Page 41 of Sinister Legacy
“Not so fast, Keira. I want to play a game.”
“What game?” I ask cautiously, stepping back.
He follows until my spine meets the lockers again. With nowhere to run, I let my eyes fall closed. A loud crash to my left startles me, and I press my hands over my ears as he strikes locker after locker until all I can hear are my own hoarse screams.
“Now,” he says with that distorted voice that shrivels my heart. “I want to play a game.”
“Then fucking play,” I bite out, shoving his bat away from my neck when he uses it to tap my chin.
“I want you to answer my question.”
“What question?”
“The one on the door.” Dragging the baseball bat down my chest, he pauses at the apex of my thighs. “Guess who’s next, Keira. If you get it right, I’ll spare them.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Despite the mask, I’m not all devil.”
I look away, but he slides the bat between my legs.
“Do not ignore me.”
His red mask grins at me as the bat slides back out, only to return, dragging over my most sensitive flesh.
“You want me to guess?”
“Yes.”
“And what if I refuse?”
“You remember the details of your father’s third kill, don’t you, Keira? How he gutted his victim with a machete before removing the heart?” Leaning in close, he adds, “Ripping it out with his bare hands.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I did. If you don’t play my game, I’ll gut them like a pig.”
“You’ll kill them anyway.”
“Not true. Guess it right, and I’ll spare their life.”
“And deviate from the script?” I spit out. “I don’t think so.”
Removing the bat from between my legs, he brings it to his nose and breathes in my scent through the mask.
I refuse to cower anymore. There’s no escape from the monster in front of me.
“If you don’t guess, I’ll kill them tonight. Do you want their death on your conscience? To lie awake in your bed tonight, wondering how many hours I spend torturing my next victim, all because you refused to give me a measly guess?”
My mind is racing a million miles a minute as I struggle to come up with an answer. “It could be literally anyone. How could I possibly guess?”
“That’s why it’s a game of chance, and those are my favorite games.” He points the bat at me again, the wood brushing my chin. “Now guess.”
“Cassie.” At least if I guess her name, I give her a chance of survival.
“Beep. Wrong. You should know better, Keira. Cassie is one of the main players. Consider her your bishop. First, I need to take out the pawns, then the bishops, knights, and rooks. Have you never played chess, Keira?”
I don’t answer.
