Page 147 of Dissolving Prejudice

Damn that drug.

While he checked the zip ties on my wrists, I seized the moment to try and reach his logic. Although I doubt he has any.

“Come on, Oro. Deep down, you know killing me would only make it worse for you.”

“I’m not going to kill you.”

“But you said—”

“You’re going to kill yourself.” He smirked before pulling me out of the car and forcing me to stand up.

My ankles hurt from the sudden move, and I wanted to snap at him, but then I noticed where he’d taken us, and my throat turned to dust. There, right in front of me, was my old house—the prison I’d barely escaped and never thought I’d see again.

Everything had stayed exactly as I remembered, as if time hadn’t passed. The green lawns, the tall trees, the gray stone the house was carved from. It all looked the same because I made sure it would despite the fact that no one had been living here for years. Ever since my father’s death, this place had stood empty. I didn’t sell it and instead kept it. Not because I wanted to but because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. Growing up, there wasn’t a night I didn’t dream about burning this place to the ground, and when I was finally able to fulfill those wishes, I couldn’t. This house, this place, it was all him. My dad. Or at least, it was all that was left of him.

My thoughts were interrupted by the violent sound of a gun being loaded, and I glanced aside with horror to see Oro holding one.

“What are you…”

“Familiar, isn’t it?” He smiled while checking out the gun. “I took it from his house this morning.”

Realization struck me, and I glared at the gun, Camilo’s gun, then at Oro.

“You little shit—”

“Nah-ah.” He pursed his lips before nudging my back with the gun. “Now, shut your mouth and move.”

With the gun poking at my back, I wasn’t about to argue and instead pressed my lips into a tight line and started walking toward the house. Still feeling weird because of the drug, I had to force my body to cooperate, the same way I did back in physiotherapy all those years ago. It wasn’t easy, and my muscles burned, but I preferred limping my way to the door over getting shot by this madman.

“It would make quite the story, don’t you think?” he suddenly spoke.

“What?” I snarled.

“I’m talking about you finally caving in to your demons and blowing your brains out using your lover’s gun.”

My heart paused, and I stared at him with my mouth open, still trying to process the sanity of his words.

“Oh, when I think about it, it’s how his mom dropped dead, right? She used a shotgun and turned her brain into a milkshake.”

A tremor ran through my body, and I had to close my eyes to compose myself. To be honest, I couldn’t even bring myself to respond to him since the shit he spat out of his mouth didn’t even deserve a response.

He nudged my back. “Why did you stop? We’re going to be late to your suicide.”

I forced myself to start walking again.

“Nobody would believe I killed myself.”

“Of course they will.” With the gun still pressing into my lower back, Oro placed one hand on my shoulder and leaned close until his head rested against mine. “After all, who wouldn’t want to kill themselves after the shit you went through? You’re a walking tragedy, babe, so much that you make my pitiful life sound sweet.” Moving to look at me, he brushed a lock of hair away from my face. “But tell me something… was getting fucked by your dad really that bad? I mean, he was totally hot. I bet my money you secretly loved it.”

A wave of nausea hit me, and I ducked forward just before I puked my soul over the stone stairs leading to the house. It all just came out, and unable to stop, I gagged and gasped while he laughed.

It reminded me of that day when Orson laughed at me while I puked all over myself out of pure fear. Only now, it was different. Despite the situation, I didn’t feel as helpless. Yes, I was scared, but not hopeless.

“Are you done? Or can we step inside?” Oro asked, his voice dripping with satisfaction over the situation.

What a psycho.

“Yeah.” I rubbed my cheek over my shoulder to wipe away whatever I could, then began walking until we reached the front door, and he opened it.