31. Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Hydessa

I probably shouldn't have let my temper get the better of me. I have worked so hard to never give into impulsiveness. I have a feeling if I did, then that part of me I keep locked deep inside would seek justice in the most brutal ways.

I couldn't help it though. These men keep getting to me, pushing me. I think it's time I pushed back a little more.

After checking the time, I decided to take some advice from Maddie and take a walk to the lighthouse to take some photographs at sunset. The fact that I would have to stroll through the entire beachfront area to get there was just a bonus.

Those psycho masked men can kiss my almost completely bare ass. Oh but wait, that would require them to remove their masks, which the assholes won't do.

Since I don't have my professional camera with me, I decide I'll improvise using my phone camera instead. Making my way to the beach and then toward the tall impressive building on the distant bluff, the fading sunlight casts a mesmerizing array of colors across the sky, painting it with hues of pink, orange, and purple. Despite my earlier frustrations, a sense of satisfaction washes over me as I weave through the bustling crowd of tourists and locals.

The idea of Cain and Abel watching me among the crowd in my minimal attire brings a defiant smirk to my face. Several heads turn in my direction, their gazes lingering as I smile politely.

Reaching the end of the beach, I turn towards the path leading to the lighthouse. The air is filled with the salty tang of the sea, making me lick my lips for a taste of it. The sound of waves crashing becomes a soothing backdrop to my thoughts.

The silhouette of the tall red striped building grows more distinct against the colorful sky. I pause for a moment to admire the view, the vibrant hues of the sunset painting the scene in a surreal beauty. Pulling out my phone, I switch to the camera mode and begin capturing the scene before me.

Each click of the shutter captures a different aspect of the lighthouse and its surroundings: the stark contrast between the darkening sky and the illuminated structure, the play of light and shadow on the rugged terrain, and the distant horizon where the sun dips below the edge of the world.

As the sun sinks lower, casting a final blaze of color across the sky, I capture one last photograph. Satisfied with my efforts, I take a moment to simply absorb the beauty of the moment before turning to head back.

Deciding to walk back on the beach I take the path down the side of the cliff the lighthouse sits on. The walk back feels different now, my thoughts quieter. Maybe I needed that moment after all.

This area is quiet and nearly empty, too far away from the main street for tourists to bother with. There are a few jagged outcrops of rocks and hills, and the whole area is beautiful.

I can see rocks sticking up from the sea close to the cliff. I pause for a moment, taking a seat on the sand to watch the first stars come out. The sky turns from a deep blue to dark navy before all color disappears.

I lean back on my elbows, gazing up at the night sky. It's a perfect moment to reflect on everything that has happened, and I find myself feeling more grounded and centered.

Feeling as though the moment will help me tackle the investigation with a clear mind, I get back up to my feet and start to make my way back, intending to return to the house. Not far ahead, I can vaguely see that the cliff edge gets close to the water again, but the prospect of wading through the water doesn't bother me.

When I get closer, I notice lights moving close to the cliff. They're not completely distinct, but the red and green colors make me frown. The lights disappear again, but after days of being taunted by Cain and Abel's neon masks, I can't simply dismiss what I saw. My pulse quickens as I keep moving closer to the rock face.

I may be going crazy, it's highly probable, but then the possibility that Cain and Abel might be nearby propels me forward. As I approach the cliff face, I move cautiously, trying to stay out of sight. My skin prickles with the feeling of being watched again, but there is no chance of seeing anyone in this darkness.

Creeping slowly, my back against the cold rocks, I try to remain as silent as possible. The crunch of sand beneath my feet seems deafening in the quiet night. My heart pounds, every beat echoing in my ears. Suddenly, the rocks are no longer at my back. Before I can react, a hand wraps around my mouth and jerks me backward.

My instincts kick in, and I struggle against the grip, but it's firm and annoyingly familiar. The red and green glow I know all too well flares to life again as Cain continues to move me backward into what I can now tell is a cave.

The panic that was there only a moment before fades quickly. Cain stops moving me and says, "Do I need to bind your hands, or will you behave like a good girl?"

I don't respond, and he takes my silence as acceptance. The moment he releases me, I turn and shove him in the chest with a frustrated growl. It moves him only a step, and they both laugh.

"Ooo, someone's feeling feisty today, brother," Abel says, causing me to turn my anger on him. I move to shove him in the chest too, but he simply captures my hands in one of his and holds them to his chest. The neon green of his mask is bright in my eyes, and not for the first time, I wish it was a face I was looking at and not a mask.

