Page 50 of Sweet
I turned down yet another dark hall, noticing a door ahead. I stopped, hesitant to keep going, listening to my instincts that were never wrong.
Don’t…it’s too easy.
I turned around and went to walk away when Dream’s pain-stricken scream ripped from behind the door and filled the hallway. “Dream?” A chill went down my spine as she cried out again. Without any fucking thought or hesitation, I bolted after her. “Dream!”
I kicked the door open, shotgun in hand, to find the room filled with Kief’s men, all armed and watching my cousin. He stood in the middle of the room, a single light flickering above as he turned and smiled at me. “Cousin, you finally made it.” He stepped aside, ripping out a knife that was embedded deep in Dream’s hand. “I was getting worried you got lost.”
Dream’s head was slumped forward, her hair hiding her face. Her body was partially beaten and she was chained to a chair, small puddles of blood staining the dirty floor.
“Dream,” I breathed.
Her soft cries stopped and she slowly raised her head, those hazel eyes meeting mine as she exhaled and forced a smile. “Stalker…you…came.” She laughed softly, then spit out a mouthful of blood. “I knew you’d come for me.” Her head tilted as she looked over at Kief. “Fuck you,” she spat.
My heart broke at the sight of her, and in that moment, I hated myself more than my cousin. I aimed the shotgun at Kief, glaring as his smile fell. “Let her go. Now!” My shout echoed through the warehouse. Kief’s men tried to move, but I placed my finger on the trigger, gently applying pressure. “Nobody fucking move!”
Kief laughed, ordering his men to stand down. “What’s your plan here, Felix? You going to shoot the place up? Take us all down with you for this—Dream?” He turned to look at her. “Is she really worth it?”
I took a step forward, clenching my jaw as I steadied my breathing, preparing to take the shot. “You don’t get it, do you,cousin?” I spit my last word. “Up until now, I’ve been playing nice…killing with restraint and trying to keep what little humanity I have left. But the minute you laid eyes on her, onmyDream, you signed your own death warrant.” I stopped in front of him, the barrel of the gun touching his forehead. “One I’ve come to deliver personally.”
Kief’s grin grew. “There he is…the infamous green-eyed devil.” He clapped his hands together as I remained still like a statue. “Tell you what, I’ll let your… Dream, go. But on one condition.”
“Name it.” I didn’t even hesitate.
Kief straightened his head, leaning into the barrel. “Switch places. Give up your guns and let’s settle things between us, just you and me. What do you say?”
Dream shook her head. “Felix…no…you can’t…you promised. You pro—ahhh!” One of Kief’s men grabbed the back of her head and tugged it back, then slapped her in the face.
I swung the gun and shot the man, killing him instantly.
Kief laughed. “What do you say, cousin? Your life for hers.” I looked back at him. “Tick-tock. I haven’t got all day.”
My eyes returned to Dream. “Felix…no.” I walked over to her, carefully lifting her chin. “Felix,” she cried.
I wiped her tears and kissed her softly. “It’s okay, hey, it’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, Dream.” Her head fell against me as she sobbed. I held her close, knowing there was no other choice.
I kept my eyes on her but spoke to my cousin. “Deal.”
“Wonderful! Men?” He snapped his fingers and they surrounded me, ripping me from Dream. She screamed, watching as they took all my weapons and began to beat me, knocking me to the floor.
“Felix!” she shouted, helpless and chained.
Kief’s laughter mixed with Dream’s screams as everything blurred. My head ached as the loud ringing pierced through my skull and I tasted blood in my mouth. “Enough.” His men stopped and stepped away as he came closer.
I glared at him. “You have me. Now, let Dream go.” Kief didn’t speak. He just smiled and walked away. His men approached, carrying more chains. “Kief…Kief! Let her go! Lether go!” They restrained me, rolling me around until I was facing Dream.
My cousin paused and spoke over his shoulder. “You know what to do.” He then left the room and his men shut the door behind him.
“Kief! You fucking bastard! Kief! You said you’d let her go! Let her go! Kief!”
A guy with a bat advanced on me and when he swung and beat me with it, I grunted. Dream screamed as another man stood behind her, gripping her head as he forced her to watch. “Felix!” she sobbed, trying to break free.
I took a large swing to the face, briefly losing consciousness. “Dream…” I whispered her name, my vision blurred. “Fuck.” She shouted my name again as my vision settled. “Dream?—”
Another man joined, hitting me with a crowbar this time.
The beatings and torture went on for what felt like an eternity. By the amount of pain I was in, I knew they’d broken a few of my bones and fucked my face up. Dream rubbed her wrists raw from trying to escape, her skin peeling as blood trailed down her chains. “Felix,” she cried. “Stop! Please!” She shook in her chair, knocking it over. She hit the ground, her face a few feet away and parallel to mine.
“D-Dream,” I breathed. “It’s okay…I’m…okay.”
