ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜱ | ᴅ. ɢʀᴀʏꜱᴏɴ

chapter 40

40. locked in

•—✽—✽—✽—•

the day before

"I THINK YOU NOT KILLING ME SHOWS how much you actually need me alive," Paige said as Laverna walked into her cell.

"Shut up," she replied, kicking her in the face. The woman simply took it, getting use to the abuse she faced. She turned back to face her with blood dripping down the nose she was convinced was broken by the amount of hits she took to the face each day. "I could kill you whenever I want."

"Then just do it."

"You know what's so interesting about all of this?" Laverna asked, knowing Paige wouldn't give her an actual answer. "How much your team cares about you." Paige watched as she threw a couple of pictures down in front of her. Most of them were of Dick. "They're literally losing sleep and not eating cause of you. So as long as you get to see them suffer and eventually forget about you and move on with their lives, that's all I need you for."

"So what? You're pissed at the Titans so you want to kill me? Doesn't really make sense does it?"

"Oh, I don't care about the Titans—"

"You're in love with me, I get it now. I'm sorry about that 'cause I'm kinda taken right now." Paige felt the blade of a knife press against her throat. "Cute, but you said you needed me alive." Aggravated by her ability to remain calm, Laverna impulsively stabbed the knife into her abdomen. She laughed as Paige let out a loud scream at the intense pain. "You really do suck," Paige said, spitting in the woman's face.

"Don't say that to me!"

"I'll say whatever the fuck I want—"

"No! You don't get to win anymore!" Laverna screamed angrily, her jealousy spiking in her tone.

Rolling her eyes at her dramatics, Paige's eyebrow raised in confusion. "What the fuck are you talking about, you crazy bitch?"

"You have gotten everything you ever wanted since we were kids and all I got was suffering. I had a terrible childhood because of it! Because you ruined my life!" Paige watched as the woman finally pulled her mask off, tossing it onto the ground.

Paige felt like she was in a dream. She looked up to meet the eyes of an old friend who she hadn't seen in years. "Lana? I thought you were—"

"Dead, right? I'm supposed to be fucking dead. Just like you wanted me to be."

"What are you talking about? People said you killed yourself after everything that happened," Paige explained, the confusion in her eyes was clear as she tried to wrap her head around what was happening.

"Everything that happened?" the woman repeated incredulously. "What happened was that you had my dad arrested. You know what they did to him? They killed him, Paige."

"That's what happens to predators in jail."

"He never did anything to you! You lied!" Lana yelled.

"I was thirteen! Why would I lie? He assaulted me. You know this!"

Lana shook her head. "No. My dad was a good man. He would never hurt anyone. You were my best friend! He cared for you like another daughter and you betrayed him!"