Page 42 of Heart Sick

I’m thankful I know the layout of the place somewhat, but with the tunnels branching off into different directions, I have to hurry because I don’t want to lose Noah. I go with my gut because after the scratch marks I saw carved into the walls, I dare say that’s where Noah is headed.

I’ve lost sight of him, so I continue walking in hopes I’m right.

I venture down the tunnel Luna and I bypassed last night. I run my fingers along the walls as I walk down it. The scratch marks continue and get deeper the farther I go. I get the sense that whatever goes on down here is done in secret, and when I hear a muffled cry, I don’t know if I should be thanking or cursing my gut instinct.

I persevere, not sure what I’m about to walk into. I prepare myself for anything. His heart begins to beat faster—it too can sense something awful on the horizon.

I focus on the sounds, just how I always do, but instead of music, I hear cries, followed by someone being slapped. Over and over again.

I forget secrecy and run toward the sound but as I get closer, I realize I prepared myself for anything…but this.

I was right.

Noah is down here, but what he’s doing is beyond horrifying.

The woman with the cat finger puppet is down here, on her hands and knees. I know it’s her because that’s the first thing I see; that fucking cat on her finger as her hands are splayed out in front of her as one of the orderlies is fucking her from behind.

There are three of them, including Noah, who holds a video camera, filming the entire thing.

“Meow for the camera,” he mocks, getting low and shoving the lens into the woman’s face.

The men laugh while she does as Noah says.

This is fucking sick.

I don’t have a weapon. I’m outnumbered. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting this happen. His heart suddenly animates me with the strength of a superhero and I reach for the belt on the floor and whip the orderly who is egging his friend on to ‘fuck her harder,’ on the back of the neck.

He drops to the ground, his screams echoing through the tunnel as the gold buckle tore away a piece of flesh at the side of his throat.

The animal pauses mid-thrust, which is all I need to shove him on the front of the shoulder and when he recoils backward, I draw the belt down onto his cock. He slumps backward, gasping for air because I’m pretty sure he won’t be defiling anyone ever again.

Noah drops the camera, it shatters with a thud as he dives for me. But I’m faster as I strike out and punch him in the mouth.

His nose is still taped after Luna nearly bit it off, so when I punch that next, I know he’s going to go down.

He drops like a sack of shit, and I pin him down with one arm pressed to his shoulder, while with the other, I begin beating his face into a bloody pulp, but this time, I won’t stop until he ceases breathing.

Cat woman is howling, a sound of fear and excitement. I then wonder if she was a willing participant. I hope not. A rage so fierce overwhelms me and I’m fueled by nothing but this need to kill.

His heart trounces in excitement, egging me on to hit him harder, to make him pay for the vile things he’s done.

Blood somersaults into the air, backflipping and tumbling with grace as I deliver each punishing blow. A gargle spills from Noah and although I can barely make out what he said, his promise turns my stomach.

“She’s going to pay for this.”

I know he’s talking about Luna which means there is only one thing I can do—reaching overhead for a fallen brick on the ground. I raise it above my head, ready to silence him for good, but sadly, I’m tackled to the ground.

“Drop it!” I don’t recognize the voice, but from the strength of him, I dare say these assholes have called for backup.

I try and fight, but now I know I really am outnumbered when I hear the fucker on top of me bark orders into a walkie-talkie. “I need men and restraints. Now!”

“You bastard!” I scream, trying to buck him off me. “You’re defending these rapist assholes!”

“No one is raping anyone,” he replies, which throws me for a loop. He pries the brick from my hand, tossing it aside.

“Are you fucking blind? I’m pretty sure the girl down here would object to your claims. Tell him, kitten.” I lift my chin from the floor, but when I see she’s not here, I do a double take.

“What girl?” he asks, his words coming out in breathless pants as he tries to keep me subdued.

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