Chapter 46: What Are You Going to Do?
"Are you ready?"
Clad in a black T-shirt, Kerry Mulligan stood in front of the chair where James Franco was bound, her doll-like face brimming with excitement. "If you're ready, just let me know."
James Franco sensed something was amiss but nodded nonetheless. "I'm ready."
"Please wait a moment." After uttering these words, Kerry dashed off to the makeshift prop warehouse. James Franco was left puzzled for half a minute until the blonde girl returned carrying a large toolbox. Placing it on the ground in front of the chair, Kerry said, "Sorry for the wait. I need to prepare some things."
"Prepare things?" James Franco stared at the toolbox, filled with screwdrivers, pliers, a claw hammer, and a utility knife. "Aren't we rehearsing?"
"Oh!" Kerry slapped her forehead, grabbed a pair of pliers, and stood up, tilting her head to look at James. "I need to get into character. Reenacting scenes from the script will help me get in the right mindset."
"Huh…" James Franco was at a loss for words.
Watching from the corner, Murphy stifled a laugh, opting to remain unseen. Kerry seemed to be nothing more than a sheltered girl indulging in harmless pranks on James Franco.
This might be for the best, ensuring James Franco didn't cause trouble for the production.
"Can we start?" James Franco's voice broke the silence once more.
Kerry, holding the pliers, flashed a sinister smile. "Impatient, aren't we? Let's get started."
With that, she opened the pliers and made a menacing move toward James Franco's nose. He instinctively leaned back, relieved that Kerry's lack of experience resulted in loose bindings.
The pliers grazed his nose, and James Franco could feel the cold metal.
"Kerry!" His expression changed. "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Kerry withdrew the pliers, then used her hand to strike James Franco's shoulder, hitting him hard. James Franco yelped, "What are you planning, Kerry!"
Kerry withdrew her hand, crossed her arms, and stood before James, looking down at him. "Giving you what you deserve!"
James Franco looked at her, bewildered.
"Do you think I don't know what you're up to?" Kerry stared him down. "James, wake up. The game is over, and it's time for you to wake up."
Hearing these words, James Franco was startled. His soul was laid bare beneath Kerry's angelic exterior, revealing a demon's heart.
Suddenly, James Franco saw a shadow of someone else in Kerry – Murphy Stanton.
"Don't other girls might be afraid of you pedophiles, but not me!" Kerry picked up the script from the couch and waved it at James. "Murphy has told me how to deal with scoundrels like you since the day you joined the cast. His script is the best way."
"Hey, Kerry, listen to me." James Franco defended himself loudly. "The real villain here is Murphy, not me!"
"Shut up!"
Hearing him attack her friend, Kerry grabbed the water bottle and threw it at James. "You despicable scumbag! Don't you dare smear Murphy's name!"
Kerry stood up, grabbed the utility knife, and advanced toward James.
James Franco struggled harder but couldn't break free. Seeing the gleaming knife, he panicked. "What are you going to do?"