Sleeping alone, Yet Again.
Maxwell
I look in the mirror and see my own reflection, my skin looks like someone poured a whole container of acid on it. Lines and scars and off colour spots covered my skin, beginning at my forehead all the way down to the palm of my hands. Some of my skin peeled off and for months I covered my skin with bandages and skin creams and fresh moisturizers. My hair is black and thin, and you can see some old stitches on the side of my head. An aftermath of a skull surgery. I visited so many doctors and talked to many specialists. From the public perspective I was deemed a monster. I got horrible stares from the public, ridiculed from others and screams of terror from little kids. Comments such as "Mommy, what's wrong with his face?" I locked myself indoors since that incident. I isolated myself from everyone and everything from that day on. The Fire, the horrible unpredictable fire that changed my life. Changed the outcome of my future forever. My long-term girlfriend Olivia abandoned me at the hospital when doctors whispered to her the bad news. I was going to look like this forever. Ugly, terrifying, disfigured. A horrible science experiment gone terribly wrong. I was going to ask for her hand in marriage and prepare a nursery in our spare bedroom but when I awoke from my surgery there was nothing, but a hospital room filled with silence. No family members in sight, I knew my alcoholic sister wouldn't show. She barely made it off the couch everyday but my own mother, who promised me unconditional love never bothered to show up either. When it was time to leave the hospital, I informed the news to my boss, and she put me on medical leave. Getting paid to stay home until I'm ready to return to work again. It sounds great but arriving home to an empty apartment felt lonely and depressing. This place no longer felt like home to me now, but instead it felt more like a prison cell. Pictures of Olivia and I were still hung up on the walls. Photographs of my old healthy self stared back at me and mocked me endlessly. I walked into the kitchen, old ashes and dust remained on the floor. My kitchen table and unique hand-crafted chairs were burnt to crisp. What used to look like an art masterpiece you could sit on was now destroyed. My window curtains were badly burnt and ended at a short awkward length. The kitchen walls were black and stained from the fire induced flames. When I stared into the kitchen, I received an instant flashback of that traumatic night. I remember hearing those horrifying screams, the sensation of the hot flames burning at my skin and flesh. My body ached and I received sores. The hot pressure was too much for my skin to endure. I tried to look for an escape, out of that burning room but the door handle was red, and smoke was appearing out from underneath it. I tried not to breathe in the heavy smoke, I brought my arm up to my face and began coughing. I was beginning to choke. I was losing oxygen as the fires surrounded me. I heard screams from behind the door. Her voice sounded familiar. I knew in an instant that it had to be my long-term girlfriend, Olivia. She screamed in horror. I can still feel the intensity of fear in her voice. "Maxwell! Don't worry I'll get you help!" She screamed. A large wooden kitchen cabinet fell near me, just inches away from crushing my bare feet. I heard loud sirens outside and people on the crosswalk screaming and crying as they watched the horrific scene. I thought at that moment I was going to die. I prepared myself for a painful death, but instead a fireman broke through a kitchen window and extinguished the flames as they spread more dangerously. I felt cool water drench me from head to toe, my heart was beating very fast, and my adrenaline was rising more and more by the second. The fireman breathed through the oxygen mask on his face, it filled with fog and with his padded gloves he carried me out of my apartment building. I was carried to a stretcher and rushed into an Ambulance. My girlfriend, Olivia climbed onto the Ambulance and sat beside me. I could barely speak. She whispered to me "I promise I will never leave you baby." But now, she was no where to be seen. After seeing what the fire had done to me. Doctors and my therapist told me I suffered with anxiety, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I couldn't unsee that night, it replayed in my mind everyday as if it was a never-ending movie. I suffered with night terrors, consistently almost every night when I tried to fall into a deep sleep. They prevented me from sleeping, I became sleep deprived. I couldn't just pick up where I left off. I couldn't just move on with my life. I hated my next-door neighbor what she had done to me. She was cooking over a hot stove when her phone suddenly rang, she attended to it and spoke for what seemed like a long time when she forgot she had dinner cooking on the stove. She suddenly smelt something burning, her fire alarm had gone off. She rushed into the kitchen to turn off her stove but when she arrived, it was far too late. Her kitchen was up in flames, spreading like a wildfire. Uncontrollably, the smoke kept rising higher and higher. My girlfriend Olivia had stepped outside to receive a package at the front lobby of our apartment building. When suddenly my neighbor came down screaming. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to!" Her face was filled with mascara stains, and she looked traumatized. Olivia grabbed her "What are you talking about?" Then she confessed. The fire she had accidentally started. Olivia ran upstairs to check in on me but couldn't get in due to the heavy flames.
