Mind Games

“If you were any better, I might actually beg. And there’s a kid outside.”

“Yes, a kid outside. Exactly. I have to go. Um.” Dragging a hand through her hair, she looked around. “There. That way.” She made it to the door, stopped. “Thanks for dinner.”

“You did most of it.”

“Right. Good for me.” She took a careful breath, then met his eyes. “I’m backing off temporarily and due to circumstances. Just to be clear.”

“I got that. I’m saying the same to you.”

“All right then, good night. Come on, Bunk.”

“Bunk stay.”

She lifted Bray up, then nuzzled into the hug he gave her. “Bunk needs his supper, but I’ll send him down tomorrow to play.”

“Okay.” But he wiggled down to throw himself over the dog. “Bye, bye, bye.”

As she climbed the lane, her system still sparking, she let her mind flow back to where she saw Ty, his son on his hip, watching her walk home.

And into that tiny opening, Riggs slithered.

“All hot and bothered because the pussy-man stuck his tongue down your throat.”

Because she could see him, sitting on his bunk in his cell, the sneer on his face, the hateful gleam in his eyes, she fisted her hands.

“Get out. Get out.”

“Always knew you were a whore.”

Not trying to get in so much as pull her in, she realized. Pull her into the cage with him.

“I’ll take you back there, Riggs, back to that island. Just to hear you scream.”

“Fuck you. I’m here. All that was bullshit.”

“Was it?” To steady herself, she laid a hand on Bunk’s head. “Maybe you’ll die there next time, and they’ll find you in your cell. Your body broken to pieces, your skin still smoking from the burns.

“Try me, you bastard. Just try me.”

“Fuck you,” he said again, but she saw and she felt his fear before she closed him out again.

“Try me,” she whispered to herself. “Because if I can’t stop this from happening, one of us won’t make it.”

PART III

The Gift

To believe only possibilities is not faith, but mere philosophy.

—SIR THOMAS BROWNE

He either fears his fate too much,

Or his deserts are small,

That puts it not unto the touch,

To win or lose it all.