Chapter 24 - The Sticky Situation (2/2)

Russell casually stands up and approaches her, with that silly smile plastered on his face. He gets so close to her she could smell his food-breath.

”I am leaving Karen,” he says.

”What?”

”I am leaving Karen,” he repeats, unsure if Claire is just being obtuse. ”I'm leaving her…for you.”

”WHAT?” Now Claire is fuming mad. ”What in hell are you talking about?”

”I am talking about us, Claire,” Russell says. ”I like you, and I'm sure you like me, too. You don't have to worry about Karen because—”

—”Get out!”

—”Get the hell out of my room!” Claire is screaming so hard she's all red in the face.

Russell grins for a moment, as if expecting Claire to say something that he likes. But Claire seems unambiguously angry.

”Didn't you want this? Didn't you want us together?”

”Are you insane? Who told you that?”

Russell stares at her. ”You. You kept telling me that. You kept showing me your body.”

”Are you crazy? How—”

Russell suddenly grabs her and starts groping her. Claire tries to fight back, using her arms and knees, but there's no space to give her momentum. In the struggle, Russell tears the towel off her body, and seeing her nȧkėdness seems to give him more resolve. He is about to punch her in the stomach but Claire is quick—she slams her palm on his face, then bolts out of the room. She knows she's running nȧkėd, but there's white-hot panic in her head and all she cares about is to get away. But as she reaches the living room, something grabs her legs and she falls down. Instantly, Russell is on top of her. ”If this is the game you wanna play, then we'll play,” he mutters.

But a voice booms: ”What the hell is this?”

It's Karen, and the expression on her face screams bloody murder.