I walked into the living room and sat on my sofa and turned on the news, I kicked my feet up on the recliner and made myself comfortable. Best I could, despite the fabric of the sofa rubbing against the scabs on my skin. I turned on the news, Channel five had interviewed her. My neighbor, Laura Miller. She cried to the camera crew. Stating how much remorse she felt towards the victim. Me. But as I watched her soak up all the attention, I couldn't forgive her and her clumsiness. She received so much sympathy from others, it made my blood boil with rage. It made me want to harm her. Thousands of news reporters wanted to hear her side of the story, but they never bothered to interview me. She was very attractive and petite she caught the attention of many. it only made me want to harm her much worse when the news declared no charges would be made towards her and she somehow avoided jail time during this huge ordeal. I wanted to watch her cry as I ended her life or make her look hideous like me. I wanted to watch her bleed, see her suffer, become weak and wallow in defeat. She was nothing to me now but an enemy. Somebody I wanted to destroy!
I began
watching her through my apartment windows, while I hid behind curtains or moved
my body away from the natural light, only glancing at her from a certain angle
so she couldn't see me. I watched her carry groceries, go into a taxi and leave
for the night, but one particular day was different then the rest. She decided
to hire an interior designer and they spoke about décor and center pieces as
they made their way up the front steps to our apartment building complex. My
hands turned into fist, and they began to shake with rage. She moved on so
easily. As if she just simply dreamt it
or made it up. She even had the nerve to knock on my door and express her deepest
apology, but I refused to let her in. I didn't want to talk to her. I hated
her! She was fine, but I wasn't. Her actions would take a lifetime to fix. I
was the one who had to pay the price for it.
Later that night,
I was able to gain full access into her apartment complex, she had left her front door unlocked and I allowed myself in. I was wearing a black hoodie and black gloves to hide any DNA or evidence I might leave behind. I wasn't about to go to jail for hurting the one individual who destroyed my life. I watched her enter her bathroom and close the door behind her. I quickly slipped into her hallway closet and shut the door. Blending in perfectly to the darkness. I watched her through a tiny peak hole in the hallway closet door. She had a tiny body frame and was wearing cartoon pajama pants and a black tank top. She had microwaved a bag of popcorn and dumped it into a bowl and loaded up Netflix on the screen. She poured herself a tall glass of ruby red wine and she gently brushed her curly bleach blonde hair back and threw it into a messy bun. She curled up on the couch and wrapped herself in a cozy warm blanket. She had the volume on high, and she threw a handful of popcorn into her mouth. I wanted her to hear me. I wanted to scare her, watch her become terrified for dear life. I made something fall off the shelf in the closet. She sat up and pressed pause on her TV. She looked shocked and surprised. She sat up nervously, "Hello? Is anyone there?" She waited for a response but received silence. She climbed off the sofa and began walking around her one-bedroom apartment searching every room but reassured herself it was only her imagination. She heard a sudden loud growl at her window, she jumped and appeared outside. Only to see a stray dog running across the street. Suddenly, she turned around and found herself face to face with me. Before she could react, she found my hands wrapped tightly around her neck, her airway started to close. I saw her life flash before her very eyes. I pushed her tiny body against the hard glass window. Outpowering her, watching her wiggle and squeal. Desperately gasping for air. She put her hands on my gloves and tried to break free from the hold. But it was no use. She was going to die. I pushed her harder against the window, shattering the glass and breaking it, watching it scatter into thousands of tiny pieces. I held her by her neck out in mid air. She cried and tried to hold onto me, eager to hold on and gain some balance rather than plunge to her sudden death. She tried to speak "I'm sorry." She was hoping for forgiveness, perhaps a change of heart from me but she wasn't about to receive that. I looked at her and smiled, "I'm not." I released my hold of her and watched her drop to the cement to her sudden death. She screamed for her life as she fell all the way down a two-story high window. Her tiny body suddenly smacked and collapsed on the roof of a car in the parking lot, and she laid there lifeless. Her eyes were left wide open staring into the starry sky above. I looked down and stared at her body for a while to confirm her death. I quickly turned away and disappeared out of sight, before returning to my apartment.
The Next
Morning, I awoke to police sirens outside of my building. Long Yellow tape
surrounded the parking lot and blood stains remained on the roof of the car of
where her body once was. The news surrounded my building and interviewed many
people passing by. I turned on the television and ate a bowl of cereal "Young
22-year-old College student Laura Miller was found dead this morning; it is
believed to be a homicide." The news tried to make sense of this traumatic
scene, stating she must have had a break in when she awoke and found a robber
in her home, and he pushed her out the window. They had no suspects or leads at
this time. I was glad that bitch was dead, but for some reason I didn't feel quite
satisfied, I had this thirst inside of me that told me to kill more, do more.
This was only just the beginning. I
decided from that day on, that she was my first victim, however she wouldn't be
my last.
