1:03 am
"A cut palm is pretty serious," Marcus said. "Too bad I don't care. This injury could put you out for a few weeks. Good thing you won't live to see those weeks."
"If you're going to kill us, why not just stick a bullet in each of our temples now?" Ashlyn asked.
"That would be too easy," Marcus stated. He grabbed her face with his left hand. "I want your parents to feel helpless. It's all about the message. A bullet would be too clean. When they see you two in body bags, I want them to see the pain you went through. They deserve to know it was long and drawn out."
Marcus released Ashlyn's face. He turned his attention to E.J. He walked around them to face the older Caswell cousin. "You're probably the mastermind behind the escape attempt," Marcus interrogated. "Typical Cash Caswell cockiness. Wouldn't expect anything less from his son."
"And your father has always been complicit," Marcus said. He returned his attention to Ashlyn. "You know what Cash fired me over? I refused to represent a child murderer. Your father, who I always stood by, didn't stand up for me. To quote one of my favorite films, 'He's just a jellyfish version of him. Everything but the spine.'"
"So, what now?" E.J asked. "Or are you just going to talk until we die of boredom?"
"Someone needs to remember their place," Marcus said. "You need to be punished."
"Something tells me you were already planning something," E.J responded. "So, what's next?"
"Oh, we're not going to hurt you," Marcus stated. "That wouldn't teach you a thing. I think the only way you'd learn is if I hurt her. She's more than just a cousin, am I correct? You think of her like a sister, correct?"
"Don't you dare touch her," E.J said.
"It'll be okay," Ashlyn whispered. Marcus began to untie the ropes. Once they were all off, Ashlyn lodged her foot into his appendage. She hit the appendage between his legs. Marcus hunched over. Ashlyn rushed to her cousin's side, trying to free him of the ropes.
"Smart move," E.J said. The ropes fell from E.J's body.
"Let's run," Ashlyn said.
"You fucking bitch," Marcus screamed. The familiar feeling of a gun pressed into Ashlyn's head. "Follow us, and I'll blow both your brains out."
Marcus dragged Ashlyn out of the room by her hair.