Animal shrugged. "I don't know… over the last five years I'd say eighteen or so, as well as numerous extreme hardcore films." "
Eighteen or so snuff films. Eighteen or so bodies. Used and discarded like trash.
*1 still don't understand why you do it," Lisa said, Animal's story pulsing in her brain. "You told me how you got into it, but… I still don't understand."
"I do it because I like it," Animal said, and the simplicity of his answer chilled her to the bone. "1 get extreme pleasure from inflicting pain on other people!
"Pleasure…" Lisa was looking at him, trying to understand. "Sexual pleasure? What, do you come? Does your dick get. hard? Is it like sex? What is it?"
Animal shrugged. "I haven't had normal sex in five years. What I do here… He gestured at Debbie's prone, bloodied form on the bed. "It's the most ultimate pleasure I've ever felt. That's the only way I can describe it. When I… when I don the mask and wield the knife, I feel like a god. I get to choose whether they live or die. They cower at my feet, they beg me for mercy. I completely rule them. I have power over their lives… their death. It… fuels my fantasy and then… then I can go to work on them." He looked so calm explaining this to her. "Then when I cut them with a knife..-. it's like ecstasy. Feeling the blade slice through their flesh, hearing them scream as I cut them, seeing the expression on their faces as the knife slices through… it… it's even better than sex."
The sound of footsteps returning from the side of the cabin interrupted her thoughts, and Animal turned toward it. Lisa's breath was shallow, her mind racing. Al and Tim were coming back; she could hear them talking. Then they would finish what was started yesterday and then it would be her turn. Her turn at a starring role in the grindhouse of death.
"Debbie and I are the first, then," Lisa said, the question coming unbidden. "We're the first people who aren't junkies or homeless people. Right?"
Animal nodded as he stood up to his full height. "Yeah!
Lisa's mind was racing. Tim and Al entered the house, and as they crossed the living room into the bedroom the idea sprang to Lisa's mind full-blown; she was desperate. "Listen," she said, looking up at Tim. "Please let me go. If you let me go, I can get you somebody that could take my place-*
Tim traded glances with Al and laughed. "Who you kidding, lady?"
'Please, just listen to me! Before Brad and I stopped at that rest stop, we stopped for breakfast in North Hollywood. There was a woman there that we gave money to. She had just been kicked out of her home and-"
"They ain't looking for homeless chicks," Tim said, scowling. "I thought I told you that yesterday? That's why I was scoping that rest area out. The group we're shooting this film for, they were gettin' tired of the same kind of chicks. That's why-"
"But this one's difkrent!" Lisa said, her nerves on edge. "She's only been on the streets a few days and she's gorgeous! She's-"
"Forget it' Tim said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. "I don't give a shit if this chick's a supermodel. I ain't-"
"But she's beautiful! She's a… a professional, and she's intelligent. She's really pretty, she's not a drug addict or a prostitute and she'd fit perfect!" Lisa glanced back and forth from Animal to Tim. "Please… I'll even help you find her. I know where she is and-"
Al and Animal laughed. Tim chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a riot, lady. Why the fuck should I go out and risk my neck in getting this other bitch? I already got you. For all I know, this chick is probably just another whore like all the other ones, or she doesn't even exist!
ill pay you!"'Ihe adrenaline was flowing through her veins, making her feel light-headed. She could feel the dock ticking on her and her unborn baby's life. "I'm a lawyer-4 was just made a partner in my firm. I can give you whatever these clients of yours are paying you. I can get you the money immediately!"
Al looked intrigued. He looked at Tim. "Money talks, Tim."
Tim stroked his chin nervously.
Al turned to Lisa. 'You can match it, huh?You sure?"
"Yes," Lisa said, her heart thumping. "I can not only match it, I can find the woman for you. Please, just take me down there with you and I promise you that-"
"You can come up with ninety grand cash?" Al cocked a questioning glance at her. "You got that kind of money?"
"Yes!" She and Jeff had around sixty thousand in their joint savings account, and another sixty grand or so in their IRAs. She was fairly certain she could cash out her IRA quickly if she hit her bank at the right time. She also had her wedding ring-there was five grand right there. "I can get it," she said, straightening herself up. "Hard cash."
The three of them were glancing at each other, and as Lisa watched the exchange she realized she'd struck a nerve with them. She'd hit the gold mine. With the exception of Animal, the only reason they were engaged in this was for the money. Hadn't Tim told her that over and over again on the drive up after her abduction?
"I don't know," Tim said shaking his head. "I can sure use the extra money, but… I got a product to deliver in three days." "
"I can help you get her by the end of the day," Lisa said, desperate now "If we leave now, we can be in LA by two or three, and I can have the money to you by four. Please, I'll do all that and-"
*And lead the cops right to us," Tim said, angrily. "No fucking way."
"N-no," Lisa said, her voice cracking. "No police. I swear to Cod, I won't tell anybody."
"What about your husband?" Al said, an irritated grimace on his face. "He's gonna call the cops, you know they're gonna be involved anyway.'
"I won't say anything!" She said, pleading now "Please… I don't know your names, I don't know what you look like, I've never seen you before in my life. You're four black men, but you may have been Hispanic or Samoan or something. I don't know, it was too dark and I couldn't see, and you had me blindfolded and you knocked me out and… please, I won't say anything!"
Al looked at her for what seemed an eternity. He turned to Tim and shrugged. "1 can sure use the money,Tim!
No, man," TSm said, shaking his head. "I don't like it. I mean, I got orders-"
"Fuck that shit," Al said, turning to Tim. "You telling me you'd be willing to throw another ninety grand down the toilet? You shittin' me?"
Animal had been standing in the corner during the exchange, fists clenched at his sides. He was silent as Tim shook his head. "I don't know, man, I don't like it. I mean, I did my part, but.. "
Al turned to Animal. "What about you, Animal?"
1be money would be nice," Animal said, his features suddenly darker than they had been when he'd just seemed like another young professional. 'But the itch is gettin' strong. Rankly, I could tear into this bitch right now if you let me. I don't give a shit who I do. Long as I get mine"
Al turned to Lisa. "Well, that settles it for me. Animal's ready, and we already got you and the other bitch. I say we just do them both tonight and-"
Before Lisa could stop herself, she let it blurt out. "The other woman has a baby!" They stopped and turned toward her. The atmosphere in the room got heavier, as if cold water had just been dumped on everything, setting the flames to sizzle and steam. Lisa could feel the blood pounding in her veins. "She has a baby girl," she heard herself, instantly hating herself for saying it. "Probably not even a month old. You can have her, too. Please.. "
The three men were silent. Animal's breathing grew heavier. Al shrugged at Tim. "Well… Animal's always wanted to do a baby. It might be. " He shrugged, a mixture of unease and anticipation on his features. "Hold on a sec." He pulled a cellular phone out of his jeans pocket and stepped outside, dialing a number. Lisa watched him leave with a growing sense of dread.