Enigma

Chapter 2

Adrenaline was cycling through my body like caffeine. I was aroused and excited. It was the high I yearned for. The heroin-laced, nefarious ideas chattering in my head had me intrigued. Knowing the amount of power I potentially had in my hands, I formed a subtle, but insidious smile. Something in me wanted the limelight. I was only a passenger in my own mind; never was I allowed to have full control. However, I was able to be out and about for a limited time.

Right by the light switch bared tally marks that translated the number of souls I returned back to the earth. The numerous bodies scattered about the town were immense. The ones that have gone unnoticed should bare a brittle and dry skeleton. The woman in front of me would be number thirty-nine.

The shed still had the stains of old blood and the remnants of the odor of decomposed flesh. It was like being in a butcher shop without a freezer to house and preserve a fresh carcass. The woman continued to lay on the floor of the shed in fear, realizing that this might be her last moments alive. I was running on all cylinders as the excitement kept rising.

She was a gorgeous woman. I could not help but admire her, as everything about her was perfect; her olive skin dotted with beauty marks and freckles, her light-brown, waist-length hair that suited her perfectly, and her billowy yellow top paired with high-waisted black shorts. My mouth salivated as the thought of her gorgeous and smooth skin gets painted with streams of blood as she gasps for life.

I slowly began to decrease the distance between us to free her mouth. Terror washed over her, raising the fine hairs on the back of her neck. I raised my arms and tried to gracefully create calm. As I got closer, I began to descend towards the ground. Watching my movements, her pounding pulse could be heard through her ears. She tried to scream, but any noise made was muffled.

"Shhh," I said as I unraveled the duct tape around her head.

"Can I take this off without you screaming?" I asked while pointing to the scarf that kept her from talking.

A frantic nodding of yes was the answer she replied.

As the scarf was untied, the woman took a deep sigh as the rancid air touched her face. When I ascended upright, I turned the opposite direction with my back facing her. I motioned towards a small stand where I left a neatly rolled-up cloth. It was rolled like a set of silverware that you are given as you enjoy fine dining, except this was no romantic date. The three light bulbs that shined, could not reach where I was standing in the shed. The dim light left me almost in secret. I lifted my head as I heard the woman attempt to speak.

"Pl-please, please, please let me go. I promise. I promise I will not tell anyone. Please! I have children," the woman pleaded as she begged while attempting to put her hands together, "please don't kill me."

Waiting for my reply, I slipped on my Ironclad work gloves.

Without turning my body, I looked back and answered, "Kill you? Sweetheart, I am a gentleman, not a monster."

I turned back around and left her with confusion multiplying throughout her face like spam emails in a junk folder. The rolled-up cloth was unraveled. The sound of metals hitting each other chimed against the walls of the shed. It was like wind chimes welcoming the wandering wind, but tonight's weather will be different. All laid out displayed a family of utility knives, pliers, a wire saw, and a hammer. My full-face respirator was also readily available for use. Beneath the stand were two jugs of Gain laundry detergent, but what they possessed was nothing clean.

Lightening the intense disturbance in the room, I questioned, "What's your name?"

"What do you want with me? I'm not anything special, like... I'm just—" she tried.