Page 134 of Aftershock
“Bitching, Mr. Robinson.” I guide the needle through his flesh for another pass, drawing the edges of his skin together until they meet. “Won’t do you any good. Not to mention, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Mmm.” He tries anyway, tears rolling down his cheeks and onto his naked chest.
That motherfucker, acting as if he’s earned the right to cry.
My hand twitches, begging me to jab the needle into his flesh just for the fuck of it.
Absolutely not.
If I do that, I’ll have to stay here longer than I intend to.
Without her.
As soon as the thought crosses my mind, a heavy feeling settles at the base of my skull. It’s the same one I’ve had at the hospital.
“Goddammit.” I shake my head, refusing to give in to paranoia.
B1 is usually pretty empty. Even if someone did pass by, the room is soundproof.
No one’s stalking me. No one sees, hears, or suspects me.
The only logical explanation, then, for the pressure in my head, is Lilith. Every day, the pull toward her grows stronger, an unstoppable spiral down the sweetest rabbit hole.
That’s all there is to it.
“These won’t get infected.” Instead of stabbing Fraser with the needle, I weave another suture through his skin. “You’re not getting out of here any time soon.”
Fraser’s body jolts violently. Snot dribbles down his nose.
“Hold still, I said.”
Instead of obeying, he’s thrashing and screaming. As if that will save him.
“The more you move,” I warn, “the more painful it’ll be.”
Nothing stops him.
Fine with me.
I keep going until I tie a knot, then trim the excess thread.
What a mess, I think as I pour saline all over his wounds to the sound of his screams.A gnarly one at that.
I’d be ashamed of the final result.
That is, if I gave a fuck. I don’t.
I came here to improve my time and get to Lilith within the hour. With the sixth tap of the timer and a glance at the clock on the wall, I know I’ve accomplished both.
Next is removing my gloves and writing everything down in my notebook.
The depth of the cut and the knife I used.
How much blood he lost before I began stitching him.
The subject’s physical reactions, his vital signs.
The stitching technique and how long it took me to sew him back up.
