Chapter 3
After a while, Ryan pulled away, his voice hard. “Linda, you just wait. I’m going to make that bitch pay. She’ll be groveling at your feet, begging for forgiveness.”
“Just knowing you’ll make her pay is enough for me, Ryan,” Linda purred.
They made their way down to the basement, Ryan kicking the door open with a loud bang.
“Sophia! Get your ass out here and apologize to Linda!”
But, of course, I couldn’t answer.
Silence. Ryan grew impatient. He motioned to the guards. “Break it down.”
The
guards smashed the metal door open, and the stench of blood and decay hit them like a wall. Ryan’s face paled slightly, but he quickly masked his reaction. Linda wrinkled her nose in disgust. “What the hell is that smell? It’s disgusting! Let’s just go, Ryan.”
Ryan hesitated.
sneered. They wanted to know what it smelled like? It was the smell of death. The stench of rotting flesh and congealed blood was so overpowering that even the guards grimaced.
Ryan sensed something was wrong. “Linda, wait out here. The smell is too much. I’ll drag that bitch out here myself and make her apologize.” He turned to Michael. “You first.”
Ryan followed Michael cautiously, but Linda grabbed his arm.
“Ryan, be careful. Don’t be too harsh. We just need her to agree to the divorce, remember? We don’t want people thinking we’re breaking up your marriage. It’s for your reputation, darling.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
Ryan embraced her. “You’re so thoughtful, Linda. I’ll take care of it.”
He followed Michael into the dark, musty basement, lit only by a single dim bulb. He didn’t notice. the dried blood crunching under his shoes my blood.
–
He stood in the center of the room and yelled, “Sophia! Get the hell out here!”
His voice echoed in the silence. I floated behind him, staring at my own lifeless body tied to a pillar. my head twisted at an unnatural angle. The dim light hid the full extent of the horrors inflicted upon.
Ryan scoffed. “Turn on the damn lights!”
