Backwards Into Hell

Part Two: The LFG

Jake's Diary

Friday 29th October

This little diary is coming together nicely now.

I hope you've enjoyed the process as much as I have, dear reader, but let me remind you that the best is still to come because, as that final card game with Lottie and Lily drew to a close, I excused myself to the toilet to update this very book (in quick notes, of course) and to think of my next move.

It has to be David, I decided as I twisted the handle into my room and swept to the bathroom. He was the only threat left.

But how?

I had to make it look like something Darren had done but without a gun, his now trademark weapon, that would be difficult. Plus, now everyone locked their doors at night, it was far harder to get people alone.

There had to be a way around it.

I finished in the bathroom, and as I sat at the bony desk, The Old Man cleared his throat. He was standing by the door, casual in a pinstripe suit and cane in hand, but nevertheless made my skin shiver as his voice floated through the room.

'Hello, Jake.'

He was younger again. Was I doing this?

I hoped not. He deserved to rot.

'Why are you here?'

'Why so serious?' He strode across the room, using his cane as a metronome for his steps. 'I just came to congratulate you on last night's plan. Ingenius, really.'

He took his bowler hat—which I could have sworn he wasn't wearing when he entered the room—and set it on the bed.

'Most people can't do what you do. Being smart—and being brave enough to use it—is unfortunately rare.'

He perched on my bed and crossed one leg over the other, letting the silence settle.

'Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. What are you up to tonight?'

'I'm not doing anything tonight.' I crossed my arms, knowing this wouldn't sit well.

'Oh? I thought you'd be speeding up about now. There's so few left.'

In truth, I hadn't made up my mind about what to do next. But he wanted an answer.

'I'll get David tomorrow, in the morning.'

'Ah, good.' His eyes smiled with cold glee.

If there was going to be any time, it was now.

'Can I ask something?'

'Of course,' he purred.

'Is there—' I shuffled in my chair— 'Is there a way I could swap someone?'

'Kill someone else in their place?' he offered before I could elaborate.

I nodded, meeting his eye. He already knew exactly what I wanted.

'No,' he said stoutly.

I stood up then. I don't know why—maybe it was the hot blood that ran through my veins or the ice in my stomach at the realisation that Lily, my Lily, wasn't going to make it out of this.

'I see you're annoyed,' he continued, 'but these people are here for a reason and,' he paused to flourish a finger, 'we have a contract.'

Glee ran through his face, but now it was followed by something else: a sharp, cold, sort-of menace. I'd been telling myself he was just a man, that he couldn't hurt me, not really.

But that was a lie.

He was a monster.

The Old Man left after that, not bothering to say goodbye and confident his threat stood strong.

I growled and thumped back onto the chair, running my palms against my head. Sure, I wanted to see this thing through—I had to.

But Lily? She would be the last.

And what had she done wrong? A little self-defence?

By this point, it was clear everyone at The Lodge had been involved in one kind of evil deed or another: Delilah had her vices, Harriet her in-laws, Abe his secrets, Anais and Darren their production line, and David, I was fairly sure, had his women.

Then there was Lottie, Caleb, and Lily. Innocent, in my blind eyes.

Before venturing downstairs, I spent a long while turning my choices over in my mind.

There had to be a way to save Lily. A loophole, maybe.

After that, once she was safe and Rachel was back, we could be one big, happy family. Rachel would understand that, wouldn't she?

I was certain she would—although life before The Lodge was becoming harder and harder to remember. Perhaps Rachel wouldn't like the man I'd become, but that didn't matter. That didn't mean I would stop.

Because, dear reader, I wasn't sure I could.