The Killer

“I don’t even know why you’re hiding. There’s nowhere you can go where I won’t find you.” The killer says with a raspy voice. His feet are inches from my face as I lay helpless and terrified under the bed. My hands frantically cover my mouth to keep my breathing out of earshot. A spider crawls along the side of my face but I dare not move a muscle. The killer shuffles through some things in the closet, and then checks behind the door. He quickly gives up on the small bedroom and heads down the hall, dragging his machete along the wall. The sound of the floral wallpaper splitting against the sharp blade is menacing, making my hair stand on end. I’m terrified but I’ve got to find a way out of here!

When the coast is clear, I pull myself from the dirt and dust and slowly make my way out of the bedroom. I’m undetected now but one false step turns the tide against me. A floorboard creeks under my heel. I try to take it back, but it’s too late. “There you are!” I hear in the distance. Fight or Flight takes hold and I take off running, disappearing faster than fart in a whirlwind. Down the stairs and over the banister, through the kitchen around the corner and into the laundry room. I squeeze behind the washing machine and pray this was a smart move. “Come out, come out wherever you are!” I hear him say. Each word echoes in my bones as his footsteps get closer.

The tiny wash room feels even smaller than it ever has. The walls feel as though they’re collapsing all around me. It’s so hard to breathe; soon I don’t have to. My lungs stop working when I hear the low drum drag of his feet in the room with me. I cower in the fetal position waiting for either discovery and certain death or biding myself a little more time. The door of the dryer swings open and then is slammed shut again. “Where the hell is this fucker?” He says opening the lid to the washer to cover all his bases. “Dammit!” He yells, slightly louder than the wham of him slamming shut the washer’s lid. He leaves a few seconds after but it feels like hours before I can breathe or move again.

Each step that I take is carefully calculated. Each breath is low and soft. I try my best not to do anything that’ll give my position away. If I can just make it to a window I can break out and get free. I creep over to the breakfast area without making a sound. The large circular table there brings back memories. We all used to sit around the table during our meals and share our plans for the future. Mine was always to become a dentist, and it would always make some of the others laugh. But he’s killed so many of us now, that I can’t even remember half of their faces or what their plans were. I won’t let him kill me, though. I have to live on for all those we lost. I snatch the scented candle from the table and quickly lift the blinds. I cock back with the candle in hand and then drop it to the ground. Burglar bars. Meant to keep intruders out but holding me captive at the moment. My heart sinks but my mind quickly makes plans to get to the front door.

“Were you planning on doing something with that?” He asks, with a small chuckle. Shit he found me! He taps the machete against the wall. Each thud slices through the drywall like butter. I can only imagine that I’m next. There’s nowhere to run. I have no muscle to overpower him nor a weapon to defend myself. “Look, you don’t have to do this. We can work something out.” I beg, starting my plea to the madman. He’s tall, covered in dirt or soot and looks like every manner of trouble in life has befallen him. His clothes are jagged and torn. He’s missing teeth, hair, and has scars everywhere on his skin. He’s the stuff of nightmares and prison yards; and he’s coming closer. “Please. Please!” I yell. “We can talk about this!” The words fall from my lips as I slowly back away keeping a safe distance between us. He just smiles and continues his advance, taking practice swings with the machete with each step.

Now my back is literally up against the wall. Tears have already begun to fall and it’s strange. That in this moment all I can think about is sitting at that damned table with all the rest of them being laughed at for wanting to be a dentist.

I sink to the floor in a pool of my own urine and accept my fate. His lips part and his tongue runs along the dry cracked entrances to his mouth. The murderous man towers over me and savors the fearful favor of his next victim. “Wait! Wait! Wait! Can you at least tell me why? Just tell me why you’re doing this to me. Please! It’s all I ask.” I know the why doesn’t matter when the end result is the same but there’s something discerning in knowing the reason behind it. He lowers his weapon, and takes a deep breath. “This isn’t personal, some of ya’ll make it. Some have to be replaced, and some just have to be eliminated. That’s just how life is.” I start to ask “But why me?” But I don’t. I start to question “What did I do?” But I don’t. In the end I just watch the shimmering blade swing under the light of 60 watt bulbs. It sparkles like sunlight dancing on a water’s surface as it comes near my neck. It was beautiful, and it was the last thing that I ever saw…

Welcome back to Channel 4 News, if you’re just joining us we are reporting live from the scene where police say the notorious serial killer known as Life Choices has killed yet another dream. Our sources are telling us that this dream had hopes of becoming a dentist, but that in fact was tragically cut short late last night. Let’s head over to the live broadcast of the Police chief issuing a statement for more information.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As you know the serial killer Life Choices has struck again and yet another dream has been taken from us. If you can recall last week, graduating with a double major was also brutally killed due to obsessive drug addiction. That also seems to be the motive behind the most recent murder of the dream of dentistry. Unfortunately we have no suspects in custody and we fear the individual may strike again. So we urge you to please keep your dreams safe and with you at all times or Life Choices may catch up with them and take them from you. I’ll now open the floor to any questions.”

-End