by Stuart Keane
Taking a left past Erith Museum, she took a quiet moment to soak in the building’s lacklustre appearance. She scanned the scene before her and scoffed at the local government’s ridiculous effort to brighten up the place by simply adding an ugly sculpture of a dancing fish. Ridiculous. Was it life imitating art, or art imitating life? She couldn’t really give a fuck; Shay’s mind was on other things.
She smiled and rubbed her forearm, caressing the trophy that she had taken from the young boy yesterday. His bright blue neck scarf curled around her left arm, providing a little warmth and comfort. A token; a gesture, just to let Odette know that she had really sealed the deal. She rubbed the softness of the scarf with a smile on her face, parts of the fluffy edge now encrusted with the child’s dried blood.
She walked across the road and rounded the next corner before spotting the old Pirelli factory. The structure stood vast and wide, cutting an angular dent into the bleak horizon. The property seemed faded and neglected, as if the long years had washed the colour from its complexion some time ago, an appearance only enhanced by its emptiness and abandonment.
The factory nestled in the deepest shadows of the industrial estate, tucked away at the rear of the long thoroughfare. Nobody appeared to be in sight as she made her way forwards. The building, a monumental industrial shed with high windows, overshadowed its only neighbour to the right-hand side. The building was ancient and in a state of severe disrepair. The facing gable was void of several cladding strips, which now lay on the concrete like withered corpses, torn away by the elements or curious vandals, leaving the exposed steelwork beneath. Shay stepped through a hole in the rusted fence with no effort at all, and smiled.
Perfect.
Complete isolation. No one was coming, and no one would hear them.
Their little clandestine meeting would run smoothly, interrupted.
Shay knew in her own mind that besides her messy body count, she was already one up on Odette. The woman walked forward, aiming for the centre of the factory grounds, and paused. She could wait for Odette’s arrival.
She couldn’t help but smile.
Odette watched with interest and curiosity as Shay arrived at the factory, and marvelled as her companion randomly circled the wide cracked concrete below. She didn’t look up, and she didn’t seem worried about the deserted location. Odette bit her lip and nodded.
Calm, calculated. A psychopath in their prime.
We did warn you, but we’ll keep quiet and let you focus.
Odette sighed. What is she doing?
She’s either looking for you, or scoping the place out.
Both, probably.
She doesn’t know you’re here, and didn’t expect you to think ahead of her. Typical psychopathic ego. No one is better than she is, in her warped mind anyway.
Score one for us.
Kudos on the lookout point, by the way. Good tactical call.
Thank you, Odette thought, and smiled.
She watched from a makeshift scaffold platform that adorned the right side of the decrepit building, the poles and wooden platforms stretched the entire length of the crumbling structure. She chuckled into a gloved hand, highly amused. Her other hand caressed the brickwork carefully, spilling white dust and cobwebs from the multiple cracks.
You’ve been here thirty minutes. When are you going to make your presence known?
Not yet. I need to check something first.
Odette continued to gaze at Shay, her eyes captivated by the woman. At first, she hadn’t recognised her murderous companion. Blonde hair now lined her flawless face, and a new outfit enhanced every inch and curve of her shapely body. Even from this distance, and courtesy of the flickering safety spotlights that were scattered around the factory grounds, she noticed Shay now had a deep tan. Odette was aware that the dark skin was part of the woman’s regular beauty regimen, be it fake or sunbed applied, and she looked glorious. Shay turned towards her, face on, and Odette noticed that her eyes were twinkling. She couldn’t miss the sly smile on her face.
Someone’s been having some alone time.
I know. R and R. Why can’t we get some of that?
Because you’re nothing but a voice in my head.
Yes, but … you know. What you feel, we feel.
Well, get me through this alive, and I’ll think about it.
Niiiiice.
Shay turned and walked towards an isolated battered oil barrel, its edges charred and mangled by fire and neglect. Odette observed as Shay ambled over to it, calm and casual and without a care in the world. After a second, she paused. Looking around, Shay lifted a long knife from the back of her trousers, the blade sheathed in a leather holdall, and placed it in the barrel. Rubbing her hands, she walked away, her weapon now in place.
Got you, Odette thought.
Shay slowly circled the ground floor of the structure and headed towards the isolated barrel. She knew that she had arrived at the location before Odette; it made sense to her to get there a little early, to prepare for the worst. She felt the comforting weight of the knife as it pressed into the small of her spine. She was positive that Odette was on the straight and narrow, she was a total noob after all, but it never harmed anyone to be sure. A psychopath is never predictable; she’d learnt this from harsh experience. Besides, in an isolated, decrepit building like this, you never know who could be lurking about in the deepest shadows.
She slipped the knife from her waistband, glanced left and right, and placed it in the barrel, which was filled with burnt bricks and cinder. Smiling, she turned around and walked away.
Shay briefly cast her mind back across the past few days; it had been a hell of a journey, the perfect way to follow up her discharge from the hospital. Once this thing was out of the way with Odette, she was already planning on going out on her own venture. She was classing this challenge as nothing more than a training exercise, a way to blow the old cobwebs loose.
