Page 35 of Final Girl

Talia quickly ties her wrists back together, but loosely, so it’s not obvious. “Just go willingly, forget running. I’m gonna kill that motherfucker, Sam, and I’m sure Pike has just disabled that cunt, Hope.”

This is a side of my bestie I’ve never seen before. I know she’s harsh and firm and confident, but I’m wondering if there is something she’s hiding from me. She’s too calm, too in control, and she got out of those ropes so danged easily.

I don’t say anything because right now, I’m honestly so scared. Worried for Pike, for Talia, and most of all, for myself. I made a good life for myself. I went through hell and back, only to end up right where I got away from.

Now that I really see the farmhouse, I recognize it. I’ve seen photos of this place in my old baby book my mom put together. Before, of course, she started hating me. “This was my father’s family farmhouse,” I whisper, realizing exactly what this place was.

I never knew this place was just outside of town. I always thought my father’s side of the family lived on the other side of the country. If I had known, I would have wanted to visit the house, see the place where my father grew up. Something to feel close to him, at least.

“Out ya get,” Horace barks, opening up my door and yanking on my arm. His fingers dig in deep, and I know those will leave a mark. Sam has done the same thing to Talia.

The second we step into the house, all hell breaks loose. Talia somehow managed to get her hands on a knife and has slit Sam’s throat. Blood spurts out from the artery she opened, spraying across my face as he grabs his throat, trying to stop the bleeding as he staggers. The gurgling noise he makes has me feeling as if I may be sick. But what stops it from happening is Horace. He’s stopped walking forward, causing me to bump into his back as I try to move away from Sam. My asshole of a stepfather screams in outrage over the scene before him.

“Knew I should have handled you myself,” he wheezes out, all pissed off.

I realize he hasn’t seen what happened with Sam and Talia. His focus is drawn to the inside of the front room. I peer around the bastard’s shoulder to see what has him so freaked out.

Pike is standing there, holding a bleeding Hope, pressing a knife to her neck. A strange expression of pleasure lights up his handsome face. “Let my woman go, now,” my man barks at my stepfather. Blood trickles down her neck as he digs the tip deeper into her skin.

“Fuck that, you fucking bastard!” Horace grabs me, whipping me around in front of him, hoping it will save his life, but he doesn’t realize Talia is right behind him. I hear a thud, but don’t move. But I know exactly what it is. Sam’s body dropping to the ground.

Seconds pass. I glance up at Pike, but he’s looking behind me, amused. Then, it happens. Flying over my head and landing on the floor between our standoff is Sam’s head. I instantly let out a gag. Bile burns up my throat and inside my nostrils.

“Surprise motherfucker,” Talia whispers, shoving her knife into the back of Horace’s head, just as Pike swipes his own knife across Hope’s neck. Horace’s grip on me loosens and I stumble forward, falling to my knees, landing in blood as I start to violently dry heave. After getting sick earlier, there’s nothing left to upchuck.

“Fuck,” Pike curses and shoves Hope away as he drops to me instantly. “Fuck, baby. Breathe, just breathe. It’s all good. No one is going to hurt you. Not now. Not ever.” His hand rests on the center of my back in an attempt to calm me, but I’m freaking the fuck out.

“I think.” I gag. “You both.” Another shudder pulses through me. “Have some explaining to do.” I gag harder, shutting my eyes tightly, because all I can see is blood and heads, and other nasty things. Like Hope’s dead eyes staring at me.

Pike whips his shirt off and dabs at my face to clean me up. Gently wiping away Sam’s blood. Satisfied, he shoves my face into his chest, lifting me up to carry me outside bridal style. “You good now?”

I suck in a deep breath, taking in the fresh air now that I’m no longer in that musky house of horror. “Yeah, I think?” I whisper shakily.

“Sorry you had to see that, beautiful. It had to be done,” Pike says, squeezing my hand.

“Those motherfuckers got what they deserved,” Talia says once I look up at her to see a sad smile on her face.

“Why’d you have to do that shit to Sam? Fuck, Sis. I wanted answers from him,” Pike snarls at her, his anger radiating off of him.

Talia shrugs. “Who fucking cares? That guy was a piece of shit.”

“I just want to know where you got the knife?” I ask her, and she grins.

“Always carry it on me. Stupid idiot. Horace didn’t think to pat me down after he got my gun.”

I shake my head and suddenly, a car races down the driveway, slamming to a stop and out comes Jared, a cop on the force. Someone Pike has distaste for.

“Fucking shit. I got here as soon as I could. Fucking Sam stabbed a hole into my tire.” He looks around us. His eyes widen at the sight of us lit up by his headlights showing what a bloody mess the three of us are. His gaze darts to Pike without a shirt on. “Uh, should we light this shit on fire?”

At that I burst out laughing, because I’m so confused right now. Tears run down my face after a while, and Pike just hugs me tightly to him.

“I’m gonna get Delaney home, get her cleaned up. Can you two take care of this fucking mess for me?” Pike asks, moving me with him.

“Yeah, got it. We’ll handle the cleanup,” Talia shouts as we move further away. “Alright Officer Douche, let’s get this done.”

“Who are you calling a douche?” Jared snaps at her as he grabs a can of gasoline out of the back of the truck Horace was driving.

“How much you want to bet? Those two will be fucking by the time they’re done?” Pike grins, kissing me on the temple as we walk down the driveway away from the scene of the crime.