However, she was nowhere to be found right now.

Unless she was downstairs doing laundry.

Realizing that must be the case, I opened the door leading to the basement.

I cupped my hands over my mouth, failing to contain my enthusiasm as I charged down the stairs. “Mom, I’m ho—”

The words jammed in my throat when the crimson trail came into view and a coppery, rancid stench invaded my nostrils.

She was hurt.

Bile surged up my throat as I rounded the corner.

I found her lying on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding her limp form.

I quickly rushed to her side. “Mom, are—”

Her body felt cold…stiff.

I didn’t even have the chance to try to rescue her.

She was already gone.

My eyes welled with tears and my breath froze in my lungs as I took in the bruises coloring her pale skin, the deep gash in her neck…

The cupcake she was still clutching in the palm of her hand.

He always said he’d kill us, but I still hoped we’d find a way to leave before it happened.

Which was stupid of me.

Because good didn’t overcome evil like all the books and movies claimed.

At least…not for us.

His brand of evil was too strong. Too resilient. Too powerful.

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention when I heard heavy footsteps creak down the staircase.

“Welcome home, son,” the rough, teasing voice belonging to my mother’s killer said.

I didn’t utter a word as my father approached.

“You have two choices.”

I didn’t want a choice.

I just wanted him to kill me and get it over with already.

Put me out of my misery so I could find her in the afterlife.

I hated myself for flinching when he placed his hand on my shoulder because I knew the reflex would only bring him pleasure.

He loved to be feared.

I refused to give him that. “Fuck you.”

His hand wrapped around my neck and he hurled me to the floor before he climbed on top. “Excuse me?”

White spots formed in front of my eyes as he tightened his grip and I grew lightheaded. The joke was on him though because he’d have not one, but two corpses on his hands.

My body soon betrayed me, and the natural response to live took over. I clawed at his hands, desperate for him to release his hold as self-preservation kicked in.

My mother was dead—and it shattered what was still left of my heart and soul—but I didn’t want to be another victim.

I wanted to live. To survive.

I wanted to be free.

But the only way that would ever happen was to let him think he was winning.

Do what he wanted…until it was time to get out for good.

Strike when he least expected it.

I coughed when he finally released me, my lungs burning like hot coals as I sucked in air.

“The police are going to think you killed her,” he stated.

I shook my head, not understanding. “Why?”

“Because that’s what I’m going to tell them.”

A fresh wave of fear rippled through me. The fate he had planned for me was worse than death.

Because pinning the murder on me ensured I’d never be free.

He smirked as the realization hit me.

My stomach curdled when he leaned in, so close I could smell his coffee saturated breath. “Are you scared, son?”

I closed my eyes. Loathing that the ball was in his court and I had no way out.

I knew what he wanted to hear…so I told him. “Yes…sir.”

He gripped my chin. “You should be.”

Swallowing every ounce of pride, I choked out, “Please.”

He raised a brow. “Please, what?”

A hot tear trickled down my cheek as a swell of disgust filled the empty spaces inside my chest, and I uttered the same words I silently begged God for each night before I closed my eyes.

“Please, help me.”

Because God obviously wasn’t listening…but maybe the devil would.

They say if he deemed you worthy enough, he’d strike a deal.

He rubbed his jaw with his free hand, not bothering to conceal his delight. “I supposed I could tell them an intruder entered the house, but he was wearing a ski mask during the assault so you couldn’t see him.” His grip on my chin tightened. “I could protect you, but every action has a consequence, son.”

I nodded. “I know.”

The corner of his lip curled up. “Since finding your mother dead upset you so much, you’ll be spending some time in an asylum,” he declared, as if he knew all along this was the hand he was going to deal me. “But don’t worry. I’ll visit you every weekend and make sure you’re being a good boy.” His cold, dark eyes bored into me. “Because the second you step out of line…the doctors are going to come to the conclusion that you murdered your mother and you’ll be staring at those four walls for the rest of your life. Do you understand?”

I nodded again. “Yes, sir.”

“Very well.” He reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a knife. “If you want me to come to your aid and for us to be a team. You’ll have to prove your loyalty to me.”

Needless to say, I was confused given I’d already agreed to his terms.

“How?”

He placed the knife in my hand, and it took everything I had not to stab him with it.

But he was stronger and knew how to fight off an attack.

And even if I managed to kill him, I was smart enough to know that once his friends in the FBI walked in and saw two dead parents, …they’d draw their own conclusions.

Plus, I had nowhere to go.

Nowhere to hide.

Just like he wanted.

His next words sent a chill blazing up my spine. “Cut out her heart.”

No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t refuse. This was my only out, and I had to take it.

I gripped the knife and turned toward my mother’s corpse, forcing myself to detach and go numb. I convinced myself I was a doctor performing an autopsy as the knife sliced through her flesh, tendons, and muscles.

That it wasn’t my mother…but a stranger I’d never met before.

That I wasn’t doing this because I was an evil monster like my father…

I was doing it to survive.

He made me cut out her heart as a show of good faith, to prove that I joined the dark side in order to not suffer the same fate.