Flesh and Blood

Chapter 7 - What a Mad Mad World We Live In

Damien did not have his shit together.

He constantly felt that urge that crawled underneath his skin, weaving through each thread of muscle and poking at the nerves nestled within them.

It had only been a few weeks since his last kill. It had also been a few weeks since he last saw Luke. He didn't think they were connected, but there was always the miniscule chance that they were. There was the obvious connection: he wanted to kill because of Luke's presence. But there was also the looming mystery: he still wanted to kill, even in Luke's absence.

There was something else there. Something that plucked and plucked and plucked until there would be nothing but loose threads and scattered nerves.

***

At least Damien still had keen senses.

When he saw Luke again, he didn't really see him. Luke was hiding behind a corner, probably trying to avoid him. There was something strangely endearing about it. Luke wanted to avoid him, but he couldn't stay away.

That's when Damien decided to cross another person off the list. He didn't want to, he really shouldn't, but if he couldn't scratch that itch, he would end up tearing off his skin. Or someone else's skin.

***

The emo girl had a friend who apparently got drunk every day in the school parking lot. Damien headed straight for the parking lot and what do you know? The girl was getting drunk in the parking lot.

"Hey," he greeted.

She glanced up from her empty bottle and grimaced. "Hey."

"You want another drink?"

She shrugged. "Sure."

He helped her up, not without some stumbling and slipping, and then she obediently followed him away from the school.

Once they passed the tree line, the girl started rambling about something, maybe about school or her social life or something incredibly mundane. She rambled on for another five minutes until she finally started questioning him.

"Where are we even going?"

"We're almost there."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Are you really sure?"

Damien understood why the emo girl wanted her dead.

"Yes," he hissed before shoving her onto the ground.

It took a few seconds for her to realize what was happening but before she could scream, Damien had already shoved a handkerchief in her mouth. He stared at her for several seconds, watching her tears stream down her face as she struggled to scream. Would this be the last time he could do this for a while?

He set aside the thought and reached for his knife.

"Get away from her!"

It was Luke.

He simply froze.

"I said get away from her."

He dropped his arm and faced Luke. His hands were gripped around a pistol and his eyes were shining with fury. Damien wasn't sure which one worried him more.

"Oh hi," he greeted casually.

"Did you fucking hear me?"

"Sorry."