Yes, after this was over and she had won the challenge, she was going to return to her old ways, and go on her own killing spree, one like the world had never seen. There would be no rules, no restrictions, and certainly no fucking limited body counts.
She thought back to the doctor that had treated her in the facility, Doctor Harris.
How would he feel about all of this? Would he be disappointed?
Probably, but she didn’t really care. Hell, maybe after all this over, she could go and pay the man a nice visit. He shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Stop letting your mind wander and keep your eye on the game.
Right, Odette.
She called you out and asked you here, and judging by the tone of her whiny text messages, it looks like she’s gone all pussy on your arse, and probably wants to back out altogether. Who could blame her if she lost it, and didn’t have the balls to follow through?
Being a psychopath isn’t for everyone, after all.
But, it means that you only win by default.
“That’s not good enough,” she muttered.
If she wants to back out now, she has some serious explaining to do. I’ll be surprised if she does, judging by her solid performance in Gavin’s bedroom the other day. She was harbouring some seriously aggressive urges, and it would be a damn shame to let those go to waste.
Shay thought back to Gavin, and once again, the familiar tingling sensation begin to stir in her loins. She ran her hands down her thighs and stroked, groaning a little.
For fuck’s sake, Shay. Time and a place.
Her daydream was suddenly shattered when she heard the crack of some old concrete, and watched as a crumpled brick toppled from a vast black opening in the building before her.
She smiled, looked up and called out. “Odette, is that you up there?”
Odette flinched as a brick crumbled loose from the building wall. The heavy object bounced off the wood floor beneath her, unevenly arced into the air and fell to the ground below. It hit the concrete and exploded with a crunch. The noise
sounded catastrophic in the silence.
Shit.
Odette cowered into the shadows. Did she hear that?
Of course she fucking did, even Helen Keller would have flinched at that.
Dammit! Fucking crappy building.
Odette skirted along the scaffolding that lined the building, found the down ramp and followed it. When she was at a safe height, she leapt off the scaffold and into some overgrown grass. She rolled off her feet and onto her back, cushioning her fall. The foliage creaked gently beneath her nimble frame, the long blades yellowed and bent through age. Off to the left lay a rusted shopping cart, the grass knotted and strewn through its lattice basket. Regaining her feet, Odette followed the building around to the right and stopped short of the courtyard.
Peering around the edge of the brickwork, she located Shay. She was gazing up at the building intently, her twinkling eyes narrowed, scrutinising the area that Odette had vacated mere moments before. Odette allowed her gaze to wander to the barrel and the concealed weapon, and then flick back to Shay, who was walking towards the building. A few seconds later, she stopped by the fallen brick, and stood there silently.
“Odette? You there?”
Odette cowered a little behind the building.
She’s onto you.
I know.
Unless you can get to the gate and pretend you just arrived.
Which gate?
The one behind her. Technically it’s just a hole flanked by two steel bars now, the actual gates seem to have vanished, but you get my point.
Odette nodded.
Here goes nothing.
Odette took one final glance at Shay, ensured her back was turned, and stepped out into the open. Quickly yet quietly, she walked towards the former gate, cutting a diagonal line behind Shay, her feet silent on the concrete. She winced a little, her speed increasing as she neared her destination.
She noticed a grey brick wall to her left, the last crumbling remnants of a building now forgotten. The other walls lay in a broken heap behind the last standing structure, the debris somewhat fenced off by a feeble metal fence. It looked dangerous from her position, unbalanced, and she realised the spotlights were here for that reason, to protect anyone stupid enough to enter the grounds.
We’re nearly there. Not long now…
Until she caught her foot on a broken slab. It clonked loudly, shattering the silence.
Odette froze, and quickly recomposed herself.
Shay turned around and saw her, then smiled.
“Hi. I just got here. Did I just hear you calling me?” Odette queried, playing innocent.
“Yes, I was calling you, bitch. How else would you know I was here?”
Shay stared at Odette. She had to admit, she looked good. Her silky brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, revealing her beautifully soft skin, deep, passionate brown eyes and pouting, pink lips. Even with minimal make up, she was simply stunning, a woman that radiated natural beauty, even in the dingy grounds of a disused factory.
Shay glanced at her, resisting the urge to smile.
Get your mind back in the game, for fuck’s sake.
She held up her wrist, twisting it slowly in the light, and showed off the memento from her prey the previous day. “Do you like my new scarf? An innocent young boy in the park gave it to me yesterday. My parents told me never to take gifts from a stranger, but considering I pilfered it from his cold, dead corpse, I think I can have this one exception.”
Odette looked at the item with a wry smile, and a glint in her eye, but didn’t respond.
Shay felt threatened, and a cold tremor of fear, a feeling unfamiliar to her, trickled down her spine. There was something about Odette’s distant demeanour, something unusual and something callous. She seemed shifty, away with the fairies, and a little off. Her body language was giving nothing away, but there was definitely a glint in her eye, something alien and primitive that wasn’t there before. She carefully flexed her arms behind her back, wishing she’d kept the knife on her person.