I began stalking young girls online, but I had a type. Early twenty-year-olds with
petite body frames and bleach blonde hair. They reminded me of that night. They
became a trigger of that fire that I had to suffer through. Mentally and physically,
however there was only one way to get rid of a trigger. I had to eliminate it
permanently. They needed to go. All of them. One by one. I wanted to see them
cry, beg for their life, become weak, become submissive, willing to do anything
for survival. But I simply wouldn't allow it. They needed to die, and each
death had to be creative, I had to leave little to no evidence behind. Give no
indication that these heinous crimes were my own well doing. I had to hide from
the public, but I was becoming very good at that. I kept to myself and became a
hermit. No mail was delivered to my door and no visitors. Just a man who seemed
to stay inside and spend hours in front of the Tv or so, that's what I made my
neighbors believe. But how would I capture them? My next victims? Every person
who saw me would run for the hills as soon as they saw my appearance. I needed
a disguise. Something to earn their trust. Something that would fool them. My
old Facebook profile were old photographs of the young me, playing sports and attending
work events. I remained it that way and never uploaded any new pictures of my
face. I changed my status to single and began to friend girls online. I never
bothered messaging them, I didn't care to have a conversation with them, but I
did endlessly stalk them. See their hobbies, their interest, where they worked,
where they were going. Some girls were so open with their lives, almost too
opened. This seemed easy, a perfect opportunity was on foot. All I had to do
now was form a plan.
My Second Victim was predictable, she made daily status updates of her every move. She seemed unaware of the dangers of the internet and revealed too much of herself online. She came across as naive, I predicted her death would be simple, easy, little to no effort. Her last update was a digital photograph of herself and her little five-year-old brother. He was dressed up as Batman while she wore a purple and white dress and presented herself as a fairy, she had curly bleach blonde hair in a messy bun and her dress was tight and hugged her small petite body frame. She looked tiny and her shoulder bones popped out. She smiled holding onto her little brother's arm. Underneath the photo she had wrote a small description "I can't wait to go trick or treating with Alex tonight!" It was posted at 6:30 pm and standing behind her stood a tall brown old, abandoned church with an enormous broken clock on it. I knew that church, she wasn't far from my apartment complex. Only fifteen minutes away. I knew they would stay close to that area until Alex, her five-year-old brother got tired and would throw a hissy fit to return home for his bedtime. I logged off my Facebook account and grabbed my black jacket, black gloves and my car keys and headed out the door. I turned the car engine on and drove into town. I parked my car beside the abandoned church and watched thousands of trick or treaters pass by and walk up and down several driveways insisting on having candy as they opened their Halloween bags. I watched with boredom, Until I saw her. My Fairy. I knew I had to have her the moment I laid eyes on her. I just needed her little brother to be gone in the making. I couldn't have any witnesses. It was far too risky. I exited my vehicle and walked down the sidewalks following them but keeping a safe distance. Suddenly Alex pulled on her dress "Sarah, I'm getting tired I want to go home." Sarah hugged him and moments later pulled out her cellphone from her purse and made a call. I hid behind a tree trying not to be seen. She quickly ended the phone call and looked back at Alex. "I called mom and dad, they should be here shortly." I waited a while and a red sportscar pulled up next to the sidewalk and Alex opened the back door and climbed in. Sarah greeted her parents "I'm going to Tyler's Party, it's just down this street. I'll be home later tonight." Her mom kissed her goodbye and then drove off leaving Sarah isolated on the cold Halloween night. Sarah continued walking alone and I began stalking her, matching her every move. She pulled out a lighter from her purse and tried to light it when I saw my opportunity and grabbed her from behind. I pulled her into the bushes and covered her mouth to prevent her from making loud high pitch screams. She began kicking and hitting. I grabbed a fist full of her hair and slammed her head into a tree. I slammed it repeatedly against the hard hollow oak tree. Blood splattered everywhere then I let go and she fell backwards. She touched her head and became dizzy and badly hurt. She looked up at me. "Wait. I know you. I've seen you before." She still wasn't dead. I couldn't let her remember where she had saw me. How she probably saw my picture on the news. I was filled with rage, I picked up a heavy rock that was laying beside her on the ground. I hovered it over her tiny body. I stood above her and watched her cry in despair "Wait! Please don't!" She pleaded. I dropped it and watched it crush her face. She became unrecognizable, such a cute fairy was now a young mysterious woman who was missing a part of her face. The blood dripped down the side of her cheeks and ran down her body. I quickly left the crime scene and blended in with the rest of the trick and treaters. Kids screamed. An older woman looked at me and responded "Wow! Nice makeup you really went full out for Halloween this year!" I nodded and quickly returned to my vehicle. Shit! Witnesses! But what luck, they only saw my face as a Halloween mask and nothing more. I thought to myself. I looked in my car mirror, my face covered in burn marks was now covered in blood as well. Her Blood. My beautiful but now deceased purple and white fairy. Who sadly never got the chance to attend Tyler's party. I shrugged. she was probably a whore anyways.
I was becoming increasingly bored of
easy kills. I needed something harder, something more challenging. Something
that got my heart pumping and hands sweating. Excitement, thrill, intrigued. I
needed something different. My next victim I was extra particular with, I was
starting to become picky.
