ZERO(The Skulls, 6)(9)

She looked around the darkened room trying to find the owner of the voice. “Who are you? What do you want?” she asked. The machine monitoring her heart showed her fear. Her heart was racing. The pain increased, and she saw a clip had been placed on the morphine that was supposed to be going into her body to ease the pain.

“I’m not anything of importance,” he said, getting to his feet. “In fact, we’ve never actually met. I never got that privilege years ago.” She saw the outline of him as he came into view, and she gasped.

His face was distorted. The faded silver lines showed so many scars, but there were also scars that he couldn’t get rid of, burn marks down one side of his face. “Ah, I see you know who I am now. I’m surprised Zero told you about what happened. He was so determined to protect you. Your little boyfriend thought no one would come to my aid. I’m going to show him what real pain feels like.” He reached out to touch her face.

Tears filled her eyes. “Alan?”

“The very one, but I’m not as pretty as I used to be. Another thing to add to the list of things to thank Zero for. He’s not going by Lucas anymore, I must remember that. He’s Zero now. Strange name if you ask me.”

“You’re dead,” she said, whimpering. His finger was running up and down her cheek. She couldn’t move. The fear tightened inside her, gripping her. She was held in place by that very fear. Zero told her all about what he’d done to this man. Prue thought he was dead, yet here he was, ready to hurt her.

“I was dead, or at least he thought I was dead,” Alan said, looking down at her, smiling. She’d never seen a look so evil before in her life. “Zero needs to learn to check or watch when he’s killed someone. I wasn’t dead, and there was someone special in my life who dragged me out of the building. She saved me.”

Who would save this monster?

“You killed my brother.”

“He was selling me out. I treated him like I do all traitors. I kill them. It wasn’t personal. Trevor knew what he was getting into, and if he didn’t, then he was a fucking fool. A dead fool now.”

She whimpered as his fingers glided around her neck. He could kill her so easily.

“I can feel your pulse.” His fingers caressed over the pulse in her neck, the threat there in every touch. “It would be so easy to take all that away. No one is here to stop me or to protect you. You’re at my mercy to do with as I please.”

Reaching up, she gripped his arm, trying to stop him. “Please, don’t.”

“I’ve been watching you, Prue. You’re innocent. It’s a shame really. If it wasn’t for your brother and Zero, I would have left you alone.” He tightened his grip cutting off her air supply. Scratching at his arm, she panicked, the pain making it hard for her to struggle. Alan leaned in close. “I was going to give him a quick death, but after everything I’ve gone through, the years of pain and getting back to where I am, I’m going to take my time.”

His lips were so close to her ear.

Her vision was getting blurry, but he suddenly released his hold. His hand lay around her neck, but there was nowhere else for her to go. Whatever he had planned, she would have to take it, hoping that Zero would save her again.

“I’m going to play a game, and you’re going to be a messenger,” he said. His hand glided down her neck to land on her breast. She cried out, going to stop him from touching her. A knife landed against her throat. “I don’t think so, pet. You will let me do what I want, or I will make it hurt a hell of a lot better.”

“Please,” she said, hating herself for begging her brother’s killer for mercy. “Don’t kill me.”

“You’re in no position to beg, baby. Now, release my hand.”

Hands shaking, she moved away, fisting her palms at her sides. She sank her nails into her skin, trying to find some sanity over what was happening.

This was why Zero tried to kill him and failed. Tears spilling out of her eyes, she bit into her lip to stop herself from calling out.

“I’m surprised Zero hasn’t fucked you. You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said.

She was disgusted with him. His hand moved down her body drawing the blanket down with him.

Nails sinking into her flesh, she closed her eyes trying to find a happy place as his hand covered her mound.

Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think.

Feeling ill she concentrated on the blade of his knife against her neck.

He touched her over the hospital gown. “See, all you need is the right incentive to give me what I want,” he said. “I could fuck you right here and now, and all it would take is the blade against your throat to let me.”