AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What the fuck, man. You dress up as the grim reaper and terrorize people?” Tears rolled down his cheeks as he pretended to be tough.
“I don’t terrorize, motherfucker.” I rose and walked away, leaving him hidden beneath the trees a hundred feet away. No one lived near the area, so even if he screamed at the top of his lungs, it wouldn’t matter.
Every flash of movement from a squirrel or hoot of an owl caused him to flinch or gasp, and the sweat on his brow gleamed in the dim light. His dilated pupils gave him a wild appearance. “Why am I here?” Horror twisted his voice.
Now that he was conscious, I would let him think he had an opportunity to turn his situation around. The moment he realized he was fucked, I would know. Until then … I would enjoy toying with my prey.
A jagged strike of lightning split the darkness. I lifted my chin and sniffed the approaching rain. Time was running out. I would have to move faster than anticipated. On the other hand, as long as I was gone by the time the downpour started, any evidence of Andrew and me would be long gone once the water washed it away. By the shift of the wind and the scent of the storm, I had less than an hour.
Slowly, I strolled back to the now quiet man. Ah, he just realized how fucked he really was. My favorite part of our time together.
The tendons in his neck stood out, taut as bowstrings, and his shoulders were hunched as he stared at his swollen stomach. The myriad of stitches haphazardly holding the tissue together like a stitched-up football. Blood oozed out in trickles and his bruised skin expanded, turning a multitude of colors as it went.
“What did you do to me, you sick son of a bitch?”
“Tsk, tsk. No need for name calling.” I stood in front of him and plucked a new pair of black gloves from my coat pocket. His gaze narrowed as he watched me pull them on one at a time. “We all have a time.” I flexed my fingers, allowing the leather to mold to my hands. “A time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to … die.”
His whine broke through his sobs as he asked, “What did you do to my stomach?”
I laughed as I stared at his distended abdomen. The stitches were pure perfection and would rival those of any surgeon. “One of my favorite quotes is ‘stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves’ by Hazrat Inayat Khan. Granted, we’re not near the sea, but in your case, a lake will have to do.”
His breathing came in short, erratic bursts, as if the very act of drawing breath was a struggle.
“What did I do to you?” Spittle flew out of my mouth as a flood of emotions twisted his expression.
“I knocked you out, and while you were sleeping, I split you open and sewed a bag of rocks in your stomach. You’ll either die from the half-assed surgery I performed, or you’ll drown when I toss your pathetic ass into the lake and sink to the bottom. The rocks will ensure that you won’t make it to the surface. Ever.”
Andrew screamed and thrashed on the ground before he vomited. I assumed the pain would render him unconscious shortly. Regardless, the thunder was growing closer, which meant I had to wrap up our time together.
“Any last words?”
“W-w-why? Why me? What did I do to you?”
I pretended to think about his question, but I didn’t give a fuck. He was a monster, and I was ridding the world of one more. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.
“Nothing. You did nothing to me. It was what you did to everyone else.” I leaned over, careful to avoid the vomit crusting to the side of Andrew’s lips, and slapped the duct tape over his mouth again before I whispered my goodbyes.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, eager to give the sorry bastard what he deserved. I dragged his body onto the black sheeting, ignoring the fact he’d just pissed himself. At least I wouldn’t have to smell it for long. I made quick work of securing him in the thick plastic, then dragged him to the edge of the water where the speed boat waited for us. Breathing heavily, I dumped his body onto the floor and climbed in after him. It was a beautiful evening for a ride, if I did say so myself.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I started the engine and pulled away from the land. Most of the time, I enjoyed slicing and dicing my victims, but I had to stay ahead of the cops and FBI, so I changed my methods on a regular basis. Keeping the authorities guessing was almost as much fun as the actual killing.
Whistling “Pop Goes the Weasel” as the rain began to fall, I guided the boat toward the middle of the lake where Andrew would take his final breath.
Chapter 5
Ella
Igently lifted my airplane seat from its reclined position, feeling the warmth and smooth texture of the luxurious brown leather beneath my fingertips as we were about to land. The moment I stepped onboard, a flight attendant handed me a drink, and the promise of a movie awaited on the sleek flat-screen television ahead. It was the most lavish experience I’d ever had. A girl could get used to this kind of treatment and fast.
I braced myself as the plane’s wheels skidded against the airstrip. Besides my nerves jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof in August, the flight had been uneventful. At least I was familiar with the Seattle airport and didn’t have to worry about getting lost.
As I was escorted off the plane, I instinctively adjusted the strap of my crossbody Kate Spade purse over my shoulder, my fingers fidgeting with its edges. I navigated the bustling terminal, occasionally pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. Since I was flying on a private plane, I could avoid the added stress of elbowing my way through the crowd at baggage claim.
I pushed through the airport exit door and strolled into the early autumn sunshine. Leaves scraped the sidewalk as the wind swept them in the opposite direction. Slipping my sunglasses on, I scanned the area for a limo. From five cars away, I spotted one and quickly headed toward it, wondering if it was for me. As I approached, the occupant climbed out, revealing a handsome middle-aged man in uniform who hurried around to greet me.
“Angel Fluff?” I nearly cringed at my website name being used in public.
“That’s me.” I offered him a kind smile as he opened the back passenger door. I gently raised the hem of my long, blue cami dress to prevent tripping and gracefully stepped inside.
