Misfits - Chapter 28 (Patreon)

Time. What is time? I lost track of it the moment Vitale took my clock away. Rue. My Rue. Time is nonexistent without her. Nothing makes sense without her. All know is my end goal, and I don’t care who I have to take down to get her back. But the hardest thing has been finding Boris Viktor. And each day lost, is another day that I come close to losing Rue forever.

To Vitale, she is nothing but a threat. And the moment he decides he doesn’t need me anymore is the moment that Rue will have to pay that price. And I can’t let that happen.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” The cries of pain from my latest victim pull me out of my thoughts. I give him an apologetic smile, as I pull the burning rod out of his flesh.

“Sorry. My mind is just elsewhere as of late,” I say. He looks at me like I’m insane. Maybe I am. But I need information on Boris.

“Now, let’s try this again.”

* * * * *

I pull up to Vitale’s, anticipation burning at my flesh. Once a week. That’s how often he allows me to see Rue. It kills me, knowing that she is here. Knowing that she is at the complete mercy of Vitale.

I walk up the steps, pushing the doors open. As soon as I walk in I’m greeted by Vitale’s men. But something is off today. Different. They seem more on edge. I can tell by the way their eyes widen at my appearance, and some of them grip their guns tighter to their bodies. Somethings wrong. And it’s something that has to do with Rue.

I quicken my pace, heading straight for the room she is being held in.

“Callum! My friend.” I tense as the sound of Vitale’s voice brings me out of my trance. Anger rips through me like a wildfire. I’ve never wanted someone dead as much as I want Vitale dead. I turn to see him at the top of the hallway, gazing at me with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Now don’t look at me like that, Callum. You know I don’t have to give you these visits," he says with a sick smile. I want to punch his face in.

“Come. We have much to discuss-”

“I’m not here for you, Vitale. I’m here for Rue,” growl out. His smile grows wider, and he begins walking towards me.

“See, that is where you are wrong, Callum.” He walks past me, heading towards the room that Rue is in. I feel dread settling deep within the pit of my stomach. If he’s going to Rue, something is about to happen.

He stops in front of the large mahogany doors and turns to me, pulling a pair of cuffs out of his trench coat pocket. I eye him suspiciously.

“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m going to put those on,” I say. Vitale chuckles to himself.

“Oh I know I can’t force you to, but if you don’t I can’t promise that your precious flower will stay safe upon your departure.”

I grudgingly put my hands in front of me and let him lock the metal cuffs around my wrists. The last thing I want is for Rue to be harmed because of me.

Vitale pushes the door open, and we enter the room. Rue is in the center of the bed, that fucking collar still wrapped around her throat keeping her chained to the bed. She’s on her knees and her head is down so I can’t see her face.

“Oh, flower,” Vitale sings. Rue tenses and looks up, pure fear written all over her face. But that’s not all. Her fucking lip is split and bleeding, and there is a bruise under her eye. I turn to Vitale immediately about to attack him, when one of his men grabs me out of nowhere hauling me back. I can’t move with my hands like this, cuffed in front of me. I’m completely at his mercy.

“You fucking bastard! I’ll fucking kill you!” I shout. Vitale only laughs, stepping closer to me. Looking me directly in my fucking eye.

“Watch what you say to me, Callum,” he reaches out, fixing my collar, tilting his gaze towards Rue.

“It might not fare well for your flower,” he says. My gaze travels towards Rue and she’s watching our exchange. The fear on her face is obvious. And it breaks my heart.

“What do you fucking want Vitale! I’m doing everything you ask of me, what do you want!” I shout. He laughs. He fucking laughs.

“I like you like this, Callum. At my mercy.” He walks over to Rue and her whimpers become more panicked and frightened.

“Maybe I should have done this a little sooner.” He sits on the edge of the bed, and Rue visibly flinches back away from his touch. I jerk away from the man holding me but he has a tight hold on me.

“Vitale! What do you fucking want!” I’m basically pleading with him. I’ve never felt so helpless before.

