“Not anymore, it isn’t.” Knox waves the blade around, and I swear, he’s loving this. I barely recognize his ugly snarl or the sound of his voice. “Now, I want you to suffer. I want you to suffer bad. This is all your fault. You could’ve avoided this.”
He lunges, shoving the knife into Dale’s crotch.
Dale’s shriek is ear-splitting, enough to make me want to cover my ears. But I don’t. I won’t. I want to hear it. I deserve to. I watch as a dark red stain starts to spread over his pants and remember wanting to do that myself.
“That’s what happens when you try to put your dick where it doesn’t belong, you piece of shit.” Knox forces Dale to stay on the chair, bracing him with an arm across Dale’s chest, their foreheads touching. Dale hasn’t stopped screaming, but that doesn’t bother Knox. The blood is starting to run down the inside of Dale’s pants, soaking through, dripping onto the floor.
Knox twists the knife. Dale’s screams turn to howls which soon break when his voice does. All that comes out is gurgling noises. His body starts to twitch and jump as he gasps for air, as his head lolls from side to side and his lips move but nothing comes out. I realize the life is draining from him, that he’s bleeding out. Dying in front of me.
“If you want to say your piece, you better do it now,” Knox tells me, and I can think of only one thing to tell Dale before he dies.
“Rot in hell, asshole.”
And then it’s over. He goes silent, his head falling back. His eyes are open, staring at the ceiling. The cabin is eerily quiet except for the beating of my heart, like a drum in my ears.
Knox takes his knife back and wipes it on the quilt before retracting the blade and putting it in his pocket. “Got what you deserved, fucker.” His eyes find me sitting against the headboard, my arms wrapped around me. Now that it’s over, I’m not sure how to feel. Right now, there’s only relief.
“Let’s get you out of here. But first, get out of my brother’s jacket. There is only one guy’s clothes you’re allowed to wear. Mine.” Smiling, I shrug out of Ace’s jacket and watch Knox pull off his own. He helps me into it, and then we head out of the cabin. I’m leaning against his chest and can feel his heart pounding. I don’t think it’s regret or guilt making that happen, especially when I notice his grim smile.
Ace mutters something into his phone while I get in the back seat of the car, where Knox joins me. I can’t speak. I’m afraid if I do, I might start crying. I know I will.
Not for Dale. For me. For what might’ve happened if Knox had gotten there even a few minutes later than he did.
“I’ve got you.” Knox wraps his arms around me and holds me close, stroking my hair and murmuring soft, comforting things in my ear as Ace gets behind the wheel. I close my eyes and let myself rest now that it’s over. Finally.