Don't Let It Get You

Number 5

Kailee Connolly sat in the lounge of The Cosmopolitan office where a certain celebrity reporter worked. Shuffling the handle of her beige purse containing the knife, she looked like your normal reporter waiting for a job interview.

"Ms. Pekker, you can enter the room to your right," a lady who had severely abused her Mary Kay makeup set said to her.

Kailee jumped slightly, still not used to her name, Eliza Pekker, just yet. The receptionist seemed to mistake this as nervousness, as she gave a rather fake smile laced with misplaced sympathy.

"You'll do great, hon."

Smiling, she walked into the elevator and going to the fourth floor for her 'interview.' The elevator opened on the second floor to see a blonde lady carrying a notepad filled with the latest gossip from celebrities, not all true.

Her name was Polina Sokolov and she was her first target.

"Um, hi! My name is Eliza Pekker and, uh, I got an interview here!"

Polina just raised her eyebrow as they passed the third floor.

"Do you have any advice?" Kailee asked her.

As the door opened to reveal the fourth floor, the silent Russian finally spoke to her.

"Don't choke."

Smiling, Kailee stepped out to create an alibi.

Smiling, Kailee stepped out to create an alibi

"So Eliza, tell me about your current works."

The interview was long and boring, consisting of her lying about her past accomplishments and him silently critiquing everything she presented him.

"I enjoy writing on my blog, mainly about all the celebrity gossip." She lied to him, yet again.

The blog he had pulled up consisted of impromptu articles and spam accounts, although some were real.

"Interesting. So, Ms. Pekker, we will keep in touch."

Waving at the receptionist and entering the alley behind the building, she located Polina sneaking a smoke. The gray whisps were hidden, unless you happened to be walking through that alley.

Which she was doing.

"That'll damage your lungs, besides, aren't you not supposed to smoke on office premises?"

Polina whipped around to see the new reporter who had now gained some newfound charisma.

"Look, I've been here a long time and I have a lot of power in high places, so don't bother reporting me," she bragged.

As if it would help her where she was going.

Stamping out her cigarette, she was about to leave when Kailee stopped her.

"Don't choke, you know."

With that, she pressed Polina against a brick wall and cut a small wound against her neck. Grasping it, the blood ran down her fingers as she squeezed tighter and tighter.

Polina sputtered and tried to wiggle free, but it was useless as she was trapped. White dots filled her vision as her air supply was cut off.

The knife was brought out again, and the cool blade ran deeper along her neck, burning the flesh and enlarging the wound.

Finally, Polina Sokolov, age 23 died in the alley of The Cosmopolitan office.

At her apartment, Kailee felt under her sturdy, oak desk for a certain notebook

At her apartment, Kailee felt under her sturdy, oak desk for a certain notebook.

With a single scratch, she crossed the name Polina Sokolov from her list.