Page 93 of Cruel Malady: A Necrosis of the Mind

He nods slightly, weighing some thought, before he looks down at me. “What would you do with more time, Dr. Chambers?”

I hold his measuring gaze, knowing this is a trick question, but I have to answer regardless.

“I’d protect the woman I love,” I say honestly.

“That’s vague.”

I shake my head against the bedding, becoming increasingly more agitated by the restraints limiting my mobility. “I’d frame Brewster for the murders.”

Since the second he revealed Brewster as a dangerous variable, the plan was already formulating. Brewster has a connection to Ericson. It wouldn’t be difficult to find other connections between this man and Blakely’s other revenge targets—or to create them.

Knowing his reputation, Brewster is likely already being monitored by a government entity, and time is already working against him. The right people just need concrete evidence.

I can offer them that.

Blakely would be safe, and Grayson would then have no reason to eliminate either of us. He’d no longer be connected to any of the murders.

“Two birds, one stone,” I say, a cliché oversimplification of my plan.

He seems to appreciate this as his eyebrow arches in approval. He picks up the scalpel and sets it aside on the metal table. “So we’re very clear, this offer of time isn’t for you. I like games. Makes things more interesting.”

My gaze lowers to the puzzle pieces inking his skin. “Then I’m curious what design you would implement to take care of the problem.”

He glances at his tattoos, then looks me in the eyes, a smirk on his face. “Only I know the design of my puzzles. That’s why I’m still here and free, despite what you may hear on the news. You’re using a pattern.Herpattern. Do you think she won’t figure it out? And if she does, others can too.”

As he grabs the electrode rods, a sense of dread spears my chest. “Wait… What the hell? I thought we’d come to an agreement.”

“I’m giving you seven days to implement your plan. When time runs out, I’ll find you.” He taps the rods together. “Ready for round two?”

“I already agreed to your fucking terms—”

“Oh, this isn’t for me,” he says. “It’s for your girl. I feel she’s entitled to a little of your torture.”

I laugh, I can’t help it. He’s absolutely fucking right. If he cooks my brain, it wouldn’t come close to atoning for what I’ve done to her. Yet, even if I can confess such a thing, doesn’t change the fact I’d do it all over again just for a chance to make her love me.

“Mouthguard,” I say.

Grayson smirks down at me. “You’re earning another measure of my respect, Chambers.”

As electricity courses my body, I watch the dim light of the floor lamp flicker along the ceiling as juice is sucked away. I count the seconds. I count until the induced seizures misshape the form of numbers in my mind’s eye.

I lose consciousness.

When the torment’s over, I pry my eyes open. My eyelids feel weighted down. Like coming up quickly from the depths of the ocean, my body attempts to equilibrate. Nausea grips my stomach with acute urgency to vomit.

I turn my head and lean over the gurney. A bucket has been placed below.

Too drowsy and discombobulated to think of freeing myself completely, I flop back onto the bed and wait until I’m able to string a coherent sentence together without slurring my speech.

At the sound of his footfalls, I say, “I’m a little insulted you didn’t create one of your elaborate traps for me.”

Grayson swipes the scalpel from the table. “Not everyone can be special.”

I blink slowly. My body is a languid puddle of soggy bones. I guess I should consider him gracious since he didn’t crank the voltage higher than two hundred. I’ll be sore, my muscles bruised, my brain sluggish, but I’ll recover in less than twenty-four hours.

“Just remember the time, Chambers. I made it easy for you to keep track of.” He uses the scalpel to cut the leather cuff away from my ankle. Then he slices through my pant leg.

For the first time, as I try to move my leg, I notice the tender soreness of my calf. Grayson lays the scalpel in my open palm. My fingers curl around the cool steel.

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