She sniffled and nodded her head and I released my hold on her arms.
“Don't you think you're overreacting a bit? Come on, I know you liked it too,” I said with a grin.
Her fist collided with my jaw and knocked me off the top of her. She picked herself up and tried to start running, but I latched onto her ankle and tripped her.
The phone rang and she crashed to the floor, knocking over the corner table with the little knick-knacks and coasters. She tried to scamper away but I held on tight and dragged her back. I climbed back on top of her and clamped my legs around hers.
RINGRINGRINGRINGRING!
She tried to scream again but a swift blow from my fist silenced her. Her dazed eyes rolled in their sockets and a dribble of blood leaked from her mouth. I snatched one of the throw pillows from her couch and pushed it down on her face.
RINGRINGRING!
Realizing she couldn’t breathe made her start struggling again. Her nails dug into my hands, drawing blood. I pressed harder and harder on the pillow, even throwing my upper torso on top of it to trap her talon-like nails.
RINGRINGRINGRINGRING!
One of them cracked and broke off, lodging itself into my flesh.
“You bitch!”
I pushed down harder, I could feel her nose through the pillow. I put my full body weight on it and a satisfying crunch, followed by a yelp, let me know I had broken it.
BEEP!
“Hey honey it’s Dad. Just calling to see how you're doin'. I was wondering what night you'd be free for dinner, I miss you. Gimme a call back, I love you!”
God I hated that guy. Charles fucking Green. He was just too... Nice. And it bothered me for some reason.
I realized the movies have it all wrong; it takes far more time to smother someone with a pillow to make them just lose consciousness, let alone kill them.
It felt like an hour had passed but it really only had been maybe a couple minutes or so before her body finally went limp. Winded, I rolled off of her with the pillow and lay there beside her for a few seconds. She looked absolutely ravishing lying there like that, disheveled with her hair all messed up.
Beautiful.
I put my index finger to her pulse and felt that it was still throbbing, faintly. I wasn't sure how long she would be passed out for so I got up and hurried into the kitchen. She had a “junk” drawer that she kept a bunch of miscellaneous items in, one of which was Duct Tape.
I rolled her over onto her stomach and taped her wrists together nice and tight behind her back, followed by her ankles. I even checked to make sure she wouldn’t be able to reach and get to the tape. Nice and secure. I tore one last strip off and placed it over her mouth and returned the tape to the “junk” drawer.
By the time I returned, her eyelids were starting to flutter open. I stood over her for a moment admiring her astonishing beauty. Her eyes bolted open as I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder. She squirmed and wriggled about like a worm but I held onto her tight, and walked out the front door.
When I got to my car I reached into my pocket with my free hand and pulled out the keys to unlock the passenger door. I turned the lock, but right as I did, she lurched off my shoulder and hit the pavement with a thud and a crack, some bone breaking. Perhaps her collar bone. I heard her whimper a bit followed by a muffled cry, and I turned to find her trying to scrunch her body up and extend it away from me down the driveway, almost like a caterpillar. I got the car door opened and grabbed her by the ankles to drag her back. I pulled, scraping her up something fierce, and she fought me when I tried to shove her into the seat but I managed to get her in and shut the door.
I got in the car and clicked my seat belt.
“Buckle up for safety hun,” I said as I reached across her and clicked her own seat belt. It was an odd mix of anxiety, confusion and worry that spread across her face. I couldn't tell which was more dominant. She looked tired but it could just be the bruises under her eyes from her broken nose.
I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway and started driving down Sunny Lane, never did like the street. Too many willow trees canopied the road. Stupid name for a street like this.
“We're just going to my house, nothing to worry about.”
I stroked her hair to calm her down but she flinched away from me.
“Just relax,” I told her and gave her a playful flick on the forehead. She strained against her bindings, but I had put so much tape on her that I would have trusted it to hold my entire car together.
The streets and scenery passed by me in a blur. How could I pay attention to what’s around me with a goddess like her next to me? But even still, I had to be careful. Other people wouldn’t understand what was going on between us.
“I know you liked it as much as I did. We had both been waiting so long, I just had to do something about it. I know you understand, you’ve always understood me.”
Fresh tears of joy sprang from her eyes. I wondered if she could read my mind. She couldn't seem to keep still. She must be excited for what's to come.
“Isn't it great though? To finally release all of that passion that had been building up? God... I held it in for so long. Too long, too many years. I know it must have pained you just as bad if not worse. But we don't have to hold back anymore. Doesn't it feel great!?”
My voice reached a fevered excitement as I continued, “I say we get out of this place. You and I never really cared for this town too much. I say we move into the city. And the first thing I want to do is take you somewhere nice. You know, one of those fancy restaurants, we can get all dressed up and everything.”
Such bliss it would be... I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
Her body was wracked with shivers as she wept, unable like myself to hide the happiness. Poor thing must be cold.
There was only one more intersection before Memoir Drive and I caught a glimpse of a headlight on the right side of my car, just behind me, while the light ahead of me was turning yellow. I wouldn't want to cause them any alarm, they really wouldn't understand what was going on here.
