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The pain was unbearable, and Sophie had passed out. When she came to, Phil was touching her legs, his fingers traveling upwards. She moved to indicate she was awake and to stop him exploring further. The throbbing and agonizing burning sensation she felt did not prevent her memory from returning with all the details of her struggle to gain her freedom. She recalled the incredible pain that ruptured through her as he nailed her to the frame of his bed. That would have been the only moment escape was feasible, but now, it was already too late. When she tried to move her body left or right and away from him, he punched her with such vigor that she passed out again. Her mind was frantically trying to make sense of behavior that only a crazy person would engage in. Logic no longer applied.
Phil was kissing her inner thigh now, and Sophie felt violated. Sadly, she feared more was coming. He climbed the bed and got on top of her. He tore her top, revealing her naked upper body, and with a knife, he cut her bra loose. He was fondling her breasts, taking her nipple in his mouth. She closed her eyes as if to erase his existence. She wanted to stop the heaving that was reaching her larynx. If her mouth had not been taped shut, she would have gagged.
He cut her panties loose too, and she knew the final assault was coming. But he stopped as abruptly as he had started. She was saved by the bell, for now. He cursed as he left the room. Sophie tried to hear over the immense pain. He opened the door and engaged in a conversation with a female. She could barely hear them.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m your mother. See the birthmark? I have the same birthmark as yours. You don’t believe me?”
“My mother left many years ago. She doesn’t care.”
“Your mother is back, and she cares deeply for you. Your father decided to bend the truth and furnish you with lies. He put me away. Look at the birthmark that both of us bear.” Sophie couldn’t see from the back room. Did she offer her mark for him to inspect?
“Come in,” he said, sounding defeated.
They sat in the living room, and she talked about a device. She divulged information about the cravings for blood and the crime scenes she created for him, so he could keep his beast at bay. None of this made coherent sense to Sophie. Was this woman the killer? Fiona was right after all. The perpetrator was a woman.
“I’m not anything like you. I don’t know a thing about the beast you’re talking about. I’m well,” he was insisting.
She pulled the handle of the bedroom door and Sophie’s ravaged body came into full view. “Well, well, well, and what have you got here?” she asked with a grin.
“It was a calling from within. I’ve never experienced an urge to harm anybody before. It felt like a voice was commanding me to sacrifice my most loved and cherished companion. Can you make it stop?” he begged as his glassy eyes fell upon Sophie.
“There is nothing I can do to stop it now. You must finish what you started. It’s the only way.”
* * *
Andrea wanted to hold him and reassure him that all would be okay, but she knew that was a total lie. She had realized when she input the code that her own son would become the near and dear that she had to sacrifice. After she helped him with his sacrifice, she would go on with her own sacrifice. It had to be done. The beast was calling. She studied the girl’s face. She was pretty. Who was she and why was her son in love with her? She pulled the girl’s hair out of her face and looked at her without pity. The woman would surely like to beg her to release her and reconsider what they were about to do. Andrea ought to tell her that there was nothing anyone could do to stop the assault to humanity. It was already too late. The command was above all ... or was it?