Page 2 of Mayhem and Minnie

As far as Dr. Leonard knows, she’s treating me for my obsessive tendencies, or as she calls it in her medical terms, obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s not too far from the truth. I’m obsessive. One might say fanatical. But not about mundane stuff like the matching color of my socks and underwear, though they’re all black—see, problem solved. No, my obsession runs far deeper than that.

I’m obsessed with watching the light go out of people’s eyes. Slowly.

I’m obsessed with seeing their blood paint the walls red.

I’m obsessed with…well, death.

I clear my throat.

“My mother’s birthday party is soon,” I mention.

Unfortunately for me, it’s an invitation I cannot refuse. My mother would get sad. And I hate it when my mother gets sad.

Dr. Leonard nods.

“Good. That will be a good opportunity to be among loved ones. You spend too much time on your own.”

“I like it on my own,” I clip out.

I don’t like not being on my own. I started living on my own the moment I turned eighteen, and although I see my family once a year or so, I’ve lived alone for the last ten years.

It’s better that way. I can be myself without sending someone screaming for the hills.

“Do you?” She raises a brow. “You’re almost twenty-nine. Haven’t you ever thought about settling down? Meeting someone?”

My lip twitches. We’ve talked about this before, and the answer is no. Why does she think a few months would have changed my outlook on things?

“No,” I state harshly.

“I think it would do you some good, Mr. Spencer-Astor. You have never been in a relationship before. You have not even dated. Isn’t that right?”

“I don’t have an interest in it.”

“Human beings are not supposed to be alone. We are social creatures, Mr. Spencer-Astor.”

Little does she know that at times I’m more animal than human being.

“I don’t require anyone in my life, Doctor. May we change the topic?”

She clicks her tongue against her teeth. The sound rakes on my brain, and a vision of snapping her neck appears before me.

Calm down, I chant to myself. You do not kill women.

I wouldn’t even enjoy killing Dr. Leonard. She’d probably bitch at me while I was killing her as she does during our sessions. But at least then she’d shut up.

Hmm, appealing…

“This is your homework for the month, Mr. Spencer-Astor. I’d like you to meet someone, put yourself out there.”

“No,” I grit my teeth.

“Yes,” she counters. She waves her finger at me as if I were a little boy in need of chastising. Although I suppose considering her advanced age, she does see me as such.

My tapping becomes more erratic.

“I think we’re done with this session, Doctor.” I stand up and turn my back to her.

“Mr. Spencer-Astor? Mr. Spencer-Astor?” she calls out after me as I exit her office.

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