Bloodshed (Order of the Unseen, #1)(19)

“I blacked out,” I told him, nonchalantly. “Don’t remember a single fucking thing.”

All I knew is that I had to get rid of the dead prick from my bathroom as soon as possible.

Jensen trailed behind me to the bathroom. Once I pushed open the door and stepped inside, Jensen’s gaze locked on Ben.

Benjamin Fisher.

The guy who Quinn had been talking to occasionally.

Jensen covered his face with his hands before turning to me with narrowed eyes. “Who is he?” he questioned, dark bags beneath his eyes from little sleep. “What the hell happened?”

“He’s from one of her classes,” I told him. “The kid follows her around campus like a lost puppy.”

He frowned, confused.

I released a sharp breath. “They’ve been getting a bit too friendly for my liking. Yesterday, I watched him slip his arm around her waist, and she tried to shrug him off, but he didn’t take the hint. He upset her.”

“Damien—” He sighed.

“She looked really uncomfortable, man,” I quickly cut him off. “When they parted ways, I could tell she was uneasy. It was written all over her face. He always takes advantage of her kindness, and I’m fucking done with it.”

“When did this even happen?”

“All I remember is following him to the bar last night,” I explained.

Then black.

And now, here he was, bound with duct tape on my bathroom floor with a plastic bag secured around his head. I made my way over to Ben, letting out an irritated groan.

“This never happened,” I pressed, locking my eyes with Jensen’s. “Got it?”

He nodded.

Grabbing Ben by his feet, I dragged him into my room. Jensen helped me wrap him in some bedsheets. Blood rushed to my ears, and somehow, I tuned out Micah’s entrance.

I finally came to the moment he grabbed my shoulder, demanding my attention.

“Did you hear me?” Micah asked, kneeling beside me.

I shook my head.

“I’ve noticed it, too,” he revealed. “For the past few days, I’ve been watching him a bit closer, and he acted the same way with a few other girls. I found out that he had been accused of rape not long ago.”

My blood boiled, and I clenched my teeth, anger consuming me.

“I wanted to kill him, too, Damien,” Micah said, tightening his grasp on my shoulder. “You did what you had to do. She’s safe.”

Suddenly, relief overwhelmed me. Ben would never speak another word. And most importantly, he would never make another girl feel uncomfortable or powerless ever again.





PART TWO





CHAPTER EIGHT





DAMIEN





5 YEARS LATER

PRESENT DAY

Halloween Night





Following her down Lynde Street in Salem, I stay far enough back to keep a safe distance between us. Just as always, the goal is to remain out of sight and out of mind. She weaves through the crowd of people on the sidewalk, occasionally stepping off the curb and into the busy street.

Through the dark eyes of my Scream mask, I cannot take my eyes off of her. I quicken my pace, taking long, impatient strides as I watch her. She’s the only one who seems to be not dressed in costume. A skimpy, black, corset bodysuit hugs her curves, and fishnets cover her legs all the way down to her boots. I can’t help but wonder if she’s cold.

I’d give her the robe off my back in this forty-five-degree temperature just to give her warmth.

She lowers her head.

Suddenly, someone dressed as Deadpool bumps right into her, nearly knocking her over. My body stiffens as she stumbles, and her phone clashes to the ground.

“My bad,” I hear him call out.

She bends down and grabs it from the pavement, while he takes in the sight of her plump ass. The blood instantly boils in my veins, my hands balling into tight fists at my sides.

“It’s okay,” she replies with an innocent grin.

She begins to walk away, when suddenly, he follows closely behind her.

Before I know it, I have a vice grip on his shoulders, and I shove him roughly into the brick wall. “Take another fucking step in her direction, and I will slaughter you,” I spit out from over my shoulder.

He chuckles, taking my threat lightly as he regains his balance. “Oh, really?” he asks.

And I freeze.

Beneath my mask, I stare him down, cocking my head to the side. I test him, mockingly. He watches me carefully, not allowing his gaze to leave mine for even a second. I stand as still as stone, daring him to take one, single fucking step in her direction.

Do it.

Try me.

The switchblade in my pocket calls for me.

Too easy.

I’ll kill him with my bare fucking hands.

“Whatever, man.” He forces a short-lived, dry laugh before scurrying down the sidewalk.

Turning my head, I search for Quinn. She’s now just a faint figure in the distance. Once I catch up to her, trailing about ten feet behind, I bring myself to a stop. She’s completely oblivious to my presence, her eyes fixated on the bright screen of her phone.

She finally looks up, and crosses the road, heading toward a two-story house.

A Halloween party.