Page 13 of Cut Deeper

“Dislocate your shoulders?” He shrugged.

I pictured the chisel between his teeth, the mallet coming down hard enough to crack his skull clean open.

“You look angry.”

“I’d clap for your observation skills, but I’m handcuffed.”

I couldn’t place him. A complete stranger. One who’d been spying on me.

My eyes dropped to his abdomen. Soft innards. I’d slice him open and tie his intestines up in a bow.

“See something you like?” he teased.

I ignored him—and that’s when I noticed the other two had gone quiet. I glanced over. Eyes wide, lips parted like a pair of imbeciles. I also noticed they were naked but for their blankets.

I had questions.

Was this a sex dungeon?

No—kill room. None of this was new to him.

Mid-thirties. Older than me. No wedding ring. Professional. A killer.

My eyes travelled down to his spotless black shoes.

Precise.

The suited dickhead looked far too pleased with himself. I had a feeling he’d love me asking questions. So I turned my back on him.

My silent fuck you.

No one moved.

When the silence grew loud enough, I smiled to myself.

A few beats—then his footsteps moved away from my cage.

Pussy.

I’d have rammed a chopstick up his nose and made his brain bleed for me.

The door closed. The lock clicked into place.

“Why does she get to have clothes?” Eva whined.“She got the largest banana.”

That fucking arsehole.

This was why I hated people.

“Anne? Are you okay?” Gareth asked, ignoring Eva.

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t about to play anyone’s game. I’d never wanted to die in a mundane way—we all had a limited lifespan, and I was comfortable with that fact. One day I would die and join the great void.

But to spend whatever time remained in the company of these two dumb fucks was intolerable. I hoped that fucker had a complaints process.

?? ?? ??

Five hours later I was rationing my banana. I lay in the cage, portable toilet in the far corner. It was deeply off-putting, hearing them piss, fart and shit. Eva was the worst—she sighed as she took a dump.