Just a Taste Part 20

Ch 20: The Man

Dylan

December 23rd, 2024- Abandoned Orphanage- 10:38 AM

I've never seen Isabella look so... terrified before. And yes, that included when Mulberry tried to kill her.

Her face contorted with pain as her eyes locked onto the suspicious door surrounded by wires.

My instincts told me to run away with Isabella. Jump into the car, hit the accelerator, and leave everything behind us.

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Not now.

Our ally, Margaret, put her safety on the line by helping us. So, until further notice, we're staying here.

"Darling," I whispered, squeezing her shoulders. "Should we investigate the room?"

She nodded, gaze locked onto the door. "Yes, please."

I helped her stand up and commanded, "Whatever's in there, you stay close, got it?"

Lips trembling, she replied, "Got it."

Both of us took a deep breath, steadying our nerves before moving forward.

Placing my hand on the knob, I noticed a temperature difference. Behind the door, there's cold air seeping out at a slow pace. A strange detail, as most of the building was delightfully warm.

My animal instincts kicked in, making my pulse race and sense of smell heighten as I shoved the door open.

Isabella shuddered at the bitter cold burst of air. "What the h-hell? Why's it so c-cold?"

Tightening my hold on her, I admitted, "No idea."

A gaseous hissing noise broke the tension. Followed by humming and grinding-like sounds.

What the fuck?

I reached inside the pitch-black room, flicking the nearby light switch.

Nothing could've prepared us for what it revealed.

The bedroom was converted into a hospital/treatment room complete with vital sign monitors, an intravenous feeding pump attached to an IV, full of something red and sludgy, a side table full of metal instruments, and a portable ventilator hooked up to oxygen tubing.

All of this is encased within sterile white walls and floors; a solitary bed rests in the center.

Who was the patient? An emaciated senior man whose skin looked paper-thin and severely bruised.

Isabella gasped when she looked at the bed. "Oh my God, Grandpa?"

Grandpa? What the fuck?

Tears formed in her eyes. "I hadn't seen him in years. Too busy with work, I thought."

She approached the bed, clenching my hand. "Hi, Grandpa, it's been a while."

The man's dazed and unfocused grey eyes locked onto Isabella's presence. His pupils darted back and forth, as if trying to communicate somehow.

I followed the direction of his gaze to a flat monitor on the wall. "Maybe he needs this?" His eyes bore into me with intensity, confirming my theory.

With a tap, the monitor lit up, revealing a keyboard and a few prompts on a crude list. After angling it, Grandpa Montgomery stared at it with intention.

Excruciatingly slow, he traced the letters with his eyes, spelling out words. Once he had finished, he blinked.

"Hello, Isabella. How are you, my sweet girl?" a robotic voice asked.

"What the fuck!?" both of us shouted in unison.

After another round of 'typing', he blinked. 

"I know this is disturbing to see. Believe me, I wished that things were different, but here we are." 

"How'd you end up like this?" Isabella questioned, gesturing to the machinery. "The last time I saw you, your health was fine!"

He wheezed as he blinked again. 

"Your father did this to me. He's a traitorous bastard!" 

Isabella swallowed sharply as she inquired, "It was about me, wasn't it? Was it about the deal you two made when I was adopted?

My jaw clenched. I vividly recalled Isabella confronting Jerald about a deal that implied someone had adopted her for consumption.

His eyes bore into me. Ah, got it. I'm not supposed to know about their dirty little secret.

"Old man, I already heard the gist of it. There's no point in denying it anymore." I asserted, kissing Isabella's cheek. "I've experienced some of Jerald's evil since being involved with her."

The heart monitor beeped frantically as he blinked rapidly.

"I want to know how you're alive, Diablo? I instructed Possum to 'dispose' of you days ago! And how fucking dare you touch my granddaughter!"

"You're The Man, aren't you?" I asked with an icy tone. His eyes narrowed at me. "Jerald was my source, so his involvement made me curious about the others' identity."

"Yes, I'm the one who's given you purpose for years. Endless fat paydays for a stack of fresh meat, and yet you betrayed me! Soiling Isabella's perfect white rabbit meat, snitching on a fellow hunter, and then you tried to kill my son!"

Isabella interjected. "He deserved it! Daddy abused me, lied about everything, and he murdered Mommy! I wished he had died from his injuries!"

