MELT: A Psychological Thriller (41 page)

They both looked mesmerized.

Those two don't usually pull such brain dead expressions.

'Holy crap,' said Alex.

'Is that real?’ asked Megan.

Chrissie painfully found her feet and limped around the chest so she could see the front.

Oh, now I get it.

On the front of the chest, in large gold letters was written:

 

PROPERTY OF THE RMS TITANIC

Oceanic Steam Navigation Company

Chapter Twenty-eight

 

'It’s locked.' Megan pointed at the ancient-looking padlock.

Two more clasps secured the lid, but neither looked lockable.

'Is it a trap?' Alex cautiously approached the chest.

Megan shrugged. 'We're following Chrissie's rules now.'

Chrissie tried to recall her high school history lessons. Instead, scenes from the
Titanic
movie with Leonardo DiCaprio popped into her head.

'When did the
Titanic
sink?' asked Alex.

'1911 or 1912, I think.’

'You think?' asked Chrissie.

'I'm not sure,' said Megan angrily. 'You went to school too, didn't you?'

Alex pointed at the lid. 'Look at this.'

Screwed to the lid was an engraved metal plate. Chrissie scraped it clean with the knife.

 

Infirmary Pharmaceuticals

RMS Titanic, Olympic Class

Oceanic Steam Navigation Company

December 4th, 1911

 

'It's a medicine chest,' said Alex.

Megan rubbed ice over her neck. 'Can it really be from the
Titanic
?'

'It probably floated,' said Alex.

'Open it,' ordered Chrissie.

Megan tapped the padlock lightly with her orange shoe.

'I know,' yelled Chrissie. 'Find a way to open the lock!'

Alex pointed at Chrissie's pistol. 'You can shoot it off.'

Shoot off the lock?
thought Chrissie.
With only two bullets left?

'You're trying to waste my bullets.’

'One bullet will open it. That lock's ancient.'

People shoot locks off in movies,
thought Chrissie
. Does that work in real life?

‘Why do you want it open?’ asked Chrissie suspiciously. ‘You think everything’s a trap.’

Alex turned to show the acid burns streaking his back. He pointed at the engraved metal plate. 'That says there are pharmaceutical supplies inside. I need pain killers. We all do.'

Chrissie couldn't argue with that. Her foot felt like she'd stood in a fire. Every hour the pain seemed to grow worse. She suspected it was infected.

But I need both bullets.

If the last person alive wins, she'd need one bullet to kill Alex and one bullet to kill Megan.

Unless there's another way.

Her hand dropped to the folding knife clipped to her skirt.
Could I stab Alex after he opens the chest? And then if Megan can't free us by deciphering the artifacts, I can shoot her and be the last person standing if that's the way to win.

Chrissie went over the plan again in her mind.

'What are you thinking?' asked Megan.

'Shut up,' snapped Chrissie.

This is the only way. Do it now before they realize.

Chrissie put the pistol muzzle against the padlock.

Step one, shoot off the lock.

'Cover your ears,' Megan told Alex.

Their chain rattled.

Chrissie's hand shook. Once she pulled the trigger, she'd be committed to the plan.

It’s me or them.

She squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

The sound raped her ears, ramming further into her head than any noise had a right to penetrate.

The gun jerked.

The lock jumped.

Chrissie knelt and tugged the lock.

It didn't open.

She tugged harder.

It won't open.

Where before hung an old padlock, now hung an old padlock with a bullet wound.

It didn't work. The chest is still locked, but now I've wasted a bullet.

I've only got one bullet left.

Chrissie thumped the chest three times. 'Fuck...fuck...FUCK!'

 

 

#

 

 

Chrissie glared at the lock.

This is just an obstacle. It won't stop me. I just need a way to break this lock.

The chain rattled behind her. Alex glanced at the lock. 'Oh, that's a shame.'

Chrissie pointed at Megan. 'Find a heavy artifact and start pounding that lock open.'

Megan began to move, but the chain halted her.

Alex didn’t move.

He waved at the chest.

'We're not opening that, Chrissie.'

Chrissie looked down at her pistol.
He knew a bullet wouldn't open the lock. He didn't want painkillers. He tricked me into wasting a bullet. Well, I won't be wasting the next one. I should just shoot him now.

Megan obviously read body language better than Alex. She grabbed Alex's unshackled wrist. 'Quick, Alex. Do what she says.'

Alex didn’t move. ‘I've had enough. She's planning to murder us both anyway. Fuck her. She’s worse than the people who put us in here.’

'Not now,' Megan insisted. ‘Please, Alex.'

Alex shook his head. ‘I’m finished being her slave. Her rules are getting us killed.’

All Chrissie's pain and anger transformed into white hot fury at Alex. Her fury had a will of its own. It demanded she put the gun in Alex's mouth and watch his brains fountain from his head like red fireworks.

So be it
, she thought.
Alex gets the bullet. Megan gets the knife.

Chrissie needed to get closer for a clean shot.

