Bait

I don’t even want to imagine what he’s doing. The guy’s fucking insane.

It’s so easy for my mind to play tricks on me out here. I’m prickled by nothing but the air, jumping as though Mariana’s ghost is out here with me, as though she’s calling me to join her.

I don’t want to join her.

It’s when the noises stop that I know I’m in trouble.

My breath quickens. The silence loud as I strain to hear him.

This game should be familiar but it’s not.

It’s anything but.

I back into the high fencing and stare at the warehouse. It’s big. Much bigger than I pictured.

I can only imagine the pyre it made when it was burning.

When Jake’s voice comes it chills me to the bone.

“Oh, Abigail… where are you Abigail? You love this game, right? Give me a clue so this can get exciting.”

I’d love to set fire to him my fucking self.

“I’ll make it feel good if you let it happen…”

I’ll never let it happen. He’d have to kill me first.

The most terrifying thing about the thought is that he might.

Leo, please. Where are you?

I scrap that train of thought as soon as it arises, and I guess it must be those silent tears getting the better of me.

I don’t want him to come here.

I don’t want him to walk into the path of this psychopath and his truck full of flammables.

The police is what I need.

A team of those elite snipers they use for overseas assassinations.

They could take him out from the fence before he even knew they were there.

I know I’m going insane when I laugh to myself.

I take a breath and force myself to get with the plot. I stare ahead at the warehouse and figure my best shot is the least expected one.

Straight through the building and out the other side.

I could be at his truck before he knows it. Maybe I’d head off Leo on the main road and send the fleet of police cars on up for Jake.

My plan is ridiculous and I know it, but it’s my best shot.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for this. I summon my breath as I prepare.

And then I see him. Oh fuck, I see him.

He looks fucking petrifying in the darkness.

My heart is pounding so loud I swear he’ll hear it if he comes any closer.

Which makes my decision for me.

Three, two, one and I run. Fast. Straight for the burnt-out building and whatever fucked up shit I find inside.

I have barely a headstart before he sees me, but I manage to make it inside before he slams into the back of me.

I’m screaming as he hoists me, lashing out with everything I’ve got as he holds me tight.

“Did you fight him like this?” he snarls. “I bet you fucking didn’t. This is what you wanted, remember? This is the shit that gets you off.”

My eyes are like saucers as he walks me on through an arch to a room beyond. The drums are stacked up everywhere. Liquid all over the floor.

Diesel.

No.

I realise how wet he is against my back. How much he stinks. Even worse than before.

“Neither one of us should’ve made it out of this fucking place,” Jake snarls. “If I’m gonna go and fucking join her, I’m taking him with me.”

“You’re insane!” I hiss and he laughs.

“And you’re the fucking bait, sweetheart. You know what my last request is?”

I don’t answer.

“Call it a last meal.”

But I don’t want to.

I don’t want any of it as he slams me down over one the barrels.

I’m crying as he hitches up my skirt. Sobbing with the bitter fucking irony as he tears my knickers off me.

“This is gonna fucking hurt,” he says.PhoenixI hope Serena hasn’t called the police.

The signs are good as I speed up the lane with my headlights off, both for there being no sirens and no flames either.

Last time this place caught alight it lit up the whole sky.

It means I’ve still got time.

My tyres screech against broken tarmac as I brake hard next to Jake’s truck.

I can smell the kerosene as soon as I step out.

Crazy sonofabitch.

I keep quiet as I take the same fateful fucking steps I took that night. My heart thumping just as it was back then.

The loading bay is empty, just as I expected. I step over the wreckage carefully. Quietly.

But he already knows I’m coming.

“So nice of you to fucking join us,” he shouts, and it’s game over.

“Let Abigail go now,” I bark. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Oh how I fucking hate him as I approach the storeroom doorway.

My black swan is bound and trussed over a fucking barrel, her bare ass up in the air as my insane fucking cunt of a brother looks on.

“Don’t worry,” he laughs. “I didn’t fucking touch her. Just let her think I fucking would.” He waggles a finger in her face and she winces. “This will teach you to play with fucking monsters, won’t it? I hope you’ve learned your fucking lesson.”