“I want to know why you’re hesitating with Viktor,” he says. I let out a frustrated sigh.

“I told you, I’m having a hard time pinning him down. He’s moved since I last tracked him, and I think he knows what’s going on because he’s basically hidden. I’m trying Vitale I swear I’m trying, I just need more time,” I say. Vitale narrows his eyes at me and pulls out a knife. My heart explodes.

“Time.” He places the tip of the knife at the edge of Rue’s face. A small shriek escapes her lips.

“Now, flower. What did we say last about screaming?” Her chest is heaving from the panic in her system and I hate it.

“Vitale!” I shout as he presses the blade to her flesh. He looks at me.

“I think I’ve been more than fair with you, Callum. My patience is wearing thin.”

He presses the tip of the blade hard enough to draw blood. Rue’s loud whimper causes rage to explode within me.

I rear my head back with all the force I can, joy entering my system when I hear the sickening crack of the man behind me. I sprint towards Vitale, but I’m tackled to the ground. By three more men. They’re all holding me down.

I’m inches from Vitale and Rue. On the fucking floor. I hate it. I scream all of my hatred for Vitale. And he smiles. He fucking laughs in my face. The last time he laughed at my expense, I almost killed him. And at this moment, I realize he’s going to die. I will kill him. He roughly jerks Rue’s hair, holding the blade to her throat, my insides turn to ice.

“Please! Vitale Please!” I scream. I’m on my knees begging him to spare her. His gaze travels down to me.

“I like the sound of that, Callum. Your begging. It’s nice.” Old emotions rip through me from all the times those psychotic bitches tried to make me scream and beg them for mercy. And now Vitale was doing it right in front of me, holding the woman I love life in his hands as leverage.

“Vitale. Please,” I say. He stares at me for a second longer, but it feels like a millennium. He begins laughing, as he puts the knife away. I notice Rue visibly relax.

Vitale kneels in front of me and tilts his head as he watches me.

“A week, Callum. One week. If Viktor isn’t taken care of by that time, I will take your precious little flower's life, and I will do so slowly, and painfully. Got it?” I nod my head, panic coursing through me. I don’t even know where to look to find him. He’s way ahead of the game. Much further than any of us are.

Vitale rises and motions behind me.

“Uncuff him.” He gazes down at me knowingly.

“If you move, or even flinch before I exit this room, I will have your flower shot down. I hold her life in my hands. Any wrong move you make will result in her early demise. Do you understand Callum?” He narrows his eyes at me. It takes every fiber of willpower I have in me to nod my head.

He smiles.

“Good.” My cuffs are undone, and it takes everything in me not to go for Vitale’s throat.

For Rue.

I keep chanting to myself over and over again until I hear the closing of the door. I sprint to Rue’s side. Her sobs already washing over the room. I pull her body close into mine.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper. I feel her arms clinging to me, her tears are soaking the front of my shirt.

“Why did you leave me?” she whispers. If my heart weren’t already broken, it would have shattered in that moment. I squeeze my eyes shut.

“I’m so sorry princess. I thought I was protecting you. I thought I was showing you that I loved you. More than anything.” I say. I feel more anger boiling up inside of me. I never could have anticipated this kind of betrayal. Not from someone so close.

“I promise you, Rue. I will get you out of here,” I say. She shakes her head.

“You know he’s not going to let me out even when you kill that man he wants,” she whispers.

“You’re a threat to him now. And forever will be.” I hate to admit it, but she’s right. Vitale is officially a part of my kill list. And the moment he lets Rue go is the moment he no longer holds control over me and will be the moment that I decide to kill him. Things between us will never be the same. He has betrayed me in the worst way possible, by taking the one thing that made me human. The one thing that I have ever loved. And for that, I will make him pay.

There is no way he is going to give Rue back to me, especially after I finish the job for him. He enjoys having me completely at his will too much. The question is, how do I get Rue out of here.

