In the Arms of a Villain

5

I light a cigarette.

"I thought you weren't going to smoke," she pouts.

I put it out. "Huh? Oh I lied. Hey, why are you still here?"

She pouts. I roll my eyes. "Hey, don't look at me like that. Rule one, trust no one."

"No one?" She repeated, sitting down in front of me, crossing her legs criss-cross apple sauce style.

The fact no one that I know in America doesn't know what that means, upsets me.

"No one. Not even me."

She looks up at me, waiting for more instruction. I'll admit, I might kinda tolerate this idiot a bit. Kinda cute and I've never had an apprentice.

It tickles my ego.

I settle in. "Mh. Always watch your back. You don't do, that do you?"

She looks behind her awkwardly. "Watch my...back? How? My eyes can't do that. Can yours?"

"It's an expression idiot," I knock her head gently. "Don't take everything so literally. To watch your back, means to pay attention to what's around you. Don't go walking off with strangers, don't answer questions—"

"But—"

"Listen!" I raise my hand. I may be the biggest villian in this small town, but I am by no means the only one. Her walking around clueless is just asking for trouble.

She smells like innocence—stupidity. And she's gonna hurt.

"If you don't pay attention, someone could break your neck, coming up behind you, and they're always coming and you'd never a clue."

She looks down thinking. Her small hand goes to her neck.

"It would hurt," I say gently. "Someone breaking your neck. And then you would die, if they were merciful. Do you want to die?"

She looks up at me. Oh, she's angry now. "You said villains never die!"

"Well you're not a villian just yet are you," I snap. "If you want to survive, you have to learn to grow up. Children get eaten in this world, because they need help. But more than children, are children with the body of adults."

I light my cigarette again. I see her distaste. That was the point.

"You're too expressive too," I put my hand on her face. "I can see every thought you have on that face of yours."

She put my hand on mine, dragging it off her face. "Roy..." she whispered.

My lips part. "What?" Her eyes peeking through my fingers, big and curious hanging off my every word.

I was going to tell her to leave. Leave this town and get stronger. Learn. When she came back—if she came back, I'd teach her.

But the way she's looking at me now, I realize that's a bad idea.

I'll teach her everything she needs to know. I'll make her...mine. She'll be my companion. A mirror, but a little prettier.

"Roy...I don't know how to do things. But you do. Please keep teaching me." She begged.

Begged me. To corrupt her. Hurt her. Huh. How can I refuse? Even if she doesn't understand what she asked for, she asked for it didn't she?

I smile down at her. "Of course I will. You dummy. I told you, you're gonna be a villain. And I'm gonna teach you how. Don't worry. You're never getting rid of me."

She smiles holding my hand. Her hands are small. I'll turn them into weapons. But I want her to keep that innocent look. Or do I?

Oh, it's so thrilling! Which is more exciting? A killing machine who thinks what they're doing is right?

Or a flower crushed and made into poison?

The endless possibilities!

"Rule 1," I hold her chin in my hands gently. "Trust no one but me. Rule 2, watch your back. Because someone could break your neck. Coming up behind you—"

"They're always coming," she repeated,

"And you'd never have a clue," I finished.