Freaks (Ticci Toby) ((Sequel to Outcasts))

Chapter Twenty-Six;

Kerigan

I was standing up, eyes closed. The air was cold.

No, that's wrong. I'm not outside.

The air shifted, and the ground beneath my feed hardened. It felt like hardwood now instead of grass. I was wearing heels.

My eyes flung open, and I look down to see my snowball dress. Well, kind of. It was black now, with red sequins. And my heels were blood red.

"What the hell?" I whisper to myself, recognizing the kitchen as the one in the house in the Underrealm. I take three long strides into the living room, stopping suddenly in the doorway.

Toby sat in a large chair, facing a matching empty one. He was wearing a black button-up dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal the bandaged arms, blood seeping through some of the white fabric. He held a glass of what looked like whiskey in one hand. His hair was long and messy, extremely unkempt. His lightning eyes narrowed at me as he watched me, a sickening grin spreading across his torn cheeks.

"So nice of you to finally make an appearance. Sit." He demanded.

I didnt have a choice. I was seated before I even knew what happened.

His eyes were hungrily watching my body. He was older now. He had a 5-o'clock shadow. He sipped the dark liquid from the glass and made a face.

"So tell me, darling, how is the world up there?" He asked, grinning again.

"None of your goddamn business." I hiss.

It's just a dream.

"Are you sure? No need to be so hostile, darling. I'm just checking in on my girl."

"I am NOT your girl." I growled. Magic built within me, but I couldn't access it. His eyes flashed.

He was controlling this.

He was enjoying this.

"You'll always be my girl. No matter what, Kerigan. You can play house with that girlfriend stealer, you can run away from me, but I enjoy the chase. You'll never get away from me." His voice was edged with something dangerous. "Besides, I know you'll come back to me. He'll do something wrong, and youll come running back. You will realize I'm the only one who can ever handle you. And your anger. Your strength."

"I'm not a fucking animal." I growled again. His eyes twinkled.

"Arent you? Can I tell you a secret?" He didnt wait for my answer. He just set his glass down and leaned forward. "I wasnt the one who killed your uncle and your stepfather. You were. I just fabricated a story to keep you from hurting yourself over the guilt."

His words stabbed my lungs and made it hard to breathe.

"No I didnt. I would never. I'm not a monster like you."

His eyes sparkled. That was exactly the answer he wanted.

"But you are, darling. You are exactly like me. You have a bloodlust that got so strong you had to start consuming blood to survive, all because you weren't feeding the monster you hold captive in your heart. Think about when you drove that knife into my lungs. Didnt it feel good?"

Yes.

"No!" I snapped, ignoring my thoughts. "It was necessary to get out. You wouldn't just let me go. If you actually had loved me, you would have let me run." I hissed.

I'd struck a nerve. He launched out of his chair.

"I DO love--"

"Sit down." I hissed, the magic that had been brewing inside me snapping out and shoving him back down. His eyes widened and his heart rate picked up.