The next morning
I had turned on channel five and watched the news of a mysterious girl found
dead on Halloween night. The police interviewed a lot of people to gather up
information about that night. They claimed it was a homicide, but they had no
leads and no clear motives at this time. I drank a cup of boiling hot coffee
and continued watching the news. The police had confessed the girl looked very
similar to a previous girl who had died from falling off a second-floor window.
The police had confessed to reopening up that case and seeing if the two have
any connections to each other. I laughed as I watched the news, it couldn't be
more obvious who the killer was. It was right there in their face but of course
they couldn't see it. This was starting to feel like a game, as if I would
never be captured and maybe by the time I did I would have killed many women, a
collection of dead bodies surrounding me. I blew on my hot coffee and took a
sip. I went back to my computer and logged into Facebook. Now, where is my next
victim? I thought to myself. I waited a while, I had heard the police were doing some interviews and I
thought it wouldn't be long until they knocked on my door, I wanted to keep a
low profile until my next kill. I threw a grey hoodie on and went to a shopping
mall, I sat at the cafeteria and watched young twenty-year-old girls from a
distance. I was studying them, how they acted, spoke to others, their body
language. While some were mature and spoke about university classes others were
still in a sixteen-year-old mentality, speaking about the new Ashton Kutcher
movie and new social media filters. I was picky with my next victim; it
couldn't just be anybody. She had to be intelligent but not annoying, beautiful
but not superficial. She had to be unique. Just then a young lady interrupted my
train of thought. "Excuse me Sir, I don't mean to bother you, but I work at the
frozen yogurt booth over there and we're promoting our new flavour. Strawberry
sun kiss, it's very delicious and filled with iced fresh fruit. It's 10% off
today." She handed me a flyer. I looked at her. She didn't scream in horror
when she saw my face, she treated me as if I was normal. I smiled "Thank you."
I took the frozen yogurt flyer from her hand. "Just ask for Katie and I can
staple your flyer for you, and you can try our new frozen yogurt flavour of the
month." I studied her appearance. She had straight shoulder length bleach
blonde hair; her eyes were blue, and she had a petite small body frame. She was
wearing a work uniform. A Blue T-shirt that had her work logo on it and black
leggings. She left the table and handed out flyers to more people who were
entering the cafeteria. I watched her from afar. She was it. She was my next
victim. I was sure of it. I kept the flyer in my hand and studied Katie from across the room. I
desperately wanted to follow her, stalk her, kill her. But there were far too
many witnesses. I grew desperate, angry and impatient. It was as if I had a
sudden addiction to killing. Waiting was becoming hard for me. As if I was a
heroin addict and suddenly, I lost my high and I was eager to get it back, no
matter the drastic measures to do so. I had to feed this addiction. Touch warm
human blood, watch her emotional panic, see her body twitch and wiggle.
Desperate for an escape. It was all a mental game except I was the only one who
knew how the game worked, or how it ended. I figured I needed an alibi to explain
my where abouts just in case the police stopped by my apartment room today. I
wasted time and bought some sweaters and kept the receipt to show the time
stamp. "I did some shopping today, officers. The weather is getting quite
cold." I rehearsed practicing speaking inside my mind. I cruised the whole
shopping mall, when suddenly a voice on the intercom announced that they were
closing. I smiled and returned to the frozen yogurt booth. I saw Katie closing,
and she waved goodbye to her co worker. A very skinny female with wavy brown
hair waved goodbye back and left the food court. Katie left the mall and began
walking towards the basement to the underground parking garage. It was dark and
deserted. I began following her from a distance. This couldn't have been more
perfect, a scene written for a horror film. I reached into the pocket of my
hoodie and pulled out my two black gloves. I put them on. My steps became
closer to hers. When suddenly a bright light caught me off guard. Headlights
turned the corner. I hid behind a pole, supporting the underground parking garage.
The car rolled down its window, it was the same girl Katie waved goodbye to
earlier. I watched from behind the pole. Blending in with the dark shadows. The
girl spoke to Katie "Have a good weekend!" Katie laughed "You Too!" The girl
driving the vehicle drove off in a hurry while Katie was left alone once again.
I was beginning to feel frustrated. I almost got caught! I was more cautious now with my surroundings,
the last thing I needed right now was a witness. Then Katie struggled to find
her car keys in her purse. I ran up to her and put her in a choke hold. I
watched my large arm wrap itself around her neck. She began hitting and
screaming, but all that came out of her mouth was muffled sounds. Suddenly her
movements began to slow down and then in a matter of seconds she became
unconscious. Her eyes were closed, and her body became still. I lifted her body
and carried it into my car. I opened the trunk and stuffed her body inside and
locked it shut. I climbed into the driver's side and fastened my seatbelt. I
adjusted my mirrors and started my engine and left the shopping center and
drove home. I carried her out of my trunk and wrapped her arm around my
shoulder. I walked her into the lobby. A woman in her late forties stopped me.
"What in the world-"I interrupted her "It's okay Miss, She's my girlfriend but
she just got a little bit too drunk tonight. Don't worry she's in good hands."
