Rule 8 - Lumen

I watched from the hallway closet as Neve ran out the front door. A moment later Tobias followed. I closed my eyes and tried to focus. My ears were still ringing from the gun shot, and my body hurt all over from the events of the night thus far. I wasn't sure what pain to focus on. My bruised ankles and wrists, the numerous cuts, or the sharp pain in my....

The memory of Tobias licking the evidence of my virginity off the icicle stirred things inside me. Shame mixed with arousal filled my body and soul in a way I wasn't sure how to handle. Tobias had made me come so much, my body craved more, despite seeing the video of him...

No. It couldn't be true. He couldn't have done that. Why would he run up to my unsuspecting sisters and parents and stab them repeatedly until...

It made no sense.

I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself. I couldn't think about that right now. Right now, I needed to focus on surviving. I had to get everyone out of my house, and then, I'd secure it and call for help. If my phone even worked. I had a feeling they'd taken care of that.

I rummaged on the floor and found my Carhart boots. I hadn't worn shoes in months. There was no need when you didn't leave the house. I quietly slid them on, sans socks. I laced them, and stood, taking a few test steps. The weight was uncomfortable, and I felt a little silly, but... just in case.

Cautiously, I opened the closet door and peered out. The hallway was silent, except the music from the kitchen. Miley Cyrus was singing about sleigh rides as I crept through my destroyed house, examining the damage. My TV was sparking from the bullet hole. The chair Billy had turned into my sexual torture device lay on its side, surrounded by broken cups, spilled cocoa, and shattered ornaments. I paused at the bare spot by the tree. There was a wet spot, where the icicle that had taken my virginity had finally melted.

My heart stuttered at the memory of Tobias's lips and hands on my tender flesh. He'd made the best out of the humiliating, horrific situation.

He also murdered my entire family.

My mind was reeling with the whiplash of everything that had happened this evening. Billy swearing from the kitchen pulled my attention from the tree. I went inside and found him leaning against the counter with a kitchen towel to his nose.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"I could ask the same to you." He waved his hand around the full spread of treats. The cookies, brownies, and gingerbread house completely untouched of tonight's atrocities. The entire kitchen, in fact, felt like it was in a different world. The music still played loudly, and it smelled of vanilla and... Christmas.

"Why did you do all this for me? You were more than happy to spread your legs for Tobias. Feels dumb to think you liked me now."

I gulped.

"I wanted to like you."

"But you didn't?"

No.

"Have you ever liked anyone? Or have you always been a frigid bitch?"

I flinched. I'd been in love once. Engaged to be married, even. And then he dumped me for a Mariah Carey impersonator. I thought that would be the worst thing to ever happen to me. What I'd give to be that naive again. I steeled my nerves and turned to Billy.

"Don't go all incel on me, Billy. Just because I didn't want to fuck you, doesn't mean I didn't want to at all."

He tossed the towel on the counter with a growl. "That's obvious. You opened up so wide for him to shove that icicle up your pussy. If it wasn't for all the blood, I'd be certain you were a camera slut."

I stared at his swollen face. His nose was bent all to hell, and his eyes were a deep purple. He snickered.

"Not gonna lie, though. I almost came in my shorts, watching you wiggle in that chair. Neve was getting jealous, but fuck her." He kicked off the lower cabinets and started toward me. "It's my turn." His hands went to his pants.

Fear bolted through my spine, and I stepped back.

"Don't come near me, you bastard." I looked around the kitchen, searching for something to arm myself. The knife holder had been completely emptied. I'd known that though. I'd see them scattered in my living room amid the rest of the destruction.

"Why not? You afraid of trying a real cock? I bet I'm bigger than him. Better too. He gives small dick energy. He didn't even have the balls to tell you himself what he did to your parents."

My eyes went to his groin, where he'd slid his penis out. I grimaced and looked away. The first penis I'd ever seen, and it was a guy with the intent of raping me.

What was the line, though?

Tobias had done the same. I'd pleaded for him not to do it, and he still forced the icicle inside me. He tore me, hurt me, made me bleed. I sobbed, begged, and... wanted more.

No. I shook the mixed thoughts from my mind. I didn't want to feel good about what Tobias had done. He was no better than Billy. He held his stiff cock while he advanced on me.

"Don't touch me," I warned, stepping around the island.

"Or what? You'll hurt me with your cookies? Lumen, you're a fucking joke. Everyone in town makes fun of you. That's why I'm the one to deliver your stuff. Everyone else refuses to give in to your delusions. If it weren't for me, you would have starved months ago. That feels like it deserves a little something. Maybe a little kiss from you? What do you say, princess? Blow me, and I'll let you go."

I gagged at the idea. I didn't even do that with Ben when we were engaged. There was no way my first time was going to be for Billy.

I grabbed a tray of cookies and dropped the treats on the floor. I swung the silver tray in his direction. "Don't come near me. I'll knock you out."

"And then what? Toss me out? I'll just come back. And if I don't, what will you do? Who will bring you your mail or deliver food? You're too chicken-shit to step out onto the porch. You need me, Lumen. Just give me what I want, and all of this can go away. I'll tell Neve to back off. I'll send Ruby packing. She annoys me anyway. Always trying to steal Neve from me. I'll get them both off your back, and then we can go back to how things were. I keep you safe, alive, and in return..."

He ducked as I swung the plate again. He abandoned his cock to grab for me, but I stepped back. He lunged for me and caught my arm, twisting it behind my back. He took my other hand and did the same, leaving me defenseless.

"Being difficult is what has gotten you this deep in trouble. If you just let things happen as they should have, none of this would have happened."

He moved behind me, and I tried to kick him away as he pressed his groin against me. I pressed my lips together tight and fought back tears as I tried to fight against what he was about to do. Somehow, this felt so much worse than what Tobias had done. This was the ultimate violation.

I couldn't go down without a fight.

I looked around for something to use against him. And then... I saw it. The gingerbread house, directly in front of me.

"Just let it happen, Lumen. This is just for me, so it'll go quick," Billy muttered into my ear, triggering me to move. I spun out of his grip and snatched his hair. With my other hand, I grabbed for the house and pulled it to the edge of the counter. Using all the strength I could muster, I shoved his head down into the house.

Billy screamed as his head collided with the sharpened candy canes. He threw his body back, and I collapsed to the floor and stared in horror as he lifted his head up. The house, smashed, lay abandoned on the counter, but the candy canes came up with him. Two of them were plunged deep into his eyes. They'd gone so deep, only the tips were visible. He stood, screamed one last time, and then dropped to the ground.

I stood, my entire body shaking as I walked over to his twitching body. Did I... was he...

I stared at him with candy canes where his eyes used to be, with his cock hanging out of his pants. Any sympathy I'd had momentarily was gone in an instant. I steeled myself and started out of the room.

I did. He was.

Good.

Now. To find the others.