The Eyes of a Murderer (Watty Awards 2013)

Chapter 6: Warehouses

  I finally finished my biology course with a 4.0 GPA in the class. I guess I was supposed to be filled with gay glee but it didn't phase me. "Want to go celebrate?" Kelse asked. Her hair grew out just a little pass her shoulders and she was wearing my NY cap on backwards. I shook my head not looking at her, then lowered my eyes to my boots. She watched for a moment then sighed. "What’s wrong David?" My eyes shot up to her face, concerned. I smiled.

"Nothing at all babe." But I lied.

"You know...you've been acting pretty distant these past months. I feel like something happened and you won’t tell me." She sat next to me on the wooden park bench and I could see her eyes intently set on my face.

"Nothing happened."

"Then why are you acting like this?" she asked, slight annoyance in her voice. 

"Like what?" It came out louder and harsher than I intended. Her eyebrows flew up then settled into an unhappy crease in her forehead. She took my cap off and threw it into my lap and began walking away. 

It's true that after the shooting I became a little distant, but it really wasn't much. No need to get all curious. She turned back to see if I cared that she left but I just flipped my hat back on to my head. I didn't feel like arguing with her today. 

I sat on the street bench in front of the park and watched the cars fly by me. The cold winter breeze brushed my face 3 seconds after the cars passed. Poor guy. He wasn't even going to kill her. Then again I don't know him or his intentions. I just know that he didn't deserve to be shot in the mouth. 

Her soft husky voice played in my head and wheeled their way in to all my nightmares.

"Don't talk to me like I can't kill you Joe."

I have never in my 18 years seen someone so beautifully cruel. I checked to see if anything about a body being found was on the news, but there was nothing. Up till now I never heard about it. I never saw her around either, I think she knew she freaked me out. The sad part of this is that, I kinda wanted to see her.

There's something in me that screams for her.

I wish Kelse were her sometimes. If Kelse knew I thought about her when we had sex, I would probably need a different house to sleep in. 

I inhaled deeply trying to take my mind off the sweet murderer. I didn't even know her name. I was stressing out over this girl when I knew nothing about her. Somehow that was part of the excitement. I wanted to see her so much mainly because she was so mysterious. I wanted to know about her.

Why did she have men trying to kill her? 

I took off my hat and ran my fingers through my hair. My mind idled to Dad. It's been months since I've seen or talked to him. Things like that make me wonder how much he really loves me. 

I guess he knew I was OK because the secretary at school keeps telling me he calls to see if I'm in class when I'm supposed to be. He is still paying for everything including my phone bill. Maybe I'll go back home tonight. 

Pack my things and leave Kelse and her craziness. 

You think you like a girl until you live with her. I mean don't get me wrong, she is a great girl. I just don't think I'm mature enough for a relationship this serious. Maybe I am mature enough and Kelse is the problem. About a week ago she started yelling at me for not putting the seat down. No one has told me to put the seat down in about seven years. 

Dad and I both leave the seat up and we fall in to the toilet bowl from time to time but it's nothing we can’t laugh off. 

I got to class smelling like strawberry kiwi shampoo and shit. 

The only time I feel like a man these days is when we have sex. That can’t be good can it? There should be something behind the relationship. Like an actual wanting to be with the person. Or is that just what girls say? 

The sun began setting and I got off the bench and walked into the park and down the paved pathway. I had just sat down for less than twenty minutes and talked myself in to a complete state of loneliness and depression.

 I was just a couple blocks away from the apartment when I saw Vulture. His built body and the shiny gold teeth were easy to spot from miles away.

I wondered if he remembered me.

He was in a big black jacket talking to some other guy. The other guy seemed just as dangerous as he was, though he was not as muscular. He was a few inches shorter than Vulture who seemed to have grown with the amount of power he had gathered off the streets.  I approached him from behind and then stopped when I heard him talking.

"Find her or you are going to be working for me, for life. She already took out two of my men."Immediately my stomach fell in to the soles of my shoe. Were they talking about her?

 Of course they were.

Who else goes around killing men? 

 "She is in some warehouse near Nevins Street. She won’t expect you to show up but she is stupid if she thinks she can hide from me." Vulture looked to the side and then directly in to the other guys eyes. "Both of you should know, I have people everywhere. You can run..." His chuckle had an evil edge as he knew the next words to the phrase. 

The man he was talking to did not let the fear penetrate his face but I could see his hands shaking. 

Vulture laughed again. "Oh, you can run Jay." He said again. "But you can’t hide from me." 

Jay gave an obedient nod and began to walk off to where he was sent. 

"Don't get killed. She's not easy to catch." 

I turned around and walked away before him or his friend could tell that I was listening but it wasn't fast enough.

"Ay! Ay yo kid!" I heard Vulture call.

My heart stopped and then I heard a rough laugh behind me, I guess he went back to a joking mood.

"I remember you. What's yo name?" He asked with a big smile pinned to his face, I managed to smile back, but it probably looked weird and uneasy.

"David."

"YEA, yea!" His voice got high and made me jump. "You been good? Just chillin?" He questioned. I smiled.

"Yea. I've been alright. How you been?"

His head nodded up and down. "Good man. I'll see you around then. Got some business to finish." He slapped his palm against mine expecting a hand shake I didn't know how to do.

"Oh." his face fell silent and instead he made a fist. I gave his fist a pound and he nodded approvingly. 

After he walked away, I headed for Nevins Street. I didn't know who would be there with her or even what warehouse it was, but I knew I would be more hurt if she died, when I could have done something.