The Murder King (A First Draft)

In Which I Mentor My Friends

        I've decided to let you in on a once in a lifetime opportunity!  Learn the basics from a master, for only the small cost of this book, for it will surely be published.  (I'm such a narcissistic bitch.) 

***

February 27, 2009 

        "Okay guys, training starts right now," I say as the two knives that were hidden in my sleeves twirl across the room towards my students.  Jack clumsily jumps out of the way, getting cut across the cheek at the same time.  Josh shows no fear, steps in, and catches the knife.  I can hear Jack whisper something that sounds like, "Showoff..." as I let loose several more knives, this time heading straight for the hearts of the two.  Jack does a bit better, jumping out of the way before it can graze him.  Josh doesn't have time to catch it, so he dives to the floor.  "Very good," I announce from across the room, "but you still need a lot of practice." 

        After a few more knife throws, I decide that they are ready for their own weapons.  I lead them across the room to where I set up the table.  On it is almost any kind of weapon you can think of.  I have axes, knives, all sorts of guns, swords, maces, etc.  To my utter dismay, Joshua goes straight to a pair of ornate pistols and picks them up.  Jack takes a bit longer to think about it.  He looks better than he did when I first took him in.  Some of the complexion has returned to his skin.  He is more olive now.  And his eyes have gradually brightened.  They are no longer the dull grey of a walking corpse.  Now they shine with a new found purpose.  He deliberates on his decision.  He moves all the knives into one pile, and finally sort them until he finds three knives, ranging between six and eight inches.  These he decide to keep, slowly sliding them into his pockets.  "Good choices," I say, encouraging him, "I have some very much like those up my sleeves right now."  It might be the first nice thing I've said to him.  His face lights up at my praise, even though he is at least ten years older than me. 

        With the weapons chosen, the next part was weapon maintenance.  I have to teach Joshua how to load and clean his pistols.  But he's a very fast learner and I'm done with that after just a few minutes.  Jack takes a bit longer.  I have to show him precisely where to stab to make it hurt the most.  I have to teach him how to clean his knives without letting them rust.  And where to store them in certain situations.  But within an hour, our first training session is over.  My two protégées are ready for their first kills under my command. 

*** 

        Over the years, we had hundreds of more training sessions.  They don't really matter, though, because Joshua and Jack learned the essentials that first day.