Chapter 162
Chapter 162
HENRY
ANOTHER WEEKS LATER
After that night that Shane killed Harlan at his home, he has been going on “hunts.” And yes, that's what he calls it.
He has a whole list of people he wants to kill. He goes to their home and kills them, or ambushes them on the road. And he makes me watch while he ends them indefinitely. I mean, it's not like I have a choice.
I tried to refuse once, and he threatened to break my arm if I didn't want to come with him. I had to agree, because the look in his eyes told me he would do it.
I love having two functional arms, thank you very much.
Yeah, I'm gonna spare you the gruesome details of how he murders these people or how many people he's murdered. It's like, killing Ace for the first time in a long while snapped back something in him, and he started doing it again for fun.
Each time before he kills these victims, he tortures them in cold blood first, glee in his eyes as he watches them squirm and writhe in excruciating agony to the point that they start to beg him to kill them so the pain would just stop… just like Ace and his former teacher, Harlan did.
And then he'll offer me the knife and tell me to finish them off. Of course, I'll refuse, adamantly. But he won't try to force me.
I've stopped crying and vomiting during and after each murder. I think… I think I've grown numb to the sounds and faces of their suffering.
The only thing I wish for him when he kills these people is for him to make it as quick as possible, so I could just go home and rest my head. But of course, Shane, being the sadist he is, likes to take time.
My pity won't get the victims anywhere. So, I stopped pitying them.
Shane is so keen on getting me to take a life. He says that for him to be able to love me, I need to be able to understand him fully.
If you ask me, I think he has real feelings for me, but is scared of those feelings that he has for me and doesn't want to commit yet, because I'm still horrified and disgusted by the things he does.
That's why he keeps killing more people. To get me to take a life and be like him.
And now, sitting right here at my desk, I think… I'm starting to think it's better that I do it.
Okay, hear me out, after all the things that I've been through… you know, watching Ace die in front of me, knowing that I'm the cause of his death and still being more in love with his murderer, alongside watching other people die too and could only do nothing but watch… I don't think I'm that different from Shane anymore.
Any other normal person would end their feelings immediately the moment… no, no, no, scratch that. Let me rephrase. Any other normal person wouldn't even develop the slightest feelings for the same very man that entrapped, tortured, degraded and assaulted him on occasion, let alone still be in love with him after watching him murder a friend and other people.
But I do.
I still love Shane even more, after all these things. So, I don't think I'm that different from him.
So, yeah, I think I should do it. The sooner I take someone's life, the better, before more innocent people get brutally killed.
Rrrring!!
The telephone at my desk blared off, breaking into my thoughts and startling the shit out of me. I started, relaxed after a bit, let out a soft groan, rubbed my eyes, then picked up the telephone receiver and brought it closer to my ear.
“Hello.”
“Daniel Scott and his team from Scott Global have arrived.” Marissa's pleasant voice came through the line.
“Oh… okay.” I muttered, “Send them to the boardroom, we'll be there in a moment.”
I hung up and started to organize the files needed for the meeting. Then I stood to my feet and knocked on Shane's door, before opening it and entering.
“What do you want now, Jones?” He rasped, eyes glued to his computer screen.
“Daniel Scott and his team are here.” I informed him.
He let out a low grunt, hesitated before he stood to his feet, then rolled down his sleeves and grabbed his jacket from the rack and threw it on. I watched him button it up before he glanced up and met my gaze.
My face flushed, and I turned quickly.
“I'll be… I'll go greet them first.” I said, a little awkwardly for no reason, then turned and walked out.
With the documents in my hands, I ambled down the aisle and reached the boardroom, then swung it open.
Three men dressed in suits were seated around the table, discussing in a low voice. Their heads simultaneously whipped to me the moment I stepped in.
“Hello, gentlemen,” I greeted, shooting them my professional, practiced smile, then fully entered the room, crossing over to my seat. “I'm Henry Jones, Shane Blackwood's assistant. He'll be right here any second.”
“Henry Jones?” One of the men repeated the name uncertainly, making me glance at him quickly.
My heart skipped a beat and started to race the moment I locked eyes with him. My eyes snapped wide in pleasant surprise, jaw dropping.
Oh, my God.
That's… that's Daniel Scott!
Daniel Scott!
Why didn't I recognize his name when I saw it on the document?
Daniel Scott.
Remember him? Yeah, you probably don't. Let me refresh your memory.
He's one of the five guys that I had crushes on back in junior year high school. He was the hottest school athlete star quarterback of the football team back then. You know, the golden boy who used to be nice to everyone and would always wink at me when he passed me in the hallway.
He's the one that I “liked” among my five crushes.
I never thought that I'd see him again.
I can't believe it's nearly nine years since we saw each other.
He has grown manlier and handsomer than he was since the last time I saw him. God, I've never seen a pencil line moustache look that good on a man before.
“Henry, is that really you?” He asked, eyes still glancing me over in a repeated sweeping glance as though he couldn't believe it. “Oh, my God.”
“Daniel.” I said, feeling the heat rush to my face. “Hi, whoa. It's you.”
He let out a warm-hearted chuckle, “Of course, it's me. Who else do you think it is?”
Wow, he's still got that nice smile and bright eyes.
God, why is my heart fluttering like crazy right now?
Do I… do I still… “like” him?