I could hear the crunch of crisp grass under my feet, and then another scream echoed in the night. Reaching into my purse, I fumbled inside and let out a way too audible breath of relief when I felt the cold steel.
Another scream, louder, more desperate. Pain…this was pain.
“Enough!” It was a loud boom of a familiar male voice.
I recited the poem over and over in my head, the way I used to when I heard my parents fighting, and yet I knew that what I was about to see was far worse than what I used to hear. I took another step forward, and a motion light came on, alerting my presence to those inside. Sweat from the humidity, along with adrenaline from fear, had me dripping, my now soaked blouse clinging to my torso.
Terror raced through my every pore as I gripped my gun and took aim in front of me.
A dark figure appeared out of the door, but I instantly knew who it was. He came toward me in a black blur, yelling my name as I squeezed the trigger with a scream of my own.
§§
Devin went down, gripping his shoulder with a string of curses as I pointed the gun at him.
“What did you do, Devin?!” My voice was unrecognizable even to me; it was laced with fear and confusion.
“Nina, fuck, don’t shoot me again.” He tried to stand, but slumped down again next to the shed door with a wince, still gripping his shoulder.
“What the fuck did you do, Devin!” I roared as I moved closer, refusing to believe that my weapon would keep me safe. I was shaking, and my gun looked like it was on vibrate. I pointed right at him as I approached the door with no choice but to either shoot him or go around him to get to whomever he’d hurt.
“Is she dead?”
“Nina, listen to me. Really listen, okay? Don’t open that fucking door.” Devin stood slowly on shaky legs, holding his shoulder as I pointed the gun at his head.
“Step back!”
He took a step back, his eyes pleading as he begged. “Baby, please listen to me. Don’t open that door!” The gentleness in his voice betrayed me, jogging my memory as tears fell at random, ignoring my need to be strong and in control.
“What did you do to her?” It was a hoarse whisper.
“Nina, I’m begging you. Don’t go in there.” He took a step forward, and my hand stiffened at my head’s command.
“Step back, Devin!”
He took another step and stayed silent, accepting that I wouldn’t leave until I was satisfied.
I opened the door.
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
— Keyser Söze, The Usual Suspects
§§
The first thing I noticed was the blood splatter on the single light bulb that lit the small shed. I took in the sight in front of me as Devin slipped inside the shed, his hand up in defense.
It wouldn’t have mattered. He could have taken me down easily because my eyes were fixed on the man in front of me wearing a red hood, and a coat of armor tattoo smeared in blood. A girl was violently shaking in front of him in a chair, her back to me as he pricked her arm with a needle, pushing whatever poison he’d meant to inside of her.
“Ahhh, Nina. You’ve caught me at a bad time.” His eyes were fire underneath his red hood. Soaking in his blood-spattered chest, I took a shaky step forward again, lifting my gun.
“Aiden…what the fuck are you doing?”
“What I’ve always done, Nina.” He leaned in to whisper in the girl’s ear, and she nodded.
He picked up a knife, and I tilted my head as if to challenge him. He opened his fingers in surrender and released her bound wrists then handed her a towel. I saw her cover her face with it as she stood slowly. I cringed and gasped at the gaping skin on her back and the oozing blood. She leaned in, and Aiden whispered again, wrapping her in a thick, pink robe, which quickly became soaked with blood.
“Get the fuck away from her,” I croaked, too weak to move, knowing I couldn’t carry out my threat if I had too. Devin slumped against the side of the building, clutching his shoulder and staring at me.