Obsession Of A Psychopath ☠︎︎

Chapter 12: Movies pt 2

Zack’s POV

“Hey, wait up!” I shouted, sprinting to catch up with the man.

The night was dark and moonlit, a chill in the air that sent shivers down my spine. Streetlights flickered, casting long shadows across the deserted street, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The distant hum of traffic mixed with the occasional gust of wind, creating a symphony of urban solitude.

The man seemed oblivious to my calls, his hurried footsteps echoing against the concrete. I quickened my pace, determined to catch up with him. He soon turned into a dimly lit alley, the flickering light of a broken streetlamp casting an uneven glow on the cobblestones.

As I stepped into the narrow passageway, the alley enveloped me in its own secluded world. The air was heavy with the scent of dampness and decay, a stark contrast to the bustling city beyond. Brick walls, covered in graffiti—some vibrant and artistic, others crude—surrounded us. Trash, broken bottles, and scattered papers littered the ground, and the occasional rat scurried away, seeking refuge in the darkness.

The man stopped, his back to me, the streetlamp’s weak light illuminating his silhouette.

“Who are you, and why are you following me?” he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

I took a moment to catch my breath, the cool air filling my lungs. “Chill, dude. I just want to talk,” I replied, my voice echoing softly against the brick walls.

He turned slowly, eyes widening with recognition. The flickering light revealed a mix of surprise and wariness. “You… you were with that man earlier,” he stammered.

“ Oh so you remember me,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“What do you want? Just leave me alone,” he quickly replied, fear creeping into his tone.

I took a step closer, the uneven ground beneath me adding a subtle unease to the atmosphere. “I want to know how it felt,” I said, my voice low and filled with intrigue.

He looked taken aback, eyes darting nervously. “How did it feel when you grabbed her ass? Was it everything you hoped it would be?”

“ She’s cute, isn’t she? That woman somehow managed to put a spell on my friend, and now he’s obsessed with her. I was wondering if she tickled your fancy too,” I commented, studying his reaction intently.

He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. The dimly lit alleyway seemed to close in around us. I reached into my pocket, retrieving a cigarette and a lighter, letting the smoke spiral upward, dissipating into the night.

“you lucked out, if i didn’t stop him, he probably would have killed you.” I continued, the smoke swirling around me.

“You helped me out, though. You made him look like a hero in front of his girl, so thanks. I was trying to play cupid, and you really helped,” I added.

His eyes widened with confusion. “Why are you telling me this?” he asked, curiosity mingling with suspicion.

I shrugged nonchalantly, taking another drag from my cigarette. “I don’t have anyone to talk to at the moment. Just be careful who you mess with, alright? Dropping out of college for this… not a smart move.”

“Wait, how did you know that? Did you run a background check on me? Are you with the casino.” he screamed, anger bubbling over.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “I didn’t know…. you just told me” I replied mockingly.

“Why did you drop out, though?” I asked, carefully observing him. “Looks like you’ve gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd, haven’t you?”

“At first glance, someone might think you’re high on some strong drugs. But your bloodshot eyes tell a different story. They don’t fit the profile of a drug user. You’re composed, deliberate. Something else is weighing on you, robbing you of peaceful nights. What could it be?”

A small smile appeared on my face. “ Maybe it’s debt? You mentioned casino just now. Now that got me thinking. You probably borrowed money from a dangerous person at the casino and lost it all. Now they’re forcing you to do odd jobs for them.”

He trembled, a mix of fear and astonishment on his face. “How did you know? That’s impossible! We’ve never met!” he stuttered.

I leaned in closer. “I have a knack for reading people. Earlier, your intentions were hidden. To most, it seemed like you were harassing the girl. But I saw through it. Your real target was the man next to her. You were trying to steal from him, weren’t you? It was obvious—you chose to harass a girl in public, knowing you’d be seen. No one is that dumb . You were working with the security guard and two others, right? Watching the dynamics, waiting for the right moment.”

I paused, letting my words sink in. “You deliberately approached the girl, knowing her companion would defend her. By making him angry, you aimed for a reaction. If it worked, a fight would break out, drawing attention while you and your buddies took advantage of the chaos to steal, right? But that plan fell apart when I stepped in.”

“I noticed two guys near the concession stand, ready to stop a fight that hadn’t even started. That’s when I realized you were working together. And it just so happened non of the security guards were closeby during the whole thing. I started putting the pieces together.”

He dropped to his knees, his voice filled with denial. “That’s not true! You’re wrong!” he screamed.