“Here, let me turn the heater on. You look cold.”
I reached down and flicked the heater on as I merged into the left lane. Damn thing always got stuck at 75 degrees, and after the car sitting out in the cold for so long, the heater blew only cold air.
The light had just turned red.
You wouldn't want them to see you with her like this now would you?
The headlights were getting closer, they'd be stopped right alongside of me in just a couple moments. Without hesitation I slammed my foot on the gas through the intersection.
“Enjoying yourself?”
The Voice In My Head now sat where she had just moments ago. He seemed giddy, and a gleam of excitement shone from his eyes.
“We're here.”
Chapter 2
I recognized the little red car in the driveway, parked outside the garage. A porch light illuminated the front of the little one-story house. Very quaint but also smack dab in the middle of the street with neighbors all around. A wave of apprehension washed over me and I immediately second guessed this decision.
“Aren't you going to park?” The Voice asked.
I pulled alongside the curb and turned the lights off but I didn't shut the car off.
My palms left little sweat smudges on my steering wheel and my legs shook.
“I'm not so sure about this anymore.”
The Voice In My Head threw himself back into the seat and let out a groan.
“Oh come on, what happened to all the bluster and fury and 'he needs to die' and such and such? This was your idea and your decision to make this happen, not mine.”
“I've never killed anyone before.”
“You haven’t? Hmmm… Interesting. ”
“That wasn't real. That was...”
Was what exactly?
“...That was in my head. You said it yourself.”
“In your head
, in reality, what's the difference? The only difference is that doing something for real actually has an impact. All the fantasizing in the world isn't going to do a damn thing for your head. I mean, you're having a conversation with a figment of your imagination right now and you're questioning your own solution to your problems. Really, what do you have to lose?”
So is this reality then? Am I really here outside of Charles’s house right now, about to kill him? Or is this another fantasy? Did it even matter? It had to right? If it didn’t matter, then the entire thing would be pointless. Nothing would be accomplished. If she’s already dead, then killing Charles wouldn’t do anything. If this isn’t real, then it wouldn’t do anything either. So what’s the point?
“Because it’ll feel good,” said The Voice, “it’ll feel good. Think of it as part of the healing process. You’re mad, so let it out. What good does bottling everything up do?”
Fair enough. Real or not, it would feel good. It might even feel better if it was real. Probably would actually. But either way, I don’t really know so I can’t really be responsible. Right?
“Not at all. Just tell them the voices in your head made you do it.”
Voice, not voices.
I grabbed the keys and turned the car off. The lack of engine noise created an uncomfortable silence that echoed around in a cacophonous roar. The “pop” from my door handle was a cannon shot in the still night, which didn't even compare to the clatter that rang out when I shut the door. Each footstep was a thunder storm of noise. It’s a wonder the entire neighborhood wasn't outside trying to figure out where all the commotion was coming from.
His house loomed up before me, stretching miles into the sky despite it’s one-story stature. I felt like an ant outside of the door.
Just turn the knob…
Locked. Shit.
A light flicked on from the far side of the house. The faint glow it made through the drawn shades was a spotlight shining down on me, giving away my presence to anyone within a mile range. The footsteps were getting closer.
“Don't just stand there!”
The Voice had dashed down the side of the house but I couldn't move, my legs were rooted to the spot and my brain couldn't seem to figure out how exactly my legs were supposed to work.
Another light flicked on. He was right outside the door. No point in trying to move now, he had surely already seen me through the peep hole and all I could do was stand there.
The deadbolt turned, unlatched, and the knob twisted...
And there he was, in slippers and a robe. Must have been getting ready for bed, a far less intimidating figure than usual. His magnified eyes peered inquisitively into me, trying to figure out what the hell I was doing standing on his doorstep at... I don't even know what time.
God I hated those glasses… But his eyes were wet, like he was just crying.
“What are you doing here?”
His tone was mellow and calm, nothing like what I expected.
I managed to stammer out a couple “I's” and “uh’s” and the next thing I knew my hand was on the back of his head, slamming it into the door frame. His glasses shattered and embedded shards of lens into his face. His nose spewed blood and he collapsed immediately. I dragged him inside and shut the door quietly and stood over him. He seemed so much smaller now.
I stomped on his abdomen which made him ball up and roll onto his side, gasping for breath. I really couldn't remember why I was here in the first place, but this did feel so good. Seeing Charles writhe in pain… It was like the first day of Spring. Well, if I liked Spring that is, most people do and that’s where the expression comes from so it’s still applies. Right?
Her eyes blinked, still heavy from sleep and finally focused their gaze straight into my own eyes. She smiled and I smiled back.
Oh yeah, that's right... I was here because of her.
“Come on, let's take him back to the house.”
The Voice In My Head was nonchalantly watching from the arm chair in Charles's living room.
“What if we get pulled over or something?”