I carried her up to my apartment, the lady looked back at me but then soon left
the apartment building. I walked into my apartment and placed her petite body
on my bed. I walked over to the kitchen and found duct tape in the cupboard. I
returned to the bedroom and taped her wrists and feet to the bedframe and duct
taped her mouth. "Goodnight" I whispered to her. I left the bedroom and got
ready for bed. I was sleeping in the room across from hers and I left my door
open, I knew if she tried to escape, I would hear her. I folded my arms behind
my head and laid in bed. I stared at an old photograph of Olivia and I. Olivia
was nothing like these girls. For one She had black long hair and for two, my
Olivia was intelligent. I knew she wouldn't walk alone or place herself
somewhere where she might be vulnerable to others. I missed Olivia, I missed
having someone to love. Someone to laugh with, share memories with and hold. I
was beginning to feel uncapable of love. Something so pure and innocent and
magical, something I probably wouldn't ever have the chance to experience
again. Who would ever love somebody like me? I thought to myself. I felt
a silent tear run down my face and then soon I fell asleep. Sleeping alone, yet
again.
It was 10'oclock am,
when I heard a
sudden knock at my front door. I rubbed my eyes and walked over and reached for
the door handle. I was greeted by two large, tall police officers, one was mid
forties, bald and had a thick ginger bushy beard. While the other looked a bit
younger and had thick black glasses that covered his face, and his brunette hair
was combed back. "Sorry to disturb you Sir, but do you know anything about the
murders and a new missing local girl named Katie Cooper?" I acted unaware. "I don't
get out much except for the occasional errand. I don't like to leave my
apartment too much." One of the officers cleared his throat "Do you mind if we
come in? Do you happen to have proof that you didn't abduct Katie last night?
Her mother reported her as missing and well we are slowly building a profile at
the station. We believe there may be a serial killer on the loose." I walked
into my bedroom and then came out with a receipt "I bought a few sweaters
yesterday, but I was only there for an hour, here's a receipt to prove it." I
handed them the small, printed paper. The police officers studied the receipt
"The same Mall huh? That Katie worked at? You haven't seen her?" They showed me
a picture frame of her. I denied my actions. "I never said I didn't see her. I
probably did if we were at the same shopping mall, but I already told you I
only stayed for an hour. Maybe she passed by me but that was all. Officers, I'm
just wondering what kind of profile are you building? Do you have any leads?"
The officer with the ginger facial hair handed me a hand sketch drawing "He
wears all black and he has a few scars on his face." I folded my arms "So let
me guess you just suddenly thought of me because my apartment burnt down months
ago and I have long lasting scars. How dare you! It's bad enough my apartment
burnt down, my long-term girlfriend dumped me and now you're accusing me of
murder?" The officer with thick glasses reassured me "I'm sorry sir, we're just
doing our jobs. We just received a few tips." I turned away "suddenly you have
lifelong injuries and now people label you a monster. I'm not a monster others
make me out to be. I have depression and mental trauma I go to therapy twice a
week I can even show you my prescription medication if you don't believe me."
The officers expressed their deepest apologies and turned to exit my apartment.
I closed the door behind them and locked it shut. My fake depressing act turned
into happiness and cleverness as soon as they left. I was truly a
narcissist. I returned to Katie's
bedroom and slowly opened the door. Katie's eyes were still closed but her body
was slowly beginning to move, I knew she would be awake soon. I walked to the
kitchen and poured her a freshly squeezed orange juice and prepared her
home-made pancakes. I carried it on a food tray and brought it to her. When I
returned to her bedroom her eyes were wide open, her face was watery filled
with tears running down her cheeks. She wiggled her arms and legs, but the duct
tape was far too strong. I peeled the duct tape off her lips. She looked around
the room. "Relax, I'll untie you, but you must not run away. If you do there
will be harsh punishments." She silently nodded her head and agreed. I untied
her and she sat up in her bed. I placed the food tray in front of her. "You
first." She said to me. I laughed. "You think I drugged it or something?
Alright fine I'll take a bite to prove to you it isn't drugged." I took a sip
of her orange juice and peeled off a corner piece of a pancake. She saw me
swallow it and she felt safe to try some. She looked at me as she ate. "Thank
you" She spoke kindly. Her response caught me off guard. "Thank you for what?"
She took a sip of her orange juice. "For providing me with food." Her reaction left
me stunned. Thankful to her abductor? She didn't appear to be normal, there was
something different about her. She was gentle and well spoken. Suddenly my
thirst to kill her vanished. I had no desire to harm this girl but instead I
wanted to keep her. I got up and left her bedroom. I made myself a fresh pot of
coffee. Her head peeked out from around the corner "Permission to explore?" She
spoke quietly, I could tell she was afraid, but she didn't scream like the
others. There was something mysterious about her. I looked back at her
"Permission?" She corrected me "You said earlier if I tried to escape there
would be harsh punishments. Do you want me to stay in my room, or may I come
out? I'm just confused because you left the door open." I looked back and
smiled. I took a sip of my coffee. I like this girl, permission, thankful,
may I come out. There were so many good qualities in her. I thought to
myself. "Yes, you may come out." Her petite body made it's way into the
kitchen. She looked around and studied the place. "Let me guess, don't get too
close to the windows? I can't be seen by anyone?" I took another sip of my
coffee "That's correct, Good Girl." She sat on her knees in front of the
television. "Permission to watch Tv?" I followed her and handed her the remote.