Shay took a tentative step forward. Seconds later, Odette did the same, mimicking her companion’s movements. Neither woman spoke, and they remained silent for a long moment, eyes on each other, appearing to size one another up while toeing the line.
For the very first time, Shay marvelled at Odette’s impressive physique. She thought back to their previous encounters; sitting down, crouched over, drinking at the diner, mutilating a corpse, and not once did she ever see Odette standing upright in full profile, in front of her. Even their brief blood shower had stunted the view somewhat.
That’s when it struck Shay that Odette wasn’t wearing a coat.
In these freezing conditions, anyone not wearing a coat was either insane or intending to participate in some kind of physical activity. Shay licked her lips and her pupils dilated. She began to feel the adrenaline surge around her system as her body became aware of the potential fight ahead of her.
Tilting her head to the right, she cracked the muscles in her neck.
She addressed Odette. “What’s the matter, bitch? Cat got your fucking tongue?”
XIX
Is this bitch for real?
Yep. She’s as real as they come.
There’s many different types of psychopath, but a psychopath with total disregard for her wellbeing is the worst. I mean, we have a code of honour so to speak, and this woman spits in the face of it.
Yep.
You knew this all along, didn’t you?
Odette nodded. Said nothing.
And this is why you want her to be your third and final victim?
“Indeed,” Odette muttered.
I’m so proud. Our girl’s come so far…
Do I hear a cracking voice? Are … are you crying?
No, not at all. I just have a sniffle … hay fever.
You’re a voice in my head, you can’t have hay fever.
Yeah, well…
Besides, this ain’t over yet. Save the gushing and pride for when we actually end her.
“You talking to yourself?” Shay uttered, sidestepping, her eyes firmly on Odette. “I hear that’s the first sign of madness, you know? And trust me, I’ve known my fair share of crazy.”
Odette nodded. “I know, that’s fairly obvious.” She slowly stepped back, putting a safe distance between them. Her eyes resisted the urge to flick to the barrel and its concealed ‘surprise’. She relaxed a little. “So, how’ve you been, Shay? I hear killing innocent kids and murdering people in public is your forte now.”
Shay frowned, slightly confused at Odette’s sudden outburst. “What the fuck? And who do you think you’re talking to? You really have lost the plot. Besides, the kid had to go. I needed to ramp things up to ensure that I won this pathetic challenge. I have won this little challenge, haven’t I? My best guess is that you lied, and you haven’t even killed anyone yet.”
Shay began flexing the taut muscles in her shoulders and arms, and the tension was building in the air, she could sense it. However, she was still unsure of Odette’s motives.
“You seem a little on edge, S. Why is that?”
She knows she has real competition. For the first time in her life, she actually feels threatened. Kudos.
Well, how about that, Odette mused. She stifled a smug chuckle. “You scared? Are you worried that, despite your claims, I may have won this challenge already? I haven’t kept you informed of many of my activities, so how could you possibly know if I lost?”
“Scared? You need a dose of reality, bitch. I’m guessing based on the facts, I’ve been reading the papers and watching the news with a curious eye; I haven’t heard anything about your so-called victims. Did you actually go through with it? Surely if you already had a tally and some impressive kills under your belt, I would have already heard about it.”
Shay tried to regulate her breathing, her heart was thundering inside her chest cavity like a bass drum, and the fine hairs were standing up on the back of her neck.
She staggered and groaned, the sound deep, her flesh slippery and her lungs short of breath.
Odette looked calm, more composed and in control. Apart from the odd twitch and the bizarre fact that she seemed to be mumbling to herself, she was as calm and collected as could be.
Shay stepped forward, a hesitant step that took all of her will power. He knees were trembling, but she tried to hide the inconvenient spasms. “Listen, Odette. I’m a busy woman, and I plan to be even busier.” She breathed out, low and hissing, the wind tickling her lips. “Now, if you could please get around to why you’ve arranged a meeting here, that would be great.”
“Well…” Odette started, and turned around in a circle. She held her arms out, the fingertips gliding on the chilled afternoon air. Shay watched her with a confused stare, bemused and irritated. Odette completed her circle and stared at her foe. “I want to end this. Now.”
Shay laughed. “You’re kidding, right? I’ve already won. This, for me, is over, and has been for more than twenty-four hours.”
“No, I’m not talking about the challenge. I’m not talking about your accidental kills, kills that were a result of your crappy temperament and your uncontrollable bloodlust. Over the last few days, I’ve learnt a lot about preparation, I’ve realised just how essential that aspect of a murder is. Real kills demand preparation. By the sounds of it, your kills were nothing but timely flukes, fate ensuring that people were in the wrong place at the wrong time. A serial killer chooses her victims, but they never choose her.”
Shay stepped forward and snapped. “Flukes? Are you for fucking real? If you could have been with me in that nightclub, fighting for my life with every inch of my being, helpless and crippled while I watched another woman get slaughtered, you would have seen that it was no damn fluke.” Her face creased with vehemence, and frothy spittle flew from her mouth, the sputum flying just wide of Odette’s face. “I’ve just about had enough of your condescending shit. You wanna end this? Let’s fucking end this.”