Cain moves closer, his gloved hand trailing down the sheer overdress I'm wearing. "I do love the gift wrapping," he says before he swats my ass. The thin material makes the pain sharper.

My yelp echoes in the cave, blending with the sound of waves crashing against the rocks outside. Anger pulses through me, but I reign in the impulse to lash out again. Instead, I narrow my eyes at them, seething silently.

"You don't get to tell me what I can or can't wear. I will wear whatever the hell I want, in front of whoever the hell I want to," I snarl, and they only chuckle in response. How do these men make me feel so good, but also so downright furious at the same time?

Abel's other hand comes up to wrap around my throat, a feeling I am becoming quickly accustomed to. "As we said, we won't control you, you are free to do whatever you want. But make no mistake, you are ours, and we won't hesitate to kill anyone who thinks they can touch what's ours. "

I've come to the conclusion they are insane, but fuck if his words don't make me swoon a little.

"How did you even know I would be down here?" I ask stubbornly.

Cain brushes a finger across my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle yet sending shivers down my spine. "Because we know you, darling girl," he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. "Maybe even better than you know yourself."

Abel leans in, the side of his mask brushing against my other cheek as he speaks. "We love your spirit, little shadow," he adds with a hint of amusement. "We knew that by telling you not to do something, you would make a point of doing the exact opposite where everyone could see you."

I huff in annoyance at their high handedness. Mostly because I just proved them right.

"Don't be upset with us," Cain says and his voice is almost soothing, yet laced with an undeniable edge. "We did bring you in here for a couple of reasons."

Abel releases me as I turn to face Cain, my jaw clenched in defiance, though a flicker of curiosity burns beneath my anger. "And what would they be?" I challenge, folding my arms across my chest, unwilling to show any vulnerability.

Abel steps closer, his masked face unreadable yet somehow comforting in its familiarity. "Firstly, we needed to clarify something for you," he begins, his voice steady.

Cain tilts his head, his expression unreadable behind the mask. "We aren't your enemy, Hydessa," he adds, his tone softening slightly. "And we also aren't who you are looking for."

I frown, perplexed by their cryptic statements. "I don't understand," I admit, pressing my fingers against my temples as if to massage away the confusion.

"Don't get us wrong," Cain continues, his voice taking on a serious edge. "We are killers. We have no issues taking a life when it's the right thing to do."

I look at them with pinched brows, some of the puzzle starting to come together but definitely not all of it. It's like the pieces that were upside down are finally right side up, but I still have to put it all together. "I still don't understand."

"We aren't the ones killing the tourists," Abel states simply, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

I blink, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected revelation. I try to reconcile their words with everything I have seen and felt since arriving on Amity Island.

"But why should I believe you?" I finally manage to say, my voice laced with skepticism.

"We have our own code," Cain responds, his voice low and deliberate. "We don't take innocent lives."

A part of me is relieved it's not them killing innocent people but yet another is frustrated. "Do you know who it is?" I asked.

"Yes," Abel says. "But you need to solve this case for yourself."

"Why not just tell me?" I demanded, my tone sharper than intended.

Cain's gloved hand rests lightly on my shoulder. "Because understanding this case requires more than just knowing the identity of the killer," he explains. "It requires understanding their motives, their methods. To truly grasp their darkness, you must be willing to confront your own."

"Embrace the darkness inside you, Hydessa," Abel says, his voice calm yet insistent. "It's not a weakness; it's a strength."

I bristled at his words, the notion of embracing my darkness conflicting with everything I have struggled to be. "I've fought against that part of me for as long as I can remember," I reply, my voice tight with emotion. "I've done everything I can to keep it locked away."

Cain hums quietly. "We know," he says quietly. "But sometimes, embracing it is the only way to truly understand the mind of a killer."

Abel claps his gloved hands together, startling me. "Which brings us to the other reason we brought you here, or at least to this cave."

"We have a present for you, little shadow," Cain says, and I frown. I'm not sure I trust any of their presents after the cherry cookies and coffee incident.

Abel turns away, moving toward one of the walls of red and yellow rock near us. Pushing a button, lights suddenly flare inside the cave, almost blinding me. When the spots clear from my eyes, I realize we aren't alone. Toward the back, bound by chains to the wall and gagged, is a man. It takes a moment for what I'm seeing to register.

"Rye?" I gasp, my voice barely above a whisper.