"Yes, you may." Our fingertips touched. Her hands felt cold. I offered her a
blanket and she wrapped herself inside of it and smiled at me. I sat on the
couch behind her, and we watched the news. "Police believe we may have a
serial killer on the loose, this individual killed two young women and now a
local girl named Katie Cooper has gone mysteriously missing. If you have any leads,
please contact your local police department-" Katie quickly turned off the
Tv. She became quiet. She slowly turned around and faced me. "You killed those
two girls, didn't you? Are you going to kill me too?" I watched her demeanor suddenly
change. I placed my coffee down on an end side table. "Now that's a hard
question to answer. Let's just see if you behave nicely and follow the rules, I
might just let you live." Katie pushed her knees up to her chest. She looked
down at the floor, "Okay." She nodded. She seemed polite and easy going. I
liked her but I was onto her. Perhaps this was all just an act. She wasn't what
I was expecting.
Katie
I awoke in a strange
bed I didn't nearly recognize. Where am I? What's happening? I thought
to myself. I tried to get up, but I felt a strong pressure keep my body still.
I looked around and realized my body was duct tape forcibly to the bed frame
and I wouldn't be able to escape on my own. I tried to scream for help, but my
voice was mute. Duct tape permitted my lips from moving. I cried in horror as I
tried to imagine who would do this to me. But nobody came to mind. Then a man
appeared in the room. He was carrying a food tray with what looked like to be
freshly made pancakes and tropical orange juice. He placed it on my lap and
untied me. He gave me a fair warning what would happen to me if I disobeyed and
that I was held captive. I studied his face for a while, he looked familiar,
but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. He had a face filled with scars and
some patches of an off-colour complexion that didn't seem to match the rest of
his skin. He looked to be an acid victim. I wondered if perhaps he was a drug addict
and maybe, he got severely burned from all the pipes and inhaling. I was
curious but I knew if I asked him, it might trigger him, so I stayed silent.
Pretending not to be bothered by it. He was mysterious, as if he wanted a
victim but wasn't quite clear on his planning. It seemed almost spontaneous.
After he fed me breakfast, he left my bedroom door opened and poured himself
some coffee from the kitchen. His behavior was rather odd. He either wanted me
to follow him, or perhaps he was playing a game with me. A game of which rules
weren't properly explained, and his only intent was to win. I peeked my head
around the corner and caught him staring at me.
But then something caught the corner of my eye. I saw a picture frame
hung on the wall of a young woman and him. He was kissing her cheek and she was
smiling. The picture frame had writing below it "Olivia's twenty seventh
birthday." Olivia. they seemed to be in love. Was he lonely? Is that why he
abducted me? Then I had a clever idea...
Maxwell
I was very suspicious of Katie. I couldn't understand how someone could be kidnapped but yet remain so calm and collected during the whole ordeal. She adapted very well to her new environment, even when I told her I was installing a large locking system on my front door that prevented her from leaving. She was a sweet, humble girl who didn't seem the slightest bit scared of my appearance or even me in that matter. I wasn't used to it, but it was precious. Rare, unique something to cherish. She offered to help me with chores, she confessed she was rather bored, and she felt awful watching me cook and clean alone. I gave her simple tasks to do but sure enough she followed instructions and obeyed. This didn't feel like imprisonment to her. She seemed almost happy, as if she wanted a weird abnormal friendship with somebody as hideous as me. I tested her loyalty wondering when she would give up this act of charades but everyday her personality never changed. I loved hearing her laugh, we bonded over movies such as Saw and Final Destination. She even asked about the girl in the old photographs, and we talked about Olivia. Katie became a good listening ear and I felt at that moment that I could trust her. She reached for my hand. I knew my skin looked different from hers, but she didn't seem to mind. She gave my hand a small kiss. "I think I'm falling in love with you." She looked deeply in my eyes. I let a tear run down my face. "But… I'm ugly." I whispered, "You're not ugly." She reassured me back. She laid her head on my chest and drifted into a deep sleep. Falling asleep to the rhythm of my beating heart.
