Page 291 of Knox Academy Omnibus
I look at him confused. “You want to turn killing a man into a game?”
He nods excitedly like a damn child. “We’re stuck here until he talks, right? So why not take a shot every time he squeals?”
“So we get drunk and sloppy while killing a man?” I confirm.
“You know what your problem is, Branson? Everything is so damn serious. I don’t know why Amelie wants to be friends with you. What do you even bring to the friendship table?” He pulls out a bottle of tequila from a backpack I didn’t even see him bring inside and places it on a small table.
I have to consider what he’s asked. I’ve never thought about it. Do friends have to bring something to this metaphorical table? Eventually I decide to answer him.
“I bring me. That's enough.”
“Is it, though? Have you met you?”
I came here to kill this man, to send a message, but by the end of the night there may well be two dead bodies.
“If I play this game will you shut the fuck up and start cutting off fingers?”
He nods with a huge grin on his face. It’s clear by now this guy isn’t going to talk. Killing him will pose some problems, butI didn't ask to be a babysitter for the incompetent Knox. And Amelie should praise me for at least not killing him…ifI manage not to. The night is still young after all.
“Can we not use rusty pliers? Infection is real.”
I gape at him. Is he fucking serious right now?
He loses it and laughs.
I guess not. The dick is just riling me up.
Kalen lines up the pliers and makes a joke about his fuck you finger that’s not even slightly funny, and with a bone crunching snap the guy wakes up with a blood curdling scream.
“Take a shot, Branson,” he states walking over to the small table, grabbing the bottle and holding it out for me. I cross the room and take hold of the bottle, pulling it to my lips and taking a small swig. Kalen claps like this is the best day of his life. I shake my head and get back to work.
As time passes we both find ways to make him scream with minimal damage. As the liquor flows through my veins I let go of all the tension of sharing a kill with Kalen. If I do this – make friends with Kalen – Amelie might consider letting me walk away from The Order. Can I pull the friendship card for that? I doubt it. She’s a woman, that shit probably only works for them.
“Let’s make this more interesting,” Kalen slurs.
“What? How?” I ask, still choosing my next weapon.
“How about…whoever gets the kill, wins. And the other has to get a piercing of the winner’s choice?”
I smirk to myself, can’t let him think I give a shit about his game, but I do love a challenge.
“Fine,” I huff because I know I have this one. Killing people is what I do. I know over two-hundred different ways to kill a man. I haven’t been sheltered like him. And it turns out, it's my turn next.
I turn to finish him off and notice he’s gone.
“What did you do?”
Kalen just smiles and shrugs.
“Let the hunt begin.”
The moron let him go, but he can’t have gone far. Kalen grabs a screwdriver and laughs to himself before running outside, and I follow because what choice do I have now?
“Here, fishy fishy,” Kalen calls out with an almighty chuckle.
It's pitch black, and this guy will likely bleed out before we find him. Kalen skips along, singing to himself. I divert from the path and look for signs of a half dead corpse. Surely any sane person would hide? He must know he won’t get far.
After what feels like forever Kalen does some kind of wolf call. Fuck knows what it’s supposed to mean, but I follow the sound.
