Page 150 of Off the Rails

It would be easier and faster to carry her, but where was the fun in that? She looked so pathetic, taking one tentative step at a time. For all she knew, I might lead her straight off a cliff.

Bet her screams on the way down would be entertaining.

I’d waited so long for this moment. And if I was lighting a torch to our rules, I was at least going to make sure that I enjoyed myself on the way.

Step after unsteady step, Tess marched through the Old Frontier and into Rapid Rush. Even in this terrified state, I could see her thinking through what was happening: listening for signs of where I was taking her.

Irritated by her watchfulness, I scraped my machete hard against a nearby light pole. The earsplitting sound was enough to make her jump and stumble.

“Move faster,” I growled.

She tried hard to keep her head high and her back stiff, but Tess wasn’t fooling me. I saw right through the bravado, down to the shaking in her knees. I’d almost feel bad if it weren’t exactly what she deserved.

If Tess hadn’t pushed me out, I never would have had to flee Promise in the first place. She’d created the monster I’d become. And now, she got to feel its claws.

An eye for an eye. Exodus.

It was only fair to hold her to the standards of her own god.

Before long, the gushing waterfalls and foamy sprays of the Rapids disappeared behind us, giving way to the gentle creak of a rocking pirate ship.

Black Doubloon was outlandish, even for Feverpoint. Tall, faux palms and tropical brush sprung illogically from the sandy shores of a glorified lake. Animatronic parrots jeered at us from the treetops as we passed by the giant pirate ship bobbing at the center of the water.

It was like walking right through the back of a Cap’n Crunch box, if the box had been rotting in a landfill. But just like the rest of Feverpoint, this section had its darker underbelly. And I’d spent years honing it for just this purpose.

“Left.” I tapped Tess’ shoulder with the flat edge of the machete, directing her toward a large, black rock formation at the far end of the cove. Water lapped at her feet as we crossed the shore, frigid from the fall air.

Through the mouth of the skull-shaped sea cave, the vibes instantly shifted from camp to something much darker. Worn nets and fishhooks hung from the black stone overhead like a tattered canopy. Swashbucklers’ swords were displayed in wall-mounted racks, or otherwise littered across the floor where their displays had fallen.

It had been a bar once: a place where the adults could get day drunk out of view of their kids and babysitters.

That had been a long time ago. I’d had a decade to move out the old leather couches and the bar and craft this into my own personal torture chamber.

“Kneel,” I grumbled, pushing Tess down by her shoulder. She whimpered as her knees scraped the cold, wet stone of the cave floor, and I couldn’t help rolling my eyes.

No wonder the others like her afraid. She sounds like such a slut when she whines.

But while fear made her eager for the others, it only seemed to make her bratty with me. I could see her shifting her weight anxiously, antsy about what would come next. And instead of listening to the fear and shutting her mouth, she couldn’t help herself from spouting off.

“Oh come on, Cyrus. Can you cut the bullshit and finally tell me why you’re mad? Did I steal your bunk? Take your crayon?”

My voice left me in a growl. “Do you really think I’m so trivial?”

Turning my back on her, I stalked over to a heavy black chest, throwing it open with a crash. Inside, I’d packed away all sorts of punishments. Whips and floggers and chains were arranged in a neat display, but that wasn’t the half of it.

Lifting out a false bottom, the true treasure was unveiled: knives, swords, daggers. I knew every inch of these blades, the perfect way to carve through flesh with them. But looking at them tonight, my stomach twisted.

And before I could get a handle on the feeling, Tess continued her goading. “I’m sure we can figure out a more civil way to settle the grievance. Maybe I can give you my pudding cup at lunch tomorrow? Or let you take my turn as line leader?”

The incessant yammering was grating my nerves, making it impossible to think. I’d had a plan coming in here. I just needed to remember what it was. Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to tune her out.

But Tess could never just shut up and take what was coming to her. A peal of laughter bubbled past her lips.

“What’s so fucking funny?” I hissed, but she just kept laughing.

“Oooo, sorry. I, um… I just realized what’s going on here.”

Heat pricked at the nape of my neck, radiating up my brand. “And what’s that?”