DON'T CHEAT ON ME!

CHAPTER 33: Trust

I pick up another piece of meat, cooked perfectly, its edges crisp and golden. The aroma wafts into my nostrils—a mix of smoke, char, and something metallic. I twirl it between my fingers, feeling its warmth seep into my skin. Slowly, I crouch in front of Patricia, my face inches from hers. She won’t look at me, her head turned away, her body trembling. But I smile anyway.

"Open wide, Patricia"

I whisper, my voice barely audible over her labored breathing.

"Eat!"

I chuckle, trying to make it sound light, playful even, but the edge of command in my tone slices through the room like a knife.

Her eyes dart to mine—red, swollen, defeated. She doesn’t respond immediately, her gaze flickering down to the plate in front of her.

Dave’s body, or what’s left of it, is arranged there like some grotesque feast. The irony isn’t lost on me. My best friend. Her lover. Now, nothing more than sustenance.

“I… I just need a minute..”

She stammers, her voice cracking as she looks away again.

“I’ll eat it. I promise.”

She’s lying. I know she wants to throw up, just like the first time I shoved a piece into her mouth and forced her to chew. The memory makes me grin, though there’s no joy in it. She fought me then, gagging, crying, pleading. But now? Now she knows better.

“I mean it, Patricia.”

I murmur, leaning closer, the meat still held delicately between my fingers.

“If you don’t eat this, we’re done. No second chances. You don’t want to see what happens next.”

Her body jerks at my words, and I can almost see the war raging inside her—disgust battling survival, guilt warring with fear. And then, she speaks.

“If I eat this…”

She pauses, swallowing hard, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Will you… will you release me? Will you untie me, Jordan? Please.
I promise I’ll behave. I’ll be good. We can… we can start over. Leave this place. Together. Peacefully.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Start over? Peacefully? After everything she’s done? After what I’ve had to do because of her? A part of me wants to laugh in her face, to remind her of the lies, the betrayal, the knife she drove into my back the moment she let Dave touch her. But another part—a softer, weaker part—hesitates. Because no matter how much I hate her, no matter how much she’s broken me, I still love her.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. Should I trust her again? Should I let her back in after everything?

“Okay, Patricia,”

I say finally, opening my eyes to meet hers.

“I’ll untie you. I’ll trust you. But only if you eat all of this. Every last bite. Do you understand?”

Her eyes widen, fear and relief mingling in their depths.

“I… I understand.”

“Good!”  I say, my voice firm.

“Then start. Eat Dave. His legs, Patricia. All of it.”

I hold the piece of meat closer to her lips, and this time, she doesn’t hesitate. She opens her mouth, her lips trembling as I place it on her tongue. She bites down, chewing mechanically, tears streaming down her face. I watch her, my eyes never leaving hers, and for a moment,
I feel… satisfied. She’s doing it. She’s finally doing it.

Piece by piece, the plate empties.
She doesn’t gag, doesn’t pause, doesn’t resist. In less than a minute, it’s gone. She swallows the last bite, her hands still tied behind her back, her body slumped forward in defeat.

“Here.”

I say, grabbing a glass of water from the table.

“Drink.”

I press the glass to her lips, tilting it slightly so the water flows into her mouth. She drinks greedily, her throat working as she gulps it down. When the glass is empty, I set it aside and reach for the ropes binding her wrists.

“You kept your promise..

I say softly, untying the knots with practiced ease.

..so I’ll keep mine.”

The ropes fall away, and before I can react, she lunges forward, wrapping her arms around me. Her body is warm against mine, her face buried in my chest.

“Thank you, Jordan..”

She whispers, her voice muffled against my shirt.

“Thank you, babe.”

For a moment, I freeze, unsure how to respond. Then, slowly, I lift my arms and wrap them around her. The scent of her fills my nostrils—sweat, blood, and something uniquely hers. Despite everything, my heart aches. I want to believe her. I want to believe that she means it this time.

“Okay.”

I say, my voice low.

“Just… go wash up. Take a bath. Rest. I'll heal your wounds.”

She pulls back, her eyes searching mine, and for the first time in days,
I see a flicker of hope in them.

“You’ll… you’ll heal my wounds?”

She asks hesitantly.

I nod.

“I will. But first, I need to deal with this. I’ll clean this mess up”

I gesture toward the remains of Dave’s body, the bloodstained floor, the chaos I’ve created.

“I’ll bury him. And the farmer.”

Her eyes widen slightly at the mention of the farmer, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she nods slowly, her hands trembling as she wipes her face.

“Just… don’t forget your promise, Patricia.”

I say, my voice hardening.

“If you ever betray me again, I won’t hesitate. I’ll kill you, just like I killed Dave. Just like I killed the farmer. Do you understand?”

She nods again, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“I understand.”

“Good”

I say, standing up and grabbing the plate.

“Now go.”

She hesitates for a moment, then turns and walks toward the bathroom. I watch her go, my mind racing. Can I really trust her? Or am I making the same mistake all over again?

As the sound of running water fills the air, I turn my attention back to the mess before me. Dave’s lifeless body  from the table is like a pig chopped. My best friend. My brother. How did we end up here?

I sigh, grabbing a shovel from the corner of the room. It’s going to be a long night..