CHAPTER 13

She’d drilled two more holes into his body, one in his left shoulder and the other between his ribs.

His screams had been colossal, the pain rolling through his body overwhelming.

And Alisa had smiled the whole time, inhaling his pain, her arousal increasing and making her think that pretty soon she’d need to go to her bedroom to finger herself.

Alisa gazed at him now as he moaned in pain from the drilled holes in his body, wondering what to do next. She pondered for a few moments. Then it came to her, and her face lit up.

She went to the workbench, put on some latex gloves and fetched a plastic bag, then ambled to the surgical table.

“Tell me, Steve, have you ever come into contact with poison ivy?”

He opened his eyes, and she was thrilled by the sheer terror she saw reflected in them.

“You do know what poison ivy is, right? You know, bright green and comes in groups of three?”

Steve’s throat constricted as he nodded.

“Have you ever touched it by accident?”

Steve said he hadn’t.

“Well, I have. Once, when I was a little girl. And believe me when I say that the rash it leaves on your skin itches like you can’t imagine. It itches so much, you want to tear your skin apart. I’m not kidding you.”

Alisa chuckled when she saw the look of horror on his face.

“No, Alisa, please don’t do it…”

Oh my, do I love hearing him beg, she thought, feeling her arousal expanding inside her.

She opened the bag, extracted a single poison ivy leaflet, and waved it at him while she wiggled her eyebrows, moving closer to him, a perverse grin stretching her lips. “Don’t worry, you won’t feel the effects right away. They tend to start within twelve to forty-eight hours after contact.”

She knew this knowledge wasn’t going to help him feel any calmer. Quite the opposite. The anticipation, knowing that the itch was coming but not knowing when, was going to torment him. Which, of course, was why she’d said it.

Her eyes emitting sparkles of malice, she dragged the leaflet across his sweat-covered body, starting with his thighs.

She discarded the leaflet and picked a new one from the bag, just in case it’d run out of its oil.

She moved the new leaflet around his abdomen, chest, arms, even his armpits and soles of his feet—she couldn’t imagine how awful that was going to be, these being such sensitive areas.

Steve cried in silence, desperation and fear rolling through him.

Alisa tossed the leaflet on the floor, extracted a new one, and said, “And now, for the final touch.”

She swiped the leaflet around his cheeks, nose, forehead, and ears, taking her sweet time.

“Well, you’re all set,” Alisa said. She put the leaflet back into the bag and tossed it onto the workbench. Then, she took off her latex gloves, being careful not to let the outer part come into contact with her skin, and threw them into the garbage can. “Now, all we’ve gotta do is wait.”

He wasn’t looking at her, his head sideways, his tears tracing tracks down his cheeks.

Alisa sniggered at him. “If I was in your situation, I’d be so nervous right now. You’ll see, tomorrow you’ll be begging me to scratch your skin. Which I won’t, of course.”

Steve turned his head and locked eyes with her. He wondered whether his eyes looked as pleading as those of the dog he’d been forced to kill the other day. He also wondered if Alisa harbored the slightest hint of compassion, but the sadism in her eyes answered that question.

Alisa looked at her watch. “Well, what do you know, it’s almost time for dinner. Gonna get going now. No dinner for you tonight, I’m afraid. You’ll have to wait until breakfast.”

She turned off the light and said in a mocking tone, “Night night, Steve. See you in the morning.”

She closed the door, and utter darkness enveloped him. Silence oppressed him, except for his shaky breaths and sobs, and panic assaulted him. He was going to die here.

No, you aren’t, a horrified voice whispered in his head. It’s even worse than that. Didn’t you hear what she said? She’s going to torture you for the rest of your life.

Fear usurping his mind, fresh sobs shook his body, a sense of claustrophobia making him hyperventilate.

Just as Alisa had predicted, anxiety coursed through him as he thought about what his skin was going to feel like in the morning, the blood-dripping holes perforated in his body forgotten as fear took over.

◆◆◆

“You did what?” Jeff laughed.

“You heard me.”

“Wow, you even rubbed it on his armpits,” Diana said, grinning. “That’s a very cruel thing to do. Well done.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

They were having dinner in the living room as the sun faded away. Before dinner, Alisa had been in her room, lying on her bed, her jeans and underwear removed as she masturbated, her eyes shut tight as images of Steve’s suffering flashed in her head.

“I remember when you got poison ivy on your ankle as a little girl,” Jeff said. He giggled. “Geez, we almost had to tie your hands behind your back so you’d stop scratching yourself.”

Alisa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I remember. Thanks for bringing back those delightful memories, Dad.”

“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to have it all over his body,” Diana said, looking intrigued and expectant.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Jeff said, and stuffed a sizable piece of pork chop into his mouth.

“Guys, I’m so grateful to you for letting me do this.”

Jeff waved a hand. “Don’t mention it, honey. You’ve earned it.”

“Your father’s right. That asshole down there is getting exactly what he deserves, don’t you ever forget that.”

“And I can keep him, like, forever?” Alisa said, the same way a small kid would ask their parents if they can keep a dog they’ve found in the street.

Jeff shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Let that bastard suffer for the rest of his life. Let him see what happens when he messes with the Dowlings.”

Alisa’s face lit up with a wide smile.

“Also, be creative,” Diana chimed in. “There are so many possibilities for you to explore. Rubbing poison ivy on his body was a great start, though.”

“And the holes you drilled into him,” Jeff said, “you ought to heal them soon, before they get infected.”

Alisa shrugged. “So what if they get infected? You almost sound like you care about him, Dad.”

“Gosh, no. It’s nothing like that. It’s just that infections could lead to complications, which could then lead to hospitalization. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”

“No…I guess not.”

“Just disinfect the wounds with alcohol and put some bandaids on top,” Diana said. “That should do it.”

Suddenly, a hint of apprehension sliced through Alisa. “But, what about the cops? They’re going to start an investigation soon. Maybe it’s already started. And people have seen us together…”

Jeff wiped his mouth. “Honey, do you think I would have gone along with this plan if there was the smallest chance of getting into trouble? I bet you knew this already, but I’ve got contacts in the police department.

If they do come here to question you—and that’s a big if—they won’t be here for long. ”

“They know who your father is,” Diana said. “They know asking too many questions could damage their careers.”

“If they do come here, they’ll be as eager as us to get it over with and leave us alone.” Jeff took a long sip from his glass of wine and let out a relaxed sigh. “Nothing to worry about, sweetie.”

Alisa smiled, reassured.