The jet engines droned on outside amidst the howling storm. She replayed everything that had led her up to this moment, fast-forwarded it in her mind’s eye like one of Alligator’s sick video recordings. She saw herself kissing Sophie through the window of the big black car, saw herself toasting the others with champagne, then poisoning poor Max, or whatever his real name was, she’d probably never know now, the man she’d killed. It had all led here, to this point in time. Her, alone in this cabin. And only one thing mattered to her, only one thing in the whole wide world. “Sophie... is she alive?” The words felt like an open wound to her. She waited for Alligator’s reply, unable to breathe. He didn’t make her wait long. “I’m afraid not. I took out her pretty eyes. That is your punishment. She cried out for you Jo, I never thought she’d stop...” Jo screamed through her tears. “I don’t fucking believe you!” But Jo did believe him, and that was the most terrible thing for her to admit.
