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.

crack to listen. I don’t hear a sound. Tentatively, I put a foot on the step, waiting for a creek. Nothing. Then, silently, I

leather chair. Then, for good measure, I pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its black casing, which I slide back on the shelf. There, good. Now no one will ever know.

shut the door behind me. I begin to creep back along the hallway when

that I’ve been caught.

comes out to

to my left, a kind of snap, and then a muffled groan. Unable to stop myself, I consider the door from which the sound is coming. It’s thick,

– Danger makes

want to…-2

can also see that the bolt is

know it’s a mistake. I know I shouldn’t.

though, I stare at the door, consumed by my need to

metal handle and then, my inner voice still screaming at me to stop, I pull it open just a crack and look

noise from inside is suddenly louder without the thick door

fabric gags tied across their mouths. They’re moaning, one sobbing, as they look at

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

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 across

this is apparently not the answer that Kent wants. He drops the belt, moving to

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

the spot, horrified. Though I can feel myself trembling, I can’t move, can’t stop watching. The man not being cut begins to scream in

and then –

god

on me. He begins to scream in my direction and I think I can hear the words “help! HELP!” reverberate through the

a change, Kent’s eyes shift to the other man and then move

shut and then bolt –

as I scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen door and

my god, I think, he’s a monster, he’s a psychopath!

– but now? The truth feels like it has hit home inside of me, after seeing that scene in the Mafia King’s

reach the top of the stairs and throw myself towards my room, my fingers inches from my doorknob,

B

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Gifts

– Danger makes me

shrieking, trying to get free, but he holds me fast. He grabs me by the hair at the back of my neck, forcing my head back, my face turned up

gasp, remembering my rationale for being there.

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