I smiled slightly, the tension thick in the air. “I just read your mind, and yet you still won’t admit it. You can’t fool me.”

I pulled out a card from my pocket, the streetlamp catching its edges. It was a casino voucher and a membership card—clues to his hidden life. “I snatched this from you earlier.”

“Back in my childhood, I was a pro at pickpocketing, so I know your strategies. You can’t beat a pro at his own game.”

His face twisted with frustration, fists clenched. “I don’t know how you know all this. Maybe you’re a detective or just a mind reader, but you should have stayed out of this,” he muttered, defiance mingling with uncertainty.

I shrugged casually. “I just happen to understand how people operate. It’s a skill I built to survive.”

He reached into his pocket, rising to his feet, the atmosphere thickening with tension. “We’ll see who comes out on top, pretty boy,” he threatened.

In an instant, he pulled out a knife, the glint of its blade catching the dim light. His intentions became clear as he lunged at me.

Reacting on instinct, I stepped back, narrowly evading the attack. With adrenaline surging, I closed the distance, grabbing his wrist to immobilize the weapon. “These hands of yours are bound to bring you trouble,” I cautioned.

Our eyes locked in a tense standoff. “I care about my face, so don’t swing that thing carelessly,” I warned.

With a forceful slam, I drove his hand against the closed dumpster repeatedly. A pained groan escaped him as he struggled to break free.

His expression shifted from aggression to fear. “Please, it hurts!” he pleaded.

I plunged the knife into the dumpster between his fingers, repeating the motion faster, a smile spreading across my face. “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe—wonder which finger I should slice off first,” I playfully exclaimed.

He began to sob uncontrollably. “Please, I’m sorry. I was just desperate for money. I promise, I’ll never do it again.”

“Come on, man, don’t start crying. I haven’t even done anything yet. But let me be clear: if this were just about me or Hunter, I might have let it slide. You crossed the line by touching my sister-in-law without her consent. Hunter cares for her—she’s our little princess. I won’t let her be traumatized by men like you. Consider yourself an example.”

“Help me! He wants to kill me!” he screamed, desperation in his voice.

I kicked his stomach, sending him crashing against the wall near some garbage bags. I walked closer, stomping on his mouth.

“Hey, if anyone wants to lend a hand, please come forward,” I called out, laughing.

I took a drag of my cigarette, flicking it away, exhaling smoke. “Looks like no one’s around,” I commented, already having instructed my men to seal off the street.

I glanced at my watch. “Oh, shit! I need to get back. The movie is almost over, and I’ve spent too much time here. Let’s wrap this up so I can at least catch the credits.”

“I don’t want to get blood on my clothes. What should we do? I know you like to gamble so Let’s make a wager. If you win, I’ll let you go. If I win, I get to cut off an arm.”

As tears streamed down his face, I paused. “Should I take your silence as a refusal?”

“No, please… let me go!” he begged.

“I will, if you win,” I reassured him, pulling out a coin. I explained the simple rules, my voice steady and calm.

“Okay, I’ll toss this coin. Your job is to guess which side it lands on. If you’re right, you’re free to go.”

“Are you ready?” I asked, offering him a warm smile.

His eyes widened, uncertainty clear. He remained silent, lost in thought. “H… head… no, tails… no, it’s head,” he stammered.

“Pick one,” I ordered.

“Head!” he shouted, anxiety filling his voice.

I tossed the coin into the air, watching it spin before landing on the ground. The outcome was clear, and his reaction was immediate—he screamed, jumped up, and sprinted away.

“Oh, it landed on tails. Damn it! My hoodie is white, and I just bought it!” I groaned, disappointed as I looked at my now potentially dirty outfit.

“Well, we had a deal, and I’m a man of my word,” I declared, watching his retreating figure with amusement. “Hey, bro, wait up! I have to collect my prize. Don’t just run away; that’s so uncool!”
 
***

“Gosh, that was the worst movie in the history of movies,” Courtney commented, her disappointment evident.

“Tell me about it. I don’t know who was more high, the person directing or the one who pushed for this to be in a theater,” Amanda chimed in, frustration clear in her voice.

“You picked it, why are you complaining?” I teased, playfully poking fun at Amanda.

“Hey, I never picked it. It was a group thing,” Amanda defended herself.

“When was it a group thing? Just admit you suck at picking movies,” I remarked, enjoying the banter.

“But it seems like you liked it. You were so quiet the entire time, it was like you were never even there,” Amanda commented, curiosity piqued.

