Love Or Death?

Four

The air felt heavy as soon as I closed the door behind me. For some reason, Jack told the two men to stay outside, as if he was hiding the room from them and I couldn't see why.

It was like every other room but just empty and a few couches and tables here and there. I stared in disbelief as he pulled a lever on the wall, opening the walls then shelves of different kinds of containers emerged from all three walls. My stomach turned as I realized most of one of the walls of shelves contained jars of human parts and remains.

"Welcome, Zipporah," Jack said, slouching himself on the couch, "Isn't it lovely?" He demonstrated to the walls.

"What kind of sicko are you and what do you possibly want from me?" He asked sharply, placing a hand on my hip.

"I don't want to sleep with you or anything like that, I would like you to join me instead."

I scoffed, "Whatever this is," I waved towards the jars of human parts, "I want no share of it, I'd rather die."

"I'm not going to kill you, Pumpkin," he chuckled briefly, "If we don't agree I have no choice but to let you rot in here, bit by bit, literally. I won't kill you, you'll live, but you'll beg to be killed," he said, not looking in my eye for even a second.

"You don't scare me as much as you think you do, Jack," I said rather boldly for someone whose heart was racing at an abnormal speed and utterly was petrified.

"At least hear my offer first before going all beast mode on me. For all you know, it might not be as bad."

I crossed my arms to my chest, "I'm listening."

"It goes all the way back to when all this started. You see, I'm a businessman and a scientist, naturally, I'll have a lot of enemies, people trying to bring me down that wouldn't just let go, like pesky lice," he coughed, taking a step towards one of the shelves to grab a jar and place it on the table.

"You see, guns don't work anymore nowadays and as much as I'd love to, I can't do all the dirty work myself–"

"So I should be your f*****g hitman?"I blurted out, interrupting him as the rage built.

He had his head bowed, shifting his leveled gaze towards me with a stern face, "Rule one, don't ever interrupt me. No, you aren't my hitman. This job is far more delicate and not just anyone can do it."

"Can I at least know what I'm going to be working for? Is this some sort of secret cult or Mafia?" I inquired.

"None. We don't label ourselves but we are definitely not a cult, we are in business, it's just this business is a lot more…well…risky than others. We just have a lot of enemies, unpaying customers, contract breakers, snitches, you know…the likes," he explained.

I frowned my brows, taking a seat directly opposite him, "So more like a white ass Mafia?"

"Technically."

"So what can I possibly do for you? I have little to no skills in combat, and can't shoot a gun to save my life, why not just let me go and we'll forget this even happened?" I mocked.

"You might not be that but you're physically fit and drop-dead gorgeous."

"Thank you," I felt my cheeks warm.

"And you have a figure to die for. All this flattery is unnecessary since you're well aware of what you are so let's just cut right to the chase," he said.

He stood, walking towards the shelves that had a number of plants in jars. He took one by the handle, a beautiful, gold silky plant I had never seen before.

"This, pumpkin is what you're going to help me with. You see, this plant here is activated only by the skin of the shaft or head of the male genitals."

"What!?" I was shocked, to say the least, my ears refusing to digest what I just heard, "elaborate," I demanded.

"It is a lab-grown, highly poisonous plant. It does nothing if it's swallowed or anything related but if it's rubbed on the shaft or head of a p***s, it goes directly to the brain, shutting it down to give some sort of heart attack scene in a matter of 3 to 20 minutes," he explained like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"How the hell does that even work? I wonder how many have died during the testing phase," I said rather bluntly.

"I just told you how it works, the only thing I need you to worry about is how to get it on their p*****s. I picked you because of your irresistible charm, any man in a regular club or restaurant would love to pin you down the minute you ask," he took steps towards me, stopping to place his hand on my face. I haven't felt this disgusted by getting touched by an attractive male before.

"Your innocent yet so bad face would do just the trick. How old are you, love?"

"23," I blurted.

"Young. Quite young but will do," he turned on his heel back to the table. Once he opened the lid for the plant, the aroma filled the room, "Lovely right?"

