Page 27 of Unhinged Kallie

“Today is your introduction to how to kill, but we will also explore disposing a body, blending in without being seen, choosing your target, and using weapons, chemicals, poisons, and explosives. You will also learn the art of surveillance, how to inflict the most pain without killing your subject, and most importantly—how to stay off the FBI’s Most Wanted list. As we move forward, there will be other things, but those are the main topics.” Cain held up a finger. “Do not think that learning these skills will replace your regular studies. You will still be expected to do your homework as normal.”

Kallie put her hand in the air and waited until Cain nodded in her direction. “Yes?”

“Are we going to kill that man?”

“Always wanting to jump ahead. You need to learn patience, Angel.”

“Sorry Dad.” She hung her head.

The man on the table turned his head in our direction. His eyes were wide with terror while a red ball with a leather strap was shoved in his mouth, muffling his cries. I couldn’t believe this was happening. It was out of my worst nightmare, yet somehow, I always knew this would happen one day.

“Follow me, but do not touch the subject,” Cain said. “This is Aaron Soares.” Cain held his hand out to the man on the table, naked except for his boxers. “I tell you this because you must always know your opponent. I do not mean you need to meet them personally. In fact, I would avoid your targets being someone you know in your day-to-day interactions.”

Troy put his hand up and waited to be called on. “Does that include those that are mean to us?”

Cain smirked. “Depends on the kind of mean. If you’re talking about a teacher forcing you to do homework, then no. If you’re talking about the bully who makes you their plaything, well…that’s another story, but it would need to be handled in such a way that it does not draw suspicion or leave behind evidence.”

I shivered as goosebumps rose on my arms despite wearing a hoodie when Cain smiled, and Troy and Kallie smiled back like mechanical twins. I knew Kallie was a little different, but I loved her and wanted to protect her regardless. I hadn’t picked up on it from Troy. He was always reserved and not as easy to talk to, but a killer? I hadn’t thought so, but, I saw it now.

“I want you to go to the board and find Mr. Soares. Take down all of his information and study what I found while hunting him, then come back to the table when you’re sure you can answer any question.”

Kallie bumped into me and smiled like we’d entered a candy store, not a torture chamber. “Isn’t this amazing?”

“You really like all this?” I whispered and held my hand out to the wall with dozens of images marked with the deadly X.

“Don’t you,” she asked, her smile falling. At that moment, as I stared into her hopeful expression, I knew I would say anything to keep her happy.

“It’s definitely more exciting than grammar lessons,” I said, and she giggled.

It was easy enough to spot the man on the table. When we did, I read over the long list of what Cain had found in his home and the proof he’d gathered. I looked over my shoulder at our lesson and never would’ve suspected him as a serial killer. His victims were homeless people, which was sad. Wasn’t it bad enough not having a home? Let alone someone like this man killing them?

In a split second, everything turned upside down. Did I think that killing was good? No, but I was confused as I copied the notes and returned to the table with Kallie and Troy.

The rest of the training session was about places to inflict pain and why those areas were better than others. Cain would spin his blade in his hand and point out locations that would inflict pain but not kill, and other areas that would kill in seconds. We each had to sketch the areas on the image of a human body in our notes. Troy talked more than I’d ever seen.

“Why can’t we just kill him,” Kallie asked.

“Because there is a process, and that process will make the kill more efficient and keep us out of prison,” Troy answered Kallie, who rolled her eyes at her cousin.

“You have always been my top student,” Cain told Troy. “It should not shock me that you would see the value in our discussion.”

I’d never seen Kallie look more pissed off. If Troy weren’t careful, it would be his cousin he needed to worry about and not the police.

“That is all for today. We will pick the lesson back up tomorrow. Troy and Kallie, go finish your homework. I need to speak to Carter for a few minutes.”

What? This was it. I was dead. My throat dried out, making my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth as I stared into Cain’s blank expression. I watched the other two leave, the door locking behind them. It took all my willpower not to run for the door and try to escape.

“Carter, please come closer to the subject.”

I stepped up to the table, and all I could hear was the man asking me for help. The muffled begging was like a song on repeat. Cain pulled a folder from a drawer behind him and laid it on Soares’s stomach before lifting the cover.

“Mr. Soares here had another secret. He likes little girls,” Cain said.

Photos of girls no older than Kallie stared back at me, their eyes filled with fear as they sat in small cages with next to nothing on.

“He killed the mothers and took the daughters and, since they were homeless, it took a long time for anyone to notice or care. These were Mr. Soares’s targets.” He flipped the pictures over one at a time until I was sick to my stomach and looked away. “I want you to look at who you want to save.”

My eyes snapped up to his. How had he known? I’d kept my face blank.