Brian sat back, breathing heavily. Her blood stained his hands, warm and thick. For a moment, he simply stared at her lifeless body, a strange look of satisfaction crossing his face. “You’re mine now,” he murmured. “Always mine.” He reached up, his fingers trembling with eerie tenderness as he closed her eyes. Then his gaze shifted to the steel door. The retinal scanner glowed faintly, waiting. He smiled. Bending down, he took the knife again. With precise, brutal care, he carved out one of Jordan’s eyes. The scanner beeped as he pressed it against the glass. A click. The locks released. The door swung open. Brian Taylor walked free, whistling that same low, tuneless song.