We had something
very deeply in common:
the tyranny of culture telling
women who they should be.
—Lidia Yuknavitch

Adul

"So who should be first?" Darla taunted, she walked around the cold space with her hands intertwined. The single light in the room shown on her as she examined us.

Irving and Genevieve sat on both sides of me. Their breathing scarce as anxiety-filled their eyes.

I sat upright as my chills drifted across my skin. My dry lips cracked while I gently bit on the gag between my teeth. The smell of the moldy outhouse entering my senses as I waited patiently for what was to come next.

Taehyung sat pathetically with shut lips. Glaring at her as she did at him. "Should we go in order?" She asked, "The one you wanted to get rid of next?"

My eyes widened as I looked towards him. He shamefully looked away.

"Darla please, " he reasoned.

"Please what!?" she cut back. Stalking over to Genevieve she stoutly stepped on her leg making her yelp in pain. The cracking sound of her limb was heard throughout the room as she heaved loudly.

"Gosh you were the most annoying one, so sassy and disrespectful, you have nothing to say now do you?" Pulling her hair she slammed Genevieve towards the wall causing blood to flow from her white skin. I winced In the horror looking away from the scene.

"What's your favorite way to kill Taehyung?" She questioned while smirking. "Knives? Your bare hands? or just have someone else do the dirty work for you?" Once again she slams Genevieve's head towards the hard wall. Making her heart-wrenching wails fill our ears.

"Darla enough!" He shouted angrily he pulled his body forward in defense.

She paced towards him in anger "Taehyung it's too late to pretend to be innocent. Your doll knows everything. Tell her it was you that killed Athena! Tell her it was us that poisoned Cassidy! Tell her you loaded that gun in only hopes Gladyce would find it! Tell her!"

"Adul do not listen to her, she's insane!" He begged in hopes that I wouldn't believe his truth. But I knew, I've seen the blood on his hands more than once. He was never the victim. Only the perpetrator.

Irving's muffled screams alarmed the two from their argument. They turned to view Genevieve's limp body as the cloth between her lips was flooded with crimson liquid.

"How disgusting," Darla spat. Genevieve continued to heave as she choked on her own bodily fluid. My eyes watered at their carelessness.

'do something' I silently begged.

Darla removed the cloth from Genevieve's still figure and the red liquid drifted from her lips to her chin. "Hopefully she doesn't die soon, that ruins all the fun I get from torturing her." She wiped her bloodstained hand on a white cloth.

"You will regret this Darla. Out of all the things I've done for you this is the ultimate betrayal!" Taehyung sneered. He licked his dry lips as he continued to struggle against the rope. "I gave you everything!"

"No!" she interrupted "You gave them everything! I was the only thing you had and you replaced me for them!"

He paused, his eyes softened to a doe shape of sorrow as he looked to her in disbelief "But the life I gave you— wasn't it better than what you had?"

She furrowed her eyebrows, a deep set of lines traced her features as her eyes began to water. Her bottom lip quivered and she scowled. "No-No." She stuttered "I could've had you to myself but you wanted them!" She walked towards the wooden table alongside the wall. Wrapping her hand around a large knife.

"Is this who you want ?!" She shouted she stared at me in anger. I bit unto the cloth tightly as I felt the blade swiftly cross the skin of my bare leg. "Come save her Taehyung!" she teased. Placing another gash on my thigh.

My screams came out muffled as the burning sensation of legs caused my body to tremble. The gashes on my bare skin flowed with fresh blood down my limb.

She stood above me, her eyes wild and her red lipstick smeared around her mouth. Her face blotched pink from her tears and the sharp blade in her hand presented wet blood in the dim light.

"Darla, step away from her" I heard his voice distantly.

"You're gonna feel the pain I feel!" She spat, pushing my head towards the wall my neck was completely toward her view.

I swallowed deeply as I peered at the knife in her hand. My right leg lifting to kick it from her hold then proceeding to kick her body backward. I watched as the knife landed in front of Taehyung, he looked at it quickly before glancing back at me.

Holding onto her torso she scowled at the look of me. Before reaching into the pocket of her apron. Her fingers intertwined around the handle of a black pistol she held it in front of her as the gun faced me.

I waited for the loud roar of the bullet to puncture my body. For this to be ending to this ongoing horror. I would never be content with dying this way but I will never be happy living in captivity also.

There will be no last words for me. No look of utter fear on my face. I would not give him that advantage. He will not have anything to remember me by— there will be nothing for him to hold on to.

I bit harder onto the damp cloth between my teeth. My eyes closed as the images of my family and friends crossed my mind. The dolls lingering in my thoughts though once strangers, they were the closest connections I've had.

An ear-piercing screech filled my ears. Followed by soft cries. I cowered as I brought my legs towards my body afraid to open my eyes. A hand rested on my knee startling me until I heard his voice.

"It's over now, she's dead."

I opened my eyes quickly. He was squatting in front of me with a sorrowful expression. Cut white rope around both wrist and blood on his inner palms. Darla laid on the ground in a pool of her own blood the black gun resting beside her.

He unraveled the rope from around me and untied the cloth from around my mouth. Using his handkerchief he patted the blood that oozed from my leg.

"You'll need stitches, I can call someone in to do them." He reassured.

I looked to the right of me, Genevieve's head hung low as she was still tied against the wall. "Oh shit Genevieve! " I shouted as I went to her aid. "Taehyung untie Irving I'll get Genevieve."

I worked on unraveling the rope from around her wrist as I heard silence from her body. "Genevieve?" I questioned, she remained unresponsive. I placed my palm on her cold sweaty skin as I remained in utter fear.

"Taehyung! call the police now call them now Genevieve needs to wake up." I urged as I shook her gently, resting my fingers against her neck to search for a pulse.

"Taehyung did you hear me!?" I asked turning to him. 

He stood in front of Irving his eyes in a gaze as the black pistol rested in his hand.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked fearfully.

He smiled sadly, tears brimming the bottom line of eyes. "It's almost done... I almost have you to myself ... it'll be us alone like it should have been."

"Taehyung... you don't have to do this."

"You won't love me unless we're alone together otherwise. You're the only thing that has ever mattered to me Adul! I'm  fucked up, and I need you to fix me."

"Let me do it. I'll get rid of her for you." I reasoned.

"What do you mean?" he questioned tears flowing down his tan cheeks.

"You've done so much for me. You've given me a better life" I paused "let me do this for you— for us." I walked towards him carefully. He stood there quietly as he rose the gun towards Irving's petrified figure.

"Please, Taehyung just give me the gun. I'll take care of it." I coaxed while wrapping my hand around his. I gently pried the black weapon from his hold as he released it to me.

I stood in front of Irving. Her bright eyes stared back anxiously at me as I rose the gun to face her. Taehyung stood beside me waiting for the bullet to end her life.

"Forever?" He spoke.

I quickly turned my head to face him.

"Forever"  I responded. I turned the pistol to his body as I pressed harder on the trigger. The bullet sprinting out to hit his chest as he tumbled backward. Closing my eyes I pressed the trigger again the bullet this time entering his lifeless figure.

I released the breath I was holding, a rush of chills flowing through me at the realization that he was dead. His eyes remained opened as blood escaped his wounds.

I gently sat the gun beside me as I rushed to unravel the rope from Irving's body. Once free she wrapped her arms around me burying herself into my hold. We stood there for some time quietly. Then I proceeded to grab Taehyung's cellphone from his pocket.

We walked outside the outhouse with our arms wrapped around each other as I limped with my cut leg. Standing in front of the mansion—we waited for help to come.

—
Epilogue next chapter.