24. Elijah

S tanding in front of the large window, looking out into the backyard, a delicate blanket of white frost has settled on the yard and bare trees. Winter is arriving. The ground is only going to get harder, making disposals more time-consuming. Looking to the tree line, I know where I’ll be spending my afternoon now.

A couple of days have passed since The Reckoning. The town has resumed normal business. Not a soul would be able to tell anything ever happened. All evidence was cleaned up before sunrise.

On the drive home, Rain was exhausted. Passed out the moment her body hit the passenger seat. I was still on a high, so when my dad called as we drove through town, I couldn’t say no.

Looters were spotted at one of our fronts, an outdoor sporting goods store. Only fucking idiots would loot something The Exodus owned. I told him I would check it out.

By the time I got there, only one remained. With my car and headlights off, I waited. His head poked out of the smashed window, looking around for any witnesses before stepping through the debris back onto the sidewalk. His arms were full of shit.

Starting the engine, it roared to life as the lights shined brightly on his shocked face. He immediately took off in the opposite direction.

My car is faster. I pulled in front of him. Caught by surprise, he fell on top of the hood. All the shit in his hands flew everywhere and Rain slept through it.

Getting out, I found the fucker on the ground, crying. Next to him was a package of rock-climbing rope. Picking it up, I got an idea. As I opened it, I saw he picked the good shit, as it came with carabiners. Smiling to myself, I walked over to the rear of my car. I opened the trunk, threw the one end in, and then closed it shut.

The other end, I wrapped around his throat a couple times, shortening the rope's length, then knotted it. All while my foot was pressing his face down. Muffles of “ I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” followed.

When will they learn? I don’t fucking care.

Lastly, I hooked the carabiner through his stretched earlobe for extra precaution because I wasn’t going to lose him.

Stepping back, my boot was imprinted on his face. He looked much better this way. Then I went back into my car, slammed on the gas, cranked the wheel, and sped out of there. Smoke came from the tires as they spun on the road. A loud scream of terror followed as we took off. Looking in my rearview mirror, a sense of pride overtook me as I looked at the fuck trailing behind.

Once home, I didn’t wake Rain immediately, instead checking on my new friend.

His clothes were torn to shreds, and exposed skin covered in road burn, including his feet as it appeared his shoes got lost at some point. The carabiner remained perfectly in place through his ear. The rope was frayed slightly but withheld the trip well.

Satisfied that he was still alive, I stepped over him.

As I did, something grabbed my ankle, and I looked down in disgust. How fucking dare he touch me? I kicked him off, then spat on his wounded body. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

As he rolled over, that was when I saw it. Half of his face was completely gone. Skin, brows, and lips were all taken by the road.

I was glad I hooked the rope to his other ear. Fuck me.

Leaving him to rot, I got my little bat from the car and carried her into bed.

That was two days ago, and I haven’t checked on him since.

Thanks to him, I know what my afternoon will entail. I have no choice, it’s only going to get colder and the ground will become harder.

A small hand touches my back. I don’t startle. I felt her enter the room, she’s been watching me for a couple minutes.

She likes doing that. She finds me ‘ interesting.’

“I have something to show you,” I say, turning around and taking her hand. Rain is in my hoodie, which is hanging below her knees, with long fuzzy socks on.

She’s perfect.

Walking through the main room, she follows without hesitation. I take her through the hall and stop before the secured door. With her hand still in mine, I move it up toward the scanner pad and place her thumb over the top.

Once scanned, the green light flashes and the door clicks open. Her face is shocked but she’s also smiling.

“Only us. No one else. I told you that.”

Biting her lip, she covers her mouth with her hand, trying to hide any emotion.

“But seeing it is different than just hearing it, E. Thank you,” she says, as emotion appears in her eyes. Why is she sad over this? Shouldn’t she be happy?

This time, she reads me before the words leave my lips. “They are happy tears, I promise.”

Pushing the door farther open, I flick the light switch and walk down the stairs. Rain follows. No words are spoken as we make our way down, just the sound of our feet hitting each step filling the narrow stairwell.

As we get to the bottom, the strangest feeling washes over me. Similar to when I kill. Excitement, perhaps?

I stand to the side and let her go in front of me.

The loudest gasp leaves her, this time with both hands over her mouth as she turns to me in disbelief.

“E. Did you do this?”

I nod once in response.

Her focus moves back to the space, and she steps in slowly, with apprehension. Soft whispers follow, “I can’t believe this.”

As she reaches it, her hand slips from the sleeve and touches the cool surface. She looks back at me once more. “It’s beautiful.”

“Open it,” I encourage as I stay back and watch her.

Her fingers slide to the handle, gripping it and then pulling open the pink steel cabinet door. As it opens, her face drops again.

On the shelves are familiar items, such as her choke pear from that night, in a glass case, along with a new one next to it. Another grater dildo, thumbscrews, iron pliers from the 1800s, and a matching pair of nut cutters. Metal hay and ice hooks, and this wild fucker called a heretics fork—it straps around a person’s neck with the fork ends digging into the base of their throat at the collarbone and under their chin. The method for this one is sleep deprivation. They have to stay awake, and the moment they fall asleep? Dead. I also made sure the claw device Greta gifted me was in there too. Hanging on one of the doors she hasn’t opened yet, because I got her two cabinets, is a spiked rabbit. When I found it online, I knew she had to have it.

Then a question I never expected leaves her, “When you were a kid… Did you ever try to fit in, mimic people, study their reactions?”

The fuck?

“Absolutely not. I couldn’t give two shits about anyone or anything outside of me, you, and my dad. Understood?” I explain, stepping farther into the room.

Her fingers lightly brush against all her new toys. She doesn’t look at me as she continues, “Okay. I was just curious. I’ve been reading up on psychopaths more lately. Just to better understand you, not ever to change you.”

My head tilts sideways. “Why?”

Her face falls, the energy has changed. “Since that day, in the bedroom. I just want to be prepared… In case it happens again.” She stops speaking, like there’s a question it could happen again.

“Never again. I promise, little bat. Never. Not toward you or around you,” I reassure her.

Her face turns toward me, her eyes soft. “I know. I believe you.”

The loud ringtone of my phone breaks our moment. Pulling it out, I see it’s my dad.

I answer, putting it on speakerphone.

“I need you both to come over,” my dad says.

Rain smiles. “Hi, Nate, we will be right over.” Her tone is excited once more.

Chicks are fucking weird.

Before my dad can respond, I hang up. They can chitchat in a couple minutes in person.

Rain steps before me. Her fingers dance along the stubble along my jawline, reiterating what she just said, “I believe you.”