Bad Girl Business

Chapter 1: Development

Julie Kostenko

Hmm, more than usual came. These are my first thoughts as I step through the grand gates of the MacMillan estate with my gang and look around.
Everywhere there are killers that our dark goddess, The Entity, has gradually brought into her realm. Some have been here for days, others for weeks, others for months and some even for years. But no one can say for sure, the concepts of time and aging have lost their meaning in this universe.
We, The Legion, are just one killer of many and have lost count. I am now certain that The Entity's sphere of influence is infinite and her appetite insatiable.
A tuft of pink hair next to me grabs my attention and I look down at my best friend's openly impressed face. We are all here without masks. No secrets between colleagues, that's the motto of our host. Tzz, wishful thinking if you ask me.
Susie joins a party for the first time in ages, excitedly tugging at the sleeve of my black leather jacket. "Wow, Jules. Look at this! Have you ever seen such a huge chandelier? Unbelievable..."
Her eyes are wide like those of a child entering the amusement park for the first time.
I just shrug, unimpressed. "Dear Evan must have dug up some of his father's swanky heirlooms from the basement."
Frank snorts his agreement at my comment. "He may hate the guy himself, but he certainly doesn't hate the inherited wealth. The Trapper is definitely the embodiment of Daddy Issues."
I chuckle at his words. The four of us know quite a bit about Evan MacMillan's family history after sneaking in here one night. Without getting caught, of course.
Well, the things you do to pass the time...
"As long as he doesn't skimp on food, I don't care if he hangs up hundreds of golden old chandeliers," Joey says, grinning as he draws our attention to the sumptuous buffet at the end of the long hall. The delicious scent of freshly grilled meat and heavy red wine fills my nostrils and I sigh happily. Man, it really pays to be The Entity's right hand man.
"Where you're right, you're right, Joe. Then let us take full advantage of the hospitality of our dear MacMillan," Frank concludes with a sneer, taking a nervous-looking Susie by the hand, who smiles gratefully at him. She never likes to be among so many people at once.
As the three start moving, I notice a person at the window to our right. She stands in profile to me, lost in thought, looking out at the moonlit garden. She wears her signature long red coat that accentuates her lithe yet muscular build. Her shoulder-length straight black hair seems like a curtain to hide her from prying eyes, but the telltale reflection in the window glass shows me every little detail of the emptiness and nostalgia in her pale face. And the loneliness.
As if reading my mind, she turns around abruptly and her dark brown eyes meet mine. Immediately, any vulnerability vanishes from her being and Amanda Young is back to her former self, complete with sharply furrowed eyebrows and downturned corners of her mouth.
Before I know it, she drains her glass of vodka in one gulp, puts it on the table next to her and disappears out the back door. I can't help but sigh in disappointment.
Amanda has fascinated me for a long time now.
Again and again I see her standing around somewhere alone at parties or other meetings and feel the urge to approach her and start a conversation. To keep her company and get to know her, really get to know her. Maybe even become friends....
Even if she doesn't exude really inviting body language. On the contrary. It's more like she's carrying an invisible sign with her that reads: Beware, I bite, approach at your own risk.
"Hmm, what a pity," I murmur to myself as I stare morosely at her abandoned glass of vodka.

Amanda Young

It's a chilly night, yet I'm not freezing as I pull the door shut behind me and step out into the moonlit garden behind the MacMillan estate.
I sigh deeply as I run a hand through my jet black hair.
What a stupid party. Agh, I shouldn't have come.
Annoyed, I start moving. The gravel crunches under my boots. Step by step I pass countless rows of flowers and gradually leave the loud background noise of the party guests behind me.
"Why do you keep doing this to yourself, Amanda?", I ask myself aloud, kicking a watering can out of the way as it clatters into a massive stone fountain. The loud noise in the otherwise dead quiet night makes me stop my walk.
"Because of the free drinks, I guess. Evan always gets the best ones sponsored since he's such a good little boy," I snort, half amused, half disparaging. "And maybe a little because of..."
I stop mid-sentence, shaking my head. "No. No, definitely not. Just because of the drinks."
Silently, I lean against the wall of the property and look up at the sky. It's a starry night. One cannot see either the North Star or the constellation of the Big Dipper. Huh, well, when it comes to astronomy, The Entity really has some catching up to do.
John knew. A cold gust of wind blows in my face and I finally tremble. John knew almost everything...
Before I can lose myself any further in the memories of my old master, someone from behind puts a hand over my mouth, stifling my scream.