Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Klempner

My resources: The clothes I’m wearing. A notebook and the stub of a pencil: A book on herbal toxins. A small supply of sweet water. An infinite supply, for any practical purpose, of foul water, slime and garbage. And of course, one small potato.

I’d like to give in to despair. There’s something alluring about despair, something seductive. Perhaps I should simply not play Juliana’s game; let her kill me.

But if I’m dead…

Mitch…

My beautiful green-eyed Mitch.

So alive. So energetic.

So full of courage.

So vital.

Vitale

…

Stay alive...

So, eat the fucking potato…

I prise it out from its bed of sludge and slime with a slight sucking sound. It’s small; perhaps half the size of my fist. On the other hand, adhered muck aside, it seems sound; firm, mid-brown, no sprouts or green parts. I have a vague idea that I’ve read that green potatoes are unsafe to eat.

Hauling myself up from my concrete seat, lifting my chain in one hand, with the other, I hold my meal under the water inlet, thumbing away the dirt under the clean water.

Time to live…

And I bite in.

*****

With no warning, the light blinks on and without meaning to, I groan, hiding my eyes behind my hands.

“Good afternoon,

hair today, long and draped over her shoulders, with deep red lipstick. The dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which I suspect is being enhanced with well-chosen underwear.

awards me a polite little smile, then sits, on her fold-up chair, hands neatly folded. She could be in school, waiting for a favourite teacher to begin the lesson. Or perhaps in

she says brightly. “What are

I’m fucked if I’m going to let her look down at me while we talk. She watches me, a touch of wariness in her eyes. Momentarily, her gaze drops to her painted

fold my arms, lean back against the

it’s good to get off the

would you like to talk about? I’m guessing you have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a little, as much as the chain allows, unhinging stiff knees and hips,

know, you’re right.” She gives me a bright little smile. “And…” She aims

Fake…

Extensions?

yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more than I’ve seen

Two days?

there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

give you something to turn into a weapon or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little

get a real

have something better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m not giving you a

touched by your

you’ve lost. You’re mine now and we’re playing by

for me, the police. By now

I made sure the police found some clues about you being near my apartment. With the number of bodies they’ll have found around there recently, I’m sure that

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

suppose they might decide you were involved with the gangs. But I think it's more likely they'll say you got caught in the war between the Wolves and

not looking for you. You’re dead.

spins… “So… you rigged that explosion just so you could plant a corpse to

looking away. “Couldn't have people wondering where you are, could

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

scores of people caught in