"Do you wish me dead too? For being involved in everything?"

She laughed. "Looks like you already are. Who's keeping you like this?"

As if on cue, someone approached from behind. "Me."

We turned around and immediately regretted it. Margaret stepped out of the shadows with a solemn smile.

Anger boiling, I grabbed my knife and lunged at her. Isabella clutched my legs, stopping my attack.

"Stop! She helped us, remember?" She cried, struggling to contain my aggression.

Margaret held her hands up in surrender. "I was instructed to lead you here, Isabella, should I encounter you during the manhunt. Jerald isn't my boss, but Johnathan is. Loosely."

"That's just great. A pawn who works for the king of organ trafficking has duped us!" I snarled, pointing my knife at Margaret. "You're probably feeding Jerald our whereabouts, aren't you?"

She shook her head. "No, I wouldn't. I hate him with all my soul! Look at what he did to his father!"

Hissing and beeping disrupted the argument.

"Margaret's telling the truth. I figured eventually Isabella and her would cross paths, so I gave her specific instructions. Obviously, Diablo wasn't part of the plan. Jerald doesn't know this arrangement exists. The hospital informed him that I was in a private care home on a ventilator, which put him in active control of my assets. Most of them, anyway."

Lowering my weapon, I demanded, "Why'd you want Isabella here, Johnathan?

"As you can see, my body is failing. Even with these machines, and my human-based 'nourishment', I'll die soon. Before I leave my sinful empire and beloved family behind, I wish to see her face one last time."

Margaret sniffled. "He wanted to say goodbye, dear. After today, Johnathan has chosen... a dignified death."

I exhaled sharply. Fuck, he's doing that? Given his nature, I would've thought he'd die in a bloody blaze of glory or something similar.

"Are you going to report us to Daddy or the manhunters?" Isabella whispered, unlatching herself from my legs.

"No dear, I'm only carrying out my last duties. That's all." Margaret answered, wiping her eyes. "I want a good life for you, Emma, I really do."

"Since I can't stand looking at Diablo any longer, and my sweet girl is here, I think I'm ready. Margaret, stand aside."

Her eyes widened with shock. "Um, but how will I administer-"

"Diablo, I have a last job for you. Once Isabella and I say our goodbyes, kill me. Use whatever weapons you choose, but do not destroy this building. Should you complete this job, Margaret will compensate you from my personal stash. It will be more than enough to start over for both Isabella and you. Deal?"

My eyes drifted down to Isabella on the floor. Her blue eyes were full of tears, glazed over with clinical acceptance.

She nodded. "I love you, Dylan, so I trust you to make the right decision. He's miserable, and I can't stand seeing him like this..."

Turning around, I faced Johnathan. "Deal. Now make your amends, monster."

Isabella stood up and sat on the edge of his bed. "I wish we could've had a better relationship. Like a real grandfather/granddaughter bond, you know?"

"That was never going to happen, sweet girl. Emotional bonds were never my strong suit, and in my line of work, it was better to become distant. In hindsight, I regret that decision."

She giggled softly; tears streamed down her cheeks. "Yeah, I guess so. It's a shame, though, I never got to know you personally."

"I'm a terrible man. Who built an empire on humanity's forbidden cravings, and used pharmaceuticals to secure finances to grow that obsession. Hell, to satiate my cravings, I convinced Helen to adopt you! This unfortunate state that I'm stuck in? It's too good for a demon like me."

Her lips trembled. "For your eternal peace, I forgive you for that."

"You're a kind girl, Isabella. Please, never change. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Grandpa. Goodbye..." she sobbed, hiccupping slightly.

"Goodbye and good luck. It's time, Diablo."

Isabella rushed into Margaret's arms, hiding her eyes from what's to come.

Without blinking, I slashed Johnathan's throat from ear-to-ear. His eyes widened in fear as blood pooled out of his marred neck. A few seconds later, the life left his eyes.

The monitors went crazy when his vitals crashed. Dutifully, Margaret unplugged them, while covering Isabella's eyes. 

On December 23rd, 2024, at 10:53 AM, Johnathan Moore Montgomery died. 

May his soul burn in hell forever.

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, and incidents are fictitious and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, organizations, or events are entirely coincidental.

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