The Killer Fix

Chapter 20

Inches from shattering, the pickup's window cracks as Grayson slams the door shut. Blindly he rushes onto the CH Tech property, storming the front entrance without a second thought. As he eyes the two men guarding the door he pulls his gun from his belt, shooting them pointblank before they can get a second look at him. The meager latch holding the door shut is quickly send crashing to the ground with the force of Gray's kick. As he bursts into the large dark hall he frantically searches for a sign of life, of light. In the darkness his thoughts blur together in a mass of panic and anger, losing all control as he shouts into the vacant space ahead of him. 'Riley!'

Hot tears warm Riley's frozen cheeks as her chin sinks down onto her chest. 

'Stop it.' Bryn orders, pointing the handgun at Riley's stomach, forcing her to look up. 'You don't get to mourn him. Not when you're the reason he's dead.' 

Gazing into Bryn's rage filled eyes, Riley feels the hatred emanate from her. 'You blame me?' Riley asks in disbelief. 

Bryn's voice lowers into a deep ominous tone. 'If it wasn't for you and your whore of a mother, my father would still be alive.' 

Leaving Riley stunned, Bryn turns around and walks towards her unconscious, dangling victim. 

'So that's why you did all this? Revenge?' 

As she stares up at Aaron's bloody face, Bryn attempts to push the red stained images of her father from her mind. 

'But then... why did you go after Carrie? And Noah? And those other students? Why not just come for me?' Riley asks. 

'Don't you get it? This was all for you. Because I couldn't just kill you. I had to make you feel what I felt. The pain, the loss, the helplessness. You had to know what you did to me!' Suddenly turning around, Bryn's enraged expression is now mixed with sadness. 'And now that you know that all this happened because of you, you'll finally feel the guilt you should have been feeling.' 

Taking a few steps in Riley's direction, Bryn's desperate rage sinks back into dark satisfaction. 'But the best part was those hallucinations you had. How did you like watching the people you love die, Riley? Did it make you want to rip your own heart from your chest? Maybe now you understand how I felt...' Slowly Bryn raises the handgun as she moves backwards, finally touching Aaron's temple with the business end. 'And if not, you will in a minute.' 

Raising herself up in the chair, Riley feels the rope around her wrists dig into her skin. Her eyes widen as she realizes what's about to come, and as she gets ready to plead for Aaron's life she's halted by Bryn's resentful eyes moving away from her. 

'Drop the gun.' 

The sound of Gray's voice behind her brings Riley so much comfort she almost loses all fear, like his presence pulls her out of reality and into a warm dream. 

On impulse Bryn redirects her gun at Gray, taking a step forward as she attempts to burn him to the ground with her livid stare. 'If it isn't the low life criminal turned white knight.' Bryn mocks. 'You don't want to do this, trust me. You keep saving her and you won't end up in her bed, just in prison.' 

Without even blinking, Gray closes in until he's right next to Riley. 'Yeah well, before that happens, I'm going to end you.' 

A single flinch, lasting only a second, gives Bryn away. She's not entirely without fear after all. But this crack in her impassive attitude only makes her want to hit back even harder. 'I've had enough of you. For a while there you were the perfect scapegoat, but now that you've outlived your usefulness, an early grave will do.'