Chapter 121

The fire flickered as if it had a life of its own, hungry and restless. One stray spark would be enough to ignite the gasoline-soaked room. The moment it happened, Vespera would be the first to go up in flames.

Vespera stared at the flames, her heart pounding in her throat, her breathing slowing instinctively.

“Are you scared?” Tina saw the fear flicker in Vespera’s eyes and grinned with excitement. She twirled the flame dangerously close to Vespera’s face. “Don’t be. It’ll just hurt a little when you start burning. You’ll look pretty awful once you’re nothing but charred remains. And the best part?”

“When Lake sees you like that, he’ll be so disgusted he won’t be able to stop himself from throwing up. The last image of you in his mind will be something ugly and revolting.”

The thought sent Tina into a frenzy of twisted excitement and pleasure. Vespera remained expressionless. Any reaction would only fuel her madness.

Tina laughed for a while before suddenly going silent. She ripped the tape from Vespera’s mouth and grabbed her face, nails digging into her skin.

She said, “How about this? Back like a dog for me, call yourself a bitch and beg real nice. Who knows, maybe I’ll let you go.”

Vespera met her gaze, silent and unyielding. She neither pleaded nor flinched. She knew this lunatic never intended to let her walk out alive.

Fear of death was one thing, but if she was going to die, she supposed it shouldn't be entertainment for a psychopath. Tina’s eyes darkened at her silence. She raised a hand and struck her across the face, the sharp crack echoing through the room.

“Not begging, huh? Fine. Then I’ll have someone rape you first, then chop off your limbs, slice your flesh piece by piece, and when I’m done, I’ll burn this whole place down with you in it.”

Vespera’s cheek stung, her skin burning from the blow, but she remained silent, as if she had lost the ability to speak. Tina yanked her hair, forcing Vespera’s face close to hers. Her expression was twisted, unhinged—almost inhuman.

“I’m giving you a chance. Can’t you see that? I’m letting you live, and you should be grateful. All I’m asking is for you to bark like a dog.”

“It won’t kill you. It won’t even hurt you. But if you don’t, you’ll die the worst kind of death. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” Vespera lifted her gaze.

She looked at her and calmly spoke, “Murder is a crime. If you kill me, you’ll have to pay with your own life. Is it worth it?”

Tina froze. Clearly frustrated—she wanted to hear Vespera beg like a dog, but instead, Vespera had casually deflected the conversation. She was already completely at her mercy, yet she still refused to grovel, refusing to break.