Kent couldn’t stop shaking.
He didn’t know what was going on; he just knew that if he didn’t get out of
here soon he could be dead by Bryant’s hand. He had no illusions that the man
planned on setting him free. He also wasn’t that sure that Crispin would either
but he’d rather take his chances with him. So he closed his eyes and prayed
that Crispin would return before his brother came back. He had no idea how long
he’d been in the attic as the only light there was came through dusty windows
at either end of the huge space. He vaguely remembered seeing several sets of
the dormer windows from the outside and figured that the attic was probably
broken up into separate rooms. He supposed he should be glad that Bryant had
deposited him where he had, rather than taking him into one of the other ones, or
Crispin would never have found him.
When he heard footsteps his
shaking intensified. If they belonged to Bryant then he was done for and he
knew it. He couldn’t see Crispin defending him against his brother despite any
feeling he might still have for him.
So when Crispin came around
the boxed to kneel beside him he sighed in relief. Crispin unlocked the cuffs
and then helped him sit up properly, gently rubbing his chafed wrists.
“Do you think you can walk?”
Crispin asked quietly.
“If it gets me away from
here then damned straight I can.”
Crispin helped him up and
then put an arm around his waist when he staggered. “We have to be quiet and
quick. There’s no telling when Bryant will be back to get you.”
“Now, actually,” Bryant said
as he stepped into view. “So you found your pretty little boy. Too bad and too
late, Spin.”
“No. It’s not, Bry! Let me
talk to him, convince him,” Crispin replied as he turned to put himself between
his brother and Kent.
“Convince him of what? That
he won’t go to the police?” Bryant laughed as he lifted the gun that he’d been
holding at his side. “Do you really think he’ll keep quiet just because he
happens to like you? Tell me, Spin, do you think he would he like you half as
much if he knew what you were, what we are? If he knew about the game?”
“The game?” Kent whispered.
“Yes the game you foolish
boy.” Bryant moved to look at him and Crispin countered, still keeping Kent
close and behind him. “Our game of search for and destroy the inconsiderate
fools of this world.”
“I don’t understand.” But
then, suddenly he did. “The woman from the health club,” he said, staring in
horror at the brothers.
“Precisely. And so many
others too.” Bryant took a fast step to the side, pulling the trigger the
moment he had Kent fully in his sight.
But even as he did Crispin
moved as well. The bullet spat from the muzzle of the gun, striking Crispin in
the chest. His cried out as he fell backwards. Kent caught him, wrapping his
arm around him while he pressed his hand to the wound, feeling the blood
flowing out, trying to stop it.
Bryant froze when he
realized what he’d done, looking in horror at the two men, his brother dying in
Kent’s arms as the young man holding him tightly to his chest. “This is your
fault,” he cried out, glaring at Kent. “If you’d stayed away, left him alone…”
He fired again, the bullet piercing Kent between the eyes.
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