“I really think that's the last of your worries. Come on, it'll be a lot more fun somewhere a little more... Comfortable. Here, I'll take his legs you get his arms.”
Charles was unconscious in a puddle of blood. I took his arms and The Voice took his legs. Little drops plopped onto the tile floor, splattering and spattering in pretty patterns. The Voice fumbled around a bit to get the door open and then I had to fumble around to shut it and we made it back to the car.
We got to the trunk and The Voice and I looked at each other, shrugged and dropped Charles on the ground. I popped the trunk and we set him inside and headed back to my house.
Chapter 3
She rested her head on my shoulder as I looked down on Charles from my couch. She made such a pleasant clinking sound with her chains while she nuzzled me.
“You did this to her.”
He turned his face to me, the blood running down the top of his skull must have made it hard for him to see. He tried stammering out something but I couldn't tell what it was. It didn't matter anyways, I didn't want to hear it.
“You did this to her, right here. Dragged her down my hallway. Right there in that room,” I pointed to my room and continued, “so I thought I'd do a reenactment for you. I thought it was fitting. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to grab something from my car.”
I turned to her, put my hand to her cheek and gently brushed it. Her skin was so soft. It didn’t really feel quite right, a little mushier than normal, like it had lost its elasticity. But regardless, I lifted her chin and kissed her lips, or at least where her lips were supposed to be, softly. Her head lolled backwards, exposing the slit in her throat—still fresh, glistening with shiny, red blood.
“I just need you to make sure he doesn't go anywhere OK? I'll be back in a couple seconds.”
Not that I was really worried about him going anywhere, he couldn’t even stand up.
I went out the front door and she stood over him, keeping watch for me. She’s such a good girl. I popped my trunk and took out the baseball bat I took from Charles's house. It felt good in my hand, solid. I couldn’t help but admire the weight before going back inside, shutting the door behind me.
Charles was still squirming on the ground, cowering away from her while she loomed over him, her head hanging loosely down towards him.
The “tap-tap” of the bat made Charles freeze.
One step closer… Tap tap…
He whimpered and rolled over to face me.
One more step… Tap tap…
“God, please no! Please don’t!”
“Shut up Charles.”
One… More… Step…
Taptap.
“Well Charles, it certainly has been interesting. But now it's time for us to say goodbye.”
I gave her a kiss on the forehead and gently brushed the hair from her face.
She had the most beautiful, soulful brown eyes. They stared blankly at me, her lipless mouth hanging open. She looked hungry to me.
“Go ahead hun, wave bye-bye to Mr. Green.”
I spat his last name out, not wanting the syllables to linger on my tongue any longer than necessary.
She wiggled a hand from under her chains in an attempt to wave. Tears poured from Charles's eyes, mixing with the blood.
Her chains jingled excitedly and I took one last step forward, raising the bat high over my head with both hands.
“Please God no! Oh fuck!”
He raised his arm to block the blow as I brought the bat down, smashing into his wrist. A sickening but utterly satisfying crunch, and a scream. Music to my ears.
Charles had managed to save himself a full blow to the face and only received a glancing hit to the top of his head, which split open instantly, spilling fresh blood down his face.
He frantically tried to push himself away from me with his legs, holding his mangled wrist to his chest. Fresh howls of p
ain brought new vigor to my task at hand.
“Oh Charles, why did you have to do that? This could have been over real quick for ya.”
I leisurely followed behind him, bat slung over my shoulder like a regular Major Leaguer, while he clawed his way towards the door. He looked behind himself and the terror and pain splattered across his face… Pure eye candy.
“You've caused me a lot of grief Charles.”
I brought the bat down again, just behind his knee cap…
A crunch, a squelch, more screams of “Oh God!”
And again, this time directly on his hip bone…
The room flickered.
Sort of like how the blank room did... Whatever, that didn't bother me right now.
I brought the bat up again and heard the pulverized bones in his hip shift around in places they weren't supposed to go.
Charles rolled over on his back, not even able to scream anymore through the excruciating pain. A childish smirk leaked across my face, I was a kid inside a candy shop. My excitement was impossible to contain.
Giddily, I hopped over to him and smashed the bat into him over and over again, the room flickering each time. His bones snapped and blood spattered everywhere, all over myself, the walls, the carpet. I would clean it later.
I paused briefly to steal a quick glance at her. I thought her face had some look of approval on it but it was hard to tell. I didn't care though. I resumed the beating, cracking his rib cage with two good heavy swings. I smashed it into his gut, and he spewed up blood and vomit. The stench of copper and stomach acid filled the room, nauseating but the adrenaline kept me focused.
Smack! Another flicker.
“That was a good one Charles!”
Splat! Flicker.
“Hooo... Charles you're getting better and better at this!”
Crack! Flicker.
Squish flicker smack flicker smack flicker crack flicker splat flicker.
Euphoria flooded my body and I stood over him, ready to give the final swing. I couldn't even recognize the bloody piece of pulpy mess before me. He twitched just enough to let me know he was still alive. Perfect.
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