After weeks of captivity Katie and I developed a routine, we almost felt as if we were a real couple. I liked her in my home, I didn't feel so isolated but still I had a thirst to kill. Perhaps I could keep her but kill the others? Perhaps she could be the only exception? I couldn't understand why I had such a strong sudden desire to leave her be. Why I felt so close to her, but I did. I told my therapist that I saw weekly that I had a new girlfriend in my life, but I changed her name. I knew I couldn't reveal her real identity, I had to keep it a secret. "Have you been practicing your breathing methods we had spoken about?" I nodded. "Have they been helping?" I lied between my teeth. "Yes, very much so." What a stupid exercise, I thought to myself. My therapist reassured me "Well you have certainly come a long way. You are a bright young man. You have a kind heart and you have survived the unthinkable. You are truly an inspiration. You should be proud of yourself. I believe it may be time to take you off your prescriptions and release you from therapy. But if you ever feel depressed or suicidal, please don't hesitate to call me." I sat in my chair and let her words stay afloat in my head. "I am proud of myself; proud that I haven't been caught yet." I thought to myself. I was ruled a nice civilian not a potential threat to myself or others and officially no longer a patient of long-term ongoing therapy. I couldn't believe how easy it was to fool people. First the police and now my therapist? No more stupid medications and daily check ins. I almost felt sane for a moment but my fixation to kill again was still there. My desperate thirst for human blood made me question my own insanity. Why was this craving so strong? I started thinking of different ways on how to successfully kill someone. Accidental drowning? Killed by an axe? Dangled by the ceiling and hung by rope? I was writing down different ideas, studying different movies. Occasionally, I would glance over at Katie. "Hard at work?" she asked. I nodded, back. "Exactly." She came closer to me. "Do you mind if I give you a massage?" I smiled with delight. "I have completely brain washed her." I thought to myself. I looked at her and nodded "Yes, you may." She rubbed her fingers on my shoulders and moved them in a gentle slow motion. She made me feel relaxed. I felt her breath breathe down my neck and suddenly I was onto her. I got up furious "Are you reading what I'm writing? That's private!" She backed up slowly. "No, I didn't see anything. I'm sorry." I backed her into a corner blocking her from escaping. "Your lucky you have some freedom here, I could tie you up and leave you to a bed frame for hours, torture you, deprive you of food and water and watch you starve!" I threatened her. She began to cry. "No, please I'm sorry. I really didn't see anything." I grabbed her and buried her face in my chest and sniffed her blonde hair and kissed her forehead "I'm sorry I'm just moody." I comforted her. I haven't killed in a while and suddenly I felt as if I was having withdraws. I was becoming short tempered and irritated, and my mood swings were unpredictable. I had to kill, I had to! But who and when? I pulled Katie away from my chest. "I love you." She glanced up and spoke softly to me. "I know" I answered back. I couldn't say I love you too back to Katie. Do I even know what love is? I thought to myself. I returned to the kitchen and crinkled my plans into a paper ball and carried them into my bedroom and closed the door. I had confusing thoughts. Should I kill Katie or keep her? She was right here. I could feed my hunger so easily. I turned on my bedroom light and saw an old picture frame with a photograph of Olivia and I, as a once happy couple. I was smiling in the photograph. Then my happiness turned into depression as I remembered how she abandoned me at that hospital, how she promised to stick by my side but failed to keep her word. I threw the picture frame across the room, and it flew and landed on my desk. Red pen ink spilt all over it. Glass scattered everywhere. I examined the broken frame. There was a piece of glass sticking out of Olivia's neck and the red pen ink looked like small drops of blood. Then it gave me an idea. Olivia had to die, and now I knew exactly how I was going to do it. I had to hunt down my ex and pay her a sudden unexpected visit. I got out a piece of paper and wrote her name down on it. I had to remember this; I couldn't forget. But I was lacking intimacy. Katie was still in the living room where I left her before storming off. I wanted to cuddle her, caress her and kiss her smooth soft delicate skin. Perhaps just for my own pleasure, to have power over her and control how the scenario would go. How I wanted her to be placed on the bed, rest her head or place her legs. Or maybe I was indeed falling in love with her too. She had a way with me, that couldn't be explained. She didn't fight back; she only submitted to my wants and needs. I brought her to my bedroom and laid beside her on the bed. We cuddled in bed. Her fingers fit perfectly in mine. She would glance up at me and we would exchange deep intense stares with each other that couldn't be explained through words. She was beautiful, I knew I had locked her in here. Gave her no options to escape but I subconsciously wondered what she would do if I suddenly offered her a way out? Would she take it and abandoned me like Olivia, or would she stay? I became sensitive as I realized I didn't have an answer to that question. She kissed my hand. Suddenly our silence broke. "Tell me again about Olivia." She insisted. The mood of the room changed drastically. I was going to kill her! Olivia! I had no use for her anymore. I became angry, "No not tonight. Let's just go to bed." Katie nodded and climbed into the covers, she insisted we sleep together rather than sleep in separate beds. I liked her idea and agreed. I wrapped my rough hands around her and she became my little spoon. The only sounds that remained were the crickets that were outside of my bedroom window. I fell asleep with Katie by my side.
