Jaded (Jaded 1)

They were all locked. The alarm system ensured it and it only allowed the front door to be opened. It was pretty marvelous and I thanked Bryce for installing it properly.

Marcus cursed, not for the second time, and I heard Logan's weeping in the background. We both heard her call 911 and I waited for Marcus to decide his next move. He would either risk it and run through the rabbit-hole or he would stay for the cops.

And then I heard the front door slam shut, lock, and a second beep sounded throughout the house.

Bryce shut the door and we were all locked, ready and waiting for the next move to be had.

I heard his voice, high above, and omnipresent, "Hey, Marcus…"

Marcus froze, but said nothing.

Bryce laughed and commented, "Do you want to know what it's like to be hunted?"

Still nothing from Marcus.

Logan wept in the background. I could imagine that she cradled Corrigan in her arms as her knees became covered in his blood.

My eyes went a little more lethal in that moment, as I thought of that sight.

It was symbolic, in a way. Corrigan bled because of me. Bryce hunted because of me. In the end, I was the one who stood beside the murderer.

Bryce called out, "I can see you, Marcus."

I knew that he could see me too. The videos were still being used and I looked up to where I remembered one was poised.

Marcus shivered in front of me and gripped his knife tighter.

It wouldn't do any help.

I had the gun. I wasn't stupid. I knew that he could knock it out of my hands. He could probably overpower me and wrestle it free, but he didn't have the clear head. His heart pounded wildly and he was barely holding onto any calmness.

His breathing was ragged while mine was anything but.

I knew that Bryce saw it all.

"You're being hunted right now, Marcus," Bryce continued. Cold. "I'm watching you and I know where you are."

"Stop this!" Logan screamed. There was a thump and then her footsteps were heard on the stairs.

The sudden movement unhinged us both and as Marcus whirled to the stairs, so did I—but he saw me instead of the empty hallway.

I froze.

He froze.

Then he smiled while I leapt into action.

Marcus lunged for me, but I spun out of his grip. I dropped to the floor, remembered a wrestling move from Bryce, and I kicked desperately up—trying for any weakness he might have.

My foot connected to his groin, but his hand connected to my jaw.

We both spun from the hit and saw stars from the pain.

I still held the gun while the knife was gripped in his hold.

"You bitch!"

I blinked back the pain and rolled to my feet. I backed up and raised the gun.

Marcus saw it now and he stopped abruptly. From the look in his eye, I don't think he even cared. He saw his point of obsession in front of him and he smiled in triumph. He wasn't thinking right and that was a point on my side.

I lowered the gun to my side and I asked, "So what is this? Between you and me? Is this because you got bullied all your life?"

We heard the sirens in the distance. They were coming…

"Wouldn't you like it to be as simple as that." He smiled.

"Is this because I'm popular and you're not?"

"As if," he mocked with a twisted grin.

"You better start talking, Marcus," I said and stepped back. "I've got the gun while you've got the knife."

"I'm a man," he countered.

I smiled, a taunt, and moved another step back. I held the gun tight, but still kept it at my side. "Were you expecting me to quiver in my shoes? Maybe pee my pants? Is that what you wanted?" I heard Logan scream again and smiled. "Maybe you wanted me to scream like her. Is that it?"

"God, yes," he breathed out and I knew his libido sparked at that image.

I murmured, "I only scream for Bryce. You should know that—you've watched enough."

His smile was wiped clean.

Give me a reason, I prayed.

"I'll tell you something," I murmured. "You're right. I'm not like other girls."

He was giddy in front of me. He was insane.

"I don't give a shit about proper etiquette, about being nice, or about people liking me."

"That's why you're the one," he murmured.

His insanity knew no boundaries.

"Is it?"

"You reign supreme over everyone. You hold power over everyone."

Are you kidding me? "Do I?" I asked.

"You do." He smiled brilliantly at me.

"You're wrong," I replied. "I'm at the top because I settle for nothing less—and you—you settled for where you ended at. You're a loser, a social deficit. You're the one who chose that place. You chose your life—not your godforsaken bullies. They're just doing their jobs. They're being bullies because it's what they were taught. But you—you chose this. You. Chose. It!"

"She whimpered," he whispered and smiled.

"So will you," I returned.

"She was so tight when I went inside of her."

I smiled. "I can shoot you up the ass if you'd like."

He stopped—he just…stopped.

"You've got nothing that'll unhinge me." I shook my head and made a tsk-tsk sound. Shame on him. "That's a lesson learned the hard way, isn't it? I don't scare and when I do—you get this instead."

Logan screamed in that moment.

Marcus raised his knife and prepared to lunge…

There's my reason…

My finger pulled the trigger.

His body slammed to the ground.

Logan's scream cut off.

And I stood there, silent, with the gun in hand.

He'd given me the reason that I prayed for.

Logan stood behind me, near the base of the stairs, and I turned to see her hand clasped to her silent mouth. Her eyes were wide and panicked. She looked like she was about to faint.

I wiped the gun and let it drop beside Marcus' body.

"You just…," she chortled. She didn't make sense in her shocked state.

"That's what I do," I murmured and glanced back to his soulless eyes. "It's why he picked me."

"But…"

"The paramedics are coming."

They did, but they were accompanied by the police.

I left Logan standing in the hallway and went upstairs.

Bryce had lifted Corrigan to the couch where he was applying pressure to the stab wound. The blood covered his body now and I stopped in the doorway, grateful for what I'd done.

"Hey…," Bryce greeted, hoarse and exhausted.