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1
HADLEY
If superheroes were only fictional, why weren’t villains? There were so many things wrong in the world, and society didn’t need more people to do bad things to others. Apparently, villains needed to exist. For what reason, I did not know.
I lived with one, and I had yet to find a way to run away from him. If it were easy, I would’ve been gone by now. But I was still living with him. When I first met Ricky five years ago in college, he was like a knight in shining armor. He saved me from a drunk guy who had pulled up my skirt and touched me inappropriately, and we spent the rest of the night talking about this and that. He fell quickly and I fell hard, but only nine months into our relationship, Ricky started to change. Something had set him off and I had no idea what. To this day, I was trying to figure out what had bothered him so much so many years ago that he used me as an outlet for his anger.
It was verbal abuse at first, then he started to push and pinch me, until those small acts turned into slaps and fists to the face. It should’ve been a red flag from the start but it was way too hard to get out of there without consequences. People who never went through the same would never understand, and I didn’t blame them. I was glad they never were in situations where they got hurt by someone they loved. I should’ve run from him a long time ago but my biggest red flag was thinking I could fix someone like him. Of course I was wrong, and I could never get back the man he used to be. The man I fell in love with five years ago. The man I somehow was still in love with, even after all the pain he caused.
“…And there was another murder last night. Another man was killed in his home, while his wife was spared. We don’t have more information on this murder but we will keep you updated.”
I turned my head to look at the TV where the local news was on. Another murder. That’s four in two weeks, and the story sounded the same every time. Whoever was killing those men was sparing their girlfriends and wives, without leaving any trace.
I turned back to the stove and pursed my lips as I thought about the possible reasoning behind those murders. Maybe that killer wanted to send a message to someone. To this town. Or maybe he was just a psycho who liked to kill.
Maybe he could help me fix my problem with Ricky.
I closed my eyes tightly as that thought rushed through my mind. I shouldn’t have those thoughts. It was wrong. Right?
Jesus, Hadley!
“It’s just a stupid thought,” I hissed at myself, shaking my head at my thoughts.
I stirred the pot, somehow unable to keep from grinning at the thought of a serial killer coming into our apartment to kill Ricky.
You’re fucking insane.
I pushed those thoughts aside and continued to prepare dinner. Ricky wouldn’t be home tonight because he was meeting up with his friends, and so I decided to make myself Minestrone, which was my comfort food. I also bought my favorite lemonade at the store earlier today, and I also got dessert for myself to make the evening perfect.
After filling my plate and grabbing a spoon, I headed over to the living room to eat, but the second I wanted to sit down, the doorbell rang. I looked up at the front door and thought about ignoring whoever was standing outside the door but I decided not to because I was a social person and I had neighbors who occasionally talked to me whenever I saw them in the hall.
I turned down the volume of the TV, then headed over to the door. I peeked through the peep hole and saw my next doorneighbor, Wilson, standing there. He was only a few years older than me—probably Ricky’s age.
I smiled at him, taking him in as he stood there in his gray sweatpants and bare feet. He had a hoodie on with VANCOUVER embroidered across the chest. His hair was buzzed, and while I thought long hair looked great on men, he rocked his hair style.
“Hi, Wilson. Need something?” I asked, leaning against the door.
He smiled back, showing off his perfect teeth and dimples. “Hey, pretty. Am I interrupting something?”
He always called me pretty when Ricky wasn’t around. Not even a well-built man like Wilson would ever dare to compliment a woman in front of her man. But Wilson had no bad intentions. He had always been kind to me, and if I weren’t mistaken, he had a girlfriend. He was a big flirt with a good heart.
“I was about to eat dinner but, what’s up?”
“I’ll be out of your hair in seconds. I just wanted to ask if I could borrow some milk.”
“Of course! Are you baking?”
I was already heading to the fridge while he answered.
“God, no. I’m the worst baker. I need to drink my protein shake but I’m out of milk.”
I grabbed the half-full carton of milk out of the fridge and headed back to the front door to hand it to him. “Here. Keep it. I got more in the fridge.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, Hadley. Is Ricky out tonight?” he asked, surprising me with his question. No one in this building really cared for Ricky. He didn’t care for anyone living here either.
“Uh yes. He’ll be home late.”
“I see. I’ll let you go now. Don’t want your food to get cold.” He smiled and waved a hand, then he turned and walked back to his apartment door which he left open.
