Pretty Twisted (short story)

chapter 8

Chapter 8

The metallic grinding of the sliding hatch being opens rouses me from my slumber. I slow rise from the hard uncomfortable bed and make my way to where my breakfast had been pushed through my cell door. I take a glance at the bowl, the same unappetising slop it's been all week. But it's all I'll be getting until lunch so I pick up the spoon and begin to eat. That's how it's been all week, I wake up, I eat, I think about what I've done, I eat, I think about how life used to be, I eat, then I go back to sleep and begin the cycle all over again.

I've been questioned twice. They showed me a picture of each girl, S, C, A, R, and L, looking exactly like me and I just admitted to everything, told them exactly how each murder was committed. I told them about the dreams. But all they can do is keep me in this holding cell on suspicion of murder while they investigate. And because I left not a single clue or lead or trace I was even there it may take some time. But at least I know that locked up in here no one else will die. It's hard to keep track of time in here; I lost count on about day three. I continue the cycle for the rest of the day.

Before, I go to sleep I think about something that I haven't thought about in a while, my sister. I wonder where she is and how her life turned out to be. Hopefully its better than mine. I wonder how old she is, is she? Whether I have an older or younger sister? I wonder whether she looks like me? I fall asleep a everything clicks.

Her screams still eco through the street, even after she is dead. Nobody cares, nobody came to save her. Its old news around here, people are killed every day. I clean up her mark, the letter E, then I make up her face, lipstick, blush and eye shadow. I brush her golden tendrils of hair and fan them around her head.

"All done" I say aloud, "now all I need is Carmen out of prison".

Heading toward the nearest payphone I call the police.

"999... yes police please... Oh hello officer... do you know what I've just done?...no? Oh I'll tell you then...I've just murdered someone... yes along with 5 other people... letter E I think you'll find... so arrest me officer, well first you'll have to catch me if you can."

With that I hang up the phone and walk back along the street, glancing in the window of a shop I see myself stood there. Coved in blood and ghostly pale; my scar, even more purple in the artificial light of the street. That one scar marring my beauty, from my hair line, down through my eye to the corner on my mouth, one side in a permanent grimace; and it's all her fault. Everything is her fault and now it's my chance for revenge. "So Carmen, your move."