The Serial Killers (Complete)

Kate04/05 1:07 PM

"Okay, you've got this, just kick your feet."

I lept into the water and felt the sharp tug of the lifejacket catch me. At first, my progress away from the dock was slow, my feet smacking at the water with pathetic thrusts. I was embarrassed at my inability to swim, but I could at least practice in solitude.

Halfway to the middle of the lake, I felt a prickle at the back of my neck and practiced treading for a minute, turning back to scan the beachline that I had left behind. I had never been this far away from land before and it was terrifying.

Out of the corner of my eye there was a rustling in the bushes as something disappeared into them. The prickling went from a subtle sensation to a hair-raising sense of dread. My feet kicked in the opposite direction and I sped back to shore.

I threw my hand up onto the dock, reaching for purchase. My fingers wrapped themselves into something soft, and slowly my eyes traveled up the hooded figure.

There was a heartbeat where time stood still as we simply stared at each other; my vulnerable, nearly naked body clinging to the towel that he held out and him crouched above me, head cocked to the side, analyzing.

My scream was choked off as he reached to grip my throat, squeezing until the air was trapped in my lungs. I rose out of the water, rising in the grasp of death, prepared to be taken to my judgment.

He unbuckled my lifejacket, letting it slip onto the dock. His black leather jacket rolled backwards and I caught a glimpse of the naked skin, marred by a black tattoo of a bird in flight.

I had enough time to wonder why he was wearing a tuxedo before he tossed me backwards away from him, back into the lake. I yelped as my feet hit the water, feeling the cold tendrils of darkness grabbing hold of my ankles and pulling them downwards. Frigid lake water flooded my lungs as my head dipped below the surface.

I thrashed at the oppressive current, fighting my way back up to the air, but there, standing above the glistening surface, was the hooded figure, watching me drown.

08/25/2014 11:45 AM

"Aww, Max! My baby's all grown up!" My mom snapped another picture while I stood at the base of the staircase, duffel bag thrown over my shoulder.

Maxwell Maestro, mom's fiancé, pulled her close to his body and kissed the top of her head. "You better be back for Christmas." He warned playfully.

"No promises," I replied, my smiled forced.

The plastered grin on his face faltered. "Would you mind stepping into the study with me? I've got a special present for you."

I landed hard from the last step and reached for the door handle. "Actually, I would."

"Kate!" My mom hissed, gesturing after the already retreating shadow of my stepfather.

The bag fell to the floor as I slammed the door shut. Maxwell led me to the back room and shut the door so that my mom wouldn't be able to hear us.

The study, in essence was a dimly lit library that Maxwell had renovated to house his stuffed trophies. The dead animals that marred the mahogany paneling of my father's favorite place in the house gave me the courage and anger to brace myself against his onslaught.

"Why the fuck do you need to make everything so complicated? You ungrateful bastard."

"Bastard implies parents who weren't married when they conceived. If anything, you're the figurative bastard."