Gifts

Chapter 20 – Danger makes me

want to…-1

My heart pounding, I press the stop button on the remote as fast as I can and return my wide eyes to Kent, who is still looking at

  1. me.

Please, please, please. By all that is holy, let him not have seen me watching his sex tape.

“What are you doing in here,” he asks, angry.

“Um,” I say, terrified, hoping he doesn’t pick up on the tremor in my voice. “Fiona brought me here? Said I could look through some…” my eyes dart around the room for an answer that is not porn. “Some family photo albums? And home videos?”

He narrows his eyes at me, his eyes flicking to the pile of vintage Playboys on the floor. “She shouldn’t have brought you down here,” he says, moving aside so that I can leave the room. I quickly get to my feet, flicking the power button on the remote so that the TV goes blank.

Then, dropping the remote, I scurry out of the room, praying with all my might that Kent does not go back in to see what tape

is in the VCR.

He closes the door behind me as I head for the steps. “Go upstairs,” he says. “Don’t come down here.”

Glad to obey, I hurry out into the kitchen, heaving a sigh of

phone.

My hand slides over smooth denim. I stop dead in my tracks, panicked, and pat all over my body looking for it. Then, slowly, I turn back towards the little door. I definitely felt it in my back pocket when we left the patio…

God damnit. My phone must have fallen out in the weird porn

room.

Steeling myself, I know I have to go back. If my dad or Janeen ever called I didn’t have it – I’d just die with guilt.

hear a sound. Tentatively, I

I pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its black casing, which I

behind me. I begin to creep back

terrified that I’ve

comes out to scold me.

a muffled groan. Unable to stop myself, I consider the door from which the sound is

20 – Danger makes me

want to…-2

see that the bolt is not

mistake.

I know these things, though, I stare at the door, consumed by my need

steps closer, reaching out a hand to grip the metal handle and then, my inner voice still screaming at me to stop, I pull

suddenly louder without the thick door to

their mouths. They’re moaning, one sobbing, as they look at something just out of my sight,

pants and an undershirt, steps into my line of sight. My eyes take in the strong muscles of his back, the rage

his hand, a long piece of it hanging down from his fist, the buckle dangling. As I watch, Kent rips his fist to the side letting the belt drag

no, but this is apparently not the answer that

edge of the knife to the man’s pinky finger. The scream turns to a howl of horror, of pain, as Kent presses the blade

can’t move, can’t stop watching.

and then –

my god –

to scream in my direction and I think I can hear

to the other man

and push the door shut and then bolt – bolt – from the hallway.

could go as I scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen door and then use the

god, I think, he’s a monster, he’s

now? The truth feels like it has hit home inside of me, after seeing that scene

from my doorknob, when something

B

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Gifts

– Danger makes me want to…-3

by the hair at the back of my neck, forcing my head back, my face turned up towards his. I pant, in his arms, pinned against him, finally

phone!” I gasp, remembering my rationale for

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