I pull away, holding her head between my hands as I look into her eyes. Each time I take in her face it makes me blind with rage. The fact that Vitale or one of his cronies put their hands on her, deliberately to cause her pain causes me such a rage. I use my thumb to wipe away the tears falling freely down her face.

“Rue. I want you to listen to me, ok?” I give her a serious gaze so that she knows that this is very important.

“I’m going to get you out of here,” I say.

“Who did this to your face,” I ask.

“Vital,” she whispers. I don’t miss the flash of fear that strikes her face as she mentions his name.

I give her the best smile I can.

“I’m going to get you out of here, and I am going to kill him. Slowly, and painfully. For everything he has done to you,” I say. She nods her head, gazing at me with wide eyes.

“I love you, Rue. And will protect you. Always,” I say. Tears spill over, and she nods her head at me. I lean in and kiss her. I kiss her with everything I have, because the next time I see her, may very well be the last. She reaches her hand up, places it over mine, and closes her eyes.

“I love you too, Cal,” she whispers. In spite of the circumstances, I feel joy. I feel pure, untainted joy. She loves me. And that is more than enough for me.

I stand to leave, and I don’t miss the tightening of her grip on my arms. For this, Vitale will pay. He will pay dearly. I will personally ensure that.

* * * * *

The office around me is plunged into darkness. I prefer it that way. I love the dark. It comforts me. Inspires a part of me that is primal and instinctive. It’s taken some work. Some really hard work, and lots of digging. But I have finally uncovered Boris Viktors office. And now it’s time to force upon him my will.

It’s obvious this man is in a totally different game than Vitale. Even his security was harder to take out than usual. But I didn’t kill them. Even though I really wanted to, because I need him.

The door to the office opens slowly, and in comes Boris Viktor. He turns on the dim light, illuminating the room. This man screams power. From his powerful build to the scar running up the side of his face. He’s dangerous and not afraid to get his hands dirty.

His icy gaze lands on me and shifts from one of irritation to amusement.

“Ah. It seems has finally paid me a visit. I’ve been expecting you,” he smiles, taking his jacket off and setting it on the nearest chair.

He calmly walks around the chair, sitting down and crossing his legs as he folds his hands out in front of him.

“Well. Do you have a jar for me?” he asks. I stare him down, sizing him up. I then let out a small laugh.

“Yes. I have jar alright but it’s not for you,” I say. This piques his interest.

“I did take note that all of my men were still alive as I came here,” he says.

“That is out of character for you.”

I lean forward in the chair I’m sitting in.

“I have a proposition for you,” I say.

“A chance to get the biggest pest you’ve ever had out of your life for good.” Viktor smiles at this.

“I’m assuming you mean that spineless weasel, Vitale.”

I nod and begin explaining everything that has happened to him, and my plan to him. And he listens. Very intently. Once I finish my explanation he seems to be thinking.

“I like it,” Is all he says. So I wait for him to continue. Because I know there’s a catch.

“It would be nice to have him out of my life for good, but what do I get, other than rid of him?”

“Name your price,” I say. At this point, I’m willing to give him anything. He laughs, shaking his head.

“No. I don’t want money.” He leans back in his chair, eyeing me, and I immediately know where this is going.

“I want you.” Silence stretches over us.

“You do realize the reputation you’ve conjured for yourself don’t you Callum? Imagine, you working for me? We would be unstoppable. Untouchable,” he says.

“Don’t act like you’re ready to give up killing because of that woman,” he smirks at me.

“It’s something that is in your nature. It’s in your blood. You managed to take out my entire security team and make your way into my fortress. That takes skill, Callum. And that’s the kind of skill I want working for me.” He stands from his seat, walking towards me.

“So. I help you kill Vitale and all his men, and help free your woman, and you work for me.” I gaze at him untrustingly.

“You won’t touch her, will you,” I ask. I hate how vulnerable I sound. But this seems like the only way to save Rue.

“I swear. On my honor.”

“And honor to me, Callum, is a very big deal. She’s as good as family. As long as I get you,” he says. I stand myself, reaching out to shake his hand.

“Deal.”