Emmaleen is curled on the bed, trembling. The welts on her ass and thighs are already darkening into bruises.
Jino gets into bed, pulls her close to him. Comforts her.
He says something I can't hear.
Then louder:
"He went too far."
Emmaleen turns toward him, and even through the grainy footage, I can see the look in her eyes.
Desperate. Seeking.
She wants comfort.
And I wasn't there to give it.
Her voice comes through the speakers, fragile and cracked.
"I love him."
See. She loves you, the monster coos.She likes this. She wants to stay.
The conversation continues. Jino, pathetic. Trying to change her mind about me.
Emmaleen, perfect. Trying to convince him he’s wrong.
"Giovanni is going to ruin you,” Jino finally says. Like he’s playing his trump card. “Maybe even kill you?—"
The monster laughs.She's yours. Kill her. That's the only way to guarantee her silence. Use her up. Take her life. Throw her away.
I laugh too.
Out loud.
The sound echoes in the control room, bouncing off the monitors, distorting until it doesn't sound like me anymore.
Then Ihearit.
I hear myself and I stop.
My hand grips the armrest hard enough that my knuckles go white.
I'm not going tokill her.
The thought is immediate. Certain.
But the monster doesn't believe me.
You killed Rico. You'll kill her too when it's convenient.
No.
You will.
No. That was the whole point of bringing her here. To save her.
To save her? She’s unworthy of saving. Look at her, Giovanni. She’s walking chaos. You will never be able to trust her. You say this now, but you know you don’t mean it. She needs to go. And go she will. When you’re good and ready, you’ll?—