what’s really sick? I still feel kind of sorry for him,” she admits. “He’s clearly sick in the head, but at the same time, he was just abandoned and didn’t really understand why. Seeking answers is why he possibly killed his first victim.”
“You should get some rest,” Colt says, cutting off whatever her father opened his mouth to say. “I’m going to try to talk Lucas into going home to at least shower and change. He’s refused to leave your side.”
Taking his hand, she squeezes his hand. “You go home, too. I’ll be fine. I’m going to pass out soon.”
“I don’t want—”
“I’ll stay,” Venom says. “I owe you for not answering when she called. I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