I chuckled. “He was asleep the entire show and only woke up in the last 30 minutes,” Hunter interjected.

“I knew it! You didn’t have to suffer through that with us. How lucky,” Amanda said.

“I wish I could have fallen asleep too. How did you manage in such a noisy room?” Courtney asked.

“I guess I was just tired,” I replied, shrugging it off.

“By the way, is that the outfit you wore earlier? It looks different,” Courtney pointed out, catching me off guard.

“What? Really? But it’s exactly the same thing I wore when coming here. You must be confused. The movie must have messed up your memory,” I teased, trying to redirect her attention.

“Hmm, you’re right. My mind must be a bit tired,” Courtney chuckled nervously, seemingly accepting my explanation.

As I glanced ahead, I noticed Hunter and Amanda walking together, engrossed in conversation. Their genuine smiles warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

Watching Hunter so animated with Amanda stirred a mix of emotions within me. She brought him joy, even if just for a moment. I felt relieved she was distracting him from his usual stoic self. But a knot of apprehension twisted in my stomach.

Amanda was without a doubt developing feelings for Hunter. The way she interacted with him, the sparkle in her eyes, the laughter they shared—it was all too evident. But what would happen when she discovered the truth about him?

Lost in my thoughts, Courtney’s voice broke through. “Zack, are you okay?” Concern was etched on her face.

“Huh? What was that?” I replied, momentarily disoriented.

“You were staring intensely at Amanda and Hunter. Is everything okay?” Courtney inquired, her eyes searching mine.

I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, it’s just interesting to see Hunter enjoying himself talking to someone else,” I replied.

“He seems really quiet, almost shy. It must be challenging to bond with him,” she commented, curiosity piqued.

I chuckled, finding amusement in her perception. “Hunter shy? That man is the most confident person I’ve ever known. When it’s just the two of us, he talks non-stop,” I answered.

“How long have you been friends?” Courtney continued, her curiosity unrelenting.

“Hmm, we met when we were both ten, I think. But we didn’t start talking until we reached our teens,” I replied, keeping the details vague.

Before Courtney could probe further, Hunter and Amanda suddenly halted, catching our attention.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing their pause.

“Oh, nothing. I was just looking for a dumpster. I need to throw this can away,” Amanda explained, waving the empty juice can in her hand.

“I’m sure we’ll find a dumpster if we keep walking,” Hunter reassured us.

“There’s a dumpster in that alleyway,” I chimed in, gesturing to my left across the street.

As everyone turned towards the alley, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Wow, you’re right. I didn’t notice that before,” Amanda said, acknowledging my observation.

“Go ahead and throw it away. We’ll wait for you,” I urged, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.

“Okay,” Amanda agreed readily, returning my smile. She glanced around, assessing the traffic before confidently crossing the street.

I tapped Hunter’s shoulder to get his attention, leaning in slightly. “Je pense que tu devrais la suivre,” I suggested in a low voice.
(I think you should follow her)

“Why?” he questioned, curiosity evident.

I smirked, enjoying the suspense.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, causing us all to snap our heads towards the source. It was Amanda. I hurried toward her, with Hunter and Courtney close behind.

As we reached her, it was clear something was terribly wrong. Amanda’s body trembled, her eyes wide with fear. The can she had intended to throw away now lay on the ground beside her.

‘Seems sister-in-law didn’t like the surprise I left her.’

Hunter knelt beside her, concern etched on his face. He gently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering reassurance amidst the chaos.

“It’s okay,” Hunter said, his voice filled with genuine worry.

She blinked rapidly, as if trying to come back to reality. “I… I still have to throw away my can,” she stammered, her voice shaky and distant.

Amanda clung to Hunter, her trembling body. I approached cautiously, my gaze shifting between the distressed scene and Courtney, who gripped my arm tightly. Her wide eyes mirrored her shock, and I could feel her trembling as she held onto me for support.

‘ I thought it was fate that Amanda needed to dispose of something in the very neighborhood where I had left that guy. The synchronicity felt like a sign.’

I sighed as I walked closer. The dumpster stood open, revealing the dead body of the man who had touched her.

As Hunter held Amanda close, his gaze fixed on me. There was a peculiar stillness in his expression, devoid of any discernible emotion. When our eyes met, I noticed a subtle change—a shift in the hue of his eyes, from their usual blue and orange to a vibrant blue. In that moment, an unspoken understanding passed between us.