"Indeed," I couldn't lie, it smelt like a luxurious perfume, "How do I even get it there? Of course, a criminal mastermind like you would be conscious enough to make sure no leaf is rubbed on your p***s, no?"

"You can blend it, spray it on your tongue, and give a blowjob. It wouldn't kill you and it doesn't taste bad at least."

I sighed, "What's in it for me?"

The brief silence was enough of an answer for me but he spoke, "You keep your life," he paused, a thin maniacal smile appearing on his lips.

"You keep that car of yours, that fancy apartment, you could get a better one of course. You won't need to go back to your wretched job, you'll be well taken care of too. I hope you like going out cause you're going to be doing a lot of that. Most of these scumbags are easy but some are married, and as bad as they are as people, they are surprisingly loyal husbands so that will need a little extra going out."

That was it, I was going to be a bonafide w***e. Sleeping around with absolute strangers just to keep my life and they die after. How long would this have to go on? Was it going to be a few months or days of that before he's satisfied and kills me after? Can't I just run away?

"Zipporah," my heart jumped, snapping me out of my racing thoughts, "don't even think about trying to run away, defy me, or tell a soul. You have a pretty unforgettable face and I have more people than you know around the country."

It was like he could read my thoughts, he could read me through my very forehead, sensing my fear and anger. His words hit me like a truck, instantly dimming my mood or any bit of hope I was deceived to have.

"Can I go home now?"

"Sure, but you'll be escorted of course. I have your number and your address, you'll be sent the plant, your target, and all the information and materials you might need," he fiddled with the jar in hand, not giving me a single glance, "you can go now, pumpkin," he turned towards me to smile.

I opened the door quite easily to see one of the friendlier-looking guards standing outside. His face was straight and strict but I could tell, there was something about him that felt some sort of pity for me or at least didn't want to be here as much as me.

"Let's go," his voice was rather calm, turning on his heel to walk in front of me. He took periodical glances to make sure I was still behind him.

As we walked, I scanned the place and unlike what I thought initially, it didn't look anything close to normal. If the police were to take a glance at a picture of this place, it would be a nationwide search if they didn't give up.

The most absurd thing about it was in such a place of business, people were publicly having s*x in the most abnormal ways. I could put together that was the reason why it was basically underground anyway.

As we got to the parking lot, I noticed Landry's car was no longer there. They must've taken care of it to not raise any suspicion, probably dumped his body somewhere with the car to set up some sort of accident. I couldn't help but think of the children, hopefully they take care of them too, at least the little one.

"Just obey," the guard whispered, his baritone voice penetrating my bones with vibrations, "I'm Devin by the way."

His face had become softer as soon as he took off those sunglasses, a thin smile on his lips trying to make me a bit more comfortable. I scanned him with a straight face, his cheekbones were defined, his tanned skin matched his hazel eyes and bold features. He was rather attractive but something smelled of familiarity about him.

"Hi Devin," I said bluntly, rubbing my forehead with a deep sigh.

"Tired I can imagine."

"Considering how I just saw my sugar daddy get slashed by the neck and melt right in front of my eyes and I suddenly have to become a professional w***e if I want to stay alive, all in just one day, how could you tell?"

The silence lingered after my sarcastic outburst. He stuck his eyes on the road, obnoxiously tapping his fingers on the steering.

The drive was quite long, I was still confused about how he knew my exact address when he only woke me up when we got there. At this rate, for my sanity, I rather banish curiosity and concern.

We took the elevator up to my floor as he looked behind me, the sleepiness still in my system so much so I forgot he was even there.

"Why the hell are you still here? Do you want to tuck me in?" I asked, stopping in my tracks as I turned the keys to my door.

He looked rather worried, like he was trying to hold back something. He simply stood there, his eyes boring holes into my head, "What!?"

"I left the microphone on me in the car, you seem like a sweet girl, and I would like to tell you the truth about what you think you're getting yourself into."

His demeanor changed, he was a bit more serious, I could see his pupils shaking like he was carrying a lot on his mind, I would like to know what exactly was going on for a change.

"Come in."