Page 119 of Twisted Heathens
I drop my keys on the counter, shrugging off my leather jacket. Cold air chills my bare legs and crotch beneath my shitty uniform. I couldn’t wear those panties home, not after letting Grant fuck me once we closed up the diner.
“Late shift, customers,” I lie, shrugging. “Needed the overtime.”
“That’s fucking bullshit! You’re lying to me again.”
Vic wrings his hands, face bright with fury. He grabs my arm and shoves me into the wall, ignoring my squeak of shock. “Stop fucking lying through your teeth!”
He shouts and raves, yelling in my face like he thinks I’m listening. He’s drastically changed in recent months, growing angry and violent the more I push him away. The truth is no longer a hidden secret between us. Every day I fuck and shoot up, and every day he suffocates me with his demands that I stop slowly killing myself. I’m used to the regular screaming matches now.
All I can do is stare blankly at him when he’s like this, because the voices in my head are far louder. Growing stronger with each second, outweighing his pathetic moaning.
Kill him, Brooklyn.
He’s worthless. Kill him. You know you want to.
I clutch my head and squeeze my eyes shut, but Vic grabs my wrists and wrenches them away, yelling right in my face. I see red, overwhelmed by the pressure in my mind. My fist connects with his jaw and as he reels back, eyes blown wide with fury.
“Don’t touch me,” I yell.
“What has gotten into you? I don’t even recognise you anymore.”
It would be so easy to slip a knife into his gut and feel the hot, satisfying blood pour. So damn easy. I bite my lip, refusing to answer his question. Acid in my throat steals my voice as the shadows creep up the walls, infecting my sight. They twist and weave through the air to reach me, bigger than I’ve ever seen. Like towering angels of death determined to claim what remains of my black soul.
“No! Stop it! Go away!” I scream, attempting to flee the visions.
“Don’t run away from me, Brooklyn!” Vic yells, mistaking my reaction.
He storms after me and grabs me by the hair, slamming my body into the kitchen table. My eyes burn from the pain across my scalp as he tightens his grip on my throat.
“Who is it, hmmm? Who are you screwing?”
His furious eyes sear my skin and dissolve any remaining control. I can’t keep this act up any longer, playing at domestic bliss when realistically, everything is twisted and poisonous between us. This isn’t living. I give up the pretence, letting my hatred flow.
“Anyone. I’ll fuck anyone as long as they aren’t you!”
The brief sense of victory is snuffed out by the cruel blow he delivers to my face, stars bursting behind my eyes as blood bursts from my nose.
“I knew it! You’re a psycho bitch, you know that? All these months I’ve watched you drink and drug yourself into oblivion.” Vic shakes his head, a despicable sneer twisting his lips. “I should have just let you die. You clearly want to. Go join your trailer trash parents.”
“So why don’t you let me die then? Walk away,” I lash out.
“Because I love you! All I ever wanted was to share my life with you, but it’s like the girl I loved has been fucking body-snatched by the devil. She’s still in there though, I know it.”
“She doesn’t fucking exist!” I screech, slapping him hard.
Big mistake. You don’t poke the beast and get away with it.
Vic blinks, pitiful mask slipping to reveal the hidden demon inside. A disturbed mind disguised by a pretty face and charming words. I’m not the only one making this relationship toxic. He hits me again, this time smashing my face into the table. I’m bent over and utterly exposed, my naked legs trembling from the sudden wave of fear.
“Don’t you love me anymore? You’d rather fuck someone else?”
I scream and fight back uselessly.
“Get the hell off me. I don’t love you!”
“Too bad! You don’t get to say that.” He spreads my legs with his knee, sickness swirling in my gut. I continue to struggle against his weight, attempting to break free but he’s so much bigger than me, strengthened by his rage. I’m his prey, trapped and vulnerable.
“Please don’t,” I beg, giving into my terror.
