Grin

by Keane, Stuart

  *****

  “Scott, Scott!”

  DCI Scott sat up, coughing. His throat felt tender, his mind cloudy and floating. He tried to sit up and fell sideways. DI Howes lifted him by an arm, supporting his weight with her frame. Scott shook his head, pushing the cobwebs from his mind.

  “Where’s Dani?” Howes asked.

  “Fucked if I know. She…she…”

  “What’s this?” Howes wiped the blood from his forehead and mashed it between her fingertips. “Did she kiss you? It looks like lipstick.”

  “No, that’s blood.”

  “No shit,” Howes uttered, pulling a radio from her belt. “All officers, be on the lookout for a teenage girl, about five-nine, brown hair, pretty messy. Approach with caution and apprehend. Defining features are two large scars on her face, a Chelsea grin. She is armed and dangerous.” Howes shut the radio off. Scott laughed, sitting down on the desk.

  “You’re pretty chipper for someone who just got assaulted,” the DI said.

  “She’s probably long gone by now.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “That’s just it,” Scott uttered, wiping his face. “I don’t think we’ll see her ever again.”

  *****

  There’s so much wrong with this dark world, so much depravity in society.

  We expect innocent people to live in a world that sees them attacked, assaulted, robbed, taking advantage of – all on a daily basis. Culprits are criminals, strangers, family members, and government corporations, all inspired and motivated by the one thing that corrupts us all.

  Greed.

  Old men mugged in the street for their measly pension. Women raped and violated because certain individuals get a sadistic kick out of such an activity. A cripple is evicted from his home because he can’t keep up payments on his house, payments inflated annually by the very bank who offered him the loan, knowing full well his finances were ultimately restricted.

  People beaten in the street.

  Humans gunned down for no reason.

  Women forced into prostitution.

  Teenagers mutilated and left for dead.

  I know a little about that last one. I lived through it after all.

  I see the scum on the streets and it makes me sick to my stomach. I had my revenge because I was fortunate to do so. Others aren’t so lucky, those who are unfortunate enough to fall foul of crime, those who are victims of everyday bad luck and disgusting human behavior.

  Those people need someone. Someone who can have their back, someone who can fend for them in the way that is right, someone who can seek out those who did them wrong and exact some justice.

  Those people need someone.

  Those people deserve someone.

  Those people have someone.

  My name is Danielle.

  I am Grin.

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