Decode [s.m]

one.

one.

The rain poured down outside and I sat on the futon couch in my apartment as I read a book on witchcraft. The last witch I killed - which was three weeks ago - had just discovered her powers and was learning about her capabilities. It's kind of interesting, to be honest. She learned about herself before she could even get to know herself more before I came in and killed her. She was only 16.

Killed. Harsh choice of word, I know. Maybe wiped out?

The buzzer rang and I hid the book in my small bookshelf as I got up to go press the button. I hold it down for ten seconds before releasing it and listening to the sound of the familiar footsteps. Once they grow near, I open the door and reveal my roommate, Jonah. He shakes his hat of the rain as he removed it and then brought down his hoodie.

"If I knew it was gonna rain I would not have gone to the shop today." Jonah says as he references to his hair that had been turned into dreads. I lock the door and go back to the couch. "What time are you leaving for work?"

"Probably later." I say with a shrug. "Manager said I can come in later."

"What time is later?" He asks.

I look at him and pay attention to how he looks at himself in the mirror. "You're trying to have sex in here, aren't you?"

"Look," He says as he turns to face me, "Sheila and I just got back together and her roommate won't stop bugging us. I'm tryna have sex tonight, Shawn. So either give up the apartment or you're gonna hear nothing but headboard all night long."

I let out a laugh before nodding my head. "Does seven sound okay?"

"Seven sounds perfect." He tells me as he points to me. "Shawn, this is why you're my..."

"Your best friend, I know." I say.

"And my best roommate." He says.

Jonah disappears into his room and I wait for the sound of his door closing before I grab my laptop and open it, then going onto a fake account I created on Twitter as I grab my phone and look at my email of the list of witches and search up their social media accounts.

My father always explained to me that with social media it would be easier to find them, but I doubt that. Witches are smart and cunning; there's no way that one would have a social media account and expose their coven. Not a chance.

Although they did have accounts, most were either private or had absolutely nothing other than a pet cat, some plants, and concert pictures. The pet and the plants were slight giveaways to me and I wrote down the name of the witch - Juliette Paulson. She had no picture of herself, only a picture of a young Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween as her profile picture. A puff of air escaped my nose as I let out the smallest smile while shaking my head.

A witch who loves Halloween. Classic.

A clap of thunder let out and I exited out of the tabs before closing my laptop and placing it in my book bag. I stood up from the couch as I slipped on my boots and grabbed my rain coat and a baseball cap and gathered my things to leave to work.

"Jonah - I'm leaving. Try not to break the wall with the headboard, thank you!" I say as I grab my book bag. "Oh - and be safe!"

"You the man!" Jonah shouts back before I playfully roll my eyes and leave our shared apartment.

I place my earbuds in and listen to Wilco before walking the ten minutes in the rain to my day job as a barista at a local coffee shop. With the rain and the perfect foggy mood, I believed that it would be perfect for a witch hunt.