Page 228 of The Monster and the Masochist

Unfortunately, with the satisfaction of his death came more tiny sobs and desperate screams.

Not enough.

It wasn’t enough.

No matter how many of them I killed, it wouldn’t be enough.

The tiny ones would still be broken.

They would still be hurt, and no amount of blood would ever give them back the pieces these men stole from them.

But at least now they knew they weren’t alone.

They had me, and I would avenge them… Even if vengeance was just as empty as the promises these vile men whispered in their ears.

With the screams of the young survivors echoing off the blood-stained walls, my vision tunneled, and I found myself turning as one more door opened.

The final door.

The door at the end of the hall.

The door that held my true prey.

Cassandra’s essence flickered in the back of my mind, and I paused, waiting to see if she wanted to take control.

But then, he was there.

And he was mine.

The reverend’s face blanched as he poked his head out of his office to find me standing over the corpse of the man I’d just killed.

I don’t know why I expected a fight or some show of courage.

The reverend gave me none.

Instead, the second his eyes met mine… he ran.

‘Rat Man.’ Some distant part of me thought as he scuttled back into his hole. I barely felt my body move as I tore down the hall to catch him.

My heart was pounding, but my breath was steady and even. He wouldn’t escape. I wouldn’t allow it.

He tried to slam the door behind him, but it was futile.

I was a monster, and he was just prey.

He couldn’t outrun me.

He couldn’t outrun death.

I slammed into the door with enough momentum that the reverend buckled and abandoned his pathetic attempt at barring me from the room.

He yelped and bolted deeper into the office as I forced my way through.

The pitiful thing was shouting words I could barely understand as he scrambled towards his desk. I tracked him from the door as he reached for his phone.

My hand rose, and I aimed, my finger curling on the trigger.

‘Not that one!’ Cassandra screamed, and I felt my hand jerk as she resumed control of the body we shared.