She stepped toward Alex and asked, 'But you'll follow Megan's rules?'

Alex lifted his acid-pitted arm. 'Look at us? The acid nearly scalped Megan. Half of your foot doesn't even have skin. If acid toenail polish isn't a good enough reason to follow the rules, then you're brain dead.'

'Alex!' Megan pleaded.

Alex whispered something to Megan.

Chrissie couldn't hear it.

Megan looked surprised.

After a moment, Megan nodded.

He just said goodbye
, realized Chrissie.
He's sacrificing himself. He thinks he's saving her by using up my last bullet on himself. He doesn't think I'll use the knife on Megan. He's the brain dead one. He's going to make this easy for me.

Chrissie took another step forward.

'And Megan makes the rules?'

'No,
they
make the rules.' Alex pointed upward, toward their invisible tormentors. 'Only Megan bothered to read the instructions.'

Chrissie couldn't miss now. That arrogant teenage face was begging for a bullet.

She was close enough to read his tag.

She lifted the pistol.

The barrel was inches from his forehead.

'Alexander Atkinson, just so you know, after I blow your brains out, I'm leaving your corpse chained to Megan.'

Alex nodded. 'You're broken, Chrissie. You were broken long before we met you.'

Chrissie shrugged and shot Alex in the face.

At point blank range Chrissie had no idea what a bullet could do to a human head.

Would she see a single trickle of blood, or an explosion like an egg in a microwave? Would his brains fly out the back or would the bullet disappear like a magic trick?

None of the above.

The effect was so horrible, she didn't hear the gunshot. She didn't even feel the pistol jerk in her hand.

Chrissie lowered the pistol and looked in horror at what her bullet had done to Alex's face.

 

 

ALEX

 

Chapter Twenty-nine

 

Alex smiled.

He smiled at Chrissie’s expression of pure shock.

With tremendous satisfaction, he said, 'That’s a five round revolver, you stupid psycho bitch.'

Alex had never punched anyone in his life.

As it happened, he wouldn't be starting now.

Megan's fist pounded Chrissie's face.

Chrissie collapsed backward, hitting the floor with bone-breaking force.

Megan attacked again.

Before Chrissie even landed, Megan dived on her. She landed right on Chrissie, pinning down her chest and one arm. Pulled by the chain, Alex willingly fell into the fight. He slammed his body weight onto Chrissie's right side, pinning her other arm.

He seized the pistol, wrenching it from her grasp.

It didn't have any bullets, but it was still a big lump of steel.

'She's biting me!' Megan yelled.

Without thinking, Alex slammed the pistol into Chrissie's head.

Chrissie slumped.

Her teeth loosened from Megan's shoulder. She looked dazed, but conscious.

Megan searched Chrissie's pockets.

'I've got my phone!' Megan declared.

'Where's my knife?' shouted Alex.

Blood began oozing from Chrissie’s temple. She glared at Alex with pure hatred.

Megan bled from Chrissie's savage teeth marks.

Alex found his knife on Chrissie’s belt. ‘I’ve got the knife. Now search her everywhere, Megan. She might have found another weapon on Ericsson.'

Megan searched Chrissie in all the places Alex shouldn't. It was more dignity than Chrissie ever afforded them.

Finally Chrissie spoke.

'You and I are the same, Megan, except you're controlling him with your pussy.'

WHACK!

Megan delivered Chrissie a powerful slap.

Before Chrissie blinked away the effects, Alex opened his knife under her nose. 'Listen carefully. My knife never runs out of bullets. Understand?'

Chrissie nodded, but didn't look intimidated.

Megan lifted her weight off Chrissie. 'We're letting you up now. And you're going to leave us alone. Don't talk to us. Don't come near us. Just leave us completely alone.'

'There's nothing I want more,' Chrissie hissed. ‘Get off me.’

Alex climbed off her.

Chrissie lay still for a moment before rolling over and gaining her feet.

Alex braced himself for another fight, but Chrissie just walked away, wiping her bloody temple.

Megan released her breath, relieved.

Chrissie stopped at the artifacts.

'Great work,’ she said. ‘Now we're
all
going to die.’

She lifted her shoe and stomped down on the porcelain plate.

Already crazed with thin cracks, the plate exploded into a hundred pieces.

When the pieces settled, Chrissie glared back at them.

‘Here's a jigsaw puzzle to keep you busy until we all cook to death.’

 

 

#

 

 

His mother worried too much.

She'd wanted to drive him
.

He'd been off crutches a week now. He could walk himself to the stupid dental surgery.

It's good to be out of the house.

He couldn't stand that house anymore. He couldn't stand living in a crime scene.

Stop thinking about it. In a few weeks you'll be nobody again.

He ran his tongue over his teeth, checking for cavities.

Hopefully this appointment is short. In and out. Then I'll send Mom a text mess—

Something lunged at Alex, roaring as it attacked.

Alex lurched away.

Adrenalin thundered into his system.

