“Something spooked her here at work. The nurses had been talking about Barclay and the Vigilante, and when we were with a patient she had a real ‘oh shit’ moment.”She’s worked it out and left me.Those thoughts are put to a sudden stop when he continues. “Before I could question her, her car was hit in the parking lot and the guy wanted her to check the damage and exchange insurance details. I tried to go with her, but she said she was fine and would be right back. That was just over four hours ago and she hasn’t come back. Her car is also missing from the lot and none of us can get hold of her.”
“What have the police said?” If she’s in her car, I can find her.
“We haven’t called the police, Bennett. You and I both know they wouldn’t do anything yet.”
“And you and I both know something is wrong, she wouldn’t just disappear like that, especially without telling a soul.”
“What we know and what we can prove at this point are two very different things. I’ve had security go through the camera feeds, but we can’t see anything in the area she parks.”Goddamn it, Peyton. Stay visible at all times.“We tried getting hold of her friend Harry, he’s her emergency contact, but it’s just gone to voicemail. We would have called you but we don’t have your details on the system yet.”
“I need to go, Derek. I’ve got to find her.”
“Call us when you hear from her, or find her. We’re all worried here.”
“Will do,” I say just before I hang up and pull up the app for my tracking devices and click on the one for Peyton’s vehicle. The one Iplaced that first night, the one that’s telling me she’s in the middle of fucking nowhere.
What’s happened, sweetheart?
Peyton
He’s insane. Completely and utterly insane.
I’ve been doing Bennett an injustice every time I’ve called him it, never again. I’ll never insult him that way. Because the man in front of me, the man muttering under his breath, the man who has me tied from the rafters of what seems to be a large shed — he is the definition of insane.
I’m not sure what my best approach is here. Do I get him talking? Do I stay silent? I can’t get away, the knots are too tight, I can’t move my wrists even a fraction. There’s no way I’m getting free without help. I don’t know where we are or how far he travelled with me in the car. We were already here when I woke from the drugs he gave me, but I don’t know how long I was out for, it could have been thirty minutes or three hours.
“You’ll wish it had been him when I’m through with you.” His mutterings are now loud enough for me to just make out what he’s saying.
“Who?” His gaze flies to my own and his eyes narrow on me.
“Oh, you would have much preferred him.” A low menacing chuckle leaves him. “He’s practically a saint compared to me.”
“Who?” I repeat. I need to keep him talking. Bennett is coming, I know without a doubt that he is searching for me, even before I realized who he was, I know he would have come. I just need to givehim enough time to find me before this crazy ass does whatever he’s going to do, because I know whatever it is, it won’t be good.
“Barclay.”Oh shit.“You see, Barclay and I used to share our accomplishments — we’d send each other pictures and videos — and I was very much looking forward to seeing what he did to you. I knew something was wrong when he didn’t send anything; so I decided to come and find you myself.” He runs the edge of the knife down the side of my neck, slightly nicking my skin on its journey.
“What makes you think the Vigilante won’t do the same to you?”
“Oh, I won’t be here long enough. I’ve only come for you.”
“Why me?” My voice is shaking, I’m desperately trying not to show him how scared I am, but it’s difficult; I am freaking the fuck out.
“Because you’re beautiful, and I like to ruin beautiful things.” I only just manage to stifle the whimper that wants to leave my lips.
“Ho-how do you ruin them?” The most vicious smile I’ve ever seen crosses his face.
“Barclay liked to keep his toys alive, he just liked to play with them for a while, ruin them and then return them. I am going to destroy you, I’m going to make you bleed out, and as you take your last breath, I’ll be right there with you; inside you.”He’s twisted, sick, he’s not human. No human could do that.
“I see I’ve already drawn a little blood.” He drags his finger along the droplet running down my neck; scooping it onto his finger and bringing it to his lips. “Delicious,” he whispers as he sucks my blood into his mouth.
Two things hit me at once — I’m never getting out of here alive, and I never got the chance to tell Bennett how I really feel, how much I love him.
I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry you have to go through this again. I love you so much.
Chapter Thirty-one
Peyton
He knows exactly what he’s doing; he knows where to make a person bleed, how to ensure it’s a slow and steady release of blood. I can already feel myself nearing unconsciousness, whether that’s from the blood loss or pain, I don’t know. Maybe both. I’m desperately trying to find ways to survive this, but I’m coming up empty. I can’t get free, no matter how much I struggle, and believe me when he first thrust his knife in me, I struggled. I need to try and keep him talking, to distract him, I’ve got to try and stayconscious.