The Next Morning
I had remembered the coffee shop, Olivia used to work at. I wondered If she
was still employed there. I got up out of bed, Katie was still asleep. I
stretched and grabbed a spare hoodie from my bedroom closet. I changed into
jeans and grabbed my car keys. I'm in a mood for a freshly baked biscuit and
a warm cup of coffee. I thought to myself. I left my apartment building and
climbed into my car. I drove to Olivia's coffee shop. She had seen my new
appearance after my surgery, surely, she would recognize me, and I couldn't
allow her to do that. I stayed in the parking lot hatching a plan. When she
suddenly came out. I sunk down into my seat hoping not to be seen by her. I
watched her as she carried a large garbage bag over her shoulder, she went to the
back of the building and threw it out in the dumpsters before returning inside. I decided not to go in, it was far too risky. But she
did still work there, my hunch was indeed accurate. However, there were a few flaws,
I didn't know her schedule. Perhaps she had received a sudden promotion and her
hours had changed since the last time we spoke. Furthermore, there were cameras
facing the parking lot. I wasn't sure how I was going to abduct her and kill
her, but I knew I wanted to. I wanted too so bad! When I returned home, I saw Katie waiting patiently for me in the kitchen, she
said she had some news, but she needed my full trust. I was skeptical at first.
She seemed excited "I realized I don't know your birthday! I think we should
celebrate!" I acted confused. "It already passed" I explained. "That's exactly
my point! I want to give you something, my treat but I need your full
trust." I placed my car keys down. "If it's breakfast at a restaurant I'm not
hungry." She squealed "No silly. It's not food! I kind of did something but
don't be mad." I was onto her now. "What did you do?" She bit her lower lip. "I
umm... well see... I used your computer. But I booked an appointment to see a
doctor. You always say your ugly, even though you're not but I booked you a
surgery I think I know a way to get rid of your scars. But we must go today.
Can you trust me?" she seemed eager to hear an answer from me. I thought for a
moment, wait she used my computer, but didn't call the police? She didn't
scream? Cry? Run away from me? Instead, she wanted to help me?" I was so
confused, but her loyalty appeared true to me. I nodded my head. "Yes, we can
go today." She insisted on driving, I gave her my car keys and sat in the
passenger seat. While she climbed into the car, I hid a knife in the back of my
jeans and let my long jacket cover it. I still had trust issues, if this was a
clever plan for a sudden escape, she would pay for it. She pulled into a
hospital parking lot. I grabbed her hand. "Wait you never said we would be
going to a hospital." She squeezed my hand "It's okay." a flashback suddenly entered my mind as
I remembered doctors rushing me into a room, Olivia waved goodbye to me as
other nurses pushed her back and told her she couldn't enter the surgery room,
the doors closed preventing me from seeing her and then the doctors put me to
sleep. I suddenly snapped out of it. Katie exited the vehicle and I soon
followed. We sat in the waiting room. She turned to me, "I booked you for a
surgery. Something the doctors should have done right the first time." I looked
at her confused. "I booked you a face transplant, this time it will be
successful, and you won't ever have to feel ugly." I cried in disbelief and
hugged her. I realized how much she cared, how much she listened. Was this real
love? I thought to myself. The front receptionist called my name. I stood up
and went into a hospital room. "Change into these" a young nurse said to me.
She handed me a pair of plain blue scrubs. She closed the curtain while I got
dressed. Then she left the room. I saw Katie's feet underneath the curtain and
I knew she didn't abandon me. I felt safe at that moment. "I'm just going to
the bathroom, I'll be right back." She spoke from behind the curtain. I heard
her footsteps leave and I trusted she would soon return. I opened the curtains
again but was surprised to see two large police officers standing in front of
me. I knew at that point; I wouldn't be able to make it to my surgery. It was
all a lie, Katie set the whole thing up. I felt angry, depressed, horrified and
confused. My emotions were everywhere. "YOU BITCH! KATIE YOU BITCH! I'M GOING
TO KILL YOU!" The police did a full-on search of my belongings and found the
large steak knife I brought to the hospital. They arrested me and placed my
hands in cuffs and walked me down the hospital hallway. We turned a corner and
I saw Katie standing by the bathrooms, right where she said she would be. She
looked at me "I'm sorry, I saw a broken picture frame and a note with Olivia's
name on it, I couldn't let you kill again." The police made me walk past her. I
looked back and cried. I felt abandoned yet again. I was forced out of the
hospital and led to a police car. They opened the back door for me and forced
my head down as I climbed in. The police car exited the parking lot, and I knew
exactly where I was going.
I entered jail and walked past different prisoners. They were making loud noises and
reached their arms out through the tiny gaps of their cells. A large obese man
covered in tattoos licked his cell as I walked past him. "Fresh Meat" he
chuckled. The prison guards continued walking me. Finally, we made it to the
end of the hall. A third guard turned
the corner and joined us "Place him in solitary confinement!" he shouted
to the guards who were forcing me to walk. I knew I would most likely spend the
remaining of my life stuck in a prison cell completely isolated until the day I
die. They showed me my new room. I walked inside. As soon as I was in, they closed
the cell door and locked it shut. I examined my new fate. My cell felt cold and
lonely, I laid on my mattress and tried to go to sleep. Closing my eyes. Sleeping alone, yet
again.