Every time he tried this, he failed. It didn't work. He improved with each try, but it was never enough.
One day, he would, though.
One day, he’d achieve his goal.
And this could be it.
This could be the girl who helped him do it.
Excitement almost overrode his common sense, and he wanted to throw her on his table and begin his work right now, but he would have to wait. Give her a day or two to adjust. He wanted her healthy and strong; it was the only way this could work. Today he would teach her the rules and then perhaps in a day or two he would begin.
As he watched Avery, she gave the room a more detailed once-over. Her gaze settled on one particular wall, and then her eyes darted back to him, questions shouting out of them.
He smiled at her. “Do you know who I am?” he asked her.
She looked like she was going to be stubborn and petulant, like a spoiled child, and refuse to answer. But then she appeared to rethink things, no doubt believing if she did as he wanted then he might let her go. Avery gave one sharp shake of her head.
“I am The Breaker,” he informed her, watching her for signs of recognition.
Her face remained blank. It didn't look like she had ever heard of him. He supposed it made sense, although it was a blow to his ego. Avery was nineteen. When he’d started on his quest thirteen years ago, she would have been only a child, most likely shielded from the worst of the world’s happenings.
“Those pictures on the wall.” He walked over to the ones that had captured her attention. “Belonged to the previous occupants of this room.”
Fear flared on her face, and she shrank farther away from him. Avery stared at the skeleton pictures, unsure of what their relationship was to his other victims.
“See the black marks?”
She nodded.
“Those are the bones I broke.” He stared at the pictures, a feeling of peace and tranquility washing over him as he reminisced. He had enjoyed his time with those girls. Kelly Mitchell, Christie Neil, Taylor Sallow—those women were a part of him now, just as he was a part of them, and he would never forget the time they had spent together.
He remembered their fear.
He remembered their screams.
He remembered their pain.
All three had been a balm to his soul. Sustenance as vital to him as food and water. He needed them to live. He had to feel their suffering to survive.
With each girl he’d gotten better, he’d gotten closer. If Taylorhadn’t gotten away, then she might have been the one. But now he had a new girl, and he was sure that he could make it all the way with her. He was sure of it.
“Every time I broke one of their bones, I marked it off on here,” he said, his fingers tracing lightly over the pictures.
“Why?” Avery asked softly, the terror in her voice like a rush of endorphins.
“So I could keep track.”
“Of what?”
He was sure it must be obvious, but the teenager was apparently clinging desperately to denial. Still, he decided to indulge her. “Of each bone that I broke. I like to do it one at a time until I’ve broken every bone in their body. I haven't succeeded yet, but I think you might be the one who helps me do it.”
Avery remained frozen in place for a second, then she sprang to life.
With an ear-piercing shriek, she flung herself off the bed and began to tear around the room, desperately searching for a way out.
It was a little amusing. She reminded him of a rat in a maze, searching frantically for something that was only there by the goodwill of another.
Well, he was Avery’s only hope at goodwill.