Programmed to Kill

Chapter 2

I sat on the closed lid of the dumpster, slightly repulsed by its smell, but I ignored it. I took the rock I had in my hand and set the knife down, sharpening it with the flat side of the rock. Every minute or so, the picture of Mariah Lindy flashed through my mind. I didn’t really know why I had to kill her; I just knew that I had to, without question.

She was a tall woman, with curly, shoulder length hair. It was a dark, dark brown, almost black. Her eyes were the same color of her hair. She was a mother of two kids and a widow. Her husband had died a few months back in the war.

I thought about her while I sharpened my knife. Every time the rock slid across the long blade, it made an eerie ringing sound that echoed throughout the alley. It was dark, and I could hear nothing else but the distant sound of traffic a few miles away. I started to hum a random melody, keeping in time to the sharpening of the blade. I smiled to myself. In just a few minutes, I would begin my walk a few miles downtown to Mariah’s house, where I knew she would be in her house, probably asleep.

I hopped off the dumpster and slid the knife back into its holder around my waist. I pulled my shirt down, to hide it. I stuck my hands in my pockets and began to walk, kicking aside a trash can lid. It clattered against the wall, the noise ricocheting around the alley. I grimaced at the loudness.

I emerged from the alley onto a busy street filled with people rushing around to the places they needed to go. They didn’t pay anyone any attention. More than half of them were on their cell phones, talking hurriedly about their businesses. I took my sweet time and walked along, looking at all the big lights and store windows of New York City. This city never did seem to sleep. It was almost ten o’clock at night, and the stores were still open, cars were still bumper on bumper, and people still rushed around.

I walked for a mile or so, until I arrived at an apartment complex, much neater than the ones by the alley. It was tall, maybe thirty stories high, and sleek looking. I crossed the street and narrowly avoided getting ran over by a yellow taxi. The driver screeched to a halt and swore at me. I just kept walking, my hands in my pockets, and my gaze focus on those apartments. I reached the revolving door, and walked in casually, ignoring the man at the front desk, who was asking me what my name was. I headed to the elevator, and pushed floor nineteen. I waited patiently as I went up and up and up.

Finally, the doors slid open, and I walked out, heading to room 201. I saw it, and for the first time, fear crept up on me. What was I about to do? I was about to kill someone. I was really going to kill someone.

I backed up away from the door, not sure about this anymore. I didn’t even know what was going on. What the hell was going on?

An electric shock travelled from the square in my neck, and shocked my whole body, leaving me on the floor, whimpering in pain. The image of Mariah Lindy with the red word “kill” stamped across her picture flashed in front of my eyes. Waves of shocks pulsed throughout my body. Okay, okay, I thought I’ll do it. Just stop hurting me! The waves of electricity stopped, leaving me on the floor, my body feeling like it was on fire. I stood up shakily, grasping the knife underneath my shirt. I weakly knocked on her door, but there was no answer. They must have been asleep.

I banged hard on the door, once I realized it was locked. “Mariah! Mariah!” I yelled, trying to get her to come to the door. I heard running footsteps from inside the apartment. Then Mariah Lindy opened the door.

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Mariah

She was only a teenager. A short one, too. Her dirty blonde hair was tightly pulled up in a high pony tail. She had on a grey t-shirt and skinny jeans. She reeked off garbage and dead fish. But the most odd thing about her was that she had a wild, scared look in her big, green eyes. “Are you okay?” I asked, worried. Why did she come here? I didn’t even know her.

She lunged at me, pulling a knife from behind her back. The wait of her body knocked me down. I screamed a little, trying to warn my children, but she had plunged the knife down into my stomach. She pulled it out, and with horror, I realized she had struck me again, a little higher. And then, I was choking on blood. Oh God, this can’t be it. This can’t be it, please…I thought. I closed my eyes and felt pain ripping through me. Then, I heard the screeches of my two little kids screaming “Mommy! Mommy!” Just hearing their terrified little voices made my heart break. I tried to hold on just a little longer, but my world went black.