Chapter 175: Manipulations and Games (1/2)

There was silence for a long moment. ”Are you challenging me?” the old man asked. Clearly, it had hurt his inflated but fragile ego.

”You don't like it when a small girl challenges you, is it? You used your daughter to kidnap unsuspecting and vulnerable women, drugged them into unmovable objects, and then treated them as you wanted to.”

His eyes burned with anger. I extended my cheek to him, glad that his slap had woken me up from the drowsiness I was feeling.

”You want to play a game with me?” he seethed.

”But you're not qualified to play any games with me, don't you think?” I countered. ”You knew you could never beat us, so you drugged us and tied us up. If you have the balls, go ahead and leave us undrugged. Let's see how long you last.”

He mulled over it for a second.

”Don't talk nonsense,” he hissed. ”I will never fall for this nonsense.” He stormed out but the daughter lingered. She stared at me for a solid moment, her eyes unsure before she went away.

”Evie, should you…” Gene started.

”Don't worry. They won't kill me,” I told them. ”Tell me about your families,” I asked them. For the two girls, it was to make them feel better and take their minds off what was happening, however much was possible, but for Benny, I wanted to know his background. Foreknowledge was important in such matters.

The other two spoke, their backgrounds were casual. Normal middle-class families had no power to fight back if their family was hurt by powerful forces.

I turned to Benny. ”What about you?” I asked.

”I… day trade. My dad… my dad is in the police,” he said quietly.

I smiled, not showing the fear I suddenly felt. Phillips… if I thought about someone in the police who had a lot of power, I could only think about the Director-General.

If that was the case, Benny's father could very well call off the search when he found out his son was behind this event.

”Is that so?” I shook my head. ”Well, we don't need to worry too much then. You have more power than me, it seems.” It wasn't meant to flaunt. I had no reason to tell him where I came from, but it was a small jab that I felt entitled to make.

He coughed but didn't respond.

The daughter came back with the food. The setup was made. She waited this time for me to eat. I took the first bite and sure enough, the drug was there.

With one hand free, I ate as I looked at her. ”Why do you hide behind that mask?” I asked casually. The others quietened down. ”Your father already showed his face to us, so it's no point in hiding anymore,” I told them.

”He's not my father,” she barked, taking a threatening step towards me.

”After what he did to you, I hope he is not your father. I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy,” I whispered. ”But the mask. Why not take it off? He took it off already because he knows none of us here will speak about who he is.” The words were framed very carefully, not giving away if I meant that we would all die or some of us would survive and still not speak about it.

”If you know that you are going to die, you shouldn't make so much fuss. You are clearly trying to get on our nerves!” she accused.

I nodded my head. ”Absolutely. I wanted to piss him off and talk to you.” I paused, giving her a moment to soak in that information. ”He's the one who forces you to do all of these. He's scary and dangerous… and it must hurt,” I choked for the effect.

I had used my understanding of the psyche of the victim for good all this time, but this one time, I willed myself to use it for my benefit. I had to exploit it.

Would I forgive myself? Yes. Because this was the only choice. I had often found the phrase an oxymoron. There was only one way to the end, then why call it a choice? There was no alternative, to begin with.

”Fuck you.” That was all she said. Maybe it was the drug in my system, but I giggled.

”A pervert actually took a picture of me and my husband on our date and sent it to our address. I don't even like exhibitionism but everyone pushes me to it.” I snickered some more, my body slowly going out of control.

I looked down at the food. They had changed the medication. Or the excessive use of drugs was dulling my control over my senses and emotions. I would find out… but I wondered how hard it would be.

But my words seemed to stir the woman. The pictures. That was what had made her grow stiff. ”Oh, that's right. Your father took videos of you… it's all over the internet.” I hung my head, feigning shame. ”Sorry, I saw them.” The last bit I spoke was thrown towards Benny. ”I suppose I am no better than the pervert who stalked me, huh?” I said innocently.

”She's really high,” Jade said, sounding horrified. Really, I was extremely high. My eyes were down to tunnel vision and I was almost sure that my words were garbled, but the others still understood what I was saying.

”You… you still have a way out, you know? We haven't seen your face… when your dad gets caught, you can get away unscathed.” This was the carrot I dangled in front of her.

No matter how much you love your abusive father, when faced with jail-time and eternal agony, you would choose to protect yourself. No sane human would choose love over their happiness.

Only deluded people like Alicia who fancied psychopaths to be in love with them were so easily manipulated.

Take the bait, I willed her.

”Do you think I am a fool?” she hissed.