Page 48 of Mercy & Malice

Her intake of breath is sharp as she asks, “Are you for real?”

I tell her, “When I said I didn’t want to touch anyone else, I meant it. The only one I’ve ever wanted to be with has refused me every single time.”

“You’re lying.” Her eyes widen as she asks, “How can you be a virgin? You’re”—she waves her hand over me—“you.”

“Um, is that a compliment or an insult, because I’m really not sure how to take it.” I slowly move my hands to her hips as I hold on to her. “But to answer your question, yes, I am and no, I’m not lying. I don’t want to touch anyone else. And if you ever let another man touch you, I’d lose my shit and have to murder him. So, your body count will be an actual body count, because there’s no way you belong with anyone except me, even if you believe we’re bad for each other.”

Her hands grip my shirt, clinging to it. “We won’t end well. There’s no way we’ll make it through everything, and Mercy will destroy anything we try to have.” She releases my shirt, shoving me back and hurries away. “Don’t follow me, please.”

As she disappears, I stand immobile and speechless. I just revealed my soul to her, told her I’m hers and only hers, and she still left me.

25

BROOKE

I watch the door that hasn’t opened in a while. Hours maybe? A day? Time is so strange. Just something as simple as glancing to check the time on my phone feels like a luxury that I took for granted.

“How long do you think it’s been? It feels like there’s been a bigger gap between them showing up.”

“It has. The longer we sit here in our heads, the more fucked-up our thoughts will be,” he explains too matter-of-factly.

It’s not my thoughts that are tormenting me. Nothing can be more screwed up than the images that keep resurfacing. Them dragging my father’s lifeless corpse out is enough to disturb me forever without even having to make up stuff.

“Do you think anyone knows my father is dead? Surely someone’s noticed he’s missing by now, like work or his friends.”

“Possibly,” Micah states.

Will my mom be relieved when she finds out? Is it sad that I still am? I’ll never have to watch him abuse Mom again. The guilt won’t go away though. He was still my father. I’m supposed to be upset. But I can’t think of one person who will miss him. Like, truly be devastated he’s not in their life. I never knew his parents, they passed away before I was born. He had no siblings or close family at all. I think that’s why he hated my mom’s family so much. His was absent and hers was close. If his had been, he would’ve found another reason to be on a tirade. He made everyone he knew miserable.

I ask, “Am I a bad person because I’m not sad that he’s dead?”

“No. He deserved to die long ago,” Micah flatly responds.

Will the next person deserve to die? Because from the sound of it, my father won’t be the only person they bring in here for a fight to the death.

“We have to get out of here,” I utter.

“You will,” Micah reassures me, but I don’t think he even believes it at this point. We’re trapped in here with no way out.

I don’t realize I’m panicking until he’s in front of me. “Five things you hate about me.”

He keeps focused on me as I take in a few shaky breaths. “I’m fine.”

The pain on his face as he watches me hurts. He truly thinks I hate him.

I guide him to sit beside me then lean into him.

It’s not long before Warden enters with the sleeve of crackers. He isn’t wearing the cloak as he stops a few feet away, studying the uneaten crumbs on the floor. “You still have some scraps. No need for these.” Micah tenses but remains still as the Warden gauges us. “Not like you’ll need much strength for today’s events.”

He drops down in the folding chair, unmoving until Judge walks in a while later. “How’s life going for my lovebirds? Or would jailbirds be more suitable?” He laughs at his own stupid joke then takes a seat in the chair. “Today will be a quick lesson. Let’s reward if you dare. Things have been doing so well. And with Micah’s honorable win and taking out the monster; it’s only fair for him to receive praise.”

My throat constricts as I remain silent, wondering what he’s going to offer him. But I know it won’t be a reward for Micah.

Judge aims his gun at me as Micah and I both stand up. “Get started. Praise the one who saved you from an appalling fate.”

“Just kill me,” Micah says, shifting to stand between me and Judge. My panic rises, the sickening feeling in my gut threatening to spew out. I can handle a lot. But Micah getting executed isn’t on that list.

I ask, “How am I supposed to do that?”