Love And Carnage

Chapter 1 @The Killer

"Six inches is perfect. Anything more feels excessive." My gaze stayed locked on Elizabeth as I answered yet another of her nonsensical questions. My nose scrunched as I sipped my orange juice, tasting warmer than I liked. She tilted her head slightly. "Can you handle 6 inches?"

Her smug smirk narrowed my gaze, but I couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped out. It's such a petty challenge. "We both know I could drive this knife into your throat in a heartbeat; you'd bleed out so fast that I would look like a demon slayer, all drenched in your blood."

My eyes widened playfully, a mischievous grin spreading across my face as I slid the six-inch knife out of my bag and placed it between us on the bed. The soft afternoon light filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow on the blade, making it appear like a pristine piece of silver.

But to me, this blade is just as twisted as I am—it has savored gallons of blood and slid into countless bodies; its sharp edges have silenced more heartbeats than I can count. While it appears innocent to everyone else, the intricate patterns on the engraved handle hold hundreds of secrets that only the knife and I know. The knife quiets the chaos in my head, even for a moment. I can breathe easier when it's close, like a twisted comfort I need to stay alive.

A sharp ting echoed through the room, pricking the silence as Elizabeth clicked her nails against the blade. "How about you show me a little demonstration? I'm bored of watching your performances through a camera; I want to see the real deal, up close and personal," she taunted, her tone sharp and challenging.

Heat crawled up my neck, my nails digging into the sheets as her words burned into my ears. I took a deep breath and let my hand sink into the cool, silky fabric of the bed; it felt slippery and soft, just like one of my victim's intestines from yesterday.

It's strange how comfort can come from something so grotesque. The way the bedsheet caressed my skin was almost inviting, ready to pull me under and knock me out in seconds—just what I needed during my sleepless nights.

I'm so broken from my past; pieces of me are scattered so far, and there's no putting them back together. Now, the only comfort I find is in blood. It's all I know. I've turned it into my job, my purpose—because in a world where I've been shattered, taking lives feels like the only way to claim back control.

Her constant teasing grated on my nerves, yet I found a twisted amusement in reminding her that she and I would never be the same. Elizabeth's challenges have always pushed me toward something stupid and messy, which is probably why she enjoyed them. But I've never been one to back down from a challenge, especially from someone who is as psychotic as her.

She should've been locked up with a life sentence for the mess she got into last year before we crossed paths. But no—her parents' money lets her walk free, even after she killed that innocent boy. Every time she calls, I have to fight the urge to dig my nails into her throat and watch the life drain from her eyes.

But I still show up... because she is my easy access to firearms and the clean-up crew that wipes away my messes. I've never had a partner before, and I sure as hell don't consider Elizabeth one. She's just a glorified assistant—like a personal maid but for cleaning up after each job.

I can't just toss a body in a dumpster and call it a day; I need her skills, especially since my last attempt at getting rid of a body involved trying to dissolve bones with some fancy chemicals that turned out to be about as effective as trying to cook pasta in cold water. It's not like I enjoy cleaning up the mess I make; if I did, I'd probably be a housekeeper instead of a killer.

But I guess if I didn't have Elizabeth around, my little 'projects' would end up as the next big discovery on some crime show.

I let out a heavy breath, my shoulders sagging as tension drained from my muscles. The familiar edge of confrontation hung in the air, but I couldn't muster the energy to engage. "Fine, where and when?"