He spun to face his attacker, one hand a fist while the other reached for his knife.

Wait — it's behind a fence. You're safe.

The massive Alsatian German Shepard wanted to tear him apart. The dog almost jumped from its skin to reach him.

Alex felt instant fury.

If a person stood at this fence threatening every passing pedestrian, they'd be arrested.

Alex gripped the knife in his hoodie pocket and met the dog's eyes.
You'd be the one who ended up dead, not me.

'Everything all right?'

The dog's owner emerged from under her house.

Alex glanced at her. 'Your dog just went crazy.'

The woman grabbed the Alsatian’s collar. 'You shouldn't have touched our gate.'

'I didn't touch your gate,' said Alex. 'I was just walking past. You should tie that animal up. Little kids walk along here. He could kill someone.'

'He's a guard dog,' she said, looking Alex up and down. 'He doesn't bark without a reason.'

Alex sneered at the woman, looking over her shoulder. 'Your house is a fucking dump. Your car is a piece of shit. There's nothing on your side of the fence worth stealing. You just like owning a dangerous dog.'

The woman began to look like the dog.

'Keep walking before I call the police,' she warned.

'For what?' scoffed Alex. 'Walking past your house? Complaining about your savage dog? Your dog needs a bullet. The police will probably shoot it.'

The woman reached for the gate latch. 'Keep walking or I'll let Rogue out.'

The dog went berserk.

Behind his back, Alex opened his knife with one hand. When that dog jumped at him, he was going to stab it so hard he’d kill it twice.

He met the woman's glare. 'Let him out.'

She frowned at Alex, studying his face.

'Open the gate,' said Alex.

The woman pointed at Alex. 'I know who you are.'

She stared at her dog and then yanked him from the gate. 'Come here, Rogue. Down, boy. Down. Calm down, Rogue.'

She dragged the dog under the house without another word.

Alex discretely closed his knife.

He noted the address.
Stupid bitch with her stupid dog.

He was still angry when he opened the dental surgery’s door.

The place was empty.

Good. I won't have to wait long.

The receptionist looked up from her desk and smiled. 'Hello. Can I help you?'

Wow,
thought Alex
. She has a beautiful smile.

Alex nodded and gave her the letter.

Her eyes scanned the letter while Alex scanned her perfect face.

She looked up, met his eyes, and somehow managed to crowd even more teeth into her smile. 'I thought I recognized you. I'm so pleased you came, Alex. I'm Jessica.'

How old is she?
wondered Alex, the dog thing entirely forgotten.
'Maybe five years older than me? She's absolutely gorgeous. Why haven't I seen her before?'

'Are you new in town?' Alex asked.

She nodded. 'I'm interning for credit toward my degree.'

'You're the dentist?' he asked.

She nodded and picked up some paperwork, smiling again. 'You look worried? It's just a routine checkup. No drilling, I promise.'

'I'm not worried,' said Alex.

'Well, come on then,' she prompted, opening a door.

Alex followed, appreciating how she looked from behind.

She must play sports
, he thought.
She looks fast on her feet.

He noticed a scar beginning at her hairline and disappearing under her shirt collar. It appeared something hot had either burnt or splashed over her back.
Ouch — that looks nasty.

Alex leaned on the reclining dental chair as Jessica fetched a clipboard. He couldn't see the normal tools of dental torture.

'Am I the only patient this morning?’

'The surgery only opened yesterday,' Jessica explained, passing him the clipboard. 'Could you fill this in?'

Alex scanned the paperwork. 'We don't have insurance. I mean, we did, with my Dad's job, but he died. Mom's insurance doesn't cover dental.'

'Just ignore that,' said Jessica, donning a blue dental smock and tying it behind her back.

Alex felt awkward. The room had no windows and suddenly felt too small. This whole thing felt ridiculous.

'You know,' he said, setting aside the clipboard. 'My teeth weren't damaged. My cousin needs free dental work more than me.'

Jessica nodded sympathetically. 'Were his teeth badly damaged?'

Alex hated thinking about it. 'His teeth and gums. My auntie was really happy when she opened your letter. My cousin really needs this, but I'm just wasting your time. Sorry for the bother. I'm going to leave.'

Alex headed for the door, but Jessica grabbed his hand.

She grabbed his hand firmly, almost urgently. The unexpected, intimate contact stopped Alex cold.

Jessica shook her head. 'I can't help your cousin. Another dentist will do that. One with more experience. I sent you the letter myself. After I read what happened, I wanted to help. I wanted to help
you
.'

She released his hand. Her eyes looked intensely concerned. She glanced at the door.

She means it,
thought Alex
. She's really worried I'll leave.

Alex went back and lay down on the dentist's chair.

'Should I take my hoodie off?'

'No,' she answered softly. 'You'll need it.'

Alex made himself comfortable.

Jessica clipped a heart rate monitor to his finger and said, 'Can I ask you a question?'

'You can ask me anything you like.'

'Why didn't you accept the Bravery Award from the Senator?'