Chapter 29
No One
I was never one for caring for things. People, plants, animals—it had always been such an inconvenience. And irritating. Just looking at Anna’s face left me wanting to pound into it until there was nothing left. I wanted to go on with my life already. I wanted to kill again. But I couldn’t bring in another woman with her here. Well, I could, but it wouldn’t be like it used to. I’d have to have her present, and the thought made my angry. For her to watch something so grotesquely intimate—as another killer like me, portraying a critiquing voyeur…I didn’t like. And I didn’t trust the bitch to be on her own. She was too smart. Even if I kept her secure, I’d always be wondering if she was up to something or trying to escape. It agitated me to amounts I couldn’t even process.
Then, there was the detective. It was the only fun I got anymore. I obsessed over what he was doing. The curiosity ate at my mind. Was he still moping? Did he hate Anna for carrying my child? Did he dream of ending my life in the worst ways imaginable because of what he believed I’d done?
I couldn’t wait to find out. Each week that went by seemed to last forever. I left for brief periods of time to spy on him, but never for long. I couldn’t with Anna here. It was another annoyance. I didn’t trust her. Even being restrained, I kept thinking she was going to escape.
My gaze darted over to see her staring at the blanket before her. She was always doing that. Always in her head and ignoring me. Me—the one she should have feared. Again…anger. I hated her as much as I wanted her fear, her pussy, and her attention. It was a fucked up, twisted addiction—one that amped my confliction and fed the need for death and lust. They battled, but there was no winning for either one. Not even the lust. It revolved around hurting her, and I could only go so far. Restrictions had never been a good thing for me.
“What are you thinking about?”
Brown eyes rose and Anna’s own hatred was evident as she let them move back to the comforter resting over her legs.
“I don’t know what I want more, cake or pie?”
“This isn’t a fucking bakery.”
“Chocolate cake. German chocolate cake. That’s what I want.”
My eyebrows rose. “You’re not getting junk food.”
“But I want it so bad, I can’t stand it. The baby wants it. Can’t you get us just a little?”
“Do cravings usually come so early? You’re barely four months along.”
Even as I said it, I looked at the slight rounding the blanket hugged to. My child. A few more months and…I frowned. A few more months, I’d have a baby, and then what? How was I going to kill and take care of a screaming kid? And that wasn’t temporary. That was forever. At least until it moved out and took care of itself. Then again, Anna’s real mother had done it.
“I don’t know. All I know is I want cake and not having it is driving me crazy. I can almost taste it. No, I can smell it. Please.”
“If you can taste and smell it, that should be good enough.”
Her naturally pouty lips stuck out even more as she scooted down and threw herself back on the pillow.
“Are you fucking throwing a fit?”
“This is bullshit! I want cake.”
I rose before I could stop myself. Her temper and foul mouth had increased over the last few weeks. Hell, who was I kidding? Every day, it took all my willpower not to beat her to death. She still had the cut on her lip from the slap I’d given her when I lost control over her outburst less than a week ago. Now this?
“You push me, and I think you’re doing it on purpose. Do you want to go back down to the basement?”
“Of course not.”
“One more time, and there will be no arguing involved. I will rip your ass up and you will be back in the dark. Back on that metal table you loved so fucking much. And when you are, this man you see will no longer exist. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.”
The answer was soft, but it did little to calm me. Just thinking about her down there left my pulse surging. I had to get another victim. Another Annalise. And soon. But how did I do that when I was taking care of her?
My mind raced and I nearly lost my breath as I stepped in closer to her.
Scanning over her uncertain look only left me spiraling into darker thoughts. I’d always been curious—no, more than curious. I had fantasized about the exact scenario a million times as I masturbated to her and the bloody, horrific scenes my brain conjured.
I swallowed hard as I leaned forward and tightened the length of the cuffs so she had less room to move. The love I once felt for her—the obsession over who she really was—came back. I moved in slowly, brushing my lips to hers and basking in what I knew would come.
“One day of cake for the celebration of something new. Something…perfect. Just like your mommy used to do.”
“Wait, what do you mean? What are we celebrating?”
My smile grew until I was laughing almost hysterically. “I have a killer amongst me and I’ve dreamed of this moment for as long as I can remember. I used to get hot imagining you murdering your mother’s victims. I used to see you all grown up and doing it yourself. I think it’s time we finally bring that to life. I think it’s time you and I finally have some fun.”