“Yes,” she whispered.
“Ten years searching. I’d still be searching if not for Bill. Poor, simple William Morgan. I saw him walking through a village with a group of kids, and I could smell your bloodline all over him. Must have gotten it a little wet before his big trip to save the world, if you know what I mean.” His eyebrows wiggled up and down. “Wasn’t too difficult after that. He was building houses, I offered to help, and he just smiled his broad, dull smile and let me right in.
“Then, I waited. Got to know more about him. He was so eager to share details of his life with anyone who would sit through his boring, self-righteous tales. And I would sit for hours listening to him talk about his road trip to Mexico, his new lover and her daughter, the house he was renovating, and his mindless career. And the whole time, all I could smell was your mother’s stench. That’s what your family does, Eva. It pollutes everything and everyone it touches. Even poor, stupid Bill. He even gave me his address and asked me to write to him with updates about the village’s progress. He made it all too easy, but mortals usually do. The night he was supposed to leave, I helped him pack his car for the journey back to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He hugged me good-bye and thanked me for my hard work. I thanked him by ripping his arms from his body and hacking him to pieces. Then, I littered chunks of him along the drive.” He smiled. “Now I’ve come full circle. It’s poetic really. I will avenge so many deaths with yours. Shall we get started?”
“Who are you?” Eva asked.
He gave a sad smile and shook his head. “All that story and I forgot the point of it. No matter. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I’ll bet you would if I made you.”
He took a small key from his pocket and bent down in front of Eva. The thick metal band tugged at her swollen ankle as he fumbled to unlock the restraint. She waited, calming her nerves to plan her timing perfectly. His arrogance clouded his judgment and kept him from using his key to lock the deadbolt when he returned. If she could get to the door, she could get to freedom.
The weight of the shackle released, and it hit the floor with a glassy clink. She coiled her leg and struck out violently. The force of her foot exploded against his right cheekbone, scraped the side of his face, and pounded into his right shoulder. He cried out and fell back. Eva hopped off the bunk and ran. Her fingers grazed the doorknob when Bill launched himself at her. He wrapped his arms around her legs and drove her into the ground. She hit the concrete and bounced.
“Where is the respect, Eva?” He grabbed her arms and pinned them to the floor as he crawled up her body. Eva bucked her hips up and kicked wildly. He lifted his face and stared at her. Yellowish liquid dripped from the thick flap of skin hanging from his cheek.
“Look at what you’ve done!” His screech made the skin flap dance. Eva yanked one hand free and ripped the vibrating piece from his face. The skin tore away easily and jiggled in her hand like raw chicken fat.
He let go of her other arm and reared back in pain. Inky liquid spurted from the skinless gash. Eva pushed against him, trying to free her legs from underneath his weight. She screamed as she struggled.
“Is this what you want?!” His voice no longer sounded like Bill’s. It was the wild growl of a beast. He shoved his fingertips under the lip of remaining flesh and pulled. His body shook violently as he tore the skin from his face. It slurped and popped as mucous flew from his newly birthed head.
“Is this what you want? You want to see me? Do you now believe?”
Terror overtook Eva and she twisted to get free.
His new flesh was slimy, coal black, and his lips were the color of beefy maggots. He threw the skin he’d been wearing and it hit the wall with a wet slap.
“This is who I am! Do you fear me now?!” Warm, fetid spittle flew at her face as his open palm connected with her cheek.
Pain burst through her head and flashes of light erupted in her vision.
Fifteen