Second Chance

Chapter 46

"What's Pincushion Man?" Maria asked me quietly.

"It's a twisted fucked up game that only psychopaths play." I answered, giving the one Descouche brother a dark look. "Basically all the players take turns stabbing one player, who's the Pincushion Man, with a knife. Usually the game lasts until the Pincushion Man is dead."

"How do you know about this game, Justin?" She questioned, giving me a wary look as if she thought that I've played it before.

"I've heard about it from friends who have watched it on the dark web." I explained, carefully neglecting to mention the fact that I looked into it too.

"I'm not stabbing anyone." She decided.

"You might not have a choice, it's either him or us. I'd rather kill DK and save your life, than spare his life and we both get killed." I reasoned.

"Okay, that's enough whispering." Nick/Shawn suddenly barked. "Get out here now."

"Maria's not playing." I declared, stepping out of the cell.

"Yes she is, both of you are." Nick/Shawn argued.

I looked between him, DK, Maria and Alex, who was still unconscious. "How about this?" I said slowly, a plan forming in my mind. "I play but Maria doesn't. I'll do whatever the fuck you want, but you spare Alex and Maria. Deal?"

Nick/Shawn gave me a calculating look, then said. "I'll let the blonde go after DK's dead. Dark hair stays for leverage, but I might let her live afterwards. It all depends on if you cooperate."

I didn't love this alternative, but this was the best I could do for now. Alex and Maria had a chance at life, but it looked like this was the end of the road for DK. I really didn't want to kill him, but if it was the only way to keep Maria alive, then so be it.

I glared up at Nick/Shawn, then said. "Fine."

He smirked at me, then handed me his knife. I was half tempted to stab it straight into his forehead, but he would most likely catch my arm and break it before the blade even touched his skin. I breathed in and out slowly, then looked down at DK. Nick/Shawn was holding onto DK's shoulders, keeping him on his knees. He looked up at me with wide eyes, and even though he wasn't saying anything, I could tell that he was silently begging me not to kill him. I so desperately wanted to spare him, but mercy was not on my agenda at the moment.

I knew the rules of the game, that you couldn't kill the Pincushion Man right away, you had to drag his death out for as long as possible. So, with utter dread and reluctance, I drove the knife into his chest, right under his collarbone. DK screamed in pain, which broke my heart. I never wanted to be in this position, where I was killing someone I cared about. Again.

I pulled the knife out of his body, then stabbed it into his other shoulder. I was half expecting to get slammed by another vision, but maybe they were all done now. I guess I was free to use violence whenever I wanted now. That didn't mean I wanted to though, right? I'm not a killer. I don't take lives for fun. I'm not dangerous. I can't be, I have to be good. Riley wouldn't want me to do this, but I had no choice, right?

The game felt like it was dragging on forever, and every time I stabbed DK, the more blood spilled from his body, and the more I felt like I was betraying my morals. I had to do this though. I had no choice. It was not my fault. I kept telling myself that over and over again, until DK could barely sit up.

Finally, after inflicting probably the twentieth stab wound into my friend's body, Nick/Shawn said in a stone cold voice. "Now kill him."

I stared into DK's eyes, which were starting to glaze over already. His breathing was ragged and shallow, and at this point, killing him might be a favour. Still, I couldn't willingly deliver a killing blow. He was my friend. I couldn't kill him.

"I can't." I muttered, staring at the blood soaked ground.

"Do it, or I'll kill your girlfriend." He threatened.

"Then you'll have no leverage over me." I pointed out.

"I'll kill them all then, but leave you alive. That's a lot of blood on your hands, Justin, since most of them would be alive if it wasn't for you." He pointed out, and he was right.

Everyone would die if I didn't kill DK. I had to sacrifice one to save the rest. He was dying anyway, but that was because of me. Everything that happened here was because of me. I brought death to everyone I cared about, and DK was just another victim. This was the only way.

I forced metal bands around my heart and closed my eyes, then took a deep breath and abruptly slashed the knife through the air, right where DK's throat was. I heard Maria scream, and something falling to the ground. I felt his blood splatter onto me, and when I opened my eyes, I was covered in red, with a stream that was my own running out of my nose.