"A narcissist headed to jail." He flicks it closed, open, closed, open. "You willing to risk Todd's life on it?"
My world is cracking and starting to crumble. The safety and joy I experienced in Petr's arms, the fairytale weekend … they were too good to be true. This is my reality, and no amount of hope will change it.
"Or you put down your gun and I'll put down the lighter," The Monster adds.
I risk a look over my shoulder towards the door.
No key.
Todd didn't make it into the apartment.
"I want this to end, Jake," I whisper and shift the gun to see if there's a safety or anything. "I don't care if we both die to make it happen."
By the look on The Monster's face, he's starting to believe I'm serious. Which is good, because I am. My heart feels like it's in a blender, my mind flickering between images of Petr's face to Todd's and how I'll miss the both.
But at least they'll have each other. Petr can help Todd heal from losing a sibling and watch over him.
The sound a key in the door startles me. "Claudia." Warmth fills me and just as quickly flees at Petr's soft, dangerous voice.
"Who is this, Claudia?" The Monster's features grow harder. "I own you, bitch. If I find out -" He's growing incensed, out of control once more. If both of us go down in flames, it's one thing. But not Petr.
"Petr, leave!" I shout. "Find Todd and go!"
"Todd's fine," Petr comes into view. The expression on his face isn't one I've seen before. It almost scares me. Calm and controlled, hard, without a drop of warmth. "He's at my house."
I gasp. If I had known, I wouldn't be here, and Todd and I could've been long gone by now. I clutch my chest with one hand, certain it's going to explode from the emotions. "You son of a bitch!" I whisper at The Monster and begin crying once more, partially in relief and partially out of horror that I let him manipulate me again.