Short Story

A Hot Beckoning...

     I was their "friend." Key word "was." Now I have lost the last of my sanity which kept me linked to my feelings and the world around me which was slowly dying to our very existence. Heat, the hot summer days with the rays of the sun was what killed the last of my sanity. Melting would be a better way to phrase it.

          I hadn't realized until my "friends" stopped by my house and laid their eyes on the gruesome murder of my mother. I had done it. The hot day was my partner in the crime. The sun's heat taunted me until I finally caved.

My mother was my first kill and boy did it feel good. Both of my "friends" understood why and what I did. They helped me rid of my mother's body. I suffocated her to watch her take her final breath. The temperature had been 101 degrees that day. The AC had been broken only to worsen my desire of taking the life away from whom gave me life.

         I laugh to myself and stare out the passenger's side window. I remember that day all too well.

         "What's so funny?" Fatima, my "friend" glances at me.

          "Nothing," I reply and shrug. Fatima and Hailey are the "friends" I refer to. I am their mentor now. We only kill when it's 101 degrees or higher. I usually kill when it's 108 degrees or more. Both Hailey and Fatima have killed already and now we're driving to get my last kill. It's 109 degrees out so I'm going to take 9 lives. Fatima killed on a 103 degree day, killing 3 people. One named Jose and 2 were criminals who got out of jail for killing 50 or more dogs. Jose, was just a guy from her past.

         Hailey killed 7 men. 3 were in a gang who had killed her younger siblings in her front yard during a drive-by, 3 who had kidnapped her but I helped her escape. The last being Allex who had judged her. She felt relief afterwards as did Fatima.

          We are also somewhat on the run. The cops got a lead from Austin. Some boy I knew when I was 15. Now I'm 17 as are my "friends." I've decided Austin will be my last kill even though the lead will come to a dead end. Which it did and now we've arrived to our destiantion, Austin's house.

        "Wait here, I'll text you to grab the stuff and get rid of his body." I get out after they nod at me. I reach his door and calmly knock. Austin opens the door with wide eyes. I smirk at him before kicking down his legs and leaping on top of him. Luckily I was wearing gloves and began to bang his head onto the floor. Blood was gushing around him until his eyes closed and his face began to pale.

         I texted the girls and they took care of cleaning and took the body somewhere. Hailey was the first to come back while I wrapped a tie around my hand. I began laughing a cruel laugh moving my gaze to my "friend." They're both witnesses and I can't allow either a life.

         She moves closer, a bad move. I quickly grab her arm, twisting it and pushing her to the ground. My mothers death flashes in my mind. I smile and wrap the tie around Hailey's neck. Yes it may be 109 degrees out but the rush I feel when taking a life wants and needs more. I strangle her until she stops struggling, indicating she's dead.

         Fatima walks in and gasps. I leap up running towards her and she's frozen in place. I tackle her down as well and strangle her with my hands still wearing gloves. She tries for air.

        "Why?" She croaks, eyes wide and tears streaming.

"Can't leave any witnesses who can give into the guilt and turn me in!" I hold her neck squeezing tighter until she finally stops moving. Her mouth open and eyes wide in fear is all I can see. I take an hour and a half to clean up and grab the bodies.

           I get into the car after tossing the bodies into the trunk and leave. My mind wants me to go to Virginia. My drive peaceful as I leave the 109 degree heat for Virginia. A lonely road, yes, but one I'm glad to take.