The blood drains from my face and my arm drops to my side. I'm blindsided. Dylan doesn't miss it.
"Aww, pretty boy didn't know."
I move close to grab his face, my fingers digging into his skin so hard that I can feel his cheeks touching on the inside. "What the fuck did you do?"
His tongue darts out to lick his lips and his head cocks to the side and he says, "Like I'd tell you."
The brothers all take a step forward, closing the circle around Dylan as I move away and I pull out my phone to dial Wrench's number. Pres sent him to the cabin to clean it up. There must be something there that can help us figure out what he's done.
The call connects. "He did something to her. I don't know what. Something that will kill her, maybe poison. Fucker won't say, yet. Look around and get me some goddamn answers." I hang up without waiting, immediately calling Doc and letting him know the same information.
I close my eyes and breathe deep. When I open them, Jason is gone.
I'm Cutter.
My hand goes to my ankle, where I keep my knife. My knife is infamous in our world; or rather, what I do with my knife. I saunter back into the circle. Dylan's eyes track me with every step.
I'm going to enjoy this.
"Ever wonder why they call me Cutter?"
I don't wait for an answer. I swipe the knife and cut a few centimeters of skin off, letting it fall with a sickening flop. His yelp only fuels me. I slice diagonal lines all over his chest, spreading the pain as far as I can. Each swipe fueling me even more than the last. The growing pool of blood underneath him pushing me more.
I want him to hurt, the way he hurt her.
I want him to bleed, the way he made her.
I want to kill him the way he almost did to her.
"How about this? You ever hear of something called Lingchi? Roughly translated, it means death by a thousand cuts. It's where an executioner makes so many tiny cuts in someone, it eventually results in one large gaping hole."
I swipe the knife again, this time cutting the skin over his ribs.
I lean in close, lifting my mouth to his ear so he can hear every word. "I will cut you. I will take my time and make new holes in you. I will cut you over and over until your insides fall out. You won't die straight away, so you'll be able to see them. It's quite a sight, let me tell you.
"In the meantime, while we wait for the blood to drain from you, I'll let everyone else have some fun. We'll mix it up a little, though. Keep it interesting for you. See, we all get our names for different reasons." I swipe again, this time across his collarbone as I move my hand to point to my right. "That there is Twisted. Ain't nothing he won't do."
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Wrench.
"Arsenic. The fucker gave her arsenic. I don't know how much but you need to tell Doc now!"
I tear from the room and up the stairs, taking them two at a time. As I get closer, I can hear Jaz screaming. I burst through the door. Doc and Lucy are trying to hold her down, but she's lashing out like a wildcat.
"She is freaking out, Cutter, I need the other girls to help me so Doc can work on her." Tears stream down Lucy's face. I can only imagine the bad memories this is bringing up for her. I move alongside her, sitting behind Jaz so her back is against my front, and my thighs trap hers. Doc shoots me a warning look. "You got a better idea?" I ask. Lucy looks at Doc and nods. "I'll just calm her down then I'm gone, okay?"
I hold Jaz close. "Shhhh, babe. I'm here." Her body goes limp at the sound of my voice. "You gotta let Doc work, yeah? There's a whole future we have to live. Just let him do his job."
I look up at Doc, remembering why I came up here. "Doc, he gave her arsenic. We don't know how much."
Doc's eyes widen and he runs toward his medical bag. "Get me the other girls and some liquid charcoal."
I nod and motion for Lucy to take my place behind Jaz. When I move she starts to thrash again, but I grip her hand and squeeze. "Please. For me." Lucy slips in behind her and holds her tight. I don't want to leave her but I have to get that charcoal.
The women are huddled in the kitchen. "Tracie, Izzy, Nikki. Doc and Lucy need your help, now." I see a few of the brothers and head over. "We got any liquid charcoal?"
One of the prospects who was watching the old ladies jumps to his feet. "I think we have some. If not, I'll get some." He races off into the back room as I pace the floor. Fucking poisoned. Thank God that prick has a big mouth.
"Cutter, here." The prospect holds out a bottle to me and I snatch it from his hands and sprint back upstairs.
The room is crowded but I pushed past the women to get to Jaz. She's sitting up in the bed, puking her guts up, Lucy still tucked in behind her.