Page 115 of Devil Inside

“You just said...”

“Look.You’re all tight! Here—stay on your back.”

Before I can protest, Gil takes my leg in both hands and leans in. He’s looking for the tension point, finding my muscles won’t go much further, and gently applies pressure.

The pain is immediate.“Fuck.”

“That’s it.” Gil doesn’t pull back. He holds the line. “Count it down, then exhale.”

He makes me do this every goddamn time.

“Ten... nine... eight...”

Everything burns.

“Seven... six... five...”

I’m covered in sweat.

“Four... three... two...”

I feel like my limbs are going to snap.

“One.”

Gil lets go. My leg drops to the mat. “There,” he says. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Fuck yoooooou, it wasn’t.”

“That’s the spirit.” He gives my knee a gentle pat. “Now... onto the other one.”

“You want to do thatagain? To hell with that.”

“You know you love it.” Gil lifts my right leg as high as it’llstretch, which isn’t far at all. He leans into me, placing the back of my leg against his shoulder, then pressing forward, until I feel the tendons nearly rip. “How’s that? Feel it?”

“Fucking painful,” I say between gritted teeth.

“Good. Count it down for me.”

“I don’t know if I can.” There’s a heat in my muscles. It sears through the sinew, a single jet of flame climbing up my thigh. Feels like Gil poured gasoline down my leg, then lit a match at my hip, the fire spreading so fast, greedy, chewing through all the tissue.

“Come on, now,” Gil encourages me. “You got this.”

“I don’t think so... Not this time.”

“Sure you can. Just try.”

“You’re such a sadist.”

Gil presses in. He’s forcing me more today than normal, even by his standards. Something feels off. Not just my body, but him. He’s pushing too hard.

“Think we can dial it down?” I ask. “Just a notch?”

“You backing down on me?”

“I can’t do it. I’m tapping out.”

“Not yet.